The_AT End_NN1 of_IO Christian_JJ America_NP1 "_" To_II the_AT surprise_NN1 of_IO liberals_NN2 who_PNQS fear_VV0 the_AT advent_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 evangelical_JJ theocracy_NN1 and_CC to_II the_AT dismay_NN1 of_IO religious_JJ conservatives_NN2 who_PNQS long_VV0 to_TO see_VVI their_APPGE faith_NN1 more_RGR fully_RR expressed_VVN in_II public_JJ life_NN1 ,_, Christians_NN2 are_VBR now_RT making_VVG up_RP a_AT1 declining_JJ percentage_NN1 of_IO the_AT American_JJ population_NN1 ._. "_" 
Thus_RR writes_VVZ Newsweek_NP1 editor_NN1 Jon_NP1 Meacham_NP1 in_II this_DD1 week_NNT1 's_GE cover_NN1 story_NN1 ,_, "_" The_AT End_NN1 of_IO Christian_JJ America_NP1 ._. "_" 
The_AT image_NN1 on_II the_AT front_JJ cover_NN1 says_VVZ it_PPH1 all_DB ,_, declaring_VVG "_" The_AT Decline_NN1 and_CC Fall_NN1 of_IO Christian_JJ America_NP1 "_" in_II type_NN1 set_VVD to_TO form_VVI a_AT1 cross_NN1 ._. 
The_AT cover_NN1 story_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 serious_JJ consideration_NN1 of_IO the_AT issue_NN1 Newsweek_NP1 set_VVD as_CSA its_APPGE priority_NN1 for_IF the_AT week_NNT1 of_IO Easter_NNT1 ,_, and_CC the_AT seriousness_NN1 of_IO the_AT magazine_NN1 's_GE approach_NN1 is_VBZ evident_JJ in_II the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST its_APPGE editor_NN1 ,_, Mr._NNB Meacham_NP1 ,_, wrote_VVD the_AT cover_NN1 story_NN1 himself_PPX1 ._. 
The_AT essay_NN1 ,_, elegant_JJ in_II form_NN1 and_CC serious_JJ in_II tone_NN1 ,_, demands_NN2 attention_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 read_VVD Jon_NP1 Meacham_NP1 's_GE essay_NN1 with_IW no_AT small_JJ amount_NN1 of_IO personal_JJ interest_NN1 ,_, for_IF Mr._NNB Meacham_NP1 had_VHD talked_VVN to_II me_PPIO1 as_CSA he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ writing_VVG the_AT article_NN1 ._. 
Here_RL is_VBZ how_RRQ his_APPGE essay_NN1 begins_VVZ :_: It_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 small_JJ detail_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 point_NN1 of_IO comparison_NN1 buried_VVN in_II the_AT fifth_MD paragraph_NN1 on_II the_AT 17th_MD page_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 24-page_JJ summary_NN1 of_IO the_AT 2009_MC American_JJ Religious_JJ Identification_NN1 Survey_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB as_CSA R._NP1 Albert_NP1 Mohler_NP1 Jr._NNA -president_NN1 of_IO the_AT Southern_JJ Baptist_JJ Theological_JJ Seminary_NN1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT largest_JJT on_II earth-read_JJ over_II the_AT document_NN1 after_II its_APPGE release_NN1 in_II March_NPM1 ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ struck_VVN by_II a_AT1 single_JJ sentence_NN1 ._. 
For_IF a_AT1 believer_NN1 like_II Mohler-a_NP1 starched_VVD ,_, unflinchingly_RR conservative_JJ Christian_JJ ,_, steeped_VVN in_II the_AT theology_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE particular_JJ province_NN1 of_IO the_AT faith_NN1 ,_, devoted_VVD to_II producing_VVG ministers_NN2 who_PNQS will_VM preach_VVI the_AT inerrancy_NN1 of_IO the_AT Bible_NN1 and_CC the_AT Gospel_NN1 of_IO Jesus_NP1 Christ_NP1 as_II the_AT only_JJ means_NN to_II eternal_JJ life-the_AT central_JJ news_NN1 of_IO the_AT survey_NN1 was_VBDZ troubling_VVG enough_RR :_: the_AT number_NN1 of_IO Americans_NN2 who_PNQS claim_VV0 no_AT religious_JJ affiliation_NN1 has_VHZ nearly_RR doubled_VVN since_II 1990_MC ,_, rising_VVG from_II 8_MC to_II 15_MC percent_NNU ._. 
