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! White House Faith-Based Director, Known for Pushing
State Efforts, Resigns

Jay Hein, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, resigned last week,
saying he will return to Indiana to care for his father who has a progressive form of cancer. He plans to leave
his position on August 29, according to a White House spokeswoman who confirmed his resignation. Hein,
43, the third director to head the White House faith-based office since its inception in 2001, has steered the
Initiative since August 2006. A researcher by training who has been described as a “policy wonk” and “a very
orderly and businesslike person,” Hein advanced the Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI) by highlighting
the work of religious organizations at both the state and international levels.

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

Click here to read a Roundtable interview with Jay Hein shortly after his White House appointment.

Hein spoke at the Roundtable’s 2006 annual conference, highlighting the Initiative’s achievements at that time
as well as his plans as director. Click here to read a story about his presentation, and here to read a transcript.

New! Presidential Candidates Oppose Each Other on Religious Hiring Rights

In their first public appearance together August 16, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack
Obama answered questions on topics of importance to religious voters, posed by evangelical pastor
Rick Warren at his Southern California megachurch. On the subject of government partnerships with
religious charities, Rev. Warren inquired about just one issue, perhaps the most controversial one
concerning the Bush Administration’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative: whether government-funded
religious groups should have the right to base employment decisions on staff members’ faith. The
candidates responded with opposing views. McCain said that faith-based groups should be allowed
to prefer those of their own faith in hiring, even when they receive federal funds. If the government forced
religious groups to relinquish that privilege, he said, “it would mean a severe crippling of faith-based
organizations and their ability to do things so successfully.” Obama, on the other hand, reiterated a
position he announced last month, stating that religious groups should be prohibited from such hiring
preferences when the employees in question are working on federally funded programs. “(W)e do have
to be careful to make sure that we are not creating a situation where people are being discriminated
against, using federal money,” Sen. Obama said. Other topics covered in the Saddleback Civil Forum
on the Presidency included abortion, marriage, religious persecution and stem cell research.

Click here for a transcript of the presidential forum.

Click here for a previous Roundtable article on Sen. Obama’s position on hiring rights.

Click here for a Roundtable Resource Page on the Hiring Rights of Religious Organizations.

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 and Housing and Urban Development,
and 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

Dedicated Couple Clocks Thousands of Miles to Spread Hope,
Share Faith with Corrections Corporation of America Inmates
Life Science Weekly

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8697

Governor Chooses MARY'S House as Site to Reaffirm 'Shelters' Law;
Law Establishes Penalties for Trespassing at Safe Houses
greenvilleonline.com (Greenville, South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8698

Some Nonprofits Push For Increased Federal Involvement
The Washington Post

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8699

White House and CaliforniaVolunteers Summit Explores Expanded
Partnerships To Strengthen California Nonprofits
christiannewswire.com

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8696

Superior's Homeless Get a Hand
Duluth News Tribune

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8675

Center Offers Second Chance
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8676

Camp Embraces Troubled Youths
The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8677

Funds Will Help Katrina Aid
Monterey County Herald (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8678

Fighting Addiction With Help From A Higher Power
National Public Radio (NPR)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8679

Humanitarian And Faith-Based Groups Working To Bring Emergency Aid To Georgia
SHOW: Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8680

Progressive National Baptists Urge Action on Foreclosures
Ethics Daily

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8681

Lockport's New Home for Homeless; Owner Sells Property to Charity for $1
Buffalo News (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8682

Heal the Sick: Chaplains, Charity Care Set Faith-Based Hospitals Apart
Baptist Standard

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8683

Restoring a People -- Program Battles Native Substance Abuse
New America Media

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8684

Denn Says the State Needs to Do More to Help Faith Based Groups.
1450 WILM NEWSRADIO

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8685

Case Shows Faith-Based Programs' Inherent Homophobia
EDGE

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8686

Residency at Issue for Lockport Projects;
Council Will Vote on Measure to Require Hiring 30% of Workers from Niagara
Buffalo News (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8687

Faith Community Gains Respect in AIDS Policymaking, Say Observers
Catholic News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=8688

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 8/19/2008
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_8_19_08.cfm