In what is a radical departure from Baptist protocol, an editor of a Baptist splinter group in Texas has called for state funding of religion.  Baptists used to champion the  cause that govenrment should not prop up religion.  Baptist in early New England did not want to pay taxes that went to supporting religious doctrines they did not agree with.  Things are changing.
     Gary Ledbetter, editor of the news magazine for Southern Baptists of Texas, a group that left traditional Baptist work in the state, has a new view of Baptist life.  Gary wants the state to give money for church ministries and that money be used to discriminate against other faiths in hiring practices.  He also sees nothing wrong with the state funds being used to win converts.  Writing in the December 31, 2008 isue of SOUTHERN BAPTIST TEXAN, Gary fears the new president will reverse a practice instigated by current President Bush.
    Most of the money handed out by Catholic Charities comes from the government.  Many denominational social programs have government funding.  These groups practice a separation of ministries.  They historically have not used state funds to promote their faith or discriminate in hiring.  Bush and his administration promised to allow this.
     This is the same magazine that claimed that the reason a gun man shot and killed several church members in Fort Worth is because of the separation of church and state.