8/29/11: Google Snubs Religious Non-profits

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00 — 1.4MB)

Google has pulled the welcome mat from under churches and other faith-based groups that previously were able to use its office software and popular Gmail for free when it, in effect, banned God from a program.

The Internet search and software giant’s new rules fly in the face of the program title of “Google for Nonprofits,” because it now excludes churches, schools, political think tanks, proselytizing groups and any organization that considers religion or sexual orientation in hiring decisions.

The move has been a blow to cash-strapped churches trying to use social media to keep faith in the Internet mix, according to a report in Christianity Today.

Critics told Christianity Today that Google is “trying to avoid anything that would reflect negatively on them” by avoiding potentially polarizing causes that might alienate customers.