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! Probe of Religious Discrimination in Prisons Includes
Faith-Based Ministries

Religious discrimination in prisons, including the role of faith-based rehabilitative programs, was the subject
of a briefing last week before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which is examining the topic as part of a
report to Congress and President George W. Bush to be submitted later this year.

The commission, an independent and bipartisan agency charged with monitoring federal civil rights enforcement,
heard testimony from 11 experts including a prison warden, the vice president of the world’s largest faith-based
organization serving prisons, a lawyer who has successfully sued faith-based prison programs, and a U.S.
Department of Justice official who has previously worked for a religious prison program.

Prison ministry programs have been a focus of debate in recent years, particularly with a proliferation of faith-
based organizations and volunteers providing inmate services supported by the President’s Faith-Based and
Community Initiative.

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

Click here to access written testimony filed with the Commission.

Click here for a Roundtable Resource Page on Faith-Based Prison Programs.

New! An Interview with Chaplain Gary Friedman of Jewish Prisoner
Services International

Chaplain Gary Friedman is chairman of Jewish Prisoner Services International, which provides spiritual,
outreach and advocacy services for Jewish prisoners and their loved ones, working with other Jewish
organizations and social service agencies. JPSI provides services throughout the United States, Canada,
Israel and elsewhere. It is a primarily volunteer-driven organization that includes rabbis, lay leaders, educators,
and other professionals, as well as ex-offenders who have been recipients of the group's programs.

Friedman, based in Seattle, also chairs the Religious Services Advisory Committee of the Washington
State Department of Corrections, and is vice chairman of the Religion and Faith-Based Services Committee
of the American Correctional Association, among other posts. He spoke with the Roundtable about his
testimony to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission regarding prisoners’ religious’ rights and his concerns about
faith-based prison programs.

Click here to read the interview.

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 Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Justice, 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 grants digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Quincy minister named to faith-based initiative
Whig.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7704

Congress Poised to Reauthorize Legislation Aimed at Dramatic Expansion of Global HIV and AIDS Programs;
Draft bill corrects flaws in existing policy; Legislation has overwhelming support of large global AIDS coalition
PR Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7721

Gun buyback can't cover volume
Inside Bay Area (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7710

New school program has faith;Churches join together for higher-quality learning
BostonHerald.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7711

Ricky Burgess And Hope For Homewood
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7712

Urban Impact eyes bigger part in town
Home News Tribune (East Brunswick, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7713

Rehab through faith
The Valdosta Daily Times (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7714

Clergy updated on violence
Nationnews.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7705

Interfaith Movement In America Digs Deeper;
Efforts Shifting to Intimate Dialogue, Service Projects
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7706

Presidential candidates have misused religion, minister tells ADL conference:
Anti-Defamation League leaders applaud separation of church, state
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7707

Public Funds Should Not Support Coercive Faith-Based Ministries
BBS News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7717

House Republicans say proposed Democratic changes in global AIDS program would spur abortions
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7718

Gov. Blunt Highlights Report Showing High Performance In Missouri's Workforce Systems
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7720

Faith-based health program expands, adds Latino classes
NewsMedical.Net

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7715

Faith leaders revive call to cripple crime;
Wayman Ministries hosts brainstorming to help neighborhoods.
Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7716

Ash Wednesday Observed With Antiwar Protest At White House
The Day

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7708

White House 'Compassion in Action' Roundtable Highlights Transformational Efforts of International Social Enterprise
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7709

FRC Urges Rejection of Lantos Bill That Funds International Abortionists
PR Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7722

Department Of Corrections To Collaborate With Racine County On Prisoner Reentry Initiative
US States News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7723

America's AIDS leadership lauded abroad
American Chronicle

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7724

White House Seeks Extension of 'Charitable Choice' Rules
The Chronicle of Philanthropy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7725

Minister regroups anti-crime initiative
The Florida Times-Union

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7727

Hard times at Beaches has BEAM gearing up;
The social service agency wants to add child-care assistance and job counseling to its services.
Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7728

Faith's special place
The Florida Times Union (Jacksonville)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7729

A fine old jubilee: Drug treatment home opens doors after four years of work
Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7730

New PEPFAR Draft Undermines Family Values
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7736

Group grieves together
St. Cloud Times (Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7731

Welcome Urged For Immigrants
The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7732

EMA seeks financial assistance to help others
Waterloo Courier (Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7726

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 2/12/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_2_12_08.cfm