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! Court: Church-State Watchdog Cannot Sue over State Funding
to Christian Home

A lawsuit challenging state funding of a Christian home for troubled teens has been thrown out of court,
after a federal judge ruled the taxpayers who brought the case had no right to sue over the violations of
church-state separation that they alleged. Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based church-
state separationist group, filed the lawsuit a year ago, charging that the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
operated inherently religious programs with public dollars. The lawsuit named as defendants North Dakota
state and county agencies responsible for referring teens to the home, saying agency officials violated First
Amendment prohibitions against government endorsement of religion.

But FFRF’s case against the state’s funding of the Lutheran home will not be heard, at least not in the near
future. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland determined that the taxpayer plaintiffs had no right to sue
over funds allegedly misspent by the North Dakota child welfare system because the expenditures were not
specific appropriations of the state Legislature – which would have been subject to such a legal challenge –
but rather discretionary, executive-branch expenditures – which are not. Judge Hovland’s order comes a year
after the decision handed down in Hein v. FFRF, in which the U.S. Supreme 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.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

Click here for a Roundtable Resource Page on Hein v. FFRF.

Watch future newsletters for an in-depth legal analysis of this decision from Roundtable legal experts Ira C. Lupu
and Robert W. Tuttle.

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. Department of Health and Human Services, and the United States 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

Western Pennsylvania Faith-Based Senior Care Groups to Combine Purchasing Power
Pittsburgh Business Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_1.html

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Food Pantries Struggle: Donations Are Down, Demand Is Up
Muskogee Phoenix (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_2.html

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With Brushes and Nails
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_3.html

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Skills Shine With Solar-Power Projects
The Business Courier (Cincinnati)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_4.html

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Police Credit Faith-Based Patrols, More Officers for Fewer Black Expo Incidents
Indystar.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_5.html

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Calling on Gospel to Call Off Debt; As Financial Crisis Grows, Many Turn to Church for Help
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_6.html

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Churches Help Members Through Economic Hardship
National Public Radio (NPR)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_7.html

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Shining a Light on Service; Volunteering For the Community
The Myrtle Beach Sun-News (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_8.html

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A Life Saved: Literacy Program Helps Man Leave Drugs, Violence Behind
High Point Enterprise (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_9.html

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Outreach Sees Hope In A Halfway House
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_10.html

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Faith-Based Teams Rebuilding New Orleans
CBN News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_11.html

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Money Offered For Mentors;
SCLC Director Hopes Cash Helps Motivate Faith-Based Groups to Advise Area Students
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_12.html

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NLR Gives Ministry OK To Run Homeless Center Special Permit Limits Operation to 2 Years
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_13.html

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Give And Take
The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA.)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/article_id_14.html

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Weekly Opinion Roundup - 7/22/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/newsletter/news_opinion_7_22_08.html

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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