E-Newsletter for March 6, 2007

In this issue:

• State Lawmakers Advance Proposals to Partner with Faith-Based Groups
• In Its Sixth Year, Fund Announces Latest Grants to Bolster Faith-Based Capacity
• Supreme Question: Can Taxpayers Sue Over Faith-Based Initiatives?
• 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! State Lawmakers Advance Proposals to Partner with
Faith-Based Groups

Lawmakers in several states have introduced legislation this year to advance faith-based and community
initiatives – attempts to encourage religious charities to provide social services under government contract.
Texas’ proposal may be the most extensive, involving a series of changes that would create a state structure
similar to the federal Faith-Based and Community Initiative. In other states – including Oklahoma,
Missouri, and Minnesota – proposed legislation would encourage prison officials to seek partnerships with
religious groups, designate liaisons in state agencies to work with faith-based organizations, and provide
funding to promote efforts aimed at encouraging responsible fatherhood. Meanwhile, Georgia’s governor
continues to try to get a constitutional amendment passed that would eliminate a ban on public funding to
faith-based organizations.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

The Roundtable has regularly and extensively examined state and local faith-based initiatives. While
some states have instituted sweeping changes in response to the federal push to encourage government
partnerships with religious charities, most have not, the Roundtable has found. Officials in some states see
no need for such change, as they have longstanding relationships with faith-based organizations that
provide social services with government support. Others have been hampered by budget shortfalls.

Click here for the Roundtable's Resource Page on Faith-Based Initiatives and the States, providing links to
overview information about state efforts, individual state laws, contacts, and case studies.

The Roundtable's 2005 conference -- "From the White House to the State House: Federalism and the
Faith-Based Initiative" -- highlighted the release of a comprehensive update report on the progress of
state and local government partnerships with faith-based social service providers. In addition to the report,
the conference included first-hand accounts from prominent federal, state and local officials who are
involved in faith-based initiatives.

Click here for news coverage, reports and transcripts of the Roundtable's 2005 annual conference -- "From
the White House to the State House: Federalism and the Faith-Based Initiative".

New! In Its Sixth Year, Fund Announces Latest Grants to Bolster
Faith-Based Capacity

The federal government is awarding another round of grants worth $16.5 million intended to strengthen the
ability of smaller faith-based and community organizations to deliver government social services.

The grants are available through the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) Demonstration Program, now in its
sixth year and providing more than double the annual funding since its inception. The CCF is specifically
targeted to assist organizations that are the focus of President George W. Bush’s Faith-Based and
Community Initiative.

This round of CCF grants goes to intermediary organizations that will deliver capacity-building skills to
faith-based and community organizations. The intermediaries use the money, granted by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Service (HHS), to teach and train smaller organizations how to develop
leadership, organization skills, revenue strategies, program management and community involvement techniques.

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

Supreme Question: Can Taxpayers Sue Over Faith-Based Initiatives?

On Feb. 28, the U.S. Supreme Court heard 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.

The Roundtable has compiled a Resource Page on the case, which includes: links to analyses by our legal
experts; original stories and interviews; and documents filed by parties in the case as well as those with an
interest in its outcome, such as civil liberties groups and states with their own faith-based and community
initiatives.

Click here to access the Resource Page.

In addition, we have compiled a digest of stories about the case by other news outlets,
which you can find here.

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 Corporation for National and Community Service, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, 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

Religious schools may use tax-free bonds:
State Supreme Court ruling is opposed by civil libertarians.
Los Angeles Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6132

Pastors fight killing with Bible readings
San Francisco Chronicle (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6111

Locals work to help storm victims
The Brewton Standard (Alabama)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6112

Breaking down barriers
The Herald-Sun/Bernard Thomas (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6113

Huckabee Seeks Blessing Of Religious Conservatives
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6108

Churches pick up fight
The Miami Herald (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6114

Gulfton area leaders join HPD in fight on crime;
Churchgoing couples will help those in complexes tackle social needs
The Houston Chronicle (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6115

Grant aims to help victims of violence
Bradford County Telegraph (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6117

Outdated cell phones raise funds, offer relief
The Noblesville Ledger Indiana

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6118

Faith behind bars
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6119

Speech by Attorney General Sparks Church-State Furor
Daily Jewish Forward

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6109

Financial strains and the embezzlement problem
The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6110

Giuliani Woos Religious Republicans, Stressing 'Authenticity'
Bloomberg News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6122

Homeless shelters receive $1.65M from HUD: Grants are awarded to serve area agencies.
Rockford Register Star (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6126

Churches, city unite for public housing programs
Aurora Beacon News (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6127

Churches should have role in fighting gang problems
News-Leader (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6128

Aids groups wary of immigration laws:
Three groups that work with immigrants say new rules don't effect them
Vail Daily News (Colorado)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6129

Newsweek editor talks about God, politics, how the two mix
Newark Advocate (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6123

Mother Teresa's former counsel talks on politics
Duke Chronicle (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6124

The Dems Get Religion: A new approach for the 2008 campaign
U.S. News and World Report

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6125

Military Outreach Ministry
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (PBS)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6120

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 3/6/2007
Various Sources

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_3_06_07.cfm