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! Analysis: Court Rules Group Cannot Sue Over VA Chaplaincy Program

Since the June 2007 Supreme Court decision in Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, a number
of legal challenges involving alleged violations of church-state separation have ended before lawyers had
a chance to present their arguments - because lower courts have determined the plaintiffs lacked the right
to sue. The latest in that line of cases is Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Nicholson. On Aug. 5, a
panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit ordered a dismissal of the church-state watchdog
group's lawsuit, which charged that the Department of Veterans Affairs' hospital chaplaincy program
improperly integrated spirituality into government-funded health care. Following the Supreme Court's reasoning
 in Hein, the 7^th Circuit found that the taxpayer plaintiffs represented by FFRF could not bring the lawsuit
because Congress did not specifically authorize funding for the VA programs targeted in the case. In their
analysis, the Roundtable's legal experts - Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle of George Washington University
Law School - say the decision provides further evidence of the tremendous change that has taken place over
the last year regarding taxpayers' ability to challenge such practices in court.

Click here to read the legal analysis.

Click here to read a previous Roundtable story about the lawsuit.

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

New! An Interview with Rabbi Steve Gutow of the Jewish Council
for Public Affairs

Steve Gutow is the executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the community relations
arm of the Jewish community, bringing together 14 national and 125 local Jewish organizations and
community relations councils. As leader of the JCPA, Rabbi Gutow has focused on moving the Jewish
community towards a more activist stance on issues such as ending genocide in Darfur, establishing a
comprehensive approach to U.S. immigration policy, supporting the state of Israel, creating a sustainable
environment, and fighting cuts in anti-poverty programs. In November 2007, Rabbi Gutow was named one
of the “50 most influential Jews in America today” by the Forward, a newspaper covering Jewish affairs.

Last month, Rabbi Gutow joined with other leaders of Jewish, Christian and Muslim organizations to ask
Senators Barack Obama and John McCain to ensure that poverty is an issue addressed in a primetime
speech during each of their parties' nominating conventions. He spoke with the Roundtable about this effort.

Click here to read the interview.

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. 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

Churches and State Agency Team Up to Fight Youth Violence
Quad-City Times (Davenport, IA)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8668

'Nightmare' complaints spur action on uncertified drug treatment programs
The Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8672

Faces Of Home: Forging Friendships For Those In Need;
Group Pairs Teen Volunteers With Special Needs Friends
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8669

Ohio Promotes State-Religion Partnerships To Help Needy
Cleveland Jewish News

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8664

Church Must Lead In Gender Inequality Fight, Says Agency
The Christian Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8665

Love INC Helps Senior Keep Home; Not-For-Profit Group Helps Transform Lives
Columbia Daily Tribune (Missouri)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8670

Crisis In Care: Stretched Families Hunt For A Break
The Maryland Gazette

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8671

Chief Justice Calls For New Funding
Mobile Register (Alabama)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8666

Faith-Based Group Plans, Trains To Make Ex-Cons Better Fathers
Toledo Free Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8667

Church To Get $10,000 Grant For Plan To Fight Underage Drinking
The Virginian-Pilot(Norfolk, VA.)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8657

Court Rejects Suit Opposing Religion in Vets Care
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8659

Macon's Grant Issue Still Unsettled
The Macon Telegraph (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8646

Joe Lieberman: McCain Is "Deeply Faithful"
Beliefnet

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8647

Habitat Families to Live the American Dream
Home News Tribune (East Brunswick, New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8652

Is Homeless Help Near?
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8653

Working On Faith
Asbury Park Press (New Jersey)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8654

Charities Ask Congress to Ease Gas Price Burden
The New York Times

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8648

County Green-Lights New Homeless Shelter
The Merced Sun-Star (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8649

Dollars & Change: County Food Bank Deals With Rising Costs
Monterey County Herald (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8650

Kodiak Faith-Based Shelter Closes
The Associated Press

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8651

Faith-Based Groups Look For Unified Fight Against Effects Of HIV
Catholic News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8656

Mahoning County, Ohio, To Receive Substance-Abuse Recovery Grant
Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8658

A Community's Campaign;
N. Charleston Police, Local Leaders to Go Door To Door to Make Sure Kids Get To School
The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8655

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 8/12/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_8_12_08.cfm