White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Biden administration finalizes rule on religious liberty protections
By Adelle M. Banks — March 1, 2024
(RNS) — 'Today’s announcement establishes uniform policies to safeguard Americans from religious discrimination in social services,' said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
In latest twist for faith-based initiative, Biden tacks back toward religious freedoms
By Mark Silk — January 18, 2023
(RNS) — The administration restores safeguards for federally funded faith-based service providers.
DHS official Marcus Coleman offers security tips for houses of faith marking holidays
By Adelle M. Banks — April 14, 2022
(RNS) — Coleman advises congregations to keep a watchful eye as they open their doors for in-person gatherings marking special occasions, traditional worship and everyday work.
Expert in faith-based disaster management new leader of Homeland Security center
By Adelle M. Banks — August 2, 2021
(RNS) — Marcus T. Coleman, the former interim director of the DHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships from 2017 to 2018 and a special assistant for it from 2013 to 2016, starts his new role on Monday (Aug. 2).
Biden White House officials hold first meeting with atheist, secular groups
By Adelle M. Banks — May 17, 2021
(RNS) — The May 14 meeting followed previous meetings representatives of the secular community had with the Obama administration in 2010 and 2013.
Moving from pain to action: an address to the Sikh community after Indianapolis
By Simran Jeet Singh — April 17, 2021
(RNS) — What have we done to fulfill our promise to make the world a better and safer place?
Why we need to work with houses of worship on COVID-19 vaccinations
By Melissa Rogers — March 16, 2021
(RNS) — Faith-based organizations are familiar to many, and countless religious leaders are enthusiastic about helping Americans get vaccinated.
Paula White and the mainstreaming of American Pentecostalism
By Daniel G. Hummel — November 8, 2019
(Sightings) — Paula White is a new breed of Christian-right leader who is defined far less by theology than by ideology.
Still no sign of leader for White House faith partnership office
By Adelle M. Banks — March 31, 2017
(RNS) President Trump has yet to name the director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships nor an ambassador focused on religious freedom.
The Obama presidency: ‘War on religion’ or ‘Amazing Grace’?
By Adelle M. Banks — January 9, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) A president who had been viewed as reticent about his faith wowed many when he sang ‘Amazing Grace’ at a funeral for a Charleston, S.C., shooting victim. But his record on issues that matter to faith groups was mixed.
No such thing as ‘second-class’ faith, White House asserts
By Lauren Markoe — December 17, 2015
(RNS) Religious pluralism deserves more appreciation, the White House says.
Critics petition Obama to abolish faith-based hiring bias
By Adelle M. Banks — August 21, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Signatories of the new letter say a 2007 memo is being cited by some government-funded groups to refuse medical care to some sexual abuse victims or discriminate against LGBT employees.
White House proposes rules on faith-based social services
By Adelle M. Banks — August 5, 2015
(RNS) The rules are designed to protect the religious freedom of needy people who receive social services from government–funded religious programs.
Obama’s faith-based advisers divided over religious exemption for anti-gay discrimination
By Adelle M. Banks — July 8, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) “An exception would set a terrible precedent by denying true equality for LGBT people, while simultaneously opening a Pandora’s Box inviting other forms of discrimination,” more than 100 signatories wrote Tuesday in a letter to President Obama.
Growing coalition presses Obama to end policy on religious discrimination in hiring
By Adelle M. Banks — June 20, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) President Obama campaigned against a Bush-era discrimination policy for religious groups that receive federal grants. Now a growing coalition of groups is trying to hold him to his promise.
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