Separation between Church & State

Freedom of religion is one of the most defining characteristics of our great nation. As your Congresswoman, I will work enthusiastically to protect the separation of church and state.  I wholeheartedly believe that we can be citizens who cherish our diverse religious backgrounds, while respecting the tenets  of our Constitution.  Faith-based organizations have done great things for many individuals who are in desperate need of social services.  However, I do oppose any direct funding of religious organizations by the federal government, without the inclusion of protections to ensure that the funding is not used for any form of proselytizing.  Furthermore, I am opposed to any initiatives that permit federally funded programs to discriminate based on religion when making hiring decisions.  Finally, I respect a student's right to voluntarily pray in a setting of their choice.  However, I do feel that our Constitution guards against mandated prayer in public school.  It is my hope that we, as a Nation, can respect each other's religious freedom and diversity, while protecting the constitutional separation of church and state.