Then_RT came_VVD the_AT point_NN1 he_PPHS1 could_VM not_XX get_VVI out_II21 of_II22 his_APPGE mind_NN1 :_: while_CS the_AT unaffiliated_JJ have_VH0 historically_RR been_VBN concentrated_VVN in_II the_AT Pacific_NP1 Northwest_ND1 ,_, the_AT report_NN1 said_VVD ,_, "_" this_DD1 pattern_NN1 has_VHZ now_RT changed_VVN ,_, and_CC the_AT Northeast_ND1 emerged_VVD in_II 2008_MC as_II the_AT new_JJ stronghold_NN1 of_IO the_AT religiously_RR unidentified_JJ ._. "_" 
As_CSA Mohler_NP1 saw_VVD it_PPH1 ,_, the_AT historic_JJ foundation_NN1 of_IO America_NP1 's_GE religious_JJ culture_NN1 was_VBDZ cracking_VVG ._. 
I_PPIS1 do_VD0 remember_VVI that_DD1 moment_NN1 quite_RG well_RR ,_, and_CC I_PPIS1 expressed_VVD my_APPGE thoughts_NN2 in_II an_AT1 article_NN1 posted_VVD March_NPM1 27_MC ,_, "_" The_AT Eclipse_NN1 of_IO Christian_JJ Memory_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT increasingly_RR secular_JJ character_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 England_NP1 ,_, now_RT surpassing_VVG even_RR the_AT Pacific_NP1 Northwest_ND1 ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 portrait_NN1 of_IO Christianity_NN1 in_II retreat_NN1 ._. 
The_AT course_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 retreat_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN long_JJ ._. 
Indeed_RR some_DD historians_NN2 would_VM trace_VVI the_AT secular_JJ trend_NN1 in_II New_NP1 England_NP1 to_II the_AT period_NN1 of_IO the_AT Revolution_NN1 itself_PPX1 ._. 
In_II the_AT minds_NN2 of_IO at_RR21 least_RR22 some_DD New_JJ Englanders_NP1 ,_, King_NNB George_NP1 was_VBDZ not_XX the_AT only_JJ authority_NN1 dethroned_VVD in_II that_DD1 generation_NN1 ._. 
Still_RR ,_, the_AT region_NN1 remained_VVD under_II the_AT influence_NN1 of_IO Christian_JJ memory_NN1 and_CC ,_, for_IF most_DAT of_IO the_AT intervening_JJ decades_NNT2 ,_, under_II the_AT influence_NN1 of_IO the_AT Christian_JJ worldview_NN1 ._. 
Now_RT ,_, New_NP1 England_NP1 is_VBZ the_AT most_RGT secular_JJ region_NN1 of_IO the_AT nation_NN1 ,_, representing_VVG a_AT1 model_NN1 of_IO what_DDQ I_PPIS1 believe_VV0 is_VBZ rightly_RR designated_JJ post-Christian_JJ America_NP1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Meacham_NP1 picked_VVD up_RP on_II this_DD1 description_NN1 of_IO the_AT pattern_NN1 ,_, and_CC Newsweek_NP1 launched_VVD a_AT1 cover_NN1 story_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 good_JJ portion_NN1 of_IO the_AT essay_NN1 deals_VVZ with_IW my_APPGE argument_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 consideration_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE accuracy_NN1 and_CC significance_NN1 ._. 
