E-Newsletter for November 21, 2006

In this issue:

• Government Watchdog Says States and Feds Fall Short on Abstinence
• Legal Papers Reveal Contradictions in Case Against Christian Prison Program
• Legal Analysis: Community House Inc. v. City of Boise, Idaho
• Don't Miss Out! Roundtable Conference Fast Approaching, Dec. 5
• Call for Papers: The Impact of Faith-Based Organizations on Low Income Families
• 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! Government Watchdog Says States and Feds Fall Short on Abstinence

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and some states have failed to fully
ensure that information provided by some federally-funded abstinence-only sexual education
programs is scientifically accurate. And no valid conclusions about the effectiveness of abstinence-
only education programs can be made because assessments have not met the minimum scientific
criteria. That’s according to a Government Accountability Office report issued last week. The 62-
page document, released by the non-partisan investigative arm of Congress, also found inaccuracies
in the abstinence-only education material when reviews were conducted. But HHS officials defended
their review of the abstinence education programs. "It is as important to us as to anyone that the
curriculum and programs be medically accurate," said Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children
and Families at HHS.

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

New! Legal Papers Reveal Contradictions in Case Against Christian
Prison Program

The action is accelerating in a year-old legal battle between a church-state separationist group and a
faith-based prison program in New Mexico. Nearly a dozen briefs have been filed within the last
month in the case brought by Freedom From Religion Foundation against the state of New Mexico
and Corrections Corporation of America, a private company that operates a women’s prison in that
state and offers faith-based programming. The legal documents reveal numerous disputed facts
about CCA’s operation, which bear upon such legally thorny issues as how the program is funded,
whether the inmates are offered a genuine choice among faith-based and other programming, and
whether the program’s purpose is primarily secular or religious in nature. The outcome will no
doubt have implications for a growing number of faith-based prison programs, as well as other
partnerships between government and religious groups.

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

Click here to read recent briefs filed in the case.

New! Legal Analysis: Community House Inc. v. City of Boise, Idaho

The case involves the city’s financial support for a homeless shelter run by a faith-based organization
that offers religious services for residents, who may attend on a voluntary basis. It is the first case to
address the issue of public aid for religious structures since a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling
six years ago that has defined the limits of direct government aid to faith-based organizations. A
federal court determined that the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause prevents the city from
entering into a lease with the faith-based organization as long as any religious service - even those
where participation is voluntary - is held there. In their analysis of the case, Roundtable legal
directors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle determine that the court reached "the most reasonable
interpretation" of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings on Establishment Clause litigation.

Click here to read the analysis.

Don’t Miss Out! Roundtable Conference Fast Approaching, Dec. 5

Just how well are government partnerships with religious social service providers faring in
communities throughout the country? The Roundtable's Annual Conference - "Partnering with
Faith: Assessing Government Alliances with Religious Groups in Key Service Areas" - will address
that question. We'll hear from Jay Hein, the newly appointed Director of the White House Office of
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, on the status of the federal effort and plans for its progress
during the Bush Administration's final two years. We'll have expert analysis from the Roundtable's
legal research directors, Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle, on developments in the law concerning
the relationship between church and state.

Then four separate sessions will explore government and faith-based partnerships in service areas
that have been identified as key to the federal effort. Panelists will include top government officials,
faith-based social service providers, researchers and skeptics. They'll share information on current
activities, program effectiveness, and the sometimes controversial issues surrounding taxpayer
support for encouraging religious charities to participate in such work.

Click here for descriptions of the conference plenary sessions.

Click here to register now. The conference is free, but you must register to attend.

Call for Papers: The Impact of Faith-Based Organizations on Low
Income Families

In June 2007, the National Poverty Center (NPC) at the University of Michigan will sponsor a
research conference, "The Impact of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations on the Lives of Low
Income Families." The conference is designed to bring together the growing group of researchers
who are interested in better understanding the role that religion and religious organizations play in
assisting low income families and affecting their behavior. Those selected will give a presentation at
the conference to be held in Washington, D.C. The application deadline for papers is January 31,
2007. For more information, visit http://www.npc.umich.edu/opportunities/ or contact Sarah Marsh,
Program Manager, National Poverty Center, at skmarsh@umich.edu.

