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! Supreme Court Preview: Can Taxpayers Sue Over Faith-Based Initiative?

On February 28, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that will clarify when citizens have the
right to sue the federal government over issues concerning church and state. Hein v. Freedom From
Religion Foundation is narrowly focused on a technical issue - "taxpayer standing" - but could have
implications for future religion-related lawsuits brought by individuals and civil liberties groups against the
government. Several aspects of the case make it worth watching, including these:

• It is the first case targeting President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative to reach the Supreme Court.
• It will be the first time that Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Alito will issue opinions on a matter concerning the First Amendment's religion clauses.
• Its outcome could affect whether future lawsuits may be brought on such high-profile issues as religious displays in public places.

The Roundtable's legal experts - George Washington University Law Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert
W. Tuttle - have written an in-depth analysis of the case previewing the issues to be considered by the
nation's highest court.

Click here to read the legal analysis.

In addition, the Roundtable has put together a new Resource Page on the lawsuit, which includes Professors
Lupu and Tuttle's previous analyses of the case, as well as articles and interviews completed by our in-
house journalists. The page also includes access to documents filed with the Supreme Court by the parties
involved in the lawsuit - the federal government and Freedom From Religion Foundation, a church-state
separationist group that in 2004 initiated the lawsuit that led to this appeal. Links are also provided to
"friends-of-the-court" briefs filed by groups with a strong interest in the case's outcome, including 12 states
that operate their own Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the Christian Legal Society and the
American Civil Liberties Union.

Click here for the Resource Page.

New! White House Recruits Religious Groups to Defeat Malaria

In the six years since President George W. Bush began his Faith-Based and Community Initiative, his
administration has encouraged religious organizations to carry out an array of government social services
ranging from emergency disaster relief to informing the public about changes in the prescription drug
program. Now the President is turning to religious organizations in the fight against malaria, which kills 1
million Africans each year even though the disease is treatable and preventable. In 2005, the President
announced a $1.2 billion, five-year effort dubbed the President's Malaria Initiative to cut malaria-related
deaths by 50 percent in 15 targeted countries in Africa. In December, Laura Bush announced the Malaria
Communities Program, which isolates $30 million of that $1.2 billion over four years to provide grants to
African and American faith-based and community organizations to support malaria control efforts. And last
week, Mrs. Bush appeared at a conference sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI) to acknowledge the work of religious groups fighting malaria and
encourage others to join the effort.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Anne Farris.

New! Domestic Funding Increased Under Approved 2007 Federal Budget

Congress last week passed a $464 billion spending bill that included more money for education, housing
and health care programs that benefit the people assisted by religious organizations. The bill, signed into
law by President Bush last week after both House and Senate leaders negotiated a final agreement, pulls
together nine unfinished spending bills for almost all government operations except homeland security.
The bill, which covers spending for fiscal year 2007, remains within the spending limits of the President's
overall budget request but shifts funding from some defense programs to domestic programs such as
education, health care, housing, nutrition, and child care. Some of the increases also fund programs that
grant money to faith-based and community organizations to deliver social services.

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

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 Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, and the U.S. Agency
for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs 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

Faiths take new approach to domestic abuse; CONCORD: Jewish, Muslim, Christian
writers produce handbook to give religious leaders tools to help victims of violence
Contra Costa Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6051

2nd chance for ex-cons: Ready4Work prepares newly released inmates to land jobs
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6055

Student, 16, Finds Allies In His Fight Over Religion
The New York Times (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6063

Remember: If it sounds too good to be true ...
Virginian Pilot (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6056

Adoption center turns to churches
The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, West Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6057

Richmond Project convinces company to take a chance, and ex-convict
proves he was worth that opportunity: Parolee's first step promising
Contra Costa Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6058

Agencies try to bring homelessness out of the shadows
The Beaufort Gazette (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6059

Narrowing the Religion Gap?
The New York Times (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6052

Shining lights
Connecticut Post Online (Bridgeport, Connecticut)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6060

Woman helps others break free from abuse: Victor Valley's Inger
Robertson launches ministry for rape and molestation victims
Daily Press - Victorville (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6061

Holland mayor pushes church outreach
Grand Rapid Press (Michigan)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6062

Laura Bush Praises Private Sector Efforts To Fight Malaria: Faith-
based and community initiatives focus on disease in Africa
USINFO

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6053

Countdown to Global Fast -- America Prepares for a Day of Fasting and Charity
Christian Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6054

Christian Leaders Commit to Tackling Poverty
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6033

Antiviolence efforts get a funding boost: RICHMOND: $200,000 grant
will help association start up programs aimed at students and parolees
Contra Costa Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6034

F.A.I.T.H. group fights for affordable homes
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6043

'Break time' eases burden for 24-hour caregivers;
Volunteers mind elderly with mild dementia, give helpers weekly free time
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6040

Program intended to promote healthy marriages
Zanesville Times Recorder (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6041

Habitat for Humanity Work Starts On Home Volunteers Are Building On Furay Road
The Houston Chronicle

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6042

Prison funds turned to treatment: Gov. Bill Ritter submits an amended budget plan calling
for an $8 million increase in rehabilitation programs and a cut in spending on prison beds.
Denver Post (Colorado)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6035

Texas center offers hope
Clovis News Journal (New Mexico)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6036

A Toehold On A Leg Up;Cabarrus Agencies Push For More Resources To
Help Homeless Familieshelping Hands Got Her Back On Her Feet
Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6037

Faith, character programs planned at two Oklahoma prisons
The Journal Record (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6038

Bill that would protect religious speech is pulled
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6046

'Religious bill of rights' for schools dies: Committee kills Schultheis plan on party-line vote
Rocky Mountain News (Colorado)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6047

Signs point to compromise
Des Moines Register (Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6048

Appeals Court Considers Prison Ministry Program
Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6049

Faith group rallies for right to buy city's Oliver Towers
Lansing State Journal (Michigan)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6044

Religious groups feel cut off from Cuba
Miami Herald (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6045

Churches question No Child Left Behind
Cleveland Plain-Dealer (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6039

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 2/20/2007
Various Sources

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_2_20_07.cfm