Without_IW doubt_NN1 ,_, Newsweek_NP1 considers_VVZ the_AT pattern_NN1 to_TO be_VBI of_IO great_JJ significance_NN1 --_NN1 thus_RR the_AT cover_NN1 story_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Meacham_NP1 looked_VVD at_II the_AT same_DA data_NN that_CST had_VHD caught_VVN my_APPGE attention_NN1 ,_, the_AT American_JJ Religious_JJ Identification_NN1 Survey_NN1 &lsqb;_( ARIS_NP2 &rsqb;_) and_CC the_AT Pew_NN1 Forum_NN1 's_GE U.S._NP1 Religious_JJ Landscape_NN1 Study_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE summary_NN1 response_NN1 to_II the_AT post-Christian_JJ designation_NN1 :_: "_" There_RL it_PPH1 was_VBDZ ,_, an_AT1 old_JJ term_NN1 with_IW new_JJ urgency_NN1 :_: post-Christian_JJ ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ not_XX to_TO say_VVI that_CST the_AT Christian_JJ God_NN1 is_VBZ dead_JJ ,_, but_CCB that_CST he_PPHS1 is_VBZ less_DAR of_IO a_AT1 force_NN1 in_II American_JJ politics_NN1 and_CC culture_NN1 than_CSN at_II any_DD other_JJ time_NNT1 in_II recent_JJ memory_NN1 ._. "_" 
Here_RL is_VBZ the_AT essence_NN1 of_IO Jon_NP1 Meacham_NP1 's_GE analysis_NN1 :_: While_CS we_PPIS2 remain_VV0 a_AT1 nation_NN1 decisively_RR shaped_VVN by_II religious_JJ faith_NN1 ,_, our_APPGE politics_NN1 and_CC our_APPGE culture_NN1 are_VBR ,_, in_RR31 the_RR32 main_RR33 ,_, less_RRR influenced_VVN by_II movements_NN2 and_CC arguments_NN2 of_IO an_AT1 explicitly_RR Christian_JJ character_NN1 than_CSN they_PPHS2 were_VBDR even_RR five_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
I_PPIS1 think_VV0 this_DD1 is_VBZ a_AT1 good_JJ thing-good_JJ for_IF our_APPGE political_JJ culture_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ ,_, as_CSA the_AT American_JJ Founders_NN2 saw_VVD ,_, is_VBZ complex_JJ and_CC charged_VVD enough_RR without_IW attempting_VVG to_TO compel_VVI or_CC coerce_VVI religious_JJ belief_NN1 or_CC observance_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ good_JJ for_IF Christianity_NN1 ,_, too_RR ,_, in_CS21 that_CS22 many_DA2 Christians_NN2 are_VBR rediscovering_VVG the_AT virtues_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 separation_NN1 of_IO church_NN1 and_CC state_VV0 that_CST protects_VVZ what_DDQ Roger_NP1 Williams_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS founded_VVD Rhode_NP1 Island_NNL1 as_II a_AT1 haven_NN1 for_IF religious_JJ dissenters_NN2 ,_, called_VVN "_" the_AT garden_NN1 of_IO the_AT church_NN1 "_" from_II "_" the_AT wilderness_NN1 of_IO the_AT world_NN1 ._. "_" 
As_RG crucial_JJ as_CSA religion_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN and_CC is_VBZ to_II the_AT life_NN1 of_IO the_AT nation_NN1 ,_, America_NP1 's_GE unifying_JJ force_NN1 has_VHZ never_RR been_VBN a_AT1 specific_JJ faith_NN1 ,_, but_CCB a_AT1 commitment_NN1 to_II freedom-not_XX least_DAT freedom_NN1 of_IO conscience_NN1 ._. 
At_II our_APPGE best_JJT ,_, we_PPIS2 single_VV0 religion_NN1 out_RP for_IF neither_RR particular_JJ help_NN1 nor_CC particular_JJ harm_NN1 ;_; we_PPIS2 have_VH0 historically_RR treated_VVN faith-based_JJ arguments_NN2 as_CSA one_MC1 element_NN1 among_II many_DA2 in_II the_AT republican_JJ sphere_NN1 of_IO debate_NN1 and_CC decision_NN1 ._. 
The_AT decline_NN1 and_CC fall_NN1 of_IO the_AT modern_JJ religious_JJ right_NN1 's_GE notion_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Christian_JJ America_NP1 creates_VVZ a_AT1 calmer_JJR political_JJ environment_NN1 and_CC ,_, for_IF many_DA2 believers_NN2 ,_, may_VM help_VVI open_VVI the_AT way_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 more_RGR theologically_RR serious_JJ religious_JJ life_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ a_AT1 fair_JJ and_CC insightful_JJ rendering_NN1 of_IO the_AT pattern_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ does_VDZ become_VVI clear_JJ in_II this_DD1 paragraph_NN1 is_VBZ that_DD1 what_DDQ Newsweek_NP1 sees_VVZ as_II the_AT essence_NN1 of_IO the_AT issue_NN1 is_VBZ political_JJ influence_NN1 ._. 
