Jay Hein — Distinguished Senior Fellow at Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion and founding president of The Sagamore Institute — talks with Tony about his tenure running the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) in the Bush Administration (2006-08).  We begin by discussing the role of private charity in the US economy and briefly review the historical interaction between government and religious groups.  Our attention then turns to the operation of the OFBCI with particular emphasis on how the program was designed not only to provide funding opportunities for religious charities, but perhaps more importantly to remove regulatory barriers standing in the way of these groups and to facilitate a more cooperative relationship with state and federal governments.  Hein provides several examples of how the Faith-Based Initiative worked in practice, including prisoner re-entry programs and AIDS relief in Africa.  Another underlying theme of the podcast relates to the proper relationship between government and religious organizations.  President Barack Obama’s continuation of this program is also mentioned.  We condlude our discussion with some critiques of the Faith-Based Initiative and the Supreme Court case initiated by the Freedom from Religion Foundation.  Recorded: August 18, 2010.

RELATED LINKS

Jay Hein’s website at Baylor’s ISR.

The Sagamore Institute (Indianapolis, IN).

The President’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative in the 50 States: Report to the Nation’s Governors  (Feb. 2008).

President Barack Obama’s Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Hudson Institute’s Index of Global Philanthropy & Remittances 2010.

RELATED PODCASTS

Mark David Hall on Religion & the Founding Fathers.

Erik Stanley on Clergy & Free Speech.

Byron Johnson on Religion & Delinquency.

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