WASHINGTON (AP) – President Bush on Tuesday dismissed criticism that his plan to steer public money to religious charities might discriminate against people who did not share their beliefs, saying those groups should have an “all drunks are welcome” policy.

Speaking to more than 250 religious leaders invited by the White House, Bush vented his frustration that Congress has not approved the idea he first offered soon after he took office to let religious charities spend taxpayer money.

In a speech at a Washington hotel, Bush took on what he described as a government culture “unfriendly” to religious groups.

“Charitable choice is something I’ve supported every year, and every year it’s got stuck,” Bush said. “There’s kind of a consistent pattern there.”

Bypassing Congress, Bush has used executive orders and regulations to give religious organizations equal footing with nonsectarian groups in competing for federal contracts.

“Since Congress isn’t moving, I will,” Bush told the religious leaders, whom he addressed as “leaders in the armies of compassion.” He raised the possibility of further executive action, though it was unclear what more Bush could order.

Some in the audience wore clerical collars, gold crosses or yarmulkes. Almost all the leaders praised his commitment with applause or shouts of “Amen!”

Bush’s speech appeared to be designed partly to respond to critics who say he has promoted his initiative for political gain. Last month, David Kuo, former deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, charged that the plan is popular with religious leaders who are influential in elections. But Kuo said the White House has not been committed to ending the stalemate in Congress.

Bush reported that during his presidency 10 federal agencies have created offices to deal with religious charities. He said the government distributed about $2 billion in grants during the last budget year to help religious programs for the needy.

He said religious groups got 10 percent of the federal grants that they are eligible to apply for and indicated he wanted that level to rise. “Ten percent isn’t perfect,” Bush said. “Ten percent is progress.”

Jim Towey, who directs the initiative for Bush, said the president is not setting a quota. “His goal is fairness, where the focus of the grants process is on results, and not religion,” Towey said.

Bush, who often talks about how his Methodist faith helped him stop drinking, referred to his own experience when he sought to dismiss critics who contend his plan could promote discrimination.

“If you’re the Methodist church and you sponsor an alcohol treatment center, they can’t say only Methodists, only Methodists who drink too much can come to our program,” Bush said. “All drunks are welcome, is what the sign ought to say.”

Bush says the charities are effective because of the shared values and religious identity of their volunteers and employees. Critics take issue with his insistence that taxpayer-funded groups have the right to hire and fire based on religion.

“We’re not talking about, “Is God good?’ We’re talking about discrimination,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.

Scott said it is a matter of civil rights that employers not be able to consider religion, just as they should not be able to take into account someone’s race or gender.

The House planned to consider a bill on Wednesday that would allow religious groups to consider religion in employment. With House passage is expected, the prospects are less certain in the Senate.

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On the Net:

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/

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