Feels more like Tuesday. But what do I know? Fortunately there are many wiser than myself to think ahead for the dark times to come. One such man is Jim Towey, Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives. Jim has served in this controversial position since 2002 shortly after President Bush announced his faith-based initiatives to fill in the widening gaps between philanthropy and the remains of the New Deal.

But on April 18th, 2006 Towey, former chief U.S. counsel to Mother Teresa (and hey, who didn't want to sue her boney ass?), resigned from his post as WHOFBCI Director. Two of his former colleagues - his predecessor in the office, John DiIulio, and a former aid, David Kuo, criticized the White House's handling of faith-based programs following their own departures. They've suggested the administration has been using the issue to whip-up support among religious voters while under-funding social services. He is expected to leave the office any day now.

Towey however resigned with a clear conscience, on March 7, 2006 President Bush signed Executive Oder 13397. Also known as Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the order creates a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives within DHS.

Section 1. (b) The Center shall be supervised by a Director appointed by Secretary. The Secretary shall consult with the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI Director) prior to making such appointment.

This designation places the new center on the same footing within the DHS hierarchy as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.

So who will lead this newly created directorate? That will be up to Homeland Security Secretary Michael "the most hated man in New York" Chertoff, the president, and whomever they anoint the new Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Oh...and God.

Labels: dhs, Executive Oder 13397, George W. Bush, Jim Towey, John DiIulio, Michael Chertoff, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives