In response to the recent introduction of legislation in Congress to prohibit human cloning, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life hosted a "rapid response" discussion of religious perspectives on the issue.

A new survey shows that while religion plays a more prominent role in American public life, sharp divisions of opinion exist around issues such as the separation of church and state.

Events of the past year, including the presidential campaign's focus on religion and politics, attention given to Attorney General Ashcroft's religious convictions, and President Bush's establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, illustrate that the role of religion in public life is no longer an underlying discussion.

"The challenge ahead of us now, if we hope to respond to the public's yearning for a better balance between faith and freedom, is as much political as it is legal.

A diverse group of religious and civic organizations have issued a report, In Good Faith: A Dialogue on Funding Faith-Based Social Services, discussing ways in which the government and religious groups may work together to serve those in need.

A discussion among political and religious leaders with differing views on the role of faith-based organizations in the delivery of social services will be moderated by Forum co-chair E.J. Dionne, Jr.

At a time when the president-elect is convening meetings of faith leaders to discuss church-state partnerships and assembling the first ever White House office on faith-based action, Americans have mixed views about the proper relationship between religion and public affairs, according to a new study by Public Agenda.