Faith in fellow man

Keep the faith, baby. Just keep it out of the requirements for programs that receive public funds.

That's a reminder to the good people - and they are very good people - who last weekend graduated their first class from NITRO, the North Idaho Training and Rehab Organization.

While the program represents an extraordinary effort of giving people with disabilities and criminal records a chance to learn marketable skills and become effective, positive contributors to society, a Press news article did mention that faith is a component needed for potential participants to qualify. That's when alarms went off.

Faith, officials involved with the program later clarified, does not mean belief in any specific religion but rather, faith in oneself to improve. Maybe that's what they meant, but the word is a potential grenade that could end up in NITRO's lap. Some of the program's funding comes from state coffers, and use of public funds for what's perceived to be a religious-based program would do more than raise eyebrows; it could eliminate that funding source.

At least some of the program's strongest backers are devout Christians who profess their beliefs openly and widely. If they say they accept applicants for the free program without any consideration of race, color, creed or sex, they mean it. But to most people, the word "faith" implies belief in a particular religion. It's a word best left out of the equation when public dollars are involved.

We're informed that NITRO is headed toward even bigger and better things and hope to report on that soon. In the meantime, we applaud the inaugural graduating class of 12, every one of whom has already landed a job. The program is anything but a handout. NITRO provides a rigorous exercise for individuals who are brave enough to earn the right to start their lives over.

Perhaps even more, we salute the men and women who launched NITRO. It's a lot of hard work powered mostly by passion to help others and to improve the community.

Even people who don't feel compassion for folks who make serious mistakes with drugs must agree that NITRO's potential to take welfare recipients or former prisoners off the streets and help put them into good jobs is a noble pursuit. It lifts the graduates significantly. It boosts society even more.