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Still a Believer in Faith-Based Solutions

Bush's former faith czar has hopes set on Dems this time

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 13, 2007 5:04 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Economist catches up with John DiIulio, the Democrat who was Bush's “faith czar” for just 7 months in his first term, to re-examine the viability of what the magazine calls "compassionate centrism." With "faith-based" now unfortunately associated more with political zeal—faith-based wars, faith-based science—than solving social problems, Diallo is looking to a Democratic presidency to prove there's still life in the "faith" agenda.

And he sees hope in that quarter, with all the leading Democrats exhibiting enthusiasm for "faith." The magazine hopes this is more than a Machiavellian effort to increase their electability, and that the secular wing of the party can overcome its orthodoxy enough to side with the pragmatist DiIulio—who sees no constitutional problem with channeling public funding into religious organizations as long as it's monitored well.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is flanked by members of the Missouri clergy as she talks to the media during a campaign stop Oct. 5, 2007 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie... (Associated Press)

John Dilulio, a University of Pennsylvania professer, is now heading up President Bush's Faith-base Initiative program. He is seen here in his Washington, D.C. office, Thursday, May 31, 2001. (KRT Photos)

President Bush Attends National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast (Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton Gives Speech At Clergy Conference (Getty Images)

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John Dilulio, Jr.: What Would Franklin Do? (ucberkeleyevents (YouTube))

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Still a Believer in Faith-Based Solutions