Christian leaders blast Bush 'outreach'

WASHINGTON — A political storm has gathered over the new White House faith-based office, as President Bush is tested by Christian conservative leaders who fervently supported his candidacy but now are voicing loud objections to his outreach to other religious groups.

"This is turning into the worst trip of the administration's first 50 days. They seem to have hit a big pothole," said Gary Bauer, a religious conservative who ran against Bush in the Republican primaries.

"I think Bush's original idea — that faith-based groups would receive direct government grants — is in the process of being destroyed," Bauer said. "It's a classic example of the difference between campaigning on an issue and governing."

Groups on the right and left that are tracking Bush's faith-based initiative were abuzz about comments The Washington Post attributed to Don Eberly, the deputy director of the faith-based office, in Monday's editions. Eberly was quoted as saying the office was revising the administration's policy of aiding social ministries and was "postponing" delivery of a legislative package to Capitol Hill.

Asked by reporters if he was retreating from his initiative, Bush said, "Not at all."

"There's a lot of bipartisan support on the Hill," said Bush, who was traveling in Florida. "I'm proud of our faith-based initiative. We're moving forward. It's the right thing to do."

White House officials rejected requests for interviews with Eberly and John DiIulio Jr., the director of the faith-based office. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer said Eberly did not believe that the Post article was an "accurate reflection" of his remarks, and Fleischer called the story "puzzling."

But Marvin Olasky, the University of Texas professor who helped Bush craft his campaign message of compassionate conservatism, said the story was a signal that the concerns he and other conservatives have about the direction of the office under DiIulio — a Philadelphia criminologist whose academic focus has been on the social work of blackchurches — were going to be addressed.

"They realized their position was crumbling and it was time to make a change. If they follow through, I welcome this and applaud it," said Olasky, who has become a critic of the faith-based intiative as it has appeared to evolve into a plan that would make evangelical ministries emphasizing conversion to Christianity ineligible for direct grants.