E-Newsletter for February 6, 2007

In this issue:

• President's Budget Freezes Faith-Based Programs, Lowers Domestic Spending
• Legal Analysis of Court Ruling that State Can Exclude Faith-Based Provider
• Watchdog Asks High Court to Affirm its Right to Challenge Federal Initiative
• Case Against New Mexico Faith-Based Prison Program Slated for Summer Trial
• 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! President's Budget Freezes Faith-Based Programs,
Lowers Domestic Spending

President George W. Bush submitted a fiscal year 2008 budget to Congress
yesterday that called for an overall reduction in domestic spending and a freeze on a
majority of the core programs targeted by his Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

The $2.9 trillion budget calls for the same level of spending the President requested
last year for Faith-Based and Community Initiative programs such as sexual
abstinence education and the Access to Recovery program for substance abuse
treatment. But it also calls for a $25 million reduction since last year's request in
funding for the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). The CCF fiscal year 2008 funding
level includes $35 million for Communities Empowering Youth, an anti-gang
initiative that aims to expand faith-based and community organizations' work with
youths. The fiscal year ‘07 budget request for the youth program was $50 million.

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

New! Legal Analysis of Court Ruling that State Can Exclude
Faith-Based Provider

A federal appeals court has upheld the state of Michigan's decision to stop placing
abused, neglected and delinquent children with a faith-based provider called Teen
Ranch, after the state determined that the religious organization coerced children
to participate in religious activities. Teen Ranch had sued Michigan to get
reinstated as a state-approved provider. Supporters claimed the program was
funded by voucher-type financing, which courts have upheld as constitutional, even
when organizations that provide overtly religious programming are among those
that receive government funds. But for such programs to be legal, voucher
recipients must be able to exercise “genuine private choice” among religious and
secular providers, according to recent interpretations of the Constitution. Such choice
was lacking in this arrangement, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals found.

In their analysis of the decision, the Roundtable's legal experts say that the case is
important because of the legal argument the court rejected, and also because of the
principles reaffirmed with respect to indirect government financing of religious organizations.

Click here to read the analysis by Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle, Roundtable
Co-Directors of Legal Research.

Click here to read the judge's decision

New! Watchdog Asks High Court to Affirm its Right to
Challenge Federal Initiative

Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group opposed to the
government endorsement of religion, has filed its brief with the U.S. Supreme Court,
arguing that it has constitutional grounds to go forward with its legal challenge of
the federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The filing is the latest move in a
lawsuit begun in 2004, originally aimed at White House-sponsored conferences on
federal aid to religious groups. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral
arguments in the case on Feb. 28.

Known on appeal as Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, the case now
turns on whether taxpayers have the right to sue over a federal program that
supports religion through actions of the President and Executive Branch, rather
than with funds specifically earmarked by Congress. Courts that have considered
the case so far have drawn different conclusions, and several federal appellate judges
determined the law of taxpayer standing in cases involving the First Amendment's
Establishment Clause is so fraught with inconsistency and controversy that only the
Supreme Court could make a definitive ruling.

Several other parties have filed briefs in support of FFRF's position. Among them are
other groups advocating a strict separation of church and state, such as Americans
United for Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way.

Click here to access briefs filed last week by FFRF and supporting parties.

New! Case Against New Mexico Faith-Based Prison Program
Slated for Summer Trial

In addition to challenging the federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative
overall, Freedom From Religion Foundation has several pending lawsuits against
specific religious programs supported with government funds. One of them,
originally filed in 2005, targets a faith-based program operated by the private
Corrections Corporation of America in a New Mexico women's prison.

In the latest in that case, a federal judge has denied motions by both FFRF and the
defendants to dismiss the lawsuit. But he has upheld the Wisconsin-based watchdog
group's right to sue in this case. A trial date has been set in July.

Click here to read the judge's decision denying summary judgment.

Click here to read the judge's decision upholding FFRF's right to sue.

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 Education, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency,
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

Christian prison program case to be argued next week in St. Louis
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5986

Supreme Court Urged to Allow Challenge to 'Faith-based' Government Spending Friday: AU's
Lynn Says Court Should Protect Right Of Citizens To Stop Government Promotion Of Religion
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5987

Catholic Charities responds to tornados' destruction
The Florida Catholic

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5981

He's back from the depths of despair; Now Jason Hubbard is helping others
because he knows the way to recovery
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5982

Sheriff enlists faith groups to help curb crime in Avery
Asheville Citizen Times (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5983

'Faith-based' Government Spending: Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation
Friday, Supreme Court Faith-based Case Briefed; Oral Arguments Feb. 28
BBS News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5996

Public school students getting abstinence lessons from church
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5980

Addiction program graduates 2
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5984

Faith-Based Diets
First Coast News (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5985

Volunteers put faith to work
The Florida Times-Union

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5988

Angel Food: Feeding the Hungry: Filling body and soul
Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5989

Couple thrives on service: Volunteers dedicated to help homeless
The Enquirer (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5990

Making a difference, one person at a time:
Religious groups, volunteers offer relief to storm victims
Star Banner (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5991

The Beaufort Gazette, S.C., Jim Cato column:
Grant and good neighbors deliver sustenance for body and soul
The Beaufort Gazette (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5992

Transformation begins: Faith-based group leads push for affordable homes.
The Fresno Bee (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5993

For people trying to climb out of despair... She'll hold the Ladder
New Haven Register (Connecticut)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5994

Villa offers way out, way home *** Transition center takes in homeless
The Advocate

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5995

Religious, secular leaders urged to unite
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5960

Commentary: The trouble with teen drinking
Worldwide Faith News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5961

Strangers come together to rebuild a veteran's home
The Times-Union (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5962

N.O. homeless, disabled housing facility is unveiled; Mayor Nagin lauds public-private effort
Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5963

Regulators Challenge Kentucky Ruling Favoring Religion-Based Health Plan
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5965

United we stand: Social witness policy committee gets immersion in the United Nations
Worldwide Faith News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5966

Local organization, educators call for parents, teachers to unite for students
KGET TV (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5964

Camp Charity helps young girls look at life --
and each other-- differently
Delmarva Daily Times (Maryland)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5970

Group celebrates 10 years of empowerment: Peninsula Interfaith Action deals with community issues
The Ledger (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5971

Faith-based system working well here
Lebanon Daily News (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5972

Linking social services to training to help homeless become self-sufficient
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5973

Senator wants God out of courts
Arizona Daily Star

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5975

Religious expression bill passes first vote in Senate
The Daily Herald (Utah)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5976

U.S. 'Satisfied' With Religion's Public Role, But More Want Less
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5967

Violence a key issue for new faith office leader
The Florida Times-Union

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5968

Faith-Based Alcholics Rehab Better than Others, Study Suggests
Christian Today

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5969

Church-state 'wall' coming back down?
Washington Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5977

Texas Christian University's Extended Education Receives $750,000 Grant to Launch TCU Youth Program
Ascribe Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5978

Tornado recovery slowly continues
The Eufaula Tribune (Alabama)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5974

Embattled Marriage Program Claims Tax Money Never Funded Religion
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=5959

Weekly Opinion Roundup -2/6/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/2-6-2007_opinion_roundup.cfm