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! Controversial Christian Prison Program Loses Public Funding

The state of Iowa is cutting off funding to a Christian prison program that was found last year to violate the
Constitution. The state's move eliminates the last chunk of government funds going to the InnerChange
Freedom Initiative, a Bible-based pre-release program operated by Prison Fellowship Ministries in six
states. Kansas and Minnesota had also contributed public funds to InnerChange prison programs, but cut
off their financial support last year after the court ruling against the Iowa program. The program has
operated entirely on private donations in Texas, Arkansas and Missouri, and hopes to continue operating in
Iowa that way.

The elimination of public funds to InnerChange is not enough to alleviate the concerns of Americans
United for Separation of Church and State about the program's constitutionality. Americans United is the
Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group that brought the lawsuit against the InnerChange program in Iowa
four years ago. The Roundtable's legal experts concur that the program may still raise legal questions, even
if it operates entirely with private funds.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

The Roundtable has closely followed the controversy over the InnerChange program as well as other faith-
based prison programs throughout the country. The Bush administration has strongly supported such
programs, as a key focus of its Faith-Based and Community Initiative, an effort to encourage religious
charities and other nonprofits to provide social services. In articles, feature interviews and legal analyses,
the Roundtable has looked at four major legal challenges that could impact future faith-based prison
programs, as well as other partnerships between government and religious groups. You can access the
information through our Resource Page on Faith-Based Prison Programs.

Click here for the Roundtable's Resource Page on Faith-Based Prison Programs.

New! Presidential Hopefuls Discuss the Value of Faith

In a groundbreaking forum focused on religion and politics, three Democratic presidential candidates last
night discussed their personal faith and how it guides their positions on policy. Senators Hillary Clinton
(N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) and former Senator John Edwards (N.C.), the three frontrunners in a
crowded race for 2008, each spoke separately about the strength of faith during difficult personal trials and
its importance in global matters such as war and poverty. The forum, televised before a national audience
on CNN, was hosted by Sojourners, a liberal evangelical group based in Washington and led by Jim Wallis,
and co-sponsored by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Eastern University, the ONE Campaign,
and Oxfam America.

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

Click here for transcripts of the event from CNN.

New! Congress Raises Minimum Wage, Moves to Hike Spending on
Health and Education

Congress has passed two major bills for spending and budget planning that raise the federal minimum wage
and call for increased funding for education and health care – issues that some religious leaders had rallied
behind for years, before Democrats took control of Congress in 2007.

Congress handed a major victory to low-income workers on May 24 by approving the first increase in the
federal minimum wage in a decade. While religious leaders supported the wage hike, they responded with
mixed reactions to the provision, which was attached to a $120 billion supplemental war funding bill and
$4.84 billion in tax breaks for businesses. A week before passing the supplemental spending bill, Congress
also approved a final budget blueprint that calls for spending $2.9 trillion in fiscal year 2008, which begins
Oct. 1. The House Appropriations Committee announced that it plans to approve allocations that would
boost spending on domestic programs such as education, health, veterans' services and housing, and
provide less money than the President requested for non-war defense activities.

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 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

Charity gets help from Wake: PLM has trouble with IRS debt
The News & Observer (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6540

Clinton, Edwards and Obama Discuss Their Faith at Forum:
All Say Religion Informs Politics, Personal Lives
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6541

Edwards, Clinton and Obama Describe Journeys of Faith
New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6542

Key Democrats appear at faith-based forum
McClatchy Washington Bureau (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6543

Dine out, help hungry: Portion of Salinas restaurants' proceeds goes to Food Bank
The Salinas Californian (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6536

A hunger struggle
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6537

Religious students' rights clarified in bill:
Controversial legislation addresses will cause more or fewer lawsuits, depending on whom you ask.
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6555

Lawmakers, churches seek to help soldiers after they return home
The Register-Herald (West Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6538

TGIF: Thank God I’m Free: Hopkins County faith-based recovery programs offer help, hope and healing
Sulpher Springs News-Telegram (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6539

Habitat for Humanity hosts 'Party in Paradise'
The Huntington Herald-Dispatch (West Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6548

Illegal immigrant invokes church sanctuary: Chicago woman faces deportation
Los Angeles Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6549

Faith Factor: Dems Discuss Religion, Values:
Religious Dems No Longer 'In the Closet' Says Host of Rare Forum
ABC News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6544

Sex ed landscape shifting in states
Stateline.org

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6545

Challenges to Teen Challenge
Eureka Times Standard (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6546

Charities Express Concern Over New Immigration Bill
KOCO-TV (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6535

Vandalia Prison Gets IFI
Missouri.net

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6550

Pairings help kids bloom; Good Connections
The Kansas City Star (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6551

Fighting Crime in Southeast On Faith
Daily Press (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6552

Community Hopes To Curb Violence
Daily Press (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6553

Faith-based Hope Ministry gives ex-prisoners new lease on life:
With the philosophy that everyone deserves a second chance, they offer rehabilitation and support.
Rome News-Tribune (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6554

THE NATION; Divided Supreme Court ending term with big issues;
School integration, campaign ads, Bush's faith-based initiative and more are on the docket this month.
Los Angeles Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6556

Liberal Evangelicals Host Presidential Forum
U.S. News and World Report

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6547

Religion and politics go hand-in-hand in 2008 presidential campaign
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6516

Fighting the demons, one day at a time
The Virginian-Pilot (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6517

Dallas Churches Adopt 65 Local Schools
Christian Broadcasting Network (Virgina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6518

Community policing focuses on doing good;
Faith-based groups will take the lead initiating good deeds in neighborhoods
Chicago Sun Times (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6519

Bible-based prison program in doubt after state halts money
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6520

Program to help newly released get a clean start:
A new hire will head Project Dismas, named for the patron saint of reformed sinners.
Florida Times-Union

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6523

Shield sought for rental recovery; Homeowners' fund could use the money
Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6524

American Legion, Legal Groups To Defend Religious Symbols on Memorials
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6531

Colorado Christian University to Appeal Tuition Assistance Ruling
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6532

Prisons around the country offer sweat lodges to Indian inmates
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6525

Rehab-center owner appeals denial
Deseret Morning News (Utah)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6526

NN police turn to churches for help
The Daily Press (Virginia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6527

Knoxville Clergy Gather to Fight Hate
Volunteer TV (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6528

Faith-community nurses seen as holistic way to health care
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6529

Christian Leaders, CNN to Question Clinton, Obama and Edwards
Christian Post Reporter

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6522

Profile: Sara Miles
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, PBS

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6530

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 6/5/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy promotes informed debate on the issue of publicly funded faith-based social service. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Roundtable provides independent, non-partisan research on the scope and scale of faith-based social services, their effectiveness, how public resources are being used in providing such services, and the legal and regulatory issues involved. The Roundtable's comprehensive web site makes this research and related information easily available. It can be accessed by clicking here:

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