Judiciary Committee Demands Answers from DOJ on Religious Discrimination in Federally Funded Employment

(Washington)—House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) today sent a letter to the Department of Justice demanding their appearance at a hearing to clarify its position on whether religious organizations may make discriminations based on religion in jobs that are paid for by taxpayer dollars.  In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Chairman Conyers, joined by Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Subcommittee Ranking Member F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), said that the Department of Justice’s failure to appear at the hearing was "inexcusable" and that its failure to clarify its position " unacceptable – and flatly inconsistent with the president’s pledge of greater transparency."

An excerpt of the letter is as follows:

While we were able to explore many of the critical church-state issues that have caused concern over the past several years with our panel of experts, the absence of any administration witnesses at yesterday’s hearing was inexcusable. The administration should welcome the chance to discuss reforms recommended by the President’s Advisory Council and the Executive Order issued by the president setting out "Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships with Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations. Despite invitations to the White House and the Department of Justice, the administration declined to send anyone to today’s hearing.

We are therefore convening a follow-up hearing, to be held on or after Thursday, December 2, 2010.  We request that you, or a representative of the Department designated by you, appear at that hearing.  In particular, we would like to hear from the Department on the issue of whether religious organizations may make religion-based employment decisions while receiving federal funds. As you undoubtedly are aware, the president asked his Advisory Council not to consider this issue, and the administration has said that it is conducting its own evaluation. This is an issue of importance to subcommittee members from both political parties, to many of our constituents and to the American public. It is unacceptable – and flatly inconsistent with the president’s pledge of greater transparency – that the Department of Justice has not made its position clear to the Congress or to agencies and partnering organizations who must understand and comply with the law.

Committee letter to the attorney general.