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Faith-based initiatives:

• Battle lines grow on plan to assist religious groups | The battle over the White House initiative to channel more government financing to religious social service programs heated up yesterday, as several major labor unions joined the opposition and a coalition of conservative groups assured President Bush of their support. (The New York Times)
• Conservatives rally around Bush plan | Coalition for Compassion hopes to counter criticism from liberal groups, as well as darts thrown by Christian conservatives who fear that government money will corrupt churches who take it (Associated Press)
• Promise and pitfalls in taking religion to prison | The InnerChange Freedom Initiative illustrates both the promise and the challenges of collaboration between government and religious organizations. It works under contract with the state to rehabilitate felons, and inmates say they have been changed. But it is an open question whether the program could qualify for federal financing, given the religious message at its core. (The New York Times)

Religion and politics:

• Ashcroft to Christian crowd: Use government to sell Jesus | The gospel according to the A.G. (The Village Voice)
• The marriage of politics and compassion | The rhetoric of ''compassionate conservatism,'' whether actually realized or not, marks a reversal of the ''rugged individualism'' that has so long undergirded one pole of American discourse. (James Carroll, The Boston Globe)
• 'Scribe' is a man of Bush's words | West Wing job isn't as glam as on TV (USA Today)

Church and state:

• For heaven's sake, why do they ban Christian radio? | The legislation involved is a classic product of the British liberal mind, with all its lust to nanny and to interdict, not to mention a fastidious distaste for anyone who exhibits religious zeal. (Boris Johnson, The Daily Telegraph, London)
• Firing upheld for trooper who refused riverboat duty | State Police officials say Ben Endres' firing was necessary to maintain discipline and authority, but his pastor says it's an example of the corruptive influence of gambling. (The Indianapolis Star)
• Complaint ends public prayer at New Mexico high school | The Alamogordo, N.M., school district has stopped allowing prayers at school-sponsored events after the American Civil Liberties Union complained about a prayer by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at a high school football game. (Associated Press/Freedom Forum)
• Churches line up to decry rural land-use proposal | Suggested remedies for urban sprawl issues worsen, say religious leaders (The Seattle Times)
• Georgia preacher puts out Word at high school football | While promoting prayers at games, Curtis Turner has gathered tens of thousands of signatures on a petition in support of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing public prayer. (The Washington Times)
• Catholic bishop denied final say in B.C. Teachers' behavior | Catholic Civil Rights League says B.C. Labor Relations Board wants to decide what is and is not Roman Catholic (The Vancouver Sun)
• High court rejects challenge to federal aid for religious health center (Associated Press/Freedom Forum)

Education:

• Muslim student sues Louisiana school over Bible distribution | 11-year-old says she was forced to play a "Jesus game" in school and was told by classmates that she would "burn in hell." (Associated Press/Freedom Forum)
• N.D. Legislature approves religious-documents bill | What began as a proposal to display the Ten Commandments in North Dakota's public schools has become a new requirement for school boards to draft policies for the display of religious documents. (Associated Press/Freedom Forum)

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April (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45