E-Newsletter for November 11, 2008

In this issue:

• Religious, Civil Liberties Groups Hopeful About Obama Faith Council
• Save the Date! Dec. 2: Roundtable Legal Experts to Explore Changes During Bush Years
• Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community Organization Eligibility
• Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

New! Religious, Civil Liberties Groups Hopeful About
Obama Faith Council

As President-elect Barack Obama crafts a new administration, coalitions of faith leaders, social service
providers, and civil liberty advocates are actively prescribing the future role they hope religion will have in
public policy, and the shape that the previously announced federal Council on Faith-Based and
Neighborhood Partnerships will take. Pleasing these constituents and setting standards and rules for their
involvement with government will not be easy. Some coalitions possess starkly opposing ideas on where
government and religion should intersect, especially as President-elect Obama considers a policy advanced
by President George W. Bush that allows religious groups receiving government money to prefer people of
their own faith when hiring and firing.

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

Save the Date! Dec. 2: Roundtable Legal Experts to Explore Changes
During Bush Years

The Roundtable’s noted legal experts, Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle of George Washington
University Law School, have closely watched and commented on the legal developments surrounding the
Faith-Based and Community Initiative since President George W. Bush launched that effort in 2001. Their
annual “State of the Law” reports, drawing on their finely honed insights and long-term perspectives, have
become must-reads for those interested in keeping up with significant changes in laws affecting government
partnerships with religious groups. In their upcoming 2008 report, they not only look back over the last year,
but over the last eight years – and even into the future of the next administration, in examining what the
changes wrought under President Bush might mean for such partnerships going forward.

Professors Lupu and Tuttle will present their findings at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on
Tuesday morning, December 2. Watch for further details in future e-newsletters.

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 by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs require specific technical expertise.

Click here for the grants digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Food Banks Cite Burden of Costly Permit
New Haven Register

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9079

Purity Ring Brings Focus for Adolescents
The Valley News-Dispatch (Tarentum, Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9080

Flood Services Combine In Oquawka
The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9081

Habitat Sees Surge in Volunteers
Highlands Today (Sebring, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9082

Faith-Based Groups Seek Clues to Obama Administration Plan;
President-Elect Says Organizations Shouldn't Discriminate In Hiring
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9083

Help for Those without Medical Options
Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9084

Funding Cuts Hit ID Program For Poor
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9085

Tucson Group Hands Out 1,000 Blankets to Shelters In Sonora
Tucson Citizen (Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9086

Christians Help Migrants Feel At Home
York Daily Record (Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9087

Catholics Called To Welcome Immigrants, Arkansas Bishop Says
Arkansas News Bureau

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9088

Advocacy Groups Ready For Domestic Push
The Jewish Daily Forward

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9089

Alpha House Recognized By White House
The Baxter Bulletin (Mountain Home, Arkansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9090

What's Ahead For Social Issues Under An Obama White House?
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9091

The Mission Makes Plans for Upcoming Holidays
The Houston Chronicle

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9092

Community Meals Build Neighborhood Strength
Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9093

Reality Changers Gets $225,000 Grant
The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9094

Who Is Joel Hunter, And Why Is Obama Praying With Him?
Time Magazine

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9095

Financial Pinch Creeping Up On Some Church Collection Plates
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9096

Jobs Priority for Faith Group
News-Journal (Daytona Beach, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=9097

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 11/11/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_11_11_08.cfm