u.s. report

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Bush's faith-based initiative, eclipsed since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, may be split into two bills, postponing the contentious issue of direct government funding for religious groups.

Such a move would be welcomed by Jewish groups because it would postpone the more controversial aspects, which have divided the Jewish community.

It would allow consensus issues to be dealt with now, while leaving more controversial issues such as charitable choice for later. Charitable choice allows religious institutions to bid for government contracts for providing social services.

The consensus bill likely would include incentives for charitable giving and other ways to assist charities, a welcome move for relief organizations that have suffered in the past month because donors have focused on groups that help terror victims.

Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), the co-sponsors of the legislation, were taking a methodical approach and were sensitive to the church-state issues surrounding the legislation, say observers.

A White House spokesperson would only say that the administration is pleased with the bill's progress and will continue to work with the Senate to determine points of consensus.