WASHINGTON — It seemed like a firm campaign promise. Barack Obama pledged to continue President George W. Bush's faith-based office in the White House, but with a key change: Groups receiving federal money would no longer be allowed to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion.

On Thursday, however, as President Obama disclosed the details of his faith-based program, he left the controversial Bush policy in place. The decision angered Democrats and civil libertarians who thought Obama had agreed with their view that Bush's 2002 executive order went too far.

"Based on what he said, we thought the issue had been resolved," said Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Va.

"You'll have to ask them why they think it's all right to discriminate," Scott said. He added that administration officials are "either offended by the idea of discrimination or they're not."

But the move surprised and pleased some religious conservatives, who had a strong ally in Bush and had been pressing the new Democratic president to revoke his earlier promise.

"I'm very excited about this," said Frank Page, president emeritus of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of more than two dozen religious leaders named to a new White House council that will advise Obama on faith-based issues. "I know he was struggling with this particular issue. But this will allow religious groups to be true to themselves."

Obama announced that White House officials "may" seek guidance from the Justice Department if questions arise about the legality of potential grant recipients. The executive order, which did not specifically mention discrimination, gives the White House the option to review a specific grant for legal reasons but does not overturn Bush's broader policy.

Administration officials rejected the notion that Obama was backtracking on a campaign promise. A spokeswoman, Jennifer Psaki, said the new executive order "strengthens the constitutional and legal footing" of the faith-based office. She said the order "doesn't resolve all issues at the outset, but it does provide a mechanism to address difficult legal issues."

"On contentious issues like hiring, the president found that one of the problems with the previous initiative was that tough questions were decided without appropriate consideration, data, and input from different sides," Psaki said.

It marked Obama's first step in redesigning the White House faith-based office, created by Bush to help direct federal dollars to religious charities and social service organizations.

Groups such as Catholic Charities and Salvation Army have long received government money, but the faith-based office was intended to help direct federal help to smaller organizations.