Christianity

Multifaith Celebrations of Humor and Laughter

March 14, 2003

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On March 14, 2003 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "the Jewish holiday of Purim and the Hindu festival of Holi will be celebrated next week. Christianity's Holy Hilarity Sunday will follow on April 27, a week after most believers observe Easter... In Purim, which begins at sundown Monday and runs through sundown Tuesday, comedy masks pain. The holiday commemorates how the Jews in ancient Persia survived a genocidal plot by Haman, royal adviser to King Ahasuerus... playfulness is exhibited in the festival Holi (pronounced...

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Choice of Hispanic Scapegoat Raises Concern in Small Iowa Town

March 11, 2003

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 11, 2003 The Boston Globe reported that "for a small town (Hull, Iowa), it was an unusual crime: a gas station robbed, two teens shot. The suspect? An unnamed Hispanic male... Suddenly, a ripple of fear rolled through the area's small but growing Latino community as longtime residents shook their heads and pointed fingers... But when the two white youths who were wounded confessed in court last month that they had invented the story after shooting themselves, both in the left shoulder, and taking $1,800 from the register,...

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Update: Increasing Support for Lutheran Reverend Who Participated in Interfaith Event

March 7, 2003

Source: The Omaha World-Herald

On March 7, 2003 The Omaha World-Herald reported that "the Rev. David Benke, suspended president of the synod's Atlantic District, didn't dodge questions Thursday about his prayer at a post-Sept. 11 interfaith event. Benke lectured at Concordia University, describing his congregations' responses to the World Trade Center attacks... He said the disaster and his 30 years of ministry in New York City's melting pot help explain why he joined non-Lutheran clergy at 'A Prayer for America' at Yankee Stadium - an act that led to his...

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Update: Lawmakers Walk Out of Muslim Prayer in Washington State House

March 5, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 5, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "when state lawmaker Lois McMahan chose not to participate in a Muslim prayer at the House of Representatives in Olympia, Wash., it was, she says, for private reasons, and they may have stayed private had she not answered the questions of a reporter... 'It's an issue of patriotism,' McMahan, a conservative Christian, reportedly said. 'The Islamic religion is so ... part and parcel with the attack on America. I just didn't want to be a part of that... Even though the mainstream...

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Update: Civil Suit against NYPD

March 4, 2003

Source: The Sikh Coalition

On March 4, 2003 The Sikh Coalition reported that "The Sikh Coalition and Amric Singh (Rathour) filed a federal lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department's (NYPD) "no turban" policy. Amric Singh was terminated by the NYPD in August 2001 for refusing orders to remove his turban and trim his beard, both required by his religion... A contingent of Sikh police officers from Canada and Great Britain joined Amric Singh at the press conference. The Sikh officers stressed that the turban did not impede their ability to perform...

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Increases in Religious Buildings in West Omaha

March 4, 2003

Source: The Omaha World-Herald

On March 4, 2003 The Omaha World-Herald reported that "West Omaha is undergoing a wave of religious building as churches expand to match the suburban population growth and a demand for better facilities... More than $ 25 million has been committed to projects either finished in recent years or under way. The cost of further expansions and new houses of worship in high-profile suburban locations could easily surpass $ 50million... The rate of construction is a strong sign of progress in Omaha, considering the current economic...

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Women's Prayer Breakfast for Peace in Cleveland

March 4, 2003

Source: The Plain Dealer

On March 4, 2003 The Plain Dealer reported that "to enter the Women's Prayer Breakfast for Peace in Cleveland yesterday, participants passed photos of Iraqis - a girl flashing a peace sign, a smiling housewife, a farmer, a soldier and a Baghdad street vendor... 'War is about people - not just about governments,' a sign under the photos read... A sizable percentage of women oppose war, but their opinions haven't been heard, said the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell. Campbell is chairwoman of The Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and...

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UK Census: Buddhism Second Biggest Religion, Evangelical Christians Growing

March 4, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2820377.stm

On March 4, 2003 the BBC News reported, "The findings from the recent census also show many Christians in the region are returning to their evangelical roots. Devon and Cornwall had a population of 1,576,186 when the census was taken in 2001. Most describe themselves as Christian...

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Role of Military Chaplains

March 3, 2003

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On March 3, 2003 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "the chaplain in all U.S. military services is an officer and a full member of the armed forces. No matter what his or her rank, even if it is general or admiral, he or she is addressed simply as chaplain... All branches of the armed services require chaplains to have at least one graduate degree in theology or pastoral care from a seminary. All need the continued sponsorship of their faith group. If that sponsorship is dropped, unless they find another denomination...

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Jewish and Catholic Join Hands in Interfaith Program in Florida

March 3, 2003

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pinterfaith03mar03,0,4961514.story?coll=sfla%2Dnews%2Dpalm

On March 3, 2003 South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that "friendly exchanges between the congregations of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where [Monsignor John] McMahon is pastor, and [Rabbi Merle] Singer's Temple Beth El began 17 years ago with an interfaith...

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Faiths Unite to Protest War

March 1, 2003

Source: Islamic Horizons

On March 1, 2003 Islamic Horizons reported that "Busloads of Muslim Americans from across the U.S. joined tens of thousands of fellow citizens of many faiths in Washington on Jan. 18-- in 20 degree temperatures-- to demand peace. The rally, preceding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, was part of the ongoing preemptive antiwar movement. The most popular chant was 'No War For Oil,' and the crowd carried placards saying: 'Regime Change Starts at Home' and 'Would Jesus Bomb Them?' Organizers said that it was the largest showing...

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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Pledge of Allegiance Ruling

March 1, 2003

Source: The Washington Post

On March 1, 2003 The Washington Post reported that "federal appeals court yesterday voted to let stand its much-criticized ruling banning teacher-led recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools, a decision that sets the stage for a possible battle in the Supreme Court over patriotism and religion... The court did take one step back, however. Its original ruling not only barred schools from sponsoring the pledge but also struck down the 1954 federal law that officially added the words 'under God' to the pledge -- thus...

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