Federal Faith-Based Partnership Reforms Grind Slowly Ahead With New OMB Memo

As previously reported, in April 2012 the White House issued the Recommendations of the Interagency Working Group on Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Partnerships which provides federal agencies with guidance on carrying out Executive Order 13559 (Nov. 17, 2010)-- the executive order that adopted a number of recommendations of the President's faith-based task force. Now, as announced last week by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Office of Management and Budget has finally issued a Memorandum (full text) instructing federal agencies to take steps, consistent with that Report, to carry out the 2010 Executive Order.  However, further delay is likely since the Memorandum states that the Working Group that created the 2012 Report will now be reconvened to develop a plan for agency implementation of the Executive Order. After that plan is issued, agencies will have 120 days to send OMB their agency-specific plan for amending their rules and guidance documents. Religion News Service yesterday reported on  these developments. [Thanks to Michael Lieberman for the lead.]