Bush taps Poli Sci prof for White House post

Penn Political Science Professor John DiIulio will head a newly created office to increase federal funding for faith-based charity groups, President Bush announced at the White House yesterday. DiIulio will take a leave of absence from Penn to run the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. "He is one of the most influential social entrepreneurs in America," Bush said of DiIulio. "He has been a major force in mobilizing the city of Philadelphia to support faith-based and community groups." Bush said that the new federal office will ensure that religious charities and community groups are given the economic support needed to provide service. "There are so many religious and secular community-based organizations out there that are really working to improve the life prospects of children, youth and families," DiIulio said. After reconnecting with Catholicism in 1995, DiIulio began working with faith-based institutions to increase literacy rates and career achievement. He also raises money for such groups. DiIulio, a Penn graduate, spent 13 years as a professor at Princeton University before returning to his alma mater in 1999. At the time, his arrival was hailed as a much-needed resuscitation for Penn's beleagured Political Science department, which has seen a slew of faculty departures over the past several years. Officials believed DiIulio's high profile and solid academic reputation would help draw other political science professors to the University. But with DiIulio headed for the nation's capital, officials inside Stiteler Hall can only speculate what effect his temporary absence will have on the department. "In the short term, it's a loss of a tremendous teacher and incredibly valued colleague," Political Science Department chair Jack Nagel said. "In the long term, it's an impressive distinction for the department." It is unclear how long DiIulio's leave of absence will last, but estimates range between six months and a year. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston stressed that he does not expect the leave to be lengthy. "It's a short-term void," Preston said. "He fully intends to return to the University." But Preston also noted that the University would fill the hole left by DiIulio's absence with short-term replacements. "It's certainly an honor for Penn to have a faculty member in such a high position," Preston said. "It's unfortunate that students will not have John's superb teaching." In the four years since University President Judith Rodin announced an initiative to revitalize the Political Science department, only one standout senior professor -- DiIulio -- has been hired. The department has decreased in size due to faculty departures and retirements. At Princeton, DiIulio gained acclaim for his hands-on approach to research. One colleague was so impressed with DiIulio's toughness and street smarts that he once dubbed him "Joe Pesci with a Ph.D." Upon his arrival at the University less than two years ago, DiIulio stated that he would remain in Philadelphia "forever." "I'm not going anywhere," he said at the time. "I want to be a part of making this America's greatest university." DiIulio is the director of the Fox Leadership Program at Penn, and he also runs the Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society. He was not scheduled to teach a class this semester. In the 1990s, DiIulio directed a program in Boston that led to a 77-percent decrease in juvenile homicides. He also founded the Jeremiah Project at the Manhattan Institute, which assists faith-based programs for inner-city youths. And Bush's program targets the efforts of similar faith-based groups. "As long as there are secular alternatives, faith-based charities should be able to compete for funding on an equal basis, and in a manner that does not cause them to sacrifice their mission," Bush said. Added DiIulio, "We're really talking about, you know, letting faith-based organizations compete for this help on the same basis as any other non-governmental provider." The creation of a federal office to help fund faith-based groups has caused a great deal of controversy over its constitutionality. Many claim that the new program blurs the separation of church and state. "The First Amendment was intended to create a separation between religion and government, not a massive new bureaucracy that unites the two," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, a minister of the United Church of Christ. Some members of Congress also spoke against the plan, saying that it opens the door for religious discrimination. "I don't want Bob Jones University to be able to take federal dollars for an alcohol treatment program and put out a sign that says no Catholics or Jews need apply here for a federally-funded job," Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Va.) said. DiIulio, who grew up in South Philadelphia, has authored or co-authored 12 books on various subjects involving politics. The Associated Press contributed to this article.