Documentary
Tempting Faith
An adjunct project of the study is production of a documentary about Charitable Choice. The documentary will follow the IUPUI research team as it studies programs in three states (Indiana, Massachusetts, and North Carolina). A number of faith-based initiatives in each location will be profiled, exploring what services are provided, what the local secular alternatives are, and how clients are affected by the quality and nature of the services. Religious, legal, and social service experts who are familiar with this topic and the tangle of issues it presents will share their perspectives.

The documentary will offer viewers a clear sense of what's at stake in this debate, and what the concerns are on both sides of the issue. It will be an hour-long exploration of the issues surrounding faith-based social services, including the politics, and the challenges facing religious organizations. The program will not take a position on whether increased reliance on faith-based social services is positive or negative; rather, it will focus upon the issues that individuals and governments must confront before making decisions.

Some of those issues include:

• Will Charitable Choice lead to more choices in social services, or fewer?
• Will clients who now rely on the government for welfare, job training, or other services be proselytized to by congregations?
• Will faith-based providers be better, worse, or the same?
• Will non-traditional religions be squeezed out of the field?
• Will government employees be forced to choose among "good" and "bad" religions?

The documentary is made possible with support from the Ford Foundation. IUPUI is also supporting this project, by providing research and academic support. The Indiana University Center on Philanthropy is underwriting the national marketing and promotion expenses.