President Bush's Comments on the Faith-Based Initiative During Interview With Washington Post Staff Writer Mike Allen

(Remarks on recent opposition of religious leaders to the faith-based initiative and the possibility of using an individual social-service voucher, rather than a grant.)

President Bush: I think we need to do both. The grant program out of the Compassion Capital Fund is to start these programs. One of the main parts of the grant is for the children of prisoners initiative. And I believe that the scrip or voucher program really wouldn't work there. And I've always said, that a key component for people to understand: that we can separate church and state and at the same time incorporate faith-based programs into the delivery of health is by giving a person the opportunity to make a choice.

Remember, the crux of our faith-based initiative was that there be a secular alternative. That in itself should say to people that all along, we recognized the need to give people choices. The secular alternative means that somebody says, Here is my government help. I can redeem it at this institution, that will work with me to change my heart or this institution that will work with me to change my mind.

So I've always contemplated, and always a part of our blueprint, was the notion that there be a strong component of -- whatever they call it -- social vouchers, to help people make choices.

There's a lot of concern about proselytization and that we should not use taxpayers' money to fund groups that proselytize. My attitude is, if you fund an individual, which I accept and so does John DiIulio - he made that clear, I think in your paper. But what I accept, though, is the idea of saying to a person: Here's your opportunity to make a choice. And you can go and make the choice yourself.

As to why there's a general skepticism about government and religion in a lot of fronts. It's not just with my friends from the -- you know, like Robertson, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. There's a lot of people who show skepticism. On the other hand, we have been careful. And the reason the folks like that you asked about are concerned is because they're worried that once government gets in their lives, government will force a change in their religion. There are some who worry about, once government gets involved, government will force religion on people. And I am mindful of those complaints and our policy will be -- will understand that.

We'll fashion a policy -- that we have already fashioned -- that will, I believe, answer those critics.

As I stand right now, I believe the program is carefully structured to recognize the separation of church and state. It's voluntary in nature -- no organization has to choose it.

It is so important, however, that America knows that there are churches on every corner, synagogues in every city, mosques all over America -- many of whom have got wonderful programs where somebody can come and have their hearts changed and their lives saved.

And I just believe we need to be very - -I think we need to invigorate what I call social entrepreneurship, and John DiIulio, who is spearheading this effort for me, and our office and my office is mindful of the complaints. But it's a well-crafted policy that will honor the great tradition of separation of church and state.