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! An Interview with Rep. Mark Souder

U.S. Representative Mark Edward Souder (R-IN) has been a strong advocate of legislation to make
faith-based organizations eligible to receive federal grants to help address cultural problems such as
drug addiction, teen pregnancy and gang activity. As former chairman of the House Government Reform
Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, which had jurisdiction over the
White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Rep. Souder held a series of hearings to
examine faith-based social services and to consider making the White House office permanent.

Souder spoke with the Roundtable about a variety of issues surrounding the federal Faith-Based and
Community Initiative, including how politics got in the way of its advancement. Particularly with regard
to the goal of expanding the rights of publicly funded religious organizations to hire only people of their
own faith, Souder says, "This is now the end. When Bush leaves, it’s over."

Click here to read the interview.

New! Faith Groups Respond to Acts of God Early, Stay on the Scene Late

The key role religious groups play in getting immediate aid to disaster victims has again risen to the
world’s attention this month as a cyclone, earthquake and tornadoes tore apart lives in the United States
and abroad. And even as religious groups work feverishly to reach the victims of natural catastrophes in
Myanmar, China and the U.S. South, renewed attention has been focused in the last week on their role in
long-term redevelopment efforts following disaster, too – in particular, in the Gulf Coast, which was ravaged
by hurricanes nearly three years ago.

While volunteers from international faith-based relief organizations struggled to overcome government
restrictions blocking relief efforts in Myanmar or to deliver temporary shelters to Chinese people suddenly
rendered homeless by a May 12 quake, an interfaith group in the U.S. launched a loan fund to help nonprofits
trying to rebuild the areas of New Orleans and southwestern Louisiana hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
And the White House on Monday extolled the efforts of faith-based and secular nonprofits working with
government to rebuild communities after disaster strikes.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

Click here for a roundup of news stories on faith groups responding to recent disasters.

Click here for a Roundtable resource page on faith-based organizations in disaster response.

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, Housing and Urban Development,
Justice, and Labor, 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

Habitat Charity Turns Foreclosed Homes
CBNNews.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8302

Reaching Well Beyond the Farm
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8303

Governor Riley Rallies Faith and Community Groups to Help Ex-Offenders Avoid Return to Crime
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8304

For Women Only; Local Dress for Success Program Back in Business
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8284

Aid Groups Feel the Pinch of Rising Food, Gas Prices
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8279

Saving Grace
Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8280

Governor Calls for Collaboration to Help Vets
The Sun (Yuma, Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8281

Success in Life is Job One; Working Up:
A Roswell Program Gives Disadvantaged Women the Keys to Start Life Afresh
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8285

Their Prison Songs Are Songs of Joy: Inmate Choir Allows Members in Richmond to Redirect Lives
The Houston Chronicle (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8286

Churches Tackling Water Issues: Money Raised For Wells
Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8287

ELCA Lutherans Join 'Green' Program
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8288

Presbyterian Agency Considers Retirement Complex in City
Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8282

Lender May Close 139 Stores
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8283

Aim of Bus Trek is Health Care Reform
Buffalo News (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8289

Circle of Love Sisters Ready to Introduce Ministry
Daily News Journal (Tennesse)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8290

New Hope in Community; Assistance from Church-Based Group Vital To Some Residents
Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8291

Separation of Church, Aid Eyed: A Federal Court Weighs
Whether Students At Religious Colleges Can Get State Tuition Help
The Denver Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8292

Bill to Provide Detained Immigrants Access to Clergy Passes Illinois House
chicagotribune.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8293

Recidivism 'Staggering'
Philadelphia Daily News (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8294

Churches across USA help with mortgage crisis
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8297

Florida to Consider Key Church-State Question; Funds Ban for Religious Groups at Issue
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8300

U.S. Grants to Fight Triangle Gangs
The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8298

U.S. Religious Donations at $8.8 Billion for Developing World
The Christian Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8295

Macon Officials Tight-Lipped About Grant Meeting
The Macon Telegraph (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8296

Funds For Mission on Hold for Now: City Also Waiting to Choose Location of Facility
Los Banos Enterprise (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8299

President Bush Praises Ace at Faith-Based Schools Summit
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8301

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 5/20/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_5_20_08.cfm