WASHINGTON (March 10, 2010)--President Barack Obama's faith advisory council recommends federal funding should only be prohibited for "explicitly religious activities" such as proselytizing and worship.

Rabbi Nathan Diament noted that the current ban on funding activities that are "inherently religious" is confusing, because volunteers at soup kitchens and homeless shelters often have religious motives.

The recommendation on reforming the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships was one of many that Diament and 24 other religious leaders presented to the president Tuesday.

Harry Knox, religious director for the Human Rights Campaign, said funding religious charities must always be done in a way that's faithful to "constitutional principles."