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Reaction Is Mixed To New Head Of White House Faith Based Office

By Howard M. Friedman

The Washington Post reported Friday that a White House aide, confirming earlier reports, announced that President Obama has appointed 26-year old Joshua DuBois to head the White House's revamped Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. (See prior posting.) Reaction is mixed to the appointment of the Pentecostal pastor who ran religious outreach in the Obama campaign. Today's Washington Times says that religious professionals are concerned that DuBois lacks experience working with charities. They also say that DuBois faces a challenge in carrying out Obama's announced policy of precluding faith-based social service programs that receive federal funds from hiring on the basis of religion. (See prior posting.) JTA reports, however, that both Orthodox and Reform Jewish groups say that DuBois is an excellent choice.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 31, 2009 (boomark / email).