While_CS this_DD1 is_VBZ hardly_RR a_AT1 non-issue_NN1 ,_, my_APPGE greater_JJR concern_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX with_IW political_JJ influence_NN1 and_CC what_DDQ secularization_NN1 means_VVZ for_IF the_AT political_JJ sphere_NN1 ,_, but_CCB with_IW what_DDQ secularization_NN1 means_VVZ for_IF the_AT souls_NN2 of_IO men_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR now_RT considerably_RR more_RGR distant_JJ from_II Christianity_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC perhaps_RR even_RR with_IW any_DD contact_NN1 with_IW Christianity_NN1 --_NN1 than_CSN ever_RR before_RT ._. 
My_APPGE main_JJ concern_NN1 is_VBZ evangelism_NN1 ,_, not_XX cultural_JJ influence_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 key_JJ aspect_NN1 of_IO Mr._NNB Meacham_NP1 's_GE argument_NN1 is_VBZ his_APPGE suggestion_NN1 that_CST what_DDQ binds_VVZ America_NP1 together_RL is_VBZ not_XX "_" a_AT1 specific_JJ faith_NN1 "_" but_CCB instead_RR "_" a_AT1 commitment_NN1 to_II freedom_NN1 "_" and_CC ,_, in_RR21 particular_RR22 ,_, freedom_NN1 of_IO conscience_NN1 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ something_PN1 to_II this_DD1 argument_NN1 ,_, of_RR21 course_RR22 ._. 
The_AT founding_JJ generation_NN1 did_VDD not_XX establish_VVI the_AT young_JJ republic_NN1 on_II any_DD religious_JJ creed_NN1 or_CC theological_JJ doctrine_NN1 ._. 
Still_RR ,_, there_EX is_VBZ something_PN1 missing_VVG from_II this_DD1 argument_NN1 ,_, and_CC that_DD1 is_VBZ the_AT recognition_NN1 that_CST freedom_NN1 ,_, and_CC freedom_NN1 of_IO conscience_NN1 in_RR21 particular_RR22 ,_, requires_VVZ some_DD prior_JJ understanding_NN1 of_IO human_JJ dignity_NN1 and_CC the_AT origins_NN2 of_IO conscience_NN1 itself_PPX1 ._. 
Though_CS the_AT founders_NN2 included_VVD those_DD2 who_PNQS rejected_VVD the_AT Christian_JJ Gospel_NN1 and_CC Christianity_NN1 itself_PPX1 ,_, Christianity_NN1 had_VHD provided_VVN the_AT necessary_JJ underpinnings_NN2 for_IF the_AT founders_NN2 '_GE claims_NN2 ._. 
Mr._NNB Meacham_NP1 also_RR suggests_VVZ that_CST this_DD1 new_JJ situation_NN1 is_VBZ perhaps_RR healthy_JJ for_IF the_AT church_NN1 ._. 
To_II this_DD1 extent_NN1 I_PPIS1 agree_VV0 --_NN1 the_AT church_NN1 gains_VVZ a_AT1 necessary_JJ knowledge_NN1 any_DD time_NNT1 the_AT distinction_NN1 between_II the_AT church_NN1 and_CC the_AT world_NN1 is_VBZ made_VVN more_RGR evident_JJ ._. 
Our_APPGE first_MD concern_NN1 is_VBZ and_CC must_VM be_VBI the_AT Gospel_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ good_JJ that_CST non-Christians_NN2 know_VV0 that_CST they_PPHS2 are_VBR not_XX Christians_NN2 and_CC that_CST Christians_NN2 be_VBI reminded_VVN of_IO that_DD1 fact_NN1 that_CST what_DDQ sinners_NN2 need_VV0 is_VBZ the_AT Gospel_NN1 of_IO Christ_NP1 ,_, not_XX merely_RR the_AT lingering_JJ morality_NN1 of_IO the_AT Christian_JJ memory_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 am_VBM haunted_VVN a_RR21 bit_RR22 by_II this_DD1 section_NN1 of_IO the_AT Newsweek_NP1 article_NN1 :_: Mohler_NP1 posted_VVD a_AT1 despairing_JJ online_JJ column_NN1 on_II the_AT eve_NNT1 of_IO Holy_JJ Week_NNT1 lamenting_VVG the_AT decline-and_CC ,_, by_II implication_NN1 ,_, the_AT imminent_JJ fall-of_NN1 an_AT1 America_NP1 shaped_VVD and_CC suffused_VVN by_II Christianity_NN1 ._. 
