The creation of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2001 brought the work of religious organizations to the forefront of the discussion over how America should best care for its needy.
The Pew-funded Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy provides information on policy and legal developments concerning the involvement of faith-based organizations in social services. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life examines the relationship between religious groups and human services providers and government, as well as public opinion on the topic.
The Roundtable is a key source of expert, unbiased information on policy and legal developments concerning the involvement of faith-based organizations in social services. Drawing on a wide range of experts from government, civic, religious and research organizations, the Roundtable’s events and publications have helped to better define and measure the character of faith-based social services, gauge private and public sector support for their work, and provide new views on their comparative effectiveness.
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life looks closely at public opinion regarding the extent to which faith-based groups should participate in the delivery of federally funded social services and whether government policies should reflect religious values. The forum provides a variety of resources that examine the relationship between religious organizations and social service providers and government, including reports, polling data, transcripts of its events and the latest news from media sources nationwide.
These resources are designed to deliver timely, impartial information to national, state and local opinion leaders, including government officials and journalists.
For more information about the role of religious groups in social welfare, visit the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Web site.
Nov 16, 2009 - More than eight years after former President George W. Bush unveiled his faith-based initiative to make it easier for religious groups to receive government funding to provide social services, such as feeding the needy, the policy continues to draw broad public support. But as was the case when Bush first announced the initiative, many Americans express concerns about blurring the lines between church and state.
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Aug 18, 2009 - A Pew Forum report offers profiles of the 25 members of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, which Barack Obama established to help address the policy goals of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Aug 12, 2009 - A study by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Pew Forum finds that President Barack Obama’s faith-based initiative has so far generated little of the contentious press coverage associated with the program that was put into place by his predecessor, George W. Bush. And the program is not as closely associated with the current president as it was with the man he succeeded.
Sep 23, 2008 - Both Barack Obama and John McCain have said they plan to build on President Bush's faith-based initiative. But how might they do that? The Pew Forum turned to two experts for answers.
Jun 12, 2008 - The Hein case was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court nearly one year ago, but it will have policy implications for years to come because it permits executive agencies to fund religious organizations and activities without fear of constitutional litigation.
Mar 27, 2008 - When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the U.S. on April 15, 2008, he will be greeted by a flock that is undergoing rapid ethnic and demographic changes.
Dec 05, 2007 - Report Shows Congregations Delivering Many Social Services but without Government Funds
Read: Summary View: Full Report (Adobe PDF)
Jul 16, 2004 - Report looks at ten states to understand the role of faith-affiliated organizations in health care in general and Medicaid in particular.
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