Thurs., April 22: Faith Based Initiatives

Update After the Lecture

A must watch: Pat Nolan and Justice Fellowship of Prison Fellowship Ministries — an example of a faith-based operation than drastically reduces the rate of recidivism: ex-convicts returning to prison. View the 8-minute video at Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.

Watch and Read

Please watch or read the following resources, jot down your thoughts and reflections so you can refer to them, and come to class prepared to discuss them in class.

Obama Administration’s Video on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Obama Announces White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships :: White House Press Release

States the Obama administration’s goals for the office.

What is Charitable Choice? :: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

A summary of the 1996 language which paved the way for the faith-based initiatives of the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. Notice the attempt in this language to uphold a principle of nondiscrimination while also respecting the religious character of faith-based organizations.

White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships :: Wikipedia

A helpful summary of the history of this office and some of the debates surrounding it, with additional resources listed.

Extra Credit

View and bring your opinions on one or more of these additional resources.

A Discussion of Concerns about Faith-Based Initiatives, from the National Capital Area Skeptics (part 6 of 6)

Joshua Dubois, Head of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships :: Wikipedia

Learn a bit about the man Obama appointed to lead the faith-based initiatives under his administration.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

QUOTE:

“The so-called ‘faith-based’ initiative is a euphemism for taxpayer-supported religion. The initiative funnels taxpayer dollars to religious social service providers without adequate safeguards to prevent proselytism. In addition, these groups seek to discriminate in hiring based on religion even though their programs are publicly funded.”

Additional Perspectives

• Faith-Based Programs Still Popular, Less Visible :: Pew Institute
• Invisible hands: The White House’s faith-based office has survive as a low-priority part of Obama administration :: World Magazine
• A Breach in the Church-State Wall: Editorial response to Rosenberger vs. University of Virginia :: New York Times, 1995
• “Is the Establishment Clause Unconstitutional?” Stanley Fish, New York Times

Whiteboard Notes from the Lecture