"_" A_AT1 remarkable_JJ culture-shift_NN1 has_VHZ taken_VVN place_NN1 around_II us_PPIO2 ,_, "_" Mohler_NP1 wrote_VVD ._. 
"_" The_AT most_RGT basic_JJ contours_NN2 of_IO American_JJ culture_NN1 have_VH0 been_VBN radically_RR altered_VVN ._. 
The_AT so-called_JJ Judeo-Christian_JJ consensus_NN1 of_IO the_AT last_MD millennium_NNT1 has_VHZ given_VVN way_NN1 to_II a_AT1 post-modern_JJ ,_, post-Christian_JJ ,_, post-Western_JJ cultural_JJ crisis_NN1 which_DDQ threatens_VVZ the_AT very_JJ heart_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE culture_NN1 ._. "_" 
When_CS Mohler_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 spoke_VVD in_II the_AT days_NNT2 after_CS he_PPHS1 wrote_VVD this_DD1 ,_, he_PPHS1 had_VHD grown_VVN even_RR gloomier_JJR ._. 
"_" Clearly_RR ,_, there_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 new_JJ narrative_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 post-Christian_JJ narrative_NN1 ,_, that_DD1 is_VBZ animating_VVG large_JJ portions_NN2 of_IO this_DD1 society_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD from_II his_APPGE office_NN1 on_II campus_NN1 in_II Louisville_NP1 ,_, Ky_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 appreciate_VV0 the_AT care_NN1 ,_, respect_NN1 ,_, and_CC insight_NN1 that_CST mark_VV0 this_DD1 essay_NN1 by_II Jon_NP1 Meacham_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 also_RR appreciated_VVD our_APPGE conversation_NN1 about_II an_AT1 issue_NN1 that_CST concerns_VVZ us_PPIO2 both_DB2 ._. 
Still_RR ,_, I_PPIS1 hope_VV0 I_PPIS1 did_VDD not_XX reflect_VVI too_RG much_DA1 gloom_NN1 in_II my_APPGE analysis_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 much_RR I_PPIS1 know_VV0 --_JJ Jesus_NP1 Christ_NP1 is_VBZ Lord_NP1 ,_, and_CC His_APPGE kingdom_NN1 is_VBZ forever_RT ._. 
Our_APPGE proper_JJ Christian_JJ response_NN1 to_II this_DD1 new_JJ challenge_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX gloom_NN1 ,_, but_CCB concern_NN1 ._. 
And_CC our_APPGE first_MD concern_NN1 must_VM be_VBI to_TO see_VVI that_CST the_AT Gospel_NN1 is_VBZ preached_VVN as_RG Good_JJ News_NN1 to_II the_AT perishing_JJ --_NN1 including_II all_DB those_DD2 in_II post-Christian_JJ America_NP1 ._. 
Faith-Based_JJ Contradiction_NN1 "_" Faith-Based_NN1 Discrimination_NN1 ._. "_" 
That_DD1 's_VBZ the_AT snarky_JJ title_NN1 of_IO the_AT recent_JJ New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 editorial_JJ on_II the_AT Bush-era_JJ policy_NN1 known_VVN as_II "_" faith-based_JJ initiatives_NN2 ._. "_" 
The_AT Times_NNT2 is_VBZ irked_VVN because_CS the_AT President_NN1 has_VHZ not_XX yet_RR "_" made_VVN good_JJ on_II his_APPGE promise_NN1 "_" to_TO overturn_VVI what_DDQ they_PPHS2 deem_VV0 a_AT1 "_" constitutionally_RR suspect_VV0 "_" aspect_NN1 of_IO the_AT Bush_NP1 policy_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ 's_VBZ really_RR irksome_JJ is_VBZ the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 '_GE contempt_NN1 for_IF religious_JJ freedom_NN1 ._. 
Faith-based_JJ initiatives_NN2 have_VH0 always_RR been_VBN controversial_JJ ,_, even_RR among_II conservatives_NN2 ._. 
