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! Civil Rights Groups Call for Investigation Into Faith-Based Initiative

A coalition of civil rights organizations has asked a congressional committee to investigate the
White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, questioning whether the office has
violated constitutional protections separating church and state, engaged in partisanship, or been
subject to adequate monitoring. The Coalition Against Religious Discrimination’s request follows
several significant developments that have raised the concerns of civil liberties groups. Those
developments include: a Government Accountability Office report last year that found the government
does not do a consistent job of providing guidance to or monitoring compliance among federal grant
recipients; a Supreme Court decision in June that limited taxpayers’ ability to bring lawsuits charging
the federal government with violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause; and a
recommendation posted by the Justice Department last month that faith-based organizations be
exempted from the employment nondiscrimination rules attached to some federal grants. A book
critical of the federal faith-based effort by a former staffer in the White House faith-based office, David
Kuo, and published last year was also a factor in prompting the group to push for an investigation.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

New! Faith Leaders Concerned as Bush, Congress Parry over Spending

A predicted showdown between Congress and President George W. Bush over government spending
became a reality Tuesday when the President vetoed a bill to fund domestic health and education
programs at increased levels and signed another bill to expand the Pentagon’s non-war spending.
The President announced his actions as he flew to Indiana to speak to business and community
leaders about the need for Congress to control its spending priorities. The spending levels passed by
Congress are of direct interest to many religious organizations. Faith groups may receive government
money to provide services, or serve clients and communities who are impacted by changes in
government funding for human services.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

Register Now! Roundtable Conference Features Latest on Faith-
Based Social Services

At the Roundtable's annual conference, noted political scientist John Green of the University of Akron
will report new findings from a national survey on the services provided by congregations and faith-
based organizations, as well as on their leaders' awareness and interest in participating in public
programs to support or extend such activities. Survey results will also include new findings on
administrative practices and organizational characteristics among congregations and faith-based
organizations, with regard to their readiness to receive and account for public funds in the form of
government contracts or grants.

And the Roundtable's highly respected legal experts - Law Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W.
Tuttle of George Washington University - will give a thorough update on the year's most significant
legal events affecting government partnerships with religious charities. Topics include the implications
of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, government
chaplaincies, legislative earmarks to religious groups, and the use of tax money to renovate religious
structures. As close observers of the federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative for the past six
years, Lupu and Tuttle are able to provide context for the latest developments and offer insights into
what to watch for next.

If you want to keep up on the latest news on faith-based social services, you won't want to miss this
year's conference, which will be held Wednesday, December 5, in Washington D.C. The complete
program will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the National Press Club at 529 14th St. NW.

Register now! The conference is free, but you must register to attend.

Click here to submit your online registration.

White House Office Calls for Papers

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, in coordination with the HHS Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and Center for Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives, is soliciting abstracts for research papers to be presented at a June 2008 conference. A broad
mix of empirical methods is being sought for conference papers, along two tracks.

Papers of interest for Track 1, New Initiatives and Innovations, will present research sponsored by the
federal government or private/nonprofit foundations that may include examinations of federal and state
faith and community-based initiatives in the following program areas: welfare assistance; workforce
development; housing; healthy marriage and relationships; international health, including HIV/AIDS and
malaria prevention; substance abuse; prisoner re-entry; disaster relief; youth education and development.
Also of interest are detailed reviews of the research literature about faith and community-based programs
or innovations by nationally known research scholars. Papers in Track 1 will be published in a
research compendium.

Research papers of interest for Track 2, Emerging Scholarship in FBCI Research, should reflect the
topics listed for Track 1, but focus on smaller-scale investigation of local programs or organizational
activity of one or a few smaller faith-based and community organizations in a particular geographic
region. Examples include: best practices and lessons learned from local FBCI efforts, organizational
decision-making involved in applying for government funding, innovative service delivery approaches,
use of technology in capacity building, efforts of state-level FBCI offices or technical assistance
providers, and results of mini-grant awards for particular programs.

The deadline for submissions is 11 p.m. on December 3, 2007. For more information, click here.

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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for International
Development. Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs may require specific
technical expertise, or experience with particular foreign countries.

Click here for the grant digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Portland, Ore., aid groups busy with recent disasters
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7281

Group urges buyout plan for hurricane-damaged homes
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7282

One hot Potato Project ; Service work to aid hungry grows into a well-oiled machine
Concord Monitor (New Hampshire)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7283

Hospital makes a house call;
Navy personnel offer food, clothing and a kind hand to the City Rescue Mission.
Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7284

Faith-based organization hosts public meeting with legislators, community
The Kansas City Star

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7285

Capitol: Faith-based groups and food pantries discuss lack of food among state's young;
Some kids still hungry; Organizations seek funds, support to expand existing feeding programs for the poor.
The Oklahoman

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7286

Forum to focus on how to help parolees return
Redlands Daily Facts (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7287

Conferees Approve Reauthorization Of Head Start Program
National Journal's CongressDaily

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7289

Gov. Blagojevich Administration Announces Landmark Emergency
Preparedness Initiative To Reach Illinois' Hispanic/Latino Community
US States News (Chicago)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7292

Democrats Hail Abortion Reduction Measure
EthicsDaily.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7279

Conference Helps Faith-Based Groups Apply for Gov't Grants
Christian Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7280

Ruling has 'quick and dramatic' impact on church-state cases
The Associated Press (Madison)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7288

Push To Investigate Bush's Faith-Based Office Puts Jewish Groups
in Quandary Concern High About Staff Hirings
The Jewish Daily Forward

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7293

Minneapolis police and religious group provide mentors for ex-cons struggling to adjust to life after jail
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7294

Faith-Based Counseling Extends To Northern Maine
WCSH Portland 6

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7295

Rep. Franks Voices Opposition To Employment Non Discrimination Act
US Fed News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7296

Catholic Charities USA Calls on Congress to Strengthen
Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs in 2007 Farm Bill
U.S. Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7298

Faith groups hold screenings of anti-torture film
National Catholic Reporter

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7300

Compassion Helps Locals: With 10 years invested in helping the
downtrodden, pair's Senior Serve program now has 1,600 clients
The Bakersfield Californian

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7301

Even though legal action threatens its survival, a rehabilitation program at a prison
near Richmond aims to make sure inmates get on the path to redemption and avoid
the road to ruin; Reaching salvation through incarceration
The Houston Chronicle

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7302

Nampans don't want New Hope house
The Idaho Statesman (Boise)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7299

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 11/13/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_11_13_07.cfm