Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/02/23/MNN118531.DTL

On February 23, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the religious-based San Francisco Organizing Project will be gathering "more than 3,000 people in San Francisco to press top state and city officials to produce more affordable housing... The project draws support from 40 religious...

Source: The Denver Post

On February 23, 2001, The Denver Post reported that "the Christian Scientists are bringing out their powerful lobby as HB 1286...moves through the Colorado legislature." This legislation would remove "an exemption in the state's child-abuse statutes that essentially makes Christian Scientists not liable for death or disability that might result if they choose to treat their children with Christian Science practices rather than medical treatments." Christian Scientists distinguish themselves from other faith-healing groups...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/02/23/ED85551.DTL

On February 23, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle published an editorial on Bush's new faith-based initiative. The editorial pointed out that "the government heads into treacherous territory any time it tries to judge what is and what is not an acceptable religion." Many people put certain religions that are...

Source: Star Tribune

On February 21, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published an article that brings up one of the biggest problems with Bush's faith-based initiative. "The state cannot be in the business of deciding which faiths pass muster and which do not. If they are law-abiding and their programs are effective, it would seem you have to take them all or take none. You allow proselytizing in all or in none." For example, the Salvation Army "injects its Christian philosophy deep into its programs." If the Salvation Army can do this, the article asked...

Source: South Bend Tribune

On February 21, 2001, the South Bend Tribune reported that, "while not opposing Bush's initiative outright, Lutheran, Catholic and Jewish groups are raising concerns about potential religious discrimination and coercion, echoing arguments from civil libertarian quarters." Other concerns include the theoretical issue of the separation between church and state, government infringement on churches' freedom, and worries "about government funding of religious groups outside the mainstream, such as the Church of Scientology and the...

Source: The New York Times

On February 20, 2001, The New York Times reported that in the coming days, President Bush's claim that his faith-based initiatives will not favor one religion above another will be tested. Religious groups including the Hare Krishnas, the Church of Scientology, and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, U.S.A., are some groups who anticipate applying for funding from the program. The article notes that "Mr. Bush's effort could provoke new questions about what constitutes a legitimate religion."

Source: The New York Times

On February 20, 2001, The New York Times reported that "members of a wide variety of religious groups, some once considered far outside the mainstream, are busy preparing proposals for government financing" under President Bush's new faith-based initiative. Among these groups are the Church of Scientology and the the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. "Mr. Bush's effort could provoke new questions about what constitutes a legitimate religion." Bush has said that he does not view all religions to be on par with...

Source: The Record

On February 20, 2001, The Record, of Bergen County, New Jersey, reported on the Interfaith Brotherhood-Sisterhood Breakfast in Teaneck, New Jersey. 500 people attended the Presidents Day breakfast, which was "part of an effort to improve religious and racial harmony in North Jersey." In an address to the audience, Rabbi Daniel Polish of Manhattan urged his listeners to work together with others from different faiths to improve the lives of the underprivileged around the world.

Source: Religious Studies AAR News

On February 20, 2001, Religious Studies AAR News reported that "the Hispanic Churches in American Public Life (HCAPL) research project is a three-year study funded by a $1.3 million grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts. The project seeks to examine the impact of religion on political and civic engagement in the Latino community." The co-directors are Jesse Miranda of Alianza de Ministerios Evangelicos Nacionales (AMEN) and Virgilio Elizondo of the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC). The study plans to conduct...

Source: www.aren.org

An press release about the open letter outlined instances of discrimination against Pagans on the part of government officials and the media. For example, on "Mc Laughlin's One on One," Stephen Goldsmith, the Domestic Policy Advisor to the President, said that he did not "think that Wiccans would meet the standard of being humane providers of domestic violence shelters." Indiana Representative Souder stated on the House floor in April that "it is unlikely under President Bush that the witches would get funding."

Source: No source given.

On February 19, 2001, a group of Pagans wrote an open statement to President Bush and other government officials in which they expressed concerns about Bush's new faith-based initiatives and about discriminatory comments made by individuals in government and from the media. Pagans are concerned they will be discriminated against in the awarding of government funds to faith-based initiatives. This letter is collecting signatures on the AREN website at http://www.aren.org.

Source: National Review

On February 19, 2001, the National Review published a criticism by Kate O'Beirne of Bush's new faith-based initiative. One concern she brings up is that the government will "throttle the faith-based programs with regulations," or try to "to distort the mission of faith-based groups receiving public money." Another is that most religious-sounding social-welfare programs are actually not "devoted to spiritual renewal and character transformation," which many of the initiative's supporters see as the unique strength of religious groups...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On February 18, 2001, the Los Angeles Times published an article about the Jewish response to Bush's new faith-based initiative. Many Jewish leaders "remain guarded with Bush, who has...made his Christian faith a prominent part of his political platform. Both the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress oppose the president's plan... Yet, there is a growing minority of American Jews who... are 'pleased that President Bush is committed to increasing the partnership between government and faith and community-based...

Source: The Washington Post

On February 18, 2001, The Washington Post published an opinion piece by Mark Silk on Bush's new faith-based initiative. Silk points out that although many faith-based service-providing nonprofits already receive government funds, Bush's plan is more complex because it calls for the mobilization of religious congregations, and because it calls for funding groups that believe clients can only be helped by faith. He warns that "enabling religious congregations to create new social services with government funds without increasing...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On February 16, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported that in Ohio religious organizations are already receiving federal money to implement social programs. "The seeds of President Bush's faith-based initiative were sown in the 1996 welfare-reform law, with a provision known as 'charitable choice.'...For years, organizations such as Catholic Charities USA have taken federal money for their services but have kept their religious components separate from their services and abided by anti-discrimination laws." Joel Potts, assistant...