E-Newsletter for January 9, 2007

In this issue:

• States Pursue Faith-Based Prison Programs Despite Murky Legal Climate
• Update! Feds Ask High Court to Strike Challenge to Faith-Based Initiative
• The African American Church and Social Service - A 2006 Review
• Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community Organization Eligibility
• Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

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! States Pursue Faith-Based Prison Programs Despite Murky
Legal Climate

In spite of a complex and risky legal environment, several states are pondering or
pursuing plans to expand faith-based programs for inmates in prison or soon to be
released. In Florida, a task force created by former Gov. Jeb Bush has recently
recommended that the state triple its number of faith-based correctional facilities - from
three to nine - in the next two years. At least one state official there, however, believes
that move should not be made without more evidence of the programs' effectiveness. A
similar task force spearheaded by a Ohio state legislator made a series of
recommendations in November for expanding religious groups' work with inmates in that
state. Corrections officials there have already moved ahead with plans to recruit
volunteers and mentors to work with inmates both while in prison and after their release.
And last week, Arkansas officials dedicated a new evangelical Christian unit in a
women's prison, following the launch of a similar unit in a men's prison there last spring.

Click here to read the story by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

Update! Feds Ask High Court to Strike Challenge to Faith-Based Initiative

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has filed its brief
with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the nation's top justices to rule against a challenge
to the federal effort. Aimed originally at a series of White House-sponsored regional
conferences on federal aid to religious groups - and known on appeal as Hein v. Freedom
from Religion Foundation, et al. - the lawsuit turns on whether taxpayers have the right
to sue over a federal program that aids religion, but not with funds specifically earmarked
by Congress for such organizations. Courts that have considered the case so far have
drawn different conclusions, and several federal appellate judges determined the law of
taxpayer standing is so fraught with inconsistency and controversy that only the Supreme
Court could make a definitive ruling.

Several other parties have also filed a friend-of-the court brief in support of the
government's position. Among them are a dozen states, who jointly filed a petition
asking the Supreme Court to consider the negative effect that a ruling in favor of taxpayer
standing would have on their own efforts to encourage religious organizations to provide
social services. Other groups taking the feds' side include the Christian Legal Society,
American Center for Law and Justice and the Foundation for Moral Law.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on Feb. 28.

Click here to access briefs from the White House Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives, as well as others in support of their position.

Click here for a previous Roundtable article on the case.

Click here for the Roundtable's 2006 State of the Law report, which discusses the
important issues in this case.

The African American Church and Social Service - A 2006 Review

Among the important legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. is the enduring social activism
of African American churches. In honor of King's birthday January 15, the Roundtable
offers here a small sampling of stories and features from 2006 that highlight or discuss
that work.

In September, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that a only
small percentage of African American churches received funding for their social service
work through the federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative. A story and feature
interview on that report can be found here:

Survey Finds Few African American Churches Take Part in Federal Initiative.

An Interview with David Bositis of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Stories that include government efforts to reach the African American community
through churches were plentiful throughout various media, including this one from the
Roundtable on a federal initiative to combat AIDS:

Anti-AIDS Proposal Marks President's Latest Faith-Based Initiative.

The Roundtable's reporting on hurricane recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast frequently
referred to the work or concerns of African American faith-based organizations.
These stories include:

Katrina Anniversary Finds Faith-Based Groups Still on the Front Lines, Resilient But Fatigued.

Religious Leaders Call for Renewed Aid Efforts as Katrina Anniversary Nears .

New Disaster Report Cites Ways to Improve Use of Faith-Based Groups.

And last year, the Roundtable conducted feature interviews with two pastors who shared
very different perspectives on the role of African American churches and the needs of
their congregations:

An interview with Rev. Dr. Albert Sampson, Pastor of Fernwood United Methodist Church.

An Interview with Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson of BOND.

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. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S.
Department of Justice.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs may require specific
technical expertise.

Click here for the grant digest, compiled by Roundtable Correspondent Allison Sarnoff
with Lisa Montiel.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Leaps of Faith
The National Journal

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5815

Justice ministry aims to house the poor Teachings of Martin Luther King are
behind effort, which includes several area churches
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5852

Peyton chooses pastor to lead office; Rudolph Porter will oversee city grants to community groups
The Times-Union (Jacksonville, Flordia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5853

In Search Of A Home; Bush plan aims to end homelessness in 10 years
The Modesto Bee (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5854

Body, mind, spirit work together in parish nursing
The Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5855

Gang grant money awarded
The Kingston Free Press (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5856

Wolf bill would require health ed in schools
Cambridge News Chronicle (Massachusetts)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5858

Couples' course subtracts the faith part
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5848

Indiana House begins session with prayer from podium
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5857

No warm welcome for halfway house; Councilwoman says facility
rejected by Pine Hills doesn't belong in South End, either
The Times Union (Albany, New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5814

Interfaith group to match homeless to jobs
The North County Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5822

A home for hope when there is none; Orange County Rescue Mission
shelters those who are battered by life's travails.
The Orange County Register (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5823

Minister offers ex-cons lift on road to redemption
Chicago Tribune (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5824

Escondido to hear shelter request again
Union-Tribune (Escondido, California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5825

In Ministers We Trust
The National Journal

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5816

Homewood pastor opts to run against Councilwoman Carlisle
Pittsburgh Post Gazette (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5817

State Down -- But NL Up -- In Teen Pregnancies;
Ratio Has Grown Steadily Since 2000 After Long Drop
TheDay (Connecticut)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5818

Survey Finds Embezzlement In Many Catholic Dioceses
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5819

Salvation Army gets $300,000 surprise; Gift by woman largest ever in Lee by individual;
The News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5820

New weapons in city anti-violence arsenal; Faith-based initiatives eyed for teens
Philadelphia Daily News (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5821

'Gabriel Project' assistance reaches from Kanawha into Putnam
Charleston Gazette (West Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5826

Homeless men inspired by true-life tale on screen
Des Moines Register (Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5827

Counseling service offers faith-based help
The Valley Chronicle (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5828

Doorways provides valuable service to Seekonk's poor
Warren Times Gazette (Rhode Island)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5829

Judge Roy Moore and Foundation for Moral Law Ask U.S. Supreme Court
to Close Loophole That Allows Frivolous Lawsuits Against Religious Liberty
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5830

Chronicler of American ghetto turns his camera on storefront churches
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5834

Grant lays foundation for community housing; Highland Park project will
start by building 40 single-family homes for low-income families.
The Detroit News (Michigan)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5835

North Carolina Baptist Men have rebuilt more than 400 homes since Katrina
The Clarion-Ledger (Mississippi)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5836

Hit the Streets Jack; The Men of Valor Academy, a last-chance program for
parolees trying to turn their lives around, just closed its doors. Happy New Year.
East Bay Express (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5837

Shelter needs money for utilities
News & Record (Greensboro, North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5838

Justice: Pursuing King's goals;
Church head sets two-day observance
Antelope Valley Press (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5843

Suit against University of California: unusual clash between creed and curriculum
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5844

ACLJ Urges Supreme Court to End Special Privileges for Church-State Separationist Taxpayer Plaintiffs
Business Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5845

Coalition of Religious Groups Objects to Coach's 'Praying'
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5846

State prisoners struggle with life outside bars
The Tuscaloosa News (Alabama)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5839

Art with a lesson; Mural puts values on display at correctional facility
The Indianapolis Star (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5840

Company opts for justice without jail for offender
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5841

Christian Free Clinic starts in Botetourt
The New Castle Record (Vermont)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5842

Weekly Opinion Roundup -1/9/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/1-7-2007_opinion_roundup.cfm