Article Alert

• Anderson, Gordon L. THE FAITH-CHARITY INITIATIVE AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT (The World & I, vol. 16, no. 7, July 2001, pp. 273-289)
  
  Anderson, the secretary-general of Professors World Peace Academy International, looks at government support of faith-based charity in the context of the evolving roles of religion and freedom in Western civilization, focusing ultimately on its historical evolution in the United States. He asserts that any government or public policy initiatives in the realm of social welfare should be carried out at the lowest level that has the ability to accomplish it. In conclusion, Anderson addresses a number of concerns surrounding President Bush's current Faith-Based proposals, noting among them that while too much reliance on the government to support welfare is destructive to both personal freedom and the economy, a minimal government role is necessary when people are incapable of helping themselves.
  
  
• Cnaan, Ram. OUR HIDDEN SAFETY-NET: SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY WORK BY URBAN AMERICAN RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS (Brookings Review, vol. 17, no. 2, Spring 1999, pp. 50-53)
  
  From their earliest days, religious organizations and congregations in the United States provided not only for the spiritual needs of their congregants and communities, but for their social welfare as well. Well into the 19th century, religious groups were virtually the sole providers of social services in the U.S. By the end of the 19th century, social services had become largely secularized; however, religious organizations continued to provide social services. Over the past few decades, as the nation's social needs have become more urgent, religious congregations have responded. In this article the author reports the results of his 1997 study documenting the extent to which religious groups are involved in community social service activity, noting that their voluntary effort serves as a vital backbone for civil society in America. Note that this entire issue of BROOKINGS REVIEW examines the role of God and religious faith in America's democracy.
  
  
• Dionne, E. J., Jr; DiIulio, John J., Jr. WHAT'S GOD GOT TO DO WITH THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT? (Brookings Review, vol. 17, no. 2, Spring 1999, pp. 4-9)
  
  This introductory article to the Spring 1999 issue of the BROOKINGS REVIEW explores the theme of the entire issue: the role of God and religious faith in America's democracy. The authors note that Americans can be quite inconsistent in their views of how and when religion should influence politics. One prominent view holds that America's pluralistic and secular Constitution has promoted freedom, diversity, and the strength of American religious communities. Yet another holds that freedom itself is rooted in a theistic commitment to the inviolable dignity of the individual. Author Alan Wolfe sums it up aptly when he writes, "Americans cannot make up their minds whether religion is primarily private, public, or some uneasy combination of the two." Whatever the answer, it is noted that America appears to be in an era of religious awakening, religious organizations are having a profound charitable social impact, and more and more laws are growing "faith-friendly." Essays in the issue are briefly discussed.
  
  
• Hall, Tony; Anders, Christopher E. GOVERNMENT AND FAITH-BASED CHARITIES (The World & I, vol. 16, no. 7, July 2001, pp. 54-61)
  
  Through his Faith-Based Initiatives President Bush proposes to give religious groups in the United States the same access to federal funds to assist the poor as secular groups now receive. In their separate commentaries, Hall and Anders debate the pros and cons of federal support of faith-based charities. Congressman Hall (Democrat from Ohio) argues in favor of Bush's faith-based proposals, contending that current law needs to be revised to allow a bigger push to help people in need in the United States; while Anders, of the American Civil Liberties Union, argues that current law is sufficient, and that Bush's proposals could easily result in federal funds going to groups that discriminate against others.
  
  
• Hopkins, June; Cupaiuolo, Anthony A. FOR BETTER OR WORSE? FAITH-BASED SOCIAL SERVICES (Policy & Practice, vol. 59, no. 2, June 2001, pp. 24-27)
  
  The authors note that President Bush��s current social policy, which will use federal tax dollars to support the charitable activities of religious organizations, relies heavily on the ideas of conservative Marvin Olasky, who looks favorably on the many charitable U.S. organizations that served the poor during the late 19th and 20th centuries. After outlining the debate over faith-based social services, the authors provide a historical perspective on why U.S. social services moved away from relying on religious organizations during the latter part of the 20th century.
  
  
• Johnston, Robert ON A MISSION (Education Week, vol. xx, no. 28, March 28, 2001, pp. 33-37)
  
  The author takes a close look at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its seven-year-old after school program - noting that the program could well serve as a model for President Bush��s faith-based programs, which expand the role of religious groups in providing social services. Grace is the oldest black Presbyterian church in the city.
  
  
• Lenkowsky, Leslie. FUNDING THE FAITHFUL: WHY BUSH IS RIGHT (Commentary, vol. 111, no. 6, June 2001, pp. 19-24)
  
  President Bush's Faith-based and Community initiatives, which are intended to make faith-based organizations such as churches full participants in the multibillion-dollar competition for U.S. government social-service grants and contracts, have come under fire from both the political Left and Right, for different reasons. Professor Lenkowsky, of Indiana University - Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, presents the arguments that have been made against the Bush plan, ranging from concern that faith-based organizations may not be held accountable to the same standards as other publicly funded organizations - to the fear that they may breach the separation between church and state. Although Lenkowsky says none of these criticisms is trivial, she argues they "do not constitute a telling case against the Bush administration's plan for involving religious groups more deeply in the provision of services to our neediest citizens."
  
  
• Nober, Jane. FAITH-BASED GRANTMAKING: A BASIC GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED (Foundation News & Commentary, vol. 42, no. 3, May-June 2001, pp. 20-21)
  
  Are grants to religious institutions legal? How do you know if a religious group is a public charity? This "legal brief " provides succinct answers to both of these questions about making grants to religiously-affiliated programs. Although there are generally no legal restrictions against making grants to churches, synagogues, mosques, or other religious organizations, every grantmaking foundation needs to understand these rules given the new administration's focus on faith-based institutions as sources of "innovative programming and providers of social services."
  
  
• Ostling, Richard N. WHERE WE'VE COME FROM: AMERICA'S EVER-CHANGING RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING (Brookings Review, vol. 17, no. 2, Spring 1999, pp. 10-13)
  
  According to the author, "the story of religion in the United States is the story of immigration. Ongoing waves of newcomers to the United States, in combination with internal developments, have assured that no nation on earth has experienced such wholesale changes in its religious makeup or has had such a lavish variety of faiths from which to choose." He presents a brief survey of the past two centuries that illustrates the point -- and suggests no diminution of the trend in the future. Note that this entire issue of BROOKINGS REVIEW examines the role of God and religious faith in America's democracy.
  
  
• Siegel, Julie, and others. SACRED PLACES, CIVIC RESPONSES: SOME THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE CONGREGATIONS DO (Brookings Review, vol. 17, no. 2, Spring 1999, pp. 54-55)
  
  The Brookings Institution helped sponsor two meetings in 1997 on the role of churches, synagogues, and mosques in fighting poverty and alleviating social distress. Participants discussed four questions: Which forms of social service and social action are the congregations particularly well placed to perform, and which tasks might they perform better than government? What could government do to help -- and also not to hinder -- these efforts, and what forms of government participation might be dangerous, either to the religiously based social action or to religious freedom, or both? What responsibilities did the wealthier congregations have to their poorer brother and sister congregations? And how did cuts in government assistance to the poor affect the work of religious charities? The article contains excerpts of the discussion. Note that this entire issue of BROOKINGS REVIEW examines the role of God and religious faith in America's democracy.