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! Facing Lawsuit and Scrutiny, State Drops Social
Service Chaplaincy

The state of Indiana has eliminated a novel chaplaincy program, prompting plans
by a national atheist group to withdraw a lawsuit challenging the program’s
constitutional integrity. Withdrawal of the lawsuit means the questions it raised
about the Bush Administration’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative and similar
state-sponsored efforts will remain unanswered for now.

Indiana terminated the 18-month-old pilot program on August 1 because it was
not meeting the goal of establishing volunteer chaplains in each of the state’s 92
counties to counsel state employees of the Family and Social Services Administration,
according to FSSA spokesman Marcus Barlow. The program cost the state $100,000.
The FSSA spokesman said the lawsuit did not influence the state’s decision to end
the program, which was headed by Michael Latham, a Baptist minister from Fort Wayne.
Latham was paid an annual salary of $60,000 to counsel FSSA employees and develop
a network of volunteer ministers to work with the office. Volunteer chaplains were
established in only 21 counties, Barlow said. Latham was also responsible for
coordinating relationships between the FSSA and faith-based organizations that
deliver social services in Indiana.

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

New! Earmarks to Religious Groups Raise Legal Questions

A lawsuit filed last week in Louisiana, challenging $120,000 set aside in the state’s
budget for two churches, has brought renewed attention to some thorny issues
surrounding the use of legislative earmarks to religious groups. The lawsuit, filed
August 13 by the American Civil Liberties Union, alleges that state officials violated
the U.S. Constitution by granting taxpayer money to faith-based groups with no stated
secular purpose for the funds’ use. The grants were not subject to competitive bidding
or oversight, the ACLU claims.

That’s exactly what earmarks are – grants requested by lawmakers for specific groups,
which do not compete for the money. Nationally, earmark spending has been blamed
for adding to the federal budget deficit and has been the subject of calls for reform by
both the White House and congressional leaders.

Yet earmarks like those in Louisiana are used increasingly by the federal government
to fund religious groups, according to published reports. And while the earmarks seem
to bypass what some consider an overly burdensome and uncertain competitive bidding
process, they have also become the target of court challenges in recent years. A legal
expert for the Roundtable says there is a reason the earmarks can create controversies
that wind up in court.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

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, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the United States
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

Life Enrichment Center will move to bigger site soon;
Larger space will allow faith-based center to expand services.
Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6947

IRS seeking to remove discrepancies in how nonprofit hospitals report community aid
Memphis Business Journal (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6913

Rescue mission helps destitute find the pathway to a more fulfilling life
Florida Times-Union (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6916

'Blitz' Settles Families In Homes Volunteers Fix Blighted Properties With Help Of Churches, Partners
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6917

Katrina's aftermath Two years later, shelters shrink as homeless ranks grow
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6918

N.J. agencies ready prisoners for release
Home News Tribune (New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6919

Criminals, crime victims share experiences in the hope that once inmates get out of prison, they stay out
The Beaumont Enterprise (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6920

A place to reflect, change direction
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6921

Funding faith-based charities
The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6922

Religion trumping policy in Bush White House: ADL
Cleveland Jewish News (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6923

Local food banks need donations to fill empty shelves
The York Dispatch (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6924

Faith meets farming
The Daily Journal (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6925

Faith programs offered as tool to relieve prison crowding
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6926

Religion in the News
The New York Times (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6927

Ministry expands Price Hill outreach
Community Press (Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6928

Researchers Studying How Religious Groups Provide HIV/AIDS Support, Education
Kaiser Network (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6930

State stops controversial chaplain effort: FSSA initiative to help employees
cope with privatization met few of its goals, cost more than $120,000
Indianapolis Star (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6931

CARE Turns Down Federal Funds for Food Aid
The New York Times (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6932

Workshop Helps East Central Indiana Faith-Based Youth Organizations in Raising Resources
Muncie Free Press (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6935

River Ridge camp helps youngsters get up to speed; More than 50 children are able to participate
New Orleans Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6936

Salvation Army gives homeless a chance
Tampa Bay Newspapers (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6929

House of hope A new church program helps girls move from foster care to a new life.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Arkansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6937

Shelter teaches responsibility:
Manna House, a transitional home in Aberdeen, celebrates 20 years
Asbury Park Press (New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6938

Faith rebuilds house and soul NEW ORLEANS --
Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina, much of the city is deserted.
Combined Jewish Philanthropy (Massachusetts)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6939

Indiana Kills Controversial Faith-Based Initiative
WLKY-TV (Kentucky)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6933

Illegal immigrant to end yearlong stay in West Side church
Chicago Tribune (Illinois)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6934

ACLU sues to stop church donations
USA Today

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6941

In Sugar Land, Perry signs religion-in-schools bill: Legislation supports students' rights to discuss faith
Houston Chronicle (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6942

Inside the White House Conference on Faith-Based Initiatives: Avoiding a Lawsuit
Minnesota Monitor (Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6914

Pregnancy assistance center offers expectant mothers free sonograms
Weatherford Democrat (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6940

Inside the White House Conference on Faith-Based Initiatives: Minnesota Nice
Minnesota Monitor (Minnesota)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6915

Locked up: Faith-based proposal under fire
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6943