To say that President Barack Obama has a lot on his plate is akin to saying that Baltimore saw a little snow in recent days. But the president did have the time on Thursday, Feb. 4, to take his plate to the 58th annual National Prayer Breakfast. The audience, comprised of numerous political and religious leaders, presented a strong opportunity to share thoughts on the role of religion in public life. As expected, the president praised diverse groups, including the evangelical World Relief, the American Jewish World Service, “Hindu temples, and mainline Protestants, Catholic Relief Services, African American churches, the United Sikhs…” Unfortunately, other than such expected generalities, he did little to advance the conversation about government’s critical role in working with such religious operations and their often successful social service programs.

After all, it was candidate Obama who agreed that the Bush administration’s loose guidelines in the area needed tightening. In the past year, Mr. Obama did make a strong start by charging a distinguished group of faith-based, secular and academic leaders to make recommendations. Among the suggestions offered by the Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships: have distinct bodies to run the programs (similar to how Jewish Community Services operates); ban discriminatory hiring practices and proselytizing; and ensuring that the operations provide beneficiaries with information about secular alternatives.

Sadly, to date those guidelines exist on paper only.

Recognizing this, last week 25 national organizations – including the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith International, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (to which the Baltimore Jewish Council belongs), the Union for Reform Judaism and the Women of Reform Judaism –wrote to the president on the eve of the National Prayer Breakfast. They asked him to prevent religious discrimination and proselytizing amongst groups receiving tax payers’ money. It’s time for Mr. Obama to do just that.

Everyone recognizes these to be difficult issues to deal with, legally and emotionally. However, faith-based operations deserve to know the rules, and the public needs such protection. Indeed, the plan is already sitting on Mr. Obama’s plate. One awaits his desire to have a nibble.