An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research project
of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State University of New York.

New! An Interview with David Campbell on California's Faith-Based Effort

David Campbell is a political scientist at the University of California, Davis. He serves as a Cooperative
Extension specialist and as director of the California Communities Program (CCP) in the Human and
Community Development Department. Dr. Campbell's research examines the intersection between public
policy and community development processes at the local level. For the past 10 years he has evaluated
welfare-to-work and workforce development programs in California. He is currently leading a UCD research
team evaluating a Sierra Health Foundation youth leadership development initiative.

Campbell talked to the Roundtable about the California Communities Program's evaluation, released in
October, of the California Community and Faith-Based Initiative. The CFBI allocated more than $17 million
in state funds to 40 competitively selected organizations who partnered with the government on workforce
development goals.

Click here to read the interview.

New! Court Denies Christian Prison Program's Appeal for Full Review

A federal appeals court has denied the request of an evangelical Christian prison program and Iowa
officials for a full-court review of a three-judge panel's ruling that the program was unconstitutional.
The InnerChange Freedom Initiative and its operator, Prison Fellowship, argued in a petition filed
December 17 that the three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals was wrong in upholding
part of a lower court decision in two respects: It determined that the program did not qualify as one of
indirect (as opposed to direct) government aid, which would allow the program to retain its religious
character. And it determined that taxpayers (not just prisoners themselves) had the right to challenge
the program in court.

The 8^th Circuit gave no reason for denying the program's request for another hearing. A spokeswoman
for Prison Fellowship and InnerChange said officials there have not yet decided whether to take further
steps to seek a reversal of the ruling. The next step would be a petition to the Supreme Court to hear
the case.

The case has been watched by supporters and opponents of faith-based prison programs, as well as by
the Roundtable, since Americans United for Separation of Church and State initially brought the lawsuit
in 2003. The Roundtable's legal experts last month wrote an in-depth analysis of the Dec. 3 ruling of the
8th Circuit's three-judge panel. In the analysis, Law Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle say the
court's interpretation of the legal issues involved will likely serve as the guidepost for future decisions
regarding faith-based prison programs.

Click here for the defendants' petition for a review of the case by the full appeals court.

Click here for the decision by the appeals court's three-judge panel.

Click here to read the legal analysis by Law Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle.

Click here for the Roundtable's Resource Page on Faith-Based Prison Programs,
which includes previous legal analyses, articles and interviews about the case.

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community
Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through programs
administered by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Justice, State, and
the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs require specific technical expertise,
or experience in particular foreign countries.

Click here for the grant digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Georgetown AIDS prevention study called inaccurate, biased against Catholic ethics
catholicnewsagency.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7570

Boles Children's Home's mission has changed
The Dallas Morning News (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7573

The Seed Planters
News-tribune.net (Travers City record Eagle; Traverse City, Michigan)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7574

New mentoring program reaches out to children of those in prison
WCFcourier.com (The Courier; Waterloo, Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7555

Sussex County considers controversial teen rehab
Delawareonline.com (The News Journal; Wilmington, Delaware)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7571

THE NATION; Abstinence enshrined at 'purity balls';
Conservative Christians make a night out of father-daughter togetherness sealed with a vow of chastity.
Los Angeles Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7557

Agency gets health grant; Catholic Charities will start refugee health programs.
FortWayne.com (News-Sentinel; Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7556

Volunteers aim to offer hope to young prisoners:
Good News Prison and Jail Ministry looks to help offenders from ending up back behind bars
Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7552

Inner-City Mission Seeing the hardships and perseverance of others
gives youth group members a different viewpoint. Journal excerpts
Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7553

Poverty jumps 18% in 5 years
St. Joseph News-Press (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7554

Ministry of Hope; A Clear Word Counseling Center to be dedicated Jan. 20
BlueRidgeNow.com (Times-News; North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7575

Faith-based program helps inmates
Muskogeephoenix.com (The Muskogee Phoenix; Muskogee, Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7576

Storm help is never too late
News-journalonline.com (The News-Journal; Daytona Beach, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7577

House Of Hope To Open
Tomsrivertimes.com (The Toms River Times; Toms River, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7578

Faith, hope and Catholic Charities
Denverpost.com (The Denver Post; Colorado)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7579

Faith-based group's lack of birth control talk holds up grant:
Commissioner balks at public money for teen-parent program
The Santa Fe New Mexican (New Mexico)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7558

A Doctor's Golden Touch; Physician, Minister Has Spread Gospel Of Wellness For 50 Years
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7559

Cicero church adds housing program; 3 duplexes bought to accommodate disabled adults
The Indianapolis Star (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7561

Charity group without a home
c-n.com (Courier News; Bridgewater, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7562

A House of Hope for Ocean County
APP.com (Asbury Park Press; New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7563

Federal appeals court denies rehearing in prison evangelism case
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7567

Shelter to expand
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7564

Providence Community Housing and Enterprise Commence Construction on 474
Affordable Homes for Low-Income Seniors and Families in New Orleans and Marrero;
PR Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7565

Wharton Partners With Faith-Based Community to Assist Pastors in Community Development;
New Executive Education Program Prepares Church Leaders for Real Estate Development
PrimeNewswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7566

Opinion: A helping hand
Editorial Board

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7568