The_AT basic_JJ idea_NN1 was_VBDZ to_TO make_VVI federal_JJ dollars_NNU2 (_( that_REX21 is_REX22 ,_, taxpayer_NN1 money_NN1 collected_VVN by_II Washington_NP1 )_) available_JJ to_II private_JJ religious_JJ charities_NN2 who_PNQS offer_VV0 various_JJ social_JJ services_NN2 ._. 
The_AT thinking_NN1 was_VBDZ that_CST if_CS they_PPHS2 can_VM feed_VVI the_AT hungry_JJ and_CC house_VVI the_AT homeless_JJ ,_, why_RRQ not_XX let_VVI them_PPHO2 compete_VV0 for_IF federal_JJ dollars_NNU2 ?_? 
Some_DD conservatives_NN2 welcomed_VVD this_DD1 as_II a_AT1 step_NN1 toward_II privatization_NN1 ,_, in_II which_DDQ care_VV0 for_IF the_AT needy_JJ would_VM be_VBI returned_VVN to_II the_AT private_JJ sector_NN1 where_CS it_PPH1 belongs_VVZ ._. 
But_CCB others_NN2 warned_VVD that_CST ,_, eventually_RR ,_, it_PPH1 would_VM lead_VVI ,_, not_XX to_II privatization_NN1 ,_, but_CCB to_II government_NN1 control_NN1 of_IO private_JJ charities_NN2 ._. 
To_TO address_VVI these_DD2 concerns_NN2 ,_, the_AT Bush_NP1 Administration_NN1 insured_VVD that_CST religious_JJ charities_NN2 could_VM continue_VVI using_VVG religious_JJ criteria_NN2 in_II hiring_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 Baptist_JJ charity_NN1 would_VM n't_XX be_VBI required_VVN to_TO hire_VVI ,_, say_VV0 ,_, an_AT1 atheist_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 big_JJ problem_NN1 was_VBDZ that_CST the_AT rule_NN1 protecting_VVG religious_JJ charities_NN2 was_VBDZ preserved_VVN in_II a_AT1 mere_JJ "_" memo_NN1 "_" produced_VVN by_II the_AT Justice_NN1 Department_NN1 's_GE Office_NN1 of_IO Legal_JJ Council_NN1 ._. 
So_RR it_PPH1 could_VM easily_RR be_VBI sent_VVN to_II the_AT paper_NN1 shredder_NN1 by_II the_AT next_MD administration_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 did_VDD n't_XX take_VVI long_RR ._. 
President_NNB Obama_NP1 has_VHZ promised_VVN to_TO reverse_VVI this_DD1 policy_NN1 ._. 
Now_CS21 that_CS22 Obama_NP1 's_VBZ in_II charge_NN1 ,_, the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 is_VBZ willing_JJ to_TO let_VVI federal_JJ dollars_NNU2 go_VVI to_II private_JJ charities_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB they_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX want_VVI religious_JJ charities_NN2 to_TO commit_VVI religion_NN1 when_CS using_VVG the_AT money_NN1 :_: As_II a_AT1 candidate_NN1 ,_, Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 drew_VVD the_AT right_JJ line_NN1 ._. 
Effective_JJ social_JJ service_NN1 programs_NN2 should_VM not_XX be_VBI ineligible_JJ for_IF federal_JJ dollars_NNU2 just_RR because_CS they_PPHS2 have_VH0 a_AT1 religious_JJ affiliation_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB they_PPHS2 should_VM be_VBI required_VVN to_TO abide_VVI by_II the_AT same_DA anti-discrimination_JJ laws_NN2 as_CSA everyone_PN1 else_RR ._. 
Public_JJ money_NN1 should_VM not_XX be_VBI used_VVN to_TO pay_VVI for_IF discrimination_NN1 ._. 
"_" Discrimination_NN1 "_" as_CSA used_VVN by_II the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 editorial_JJ page_NN1 implies_VVZ a_AT1 moral_JJ evil_NN1 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 discriminating_VVG against_II an_AT1 applicant_NN1 based_VVN on_II something_PN1 irrelevant_JJ ,_, like_II the_AT color_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE skin_NN1 ._. 
