Bodies and Souls

GEORGE W. Bush has made compassionate conservatism, with its emphasis on supporting the antipoverty efforts of churches, synagogues, and mosques, a cornerstone of his campaign. Al Gore also says he’s for helping faith-based organizations—as long as they don’t take their faith too seriously by engaging in worship and “proselytizing.” This significant difference could become a campaign issue unless both candidates decide to gloss it over. It is already a legal sticking point, now that the American Jewish Congress and the Texas Civil Rights Project have jointly sued Bush’s Department of Human Services for giving a grant to a faith-based job-training program.

At such a time, the history of the Salvation Army—the biggest fight poverty-through-evangelism group of the 19th century—has much to teach us: above all, perhaps, that the reduction of poverty Gore wants is inseparable from the proselytizing he fears.

About the Author

Marvin Olasky

Marvin Olasky is co-author with Leah Savas of The Story of Abortion in America (Crossway, 2023).

Featured Tags

GEORGE W. Bush has made compassionate conservatism, with its emphasis on supporting the antipoverty efforts of churches, synagogues, and mosques, a cornerstone of his campaign. Al Gore also says he’s for helping faith-based organizations—as long as they don’t take their faith too seriously by engaging in worship and “proselytizing.” This significant difference could become a campaign issue unless both candidates decide to gloss it over. It is already a legal sticking point, now that the American Jewish Congress and the Texas Civil Rights Project have jointly sued Bush’s Department of Human Services for giving a grant to a faith-based job-training program.

At such a time, the history of the Salvation Army—the biggest fight poverty-through-evangelism group of the 19th century—has much to teach us: above all, perhaps, that the reduction of poverty Gore wants is inseparable from the proselytizing he fears.