Why doesn Charitable Choice protect beneficiaries from discrimination?
Nearly all versions of Charitable Choice, including the welfare reform law, allow discrimination against beneficiaries if a standing local, state, or federal law permits it. In addition, H.R. 815, the Watts/Talent American Community Renewal Act, allows gross discrimination against beneficiaries when they do not follow the tenets and teachings” of the religious organization. In practical terms, the effect of this language would be that beneficiaries could be denied a public service (substance abuse counseling in this case) if they refuse to participate in religious activities. All this would be paid for with public funds.