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, U.S. Department of
Justice 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, compiled by Roundtable Correspondent Allison Sarnoff
with Lisa Montiel.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Report urges faith-based prison programs; Top corrections officials see bigger roles for church groups
Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5548

Rx for Recidivism;
Prison Fellowship president Mark Earley talks about challenges the ministry faces.
Christianity Today

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5549

Mission grows with help and faith; Wilmington institution to serve 700 Thursday, but 'shelves are empty'
The News Journal (Delaware)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5550

Volunteers fill boxes for needy kids
Billings Gazette

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5551

Federal grant to Salvation Army will benefit homeless veterans; Social services -
The $466,000 from Veterans Affairs will help expand training and counseling
The Oregonian

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5552

Some Worry Preschool Tax Violates Constitution
(CBS4) DENVER

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5553

Faithful turn to bill-share programs
Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5559

Task force wants to retool programs to help prisoners
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5554

Official promotes marriage to help poor kids
The Wall Street Journal

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5555

Legislature likely to eye faith-based funding
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5556

Group focuses on putting youth first
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5557

U.S. taxpayers feed Haiti's hungry
Media General News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5524

City Offers Hope For Homeless Via Meters; Coins Register Help, Relief From Despair
The Baltimore Sun

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5536

They hope Patrick sees youth as priority
The Boston Globe

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5558

Early Thanksgiving for homeless
The Honolulu Advertiser

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5523

Churches embracing abstinence
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5521

A path to peace; Workshop for teens aims to touch one heart at a time
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5522

Faith-based recovery home celebrates its first year
Yakima Herald-Republic (Washington)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5525

The sermon that provoked the IRS; An excerpt from the address at All Saints
in Pasadena offers a window into the IRS campaigning probe and the church's defiant response.
Los Angeles Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5526

Rep. Boucher Announces Success In Effort To Restore Historic Konnarock Girls School
US Fed News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5527

City terminates AIDS grant to faith-based vendor;
Auditors couldn't find evidence of services provided by Our Children
Washington Blade (District of Columbia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5528

First Place owner to shepherd campaign
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5530

Repeat offenders come under scrutiny
Patriot News (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5531

New transitional house supports inmates during re-entry
Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5532

Positive Parenting; Faith-Based Activities Can Be Boon To Teens
Miami Herald

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5533

Opinions mixed on sex-ed program; Official: Life Center exaggerated claims
Odessa American

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5534

Interest in forum 'phenomenal'; Community groups eager to take action against gang problem.
News Leader (Misouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5535

Drug-abuse help on the horizon
The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA.)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5529

Thrivent takes time for Haiti;nVolunteers prepare hundreds of thousands of meals
Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5544

Boise to ask court to rehear shelter discrimination case; 9th Circuit says city violated federal law,
Constitution by housing only men and allowing religious services
The Idaho Statesman (Boise)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5545

Reshuffling for Childcare Funds; Governor announces millions in stop-gap funding at Reston Interfaith.
The Reston Connection (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5546

First National Study from America's Promise Alliance Shows Playing
Field for Youth Can Be Leveled Across Racial and Economic Lines and
Success Attained if Adequate Resources Offered;
PR Newswire US

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5537

Philanthropy Expert Says Conservatives Are More Generous
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5538

Youth Ministers Use MySpace to Keep an Eye on Kids
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5539

Africans Chafe Under U.S. Abstinence Provisions
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5540

Board votes in new sex-ed program: Life Center takes over
Odessa American (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5541

Project Access program set to graduate 45 area groups
Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5542

St. Joseph School awarded Blue Ribbon status By Dept. of Education
Journal Inquirer (Connecticut)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5543

Weekly Opinion Roundup -11/21/2006
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletters/article.cfm?id=5560