FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES

OBAMA would establish a council for faith-based and neighborhood partnerships that would provide federal funding for community-centered, independent but church-affiliated and other such programs so long as such programs did not discriminate in hiring or actively proselytize. Obama's proposal would significantly expand President Bush's faith-based initiatives project.

McCAIN says he would retain the current 11 regional centers established under President Bush's faith-based initiative to promote nonreligious community service. He would direct such faith-based groups receiving federal funds to focus primarily on substance abuse and violence prevention.