If_CS a_AT1 bank_NN1 has_VHZ two_MC candidates_NN2 for_IF a_AT1 teller_NN1 job_NN1 ,_, one_MC1 white_JJ and_CC one_PN1 black_JJ ,_, and_CC the_AT bank_NN1 hires_VVZ the_AT white_JJ candidate_NN1 even_CS21 though_CS22 the_AT black_JJ candidate_NN1 is_VBZ more_RGR qualified_JJ ,_, we_PPIS2 would_VM suspect_VVI unjust_JJ discrimination_NN1 ._. 
And_CC that_DD1 's_VBZ why_RRQ the_AT Times_NNT2 '_GE use_NN1 of_IO "_" discrimination_NN1 "_" here_RL is_VBZ perverse_JJ :_: it_PPH1 's_VBZ essential_JJ to_II most_DAT religious_JJ organizations_NN2 to_TO be_VBI able_JK to_TO use_VVI religious_JJ criteria_NN2 in_II hiring_NN1 ._. 
For_IF many_DA2 of_IO them_PPHO2 ,_, the_AT religious_JJ views_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE employees_NN2 could_VM not_XX be_VBI more_RGR relevant_JJ ._. 
Does_VDZ the_AT Catholic_JJ Church_NN1 "_" discriminate_VV0 "_" unjustly_RR by_II requiring_VVG that_CST priests_NN2 be_VBI Catholic_JJ ?_? 
Surely_RR not_XX ._. 
Of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, some_DD might_VM argue_VVI that_DD1 social_JJ services_NN2 are_VBR different_JJ from_II the_AT work_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 priest_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 priest_NN1 has_VHZ to_TO perform_VVI explicit_JJ religious_JJ duties_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 celebrate_VV0 Mass_JJ and_CC hear_VV0 confessions_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB serving_VVG food_NN1 in_II a_AT1 soup-kitchen_NN1 is_VBZ n't_XX like_II that_DD1 ._. 
Obviously_RR you_PPY can_VM put_VVI red_JJ potatoes_NN2 and_CC Salisbury_NP1 steak_NN1 on_II a_AT1 plate_NN1 whether_CSW you_PPY 're_VBR Hindu_JJ ,_, Pentecostal_JJ ,_, Sunni_NN1 Muslim_NN1 ,_, or_CC none_PN of_IO the_AT above_JJ ._. 
The_AT religious_JJ views_NN2 of_IO the_AT server_NN1 are_VBR irrelevant_JJ to_II the_AT job_NN1 ,_, so_CS the_AT argument_NN1 goes_VVZ ;_; therefore_RR ,_, "_" discriminating_VVG "_" against_II them_PPHO2 is_VBZ unjust_JJ ._. 
I_PPIS1 imagine_VV0 that_CST the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 editors_NN2 think_VV0 this_DD1 way_NN1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 misses_VVZ the_AT point_NN1 ._. 
Sure_RR ,_, a_AT1 government_NN1 agency_NN1 may_VM be_VBI able_JK to_TO spell_VVI out_RP specific_JJ services-health_JJ care_NN1 ,_, housing_VVG ,_, counseling_NN1 ,_, and_CC so_RR forth-that_DD1 religious_JJ organizations_NN2 could_VM provide_VVI ._. 
And_CC the_AT agency_NN1 might_VM be_VBI able_JK to_TO distinguish_VVI these_DD2 services_NN2 from_II more_RGR explicitly_RR religious_JJ activities_NN2 like_II hearing_VVG confession_NN1 ._. 
And_CC sure_JJ ,_, some_DD nominally_RR religious_JJ groups_NN2 may_VM be_VBI fine_JJ hiring_NN1 people_NN who_PNQS do_VD0 n't_XX share_VVI their_APPGE religious_JJ views-including_NN1 perhaps_RR the_AT "_" religious_JJ groups_NN2 "_" who_PNQS are_VBR calling_VVG on_II President_NNB Obama_NP1 to_TO reverse_VVI the_AT Bush_NP1 policy_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB organizations_NN2 that_CST take_VV0 their_APPGE religion_NN1 seriously_RR do_VD0 n't_XX all_DB agree_VVI that_DD1 individual_JJ jobs_NN2 can_VM be_VBI compartmentalized_VVN so_RG easily_RR ._. 
Nor_CC do_VD0 they_PPHS2 think_VVI that_CST their_APPGE mission_NN1 ought_VMK to_TO be_VBI so_RR compartmentalized_VVN ._. 
