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! Funds Up, Abstinence-Only Requirement Out, in AIDS Bill Compromise

In an unexpected and unusual compromise, legislators and the White House reached a preliminary
agreement last week to eliminate sexual abstinence-only education requirements from a bill that would
increase what the United States spends in the next five years to fight HIV/AIDS internationally. Members
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee agreed on a bill to reauthorize the five-year-old President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and sent it to the full House, which will consider it in coming
weeks. The Senate is also drafting a reauthorization bill.

The bill authorizes $50 billion over five years, and includes funding for tuberculosis and malaria programs,
in addition to those that address HIV/AIDS. In December, the President had requested $30 billion for
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, double the initial U.S. commitment in 2003. Congress estimates the
newly proposed funding will support prevention of 12 million new HIV infections, and provide treatment and
care for 15 million infected people. It adds 14 Caribbean countries to the current 15 that receive
PEPFAR assistance.

Before last week’s vote, 26 religious organizations, including several major Protestant denominations and
a group called Catholics for a Free Choice, sent a letter to the committee seeking an end to the abstinence
-only education spending requirement because they said it impeded a flexible, comprehensive approach to
HIV/AIDS prevention. Other conservative Christian groups, however, had opposed removal of the one-third
funding requirement for abstinence-only programs. In the end, at least some religious groups on both sides
of the issue said they supported the compromise measure.

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 Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services, and
by 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

Governor again tells church it's due $1 million
chicagotribune.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7860

Recovery agency is tapped to use center
Ventura County Star (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7861

Former Cincinnati councilman touts College Hill development;
Charles Winburn taps Equity to study plan for medical offices
The Business Courier (Cincinnati)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7867

Tennessee Recovery One Month Later: $4.3 Million In Assistance
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7871

Focus on HIV/AIDS among blacks Participants in annual program hope to stop the growing epidemic
Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7868

HUD offers workshop on competing for grants
dailypress.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7862

White House Report Maps Faith-Based Programs
TheNonProfitTimes

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7863

Red Cross faces daunting deficit:
The nonprofit organization is running low on funds and may end this fiscal year $100,000 in the red.
Merced Sun-Star (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7864

Gay couple upset over adoption
The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7865

Program targeting nonviolent offenders reaches out to families
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7866

Rabbi Harold Schulweis rallies help for the oppressed abroad
The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7828

Did gov break vow to help church?
Chicago Sun Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7821

Churches unite to create Faith Village; Habitat for Humanity builds
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7829

Initiative means going all out on couples' date night
Daily Oklahoman

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7830

HONOR your Temple; Work off pounds while praising your higher power
Ebony

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7831

The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind., Kevin Leininger column: Jailhouse
The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7832

STILL COMING; More than two years after Katrina struck,
a steady flow of volunteers still come to New Orleans to help with the recovery effort
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7833

Fighting addiction through God: Church join faith-based coalition
Scope of Current Services

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7834

Director: 19,000 families need help; Katrina summit convenes
The Biloxi Sun Herald (Mississippi)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7822

Faith-based jail program comes to an end in March
Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7823

United Methodists Join Anti-Torture Campaign
Ethicsdaily.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7824

D.C. to Unveil Partnership On Children's Health Issues
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7825

Faith-based program looks to lead addicts to recovery
The Cullman Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7835

A World Vision
The Modesto Bee (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7836

Gov. Blunt Announces Statewide Conference For Faith-Based Disaster Relief Initiative
US States News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7851

Having faith to get rid of the fat; Programs pair exercise, God to
Chicago Tribune

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7843

Study Links Subprime Crisis to Hunger
Ethicsdaily.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7837

Faith-Based Evaluation
ChristianityToday

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7826

Mexican archbishop wraps up visit to Washington state
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7845

Mentors Help Children Of Incarcerated Avoid Pitfalls
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7846

Adams County Rescue Mission saves through faith
The Evening Sun (Hanover, Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7847

Home for abused women wants to open in E. Lampeter;
Amish nonprofit seeks OK to occupy bed and breakfast on Mount Sidney Road.
Lancaster New Era (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7848

Faith-Based Groups Disagree on HIV Prevention Strategies
Christian Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7827

Family Planning Bill Highlights Ideological Divide
National Public Radio (NPR)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7838

Remarks stir flap over faith at Capitol: Chaplain calls rival religious fellowship 'disgusting' to God.
Sacramento Bee (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7839

Religious housing upsets some students
U. Central Florida University Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7840

McCain not ready to talk about running mate
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7841

Bipartisanship Trumps Liberal Agenda in PEPFAR Reauthorization
PR Newswire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7852

Governor Names New Directors for Office Of Faith-Based
And Community Initiatives And Office Of Utility Consumer Counselor
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7853

Faith Based Organizations Call on House Committee to Support Effective
HIV Prevention Strategies, Drop Abstinence Earmark
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7844

Bush says faith-based initiative a success
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7842

Faith at center of this community
Journal&Courier (Lafayette, Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7849

Tough neighborhood making great strides
Florida Today (Brevard County, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7850

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 3/4/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_3_4_08.cfm