WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama meets with his faith-based advisory council today to get its recommendations on issues ranging from poverty and climate change to reforming the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Critics have urged the office — a holdover from the previous administration — to withhold funding from religious charities that hire only fellow believers, but it’s unclear if that will be discussed.

Under President Obama, the faith-based office’s policy goals include “reducing the need for abortion” — an issue that is not on today’s agenda.

But the advisory council is scheduled to discuss interfaith cooperation, which will be needed since its 25 appointees range from Catholic, evangelical and liberal Christians to Jews, Muslims and the religious director of a gay rights group.