Washington, USA - By repeatedly emphasizing the importance of sound science to order U.S. policy priorities, President Obama has marked a stark dividing line between his administration and the previous one. His decision to reverse George W. Bush's restrictions on stem cell research is but the latest action taken to disengage religious "dogma" from government decision making.
At the end of January, Obama reversed another Regan-era edict which limited U.S. funding for health and family planning organizations that also provided abortions to patients. Bill Clinton had originally overturned the policy, only to have it reinstated by George W. Bush. Now, it's gone again.
Recent polls indicate the American public supports stem cell research by a wide margin. A slightly smaller double-digit national majority also favors keeping abortion legal. But Obama is not simply catering to voters with these controversial executive orders. As evidenced by his budget priorities, the president is emphasizing a heightened role of science across the board.
In a binary world, this might seem to indicate that Obama has declared war on religion. Yet, while the stem cell and abortion rulings may infuriate many in the country, his expansion of Bush's faith-based policies will give others pause. Though Obama has laid out strict guidelines prohibiting proselyzation and discriminatory, religious-based hiring practices for groups who receive federal dollars, the president intends a sizable increase in the amount of money the government will give to faith-based non-profits.
In this way, Obama seems to be attempting to define the places where religion should, and shouldn't play a role in our government. Religion shouldn't be taught in public schools under the guise of "Intelligent Design", shouldn't limit scientific research, or prevent clinics from receiving funds because they perform abortions. But Religious institutions can play a vital role in helping the needy (as I detailed a few weeks back).
How to balance science and religion is a question for the ages. At a time when the numbers of American non-believers is on the rise (up to 15% of the population, says the AP), religious institutions like the Catholic Church seem to be growing ever-more strict.
The economy of the future will be increasingly science-based, and Obama knows it. By attempting to compartmentalize the role of religion, the president may not be declaring war on religion as much as trying to implement a workable cease-fire.