The Chronicle

Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News
Last update: 2/28/07 at 5:51 AM EST

Media Credit: MICHAEL CHANG Jim Towey, former counsel to Mother Teresa, speaks in favor of faith-based initiatives Tuesday at Duke Law.

Media Credit: MICHAEL CHANG A law school classroom was packed Tuesday to listen to Jim Towey speak on faith-based initiatives.

Narrowing the divide between church and state was at the forefront of discussion Tuesday at a speech entitled "Faith, Politics and the Law."

Jim Towey, former counsel to Mother Teresa and current president of Saint Vincent College, spoke to law students and professors about the complex relationships between religion and political policy and advocated government support of faith-based initiatives.

Also former director of the White House's Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, Towey countered a common perception that President George W. Bush has placed too much emphasis on religious values in his administration.

"Many will talk about Bush's references to faith, and many will criticize him," Towey said. "But throughout time, there have been many presidents who used scripture in their policy."

Towey added that laws are inevitably aimed at promoting morals-which are often tied to religion.

"Faith and laws converge on values," he said. "We need individuals to choose to stand up to defend these values."

For example, many of the problems facing the poor are spiritual ones, and faith-based initiatives can play an indispensable role in improving the moral battleground of lower-class America, Towey said.

He added that his experiences with the marginalized population of America have convinced him of the effectiveness of government-funded religious initiatives.

"I've spent a lot of my life around hookers," Towey said, explaining after a brief pause that religious initiatives can address core issues that lead individuals into fields like prostitution.

Towey said, however, that he was not making a case for the total unification of religion and politics.

"You don't want church and state to become one," he said, noting that conflicts around the world have illustrated the dangers that can arise when religion and government are closely intertwined.

Despite the possible perils, however, Towey said the potential gains of religious initiatives are worth the risks.

"The reality is government does have a responsibility," he said.

Towey added that leaders should not be criticized simply for their religious motivations.

"When Mother Teresa smiles, is that preaching?" he asked. "She's obviously driven by personal faith, but is that still considered preaching?"

Sarah Hawkins, a second-year law student who planned the speech, said one of her goals was to debunk the common perception that the Bush administration has mixed religion and politics in an inappropriate way.

"It's exciting to see someone with a law degree that has found a way to use that degree for public service without compromising moral values," she said.

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