The new proposed rules for government grants are an example of the challenge government officials face in parsing the language that relates yet distinguishes religious activity from participating in the public square and civic well-being. Such language has been confusing, because, as the proposed Department of Agriculture rule change explains, “some might consider their provision of a hot meal to a needy person to be an ‘inherently religious’ act when it is undertaken from a sense of religious motivation or obligation, even though it has no overt religious content.”
