Christianity

Justices Weigh Religious-Monument Dispute

November 13, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_10968740

The Supreme Court warily confronted a case Wednesday that mixes limits on free speech with issues of church-state separation.

The justices engaged in lively arguments over a small religious group's efforts to place a monument in a public park that already is home to a Ten Commandments display.

The court seemed reluctant to accept the...

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Catholic Bishops Plan to Forcefully Confront Obama, Catholic Lawmakers On Abortion

November 12, 2008

Author: Rachel Zoll

Source: The Morning Call

Wire Service: AP

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-rel-catholic-bishops,0,2186177.story

The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration.

...

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Hindus Applaud Christian-Muslim Dialogue at Vatican, Calling it “Step in the Right Direction”

November 11, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Media for Freedom

http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=12378

Hindus have lauded the groundbreaking three-day dialogue between Catholics and Muslims, which concluded at Vatican City on Thursday, and called it a “step in the right direction”.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was wonderful to watch the world’s...

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Orissa Braces for More Hindu-Christian Conflict

November 10, 2008

Author: Michelle A. Vu

Source: The Christian Post

http://christianpost.com/article/20081110/orissa-braces-for-more-hindu-christian-conflict.htm

No end to the Hindu-Christian violence seems to be in sight in the troubled eastern state of Orissa where another murder of a Hindu nationalist activist last week is expected to only fuel the sectarian violence.

A local worker of the Hindu extremist...

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Jewish Group Asks Mormons to Stop Baptizing the Dead

November 10, 2008

Author: Deepti Hajela and Jennifer Dobner

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6105314.html

Holocaust survivors said Monday they are through trying to negotiate with the Mormon church over posthumous baptisms of Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, saying the church has repeatedly violated a 13-year-old agreement barring the practice.

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-...

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Archbishop of Canterbury to Visit Hindu Temple in Gesture of Peace

November 4, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: IANS

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/archbishop-of-canterbury-to-visit-hindu-temple-in-gesture-of-peace_100114705.html

Britain’s most powerful church leader is to visit a large Hindu temple in central England in a gesture of friendship and peace just weeks after the killings of Christians by Hindu extremists in Orissa....

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Iraq Pledges $900K to Help Displaced Christians

November 2, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/11/02/iraq.christians/index.html

Iraq's president on Sunday pledged nearly $900,000 to help Christian families who have fled the northern Iraqi city of Mosul because of killings and threats.

The money -- equivalent to 1 billion Iraqi dinars -- will help safeguard "the rights and freedoms of Christians" in Iraq, according to a statement from President Jalal...

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NCC Warns About Distorted Video On Islam

October 31, 2008

Author: Philip Jenks

Source: World Faith News

http://www.wfn.org/2008/10/msg00188.html

The Interfaith Relations Commission of the National Council of Churches expressed alarm and protest over the recent mass distribution of 28 million copies of what it termed a "distorted and misleading" DVD entitled: "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West."

The Commission charged that the DVD, distributed primarily in closely contested states in the last...

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India Struggles to Find Ethnic and Religious Tolerance

October 29, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: International Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/29/asia/india.php

With national elections only months away, India is reeling from a rash of spiteful religious and ethnic clashes, prompting many in this country to ask why their vibrant, pluralistic democracy tends to encourage, rather than avert, the cruelty of neighbor against neighbor.

Tensions are growing in several corners of the country....

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Capitol to Display Nativity Scene, Atheist Sign

October 28, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The News Tribune

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/religion/story/520714.html

State officials have authorized permits for two holiday-season displays this year.

One is a Nativity scene from Olympia-area realty agent Ron Wesselius, who sued last year over the issue and then won a legal settlement allowing his display.

The other is a 30-by-30 inch placard from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From...

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Lord's Prayer Questioned in Australian Parliament

October 27, 2008

Author: Rod McGuirk

Source: The Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102700785.html

The speaker of Australia's Parliament has called for a public debate about whether the country's lawmakers should end the practice of starting each session with the Lord's Prayer.

Lawmakers have started every day of Parliament...

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Christians Worship in Fear in Eastern India

October 26, 2008

Author: Tim Sullivan

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/26/MN1N13M964.DTL

They still worship in what remains of the little Baptist church not far from this forest town. The church is empty except for the rubble swept neatly into the corners. The sun comes through ragged holes where the mob smashed in the window frames.

On the roof, the crucifix is just twisted metal...

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Pope Decries Christians' Killings in Iraq, India

October 26, 2008

Author: Frances D'emilio

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20081026-0514-eu-vatican-christianskilled.html

Pope Benedict XVI decried the killing of Christians in Iraq and India and appealed on Sunday for political and religious leaders to defend them.

In India, anti-Christian riots and rampages by Hindu extremists have claimed at least 38 lives since late August,...

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U.N. Aids Iraqi Christians Fleeing Mosul Violence

October 24, 2008

Author: Bradley S. Klapper

Source: The Associated Press

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/384966_iraq25.html

The U.N. refugee agency said Friday that it was rushing aid to thousands of Christians who fled a northern Iraqi city, while a prominent Shiite cleric appealed for unity as lawmakers consider a U.S.-Iraq security deal.

Some 13,000 Christians have been chased away by threats and extremist attacks in Mosul this month, said...

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