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: Taxpayers May Not Challenge Promotion
of Faith-Based Initiative

Taxpayers cannot sue the federal government over events that promote its Faith-Based and Community
Initiative on grounds that they violate the constitutional separation of church and state, a splintered U.S.
Supreme Court ruled Monday (June 25). In a case known as Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation,
the nation's highest court ruled that taxpayers may not mount legal challenges against the government over
funding to religious organizations unless Congress has specifically authorized the programs that provide the
money. Citizens may not sue over purely discretionary actions of the President and his administration paid
for out of general administrative funds, the court determined. Significantly, but not unexpectedly, the high
court's decision did not more broadly limit taxpayers' right to sue over violations of the First Amendment's
Establishment Clause by overturning a 38-year-old precedent in a case known as Flast v. Cohen. Such a
decision would have severely restricted the right of individuals and civil liberties groups to mount religion-
related lawsuits against the government.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondents Claire Hughes and Anne Farris.

Click here for other news stories on the decision.

Click here for the Roundtable's Resource page on Hein v. FFRF, which includes stories and legal
analyses following the case over the last three years.

New! State Faith-Based Initiatives Move Forward Under New Governors

The election of 2006 brought to about a dozen state capitals the arrival of new governors, most of whom
kept the state offices for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives they inherited from their predecessors with
few changes. In some cases, the offices were maintained because the new governor was a successor of the
same political party. Even some Democrats who replaced Republican governors have retained the offices
and continue to encourage the partnership between government and community organizations. However,
the transitions earlier this year were not always seamless or respectful of earlier efforts, according to a
sampling of some of the dozen states with new governors.

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, 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

Churches aiding targeted families: Movement grows nationwide to help immigrants at risk of deportation
The Oakland Tribune (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6639

Baptists announce national immigration effort: Church program will help immigrants seek citizenship
The Austin American-Statesman (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6654

Dental care comes through ministry
North County Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6640

Fresh Start program recruiting churches
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6641

United Way adds new group; PROMISS offers services free
The Biloxi Sun Herald (Mississippi)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6642

Building character behind bars: Inmates learn that ethics count
Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6643

Phoenix area boosts efforts to reduce heat deaths among homeless
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6644

Putting Faith in Affordable Housing; Activists, Entrepreneurial Pastors Push Renewal of D.C. Churches' Efforts
The Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6645

Online Tool Maps Faith Groups Working for Social Justice
Ethics Daily

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6646

Faith based group back in action for flood victims
Sherman Denison Herald Democrat (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6647

The Plight of New Orleans Workers: Hands hired to clean up the Big Easy have been subjected
to wage theft, exposure to dangerous substances, layoffs, tough discipline and discrimination
In These Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6648

HHS Counters With Its Own Sex-Ed Critique
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6636

Sex Education 101
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6637

North Dakota Is Sued in Church-State Case
New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6655

Officials: No state money used for center's religious programs
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6656

Atheist group sues over Dakota Boys, Girls Ranch
Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6657

Life 'sacred outside womb, too,' GOP's Brownback says: The Kansas senator,
who is touring Iowa's small towns, pitches an expansive view of the pro-life movement.
Des Moines Register (Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6638

Taxpayer-funded tutoring fails needy students
USA TODAY

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6649

Help for homeless expands: Hillcrest Transitional Housing opens a second location in Platte County.
The Kansas City Star (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6650

Woman leads program that helped her kick addictions
Birmingham News (Alabama)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6651

Churches Face Dilemma Over Sheltering Migrants
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6652

Youth programs cluster under one
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6653