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But while Salon.com was publishing such reports, Bush was out defending his plans. "Those who worry about faith in our society, and government's willingness to stand side-by-side with faith, don't understand the power of faith and the promise of faith and the hope of faith," he said (text | audio) while building a Habitat for Humanity house in Tampa, Florida. He still didn't say whether he preferred the Senate or House bill, or what he felt were non-negotiable parts of his plan, but he seems ready to fight. That may motivate Senate Republicans who, The New York Times and others have reported, have lost enthusiasm for Bush's faith-based initiative.

More on Bush's faith-based initiative:

• Groups wary of applying for faith-based grants | Reasons vary on why few congregations are seeking contracts despite being eligible to compete directly for billions of federal social-service dollars. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
• When children relied on faith-based agencies | President Bush should study the history of New York's foster care when considering faith-based antipoverty efforts. (Stephen O'Connor, The New York Times)
• Religious leaders press aid to poor | A religious coalition headed by Call to Renewal directly linked changes to Bush's tax plan to support for his faith-based initiative (The Boston Globe)
• Groups campaign against Bush plan | Jews say "completed Jews" comment is evidence that faith-based initiative will amount to taxpayer-funded conversion. (Associated Press)
• Also: A reference to Jews heats up aid debate | Use of term "completed Jews" by president of the Teen Challenge International may affect faith-based initiative (The New York Times)
• A slander against our sacred institutions | Critics are wrong to say faith-based initiative will "turn back the clock on civil rights." (Nathan J. Diament, The Washington Post)
• Charities decry tax bill setback | Nonprofit groups questioning Bush's commitment to boosting community organizations (The Washington Post)
• Federal officials reverse position on religious-based grant program | Limiting a $4 million program for HIV and drug abuse prevention to only religious groups violates the spirit of its "faith-based initiative," White House decides (Associated Press)

More religion correspondents get their pink slips from ABC News than from any other source
ABC News, which blazed a trail for religion journalism when it hired Peggy Wehmeyer in 1994 as full-time religion correspondent, is now retracing its steps. Wehmeyer was told in late May that her contract, up in October, would not be renewed. Nor would she be replaced as religion correspondent. The Dallas-based reporter says she's "a little stunned" by the news, but is "grateful for the seven years I had to tell stories that are really meaningful."

Peter Jennings, who lobbied both for the religion correspondent position and for Wehmeyer's hiring, says he's sad about the decision. "We're not going to quit covering religion," he tells The Dallas Morning News. "But I don't think we'd have gotten anywhere near the heightened awareness of this subject without Peggy."

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June (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45