"Weblog: Renewed Hope for Faith-Based Initiative, School Vouchers"

Faith-based initiative gets boost from 9/11 aftermath:The Washington Post reports that Bush’s faith-based initiative is back on track largely due to America’s response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The bill had stalled in the Senate when Democrats opposed sections of the House version that allow religious charities to maintain hiring distinctives. It was widely reported that no action would be taken until 2002. But all that’s changed. “There’s an immediate need for an infusion of support to community-serving organizations,” one “official close to the deliberations” tells the paper. The attack “has given a new focus” to the initiative, the official says. There’s some discussion on splitting the bill in two and quickly passing the part offering tax credits for charitable donations. But the White House is “leaning toward pushing the whole package,” reports the Post.

Court will finally rule on constitutionality of school vouchers The same Washington Post article reports that Bush is also working on a compromise on competing education bills. Many religious conservatives are upset that school vouchers have been eliminated from discussion, but they are thrilled with news this week that the Supreme Court will finally decide whether giving public money to students seeking religious educations violates the First Amendment’s prohibition on establishing religion. Specifically, the court will hear Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, which challenges Cleveland’s program that gives $2,250 vouchers to more than 4,000 students (The New York Times says 4,266, the Chicago Tribune says 4,095, and Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer says “nearly 4,000”). Of those students, about 95 percent are enrolled in religious schools. Though the Supreme Court will examine three different rulings, the most recent of these came from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the program unconstitutional.

All sides agree on at least two things: they’re relieved that the issue will finally be settled, and they believe it will be a momentous decision. Clint Bolick, a lawyer with the pro-voucher Institute of Justice, says it will be “the most important educational opportunity case since Brown vs. Board of Education.” Barry Lynn, director of the the anti-voucher Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says, “It’s likely to be the most important church-state case in 50 years.” (More on the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case is available from the Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, and USA Today.)

A Zogby poll reported in USA Today found “an even split of 48% both favoring and opposing vouchers,” but as John Kramer of the Institute for Justice notes, “‘There’s only one poll that matters at this point, and that’s a poll of nine.”

In a related development, a bipartisan House-Senate conference committee has endorsed religious schools’ involvement in after-school activities at public schools. That opens the door to religious schools receiving federal funds.

The Pope in central Asia:

Pope laments Armenians’ deaths | John Paul walked a careful line to ensure Wednesday’s visit was without political implications (Associated Press)
Also: Pope recalls Armenian victims of ‘great evil’ | Pontiff evokes deaths under Turkey’s rule (The Washington Post)
Also: Pope’s Armenia trip threatens row | Visit to genocide memorial expected to anger Turkey (BBC)
In Armenia, a frail Pope fails to finish his speech | Incident raises questions about how long the pope can continue his beloved foreign trips (The Washington Post)
Also: Ailing pontiff cuts off speech | Shortly after starting TV address, John Paul II slumps in his chair. A priest finishes the text, and pope later appears to rebound. (Los Angeles Times)
Pontiff hails a tenuous success story | In Kazakhstan, pope pays tribute to the country’s persevering Catholics—but entreats them to shore up their ranks. (Los Angeles Times)
Also: Pope calls for rebuilding of church | But Catholics warned against aggressive proselytizing (Associated Press)
Pope expresses respect for Islam | Distinguishes between “authentic” and fanatic varieties (Associated Press)
Pope ‘would understand’ use of force | But nonviolent solution preferred, says Vatican spokesman (BBC)
Also: Vatican says use of force by U.S. can be justified (The Washington Post)
Pope decries wars over faith | In volatile central Asia, pontiff pleads for tolerance (The Washington Post)
Also: The pope, in central Asia, urges peace (The New York Times)
Also: Pope in dramatic appeal to avert war over attacks (Reuters)

PBS Evolution miniseries:

PBS’ Evolution generates a debate | Critics of the eight-hour production issued a poll to try to prove the public disagreed with the program (The Washington Times)
Evolution gets hot reception | Critics say the series doesn’t give enough air time to scientists who themselves have doubts about evolutionary theory (The Boston Globe)
PBS series is a natural selection | ‘Evolution’ is a picturesque, wide-ranging adventure (The Boston Globe)
Evolution counters the gloom | This work of “science journalism” makes fundamentalism of any stripe look quaintly irrelevant (The Denver Post)
Hagiography for Moderns | PBS’s Evolution strives for enlightenment but achieves only indoctrination. (Christianity Today, Sept. 24, 2001)

Sexual ethics:

U.S. House vote backs benefits for gays | D.C. workers’ partners would get coverage (The Washington Post)
Survey: Religion helps prevent teen pregnancies | But few teens are influenced by clergy, they say (The Washington Times)
Also: Survey: Religion affects teen sex (Associated Press)

Missions and ministry:

Graham preaches racial healing | When Rev. Billy Graham comes to Cincinnati for a four-day crusade next June, it won’t be the first time he has tried to bring healing to a racially troubled area (The Cincinnati Post)
Also: Billy Graham announces June 2002 outreach to be held in Cincinnati (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Revival continues in downtown Orlando | Graham children speak (WESH)
Getting out the Word | The United Methodist Church plans a $20 million TV ad campaign (Associated Press)
Church clinics come to rescue for immigrants | Facilities offer safety net for those who can no longer turn to publicly funded hospitals for preventive care. (Houston Chronicle)

Church conflicts:

Bishop faces suit after ecclesiastical victory | Washington’s Jane Dixon has been found innocent of four ecclesiastical charges, but her opponents say they are considering a civil lawsuit against her (The Washington Times)
Church’s fate splits faithful | Cleric out to raze site that others see as landmark (Chicago Tribune)

Other stories of interest:

Related Elsewhere

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September 26 | 25 | 24

September 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17

September 14b | 14a | 13 | 12 | 10

September 7 | 6 | 5 | 4

August 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27

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