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U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says the vote will be a watershed. "If the White House tells millions of pro-family voters that they're not interested in seriously promoting our values in the formation of U.S. policy in Africa, then that will greatly undermine the support for the White House and for the U.S. Congress" among conservatives, he told The Baltimore Sun.

Few conservatives seem to be complaining now that anti-AIDS funding could go to groups that encourage abortion overseas. That debate seems to have ended. But at least one faith-based organization is raising a new concern. "To fund HR1298, more than $60 million was cut from child survival programs designed to provide treatment for preventable health problems and common diseases in children under the age of five," says a World Relief press release. "In our fight against AIDS, we must not forget that every day thousands of young children are dying from preventable or curable diseases like dehydration, malaria and pneumonia.  If we fail to teach mothers how to protect their children, more innocent lives will be lost," said president Clive Calver.

[P.M Update: The bill overwhelmingly passed the House this afternoon with all three amendments added. Weblog will have more news, analysis and commentary on the vote tomorrow.]

Day of Prayer:

• Red, white and blessed | National Day of Prayer highlights evangelical patriotism, but some churches balk (The Denver Post)
  
  
• Christian prayer event splits Muncie faithful | A decision to ban Jews, Muslims and others who don't pray in the name of Jesus from fully participating in a National Day of Prayer service in downtown Muncie today has turned a communal expression of civic pride into a symbol of religious division (The Indianapolis Star)
  
  
• Also: A divisive spirit reigns over national day of prayer ceremony (Los Angeles Times)
  
  
• Council's prayer breakfast is on you | If Birmingham City Council members attend the upcoming mayor's prayer breakfast, they can charge the ticket cost to the city. (Birmingham [Ala.] Post-Herald)

Politics and law:

• Second judicial nominee targeted | Senate Democrats plan filibuster to stop selection of Owen, accusing her of pursuing an antiabortion, pro-business agenda from the bench (The Washington Post)
  
  
• Intolerance swaddled in faith | In advancing religious arguments for public policy, Santorum and others foreclose both debate and compromise—the basic ingredients of democracy (The Washington Post)
  
  
• The Republican theocracy | The Taliban or the Suburban? The Republican Party has patched together a coalition of those who want to keep the government out of your pocket and those who want to put the government in your bedroom (Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe)
  
  
• Courthouse marrying preachers ordered to stop bickering | Earlier in day lady minister was told she could do no more weddings (The Chattanoogan, Tenn.)

Church and state:

• Court asked to keep 'Under God' in pledge | The reference does not amount to unconstitutional government promotion of religion, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer wrote in a court filing (Associated Press)
  
  
• Also: Ashcroft asks court to undo Pledge of Allegiance ban (The Washington Times)
  
  
• Also: Court is asked to keep 'Under God' in pledge (The Washington Post)
  
  
• Also: U.S. appeals to top court on Pledge of Allegiance (Reuters)

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April (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47