Faith-Based Initiatives

Emily J. Salisbury & Jennifer S. Trager

Faith-based initiatives refer to a widespread effort among governmental and religious nonprofit agencies to incorporate religious activism into various social welfare programs, including the correctional system. Most programs currently in place in the United States are centered around the Christian or Muslim faiths. Faith-based initiatives encompass everything from programs designed to help religious organizations obtain federal funding for outreach activities to the actual implementation of prison ministries. The faith-based movement has recently been reenergized in the United States by President George W. Bush's strong commitment to it. Following his inauguration, President Bush announced the establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI). During subsequent months, the Bush administration created legislative proposals focusing on the delivery of federally funded social services through faith-based organizations, becoming commonly known as the “faith-based initiative.” The principle behind this initiative is that faith-based charities should have an equal opportunity to compete ...

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