Christianity

Planned Cartoon Show About Pope Causes Controversy

February 10, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-religion-cartoon.html

On February 10, 2004 The New York Times ran a Reuters article that reported, "Thousands of angry Roman Catholics have written to Britain's BBC complaining about a planned cartoon show mocking the pope as a puerile preacher on a pogo stick, the broadcaster said Tuesday. Petitions are circulating in parishes and some Catholics are even risking jail...

Read more about Planned Cartoon Show About Pope Causes Controversy

Democrats Move From Skepticism to Scripture

February 10, 2004

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040205-120813-3550r.htm

On February 10, 2004 The Washington Post reported, "Americans prefer at least a whiff of religion in their politicians, according to a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll conducted in July. Sixty-two percent of the 2,002 adults polled said the president mentions his faith in just the right amounts, compared with 14 percent who said he mentions it too much...

Read more about Democrats Move From Skepticism to Scripture

Editorial: Nigerian Politics Should Take Cue from Opening of Mosque by Christian Leader

February 10, 2004

Source: Vanguard

http://allafrica.com/stories/200402110131.html

On February 10, 2004 the Vanguard ran an editorial on the recent opening of a mosque in Umuahia by Uzor Orji Kalu, governor of Abia State, who is a Christian. The editorial commented, "His critics do not know what to make of this unusual gesture so they have gone to town to say what the governor has done has political undertones. And we ask: What in this country does not? Or to put it in reverse: What can we not...

Read more about Editorial: Nigerian Politics Should Take Cue from Opening of Mosque by Christian Leader

Parents Sue Over Right to Distribute Religious Jellybeans

February 9, 2004

Source: The First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=12633

On February 9, 2004 the The First Amendment Center reported that "parents have sued a suburban school district because a kindergarten teacher stopped their daughter from distributing bags of jellybeans with an attached prayer to her classmates. Allen and Sheila Wuebben of suburban Kettering say the school's policy of prohibiting students from distributing religious literature...

Read more about Parents Sue Over Right to Distribute Religious Jellybeans

Christian and Jewish Leaders Pledge to Combat Anti-Semitism

February 9, 2004

Source: Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR021104C.html

On February 9, 2004 Religion News Service posted a press release that reported, "A delegation of European Christian leaders joined with their counterparts from the United States, Canada, Australia and Israel earlier this week to meet with top Israeli government leaders in a joint effort to draft plans for combating heightened anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in their home communities. Heavily...

Read more about Christian and Jewish Leaders Pledge to Combat Anti-Semitism

Religious Leaders Join Rally to Oppose Gay Marriage

February 9, 2004

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0402/29/a03-58833.htm

On February 9, 2004 The Boston Globe reported, "Boisterous opponents of same-sex marriage sang, cheered and chanted Sunday at a rally to build support for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The demonstration on the Boston Common, a short distance from the Massachusetts Statehouse, broke out into chants of 'Let the people vote!'...

Read more about Religious Leaders Join Rally to Oppose Gay Marriage

Airline Pilot Asks Christians to Identify Themselves

February 9, 2004

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-02-08-pilot-religion_x.htm

On February 9, 2004 The Associated Press reported that "an American Airlines pilot asked Christians on his flight to identify themselves and discuss their religion with non-Christian passengers, the airline said. The case was handed over to the airline's personnel department for an investigation, spokesman Tim Wagner said Sunday... Wagner said the pilot had...

Read more about Airline Pilot Asks Christians to Identify Themselves

Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Increase in Perth

February 9, 2004

Source: The Straits Times

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,234248,00.html

On February 9, 2004 The Straits Times ran an Agence France Presse article that reported, "Perth's ethnic communities say worsening racial violence in which three Chinese restaurants were firebombed last week has led to fearful parents in Asia stopping their children from travelling to the city...Mr [Suresh] Rajan, [chairman of the Ethnic Communities Council...

Read more about Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Increase in Perth

New Jersey Suburb Sees Influx of Religious Centers

February 9, 2004

Source: The Courier News

http://www.c-n.com/news/c-n/story/0,2111,903589,00.html

On February 9, 2004 The Courier News reported on the influx of religious centers being built in Franklin, a suburb of New Jersey. Muslim, Presbyterian, Jain and Hindu congregations all have plans to build in the area, and existing Jewish, Hindu, and Christian centers are expanding... The township has a tradition of religious diversity, said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein...

Read more about New Jersey Suburb Sees Influx of Religious Centers

United Church of Canada to Release Document Seeking Reconciliation With Muslims

February 8, 2004

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-02/08/article09.shtml

On February 8, 2004 IslamOnline.net reported, "The United Church of Canada acknowledged a long history of hostility toward Muslims in Christianity and asserted that the image of Islam which 'today is too often depicted as a religion of violence' should be reversed. The Church, the main representative of Canadian Protestants, will release in mid-February a document...

Read more about United Church of Canada to Release Document Seeking Reconciliation With Muslims

Catholics and Protestants Reject Joint Cemetary Proposal in N. Ireland

February 8, 2004

Source: The Observer

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1143465,00.html

On February 8, 2004 The Observer reported, "In the Northern Ireland border town of Enniskillen, Roman Catholics and Protestants won't be seen dead with each other: the leaders of both communities have objected to a scheme that would have interred the remains of people of both faiths together...A plan by Fermanagh council to have an integrated cemetery at Cross, a...

Read more about Catholics and Protestants Reject Joint Cemetary Proposal in N. Ireland

Evangelicals and the "Left Behind" Series

February 8, 2004

Source: CBS News

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/05/60minutes/main598218.shtml

On February 8, 2004 CBS News reported that "an estimated 70 million Americans call themselves evangelicals, and their beliefs have already reshaped American politics. In the last election, 40 percent of the votes for George W. Bush came from their ranks, and now those beliefs are beginning to reshape the culture as well -- thanks to a group of best-selling novels known...

Read more about Evangelicals and the "Left Behind" Series

The Ten Commandments Return to Alabama

February 8, 2004

Source: The First Amendment Center

http://www.fac.org/rel_liberty/publiclife/news.aspx?id=12618

On February 8, 2004 The First Amendment Center reported that "the Ten Commandments are back in the Alabama Judicial Building, this time in an exhibit that opened Feb. 5 and features seven other historical documents.

The display stands just across the rotunda from the spot once occupied by a 5,300-pound granite monument to the commandments that cost Roy...

Read more about The Ten Commandments Return to Alabama

Paganism on the Rise, Christianity "Singled Out for Exclusion"

February 7, 2004

Source: Zenit.org

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=48649

On February 7, 2004 Zenit.org posted a story on the rise of paganism worldwide, contrasted with incidents in which Christianity has been "singled out for exclusion." The article mentioned Denmark's legalization of marriages conducted by worshippers of the Norse gods and the U.S. federal court case in favor of allowing Wiccan Cyndi Simpson to deliver an invocation at a Chesterfield (Va.) county...

Read more about Paganism on the Rise, Christianity "Singled Out for Exclusion"

Interfaith Statement Against Gay Marriage

February 7, 2004

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/02/07/leade

On February 7, 2004 The Boston Globe published the text of an Interfaith Statement against gay marriage, reading in part: "Today, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of the state of Massachusetts joined with over 3000 other religious communities within the state to offer a joint statement in support of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union...

Read more about Interfaith Statement Against Gay Marriage

Pages