Christianity

Fire Breaks Out at New York Cathedral

December 19, 2001

Source: Newsday

On December 19, 2001, Newsday reported that a "fire that swept through the gift shop of the world's largest Gothic cathedral," the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. "From its inception, the cathedral was chartered not just as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York but as a house of prayer whose bronze doors were open to all people... Indeed, in recent years, sermons have been delivered by rabbis, Zen Buddhists and African animists. The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, retired U.S. Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf...

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Holiday Season in the Workplace

December 18, 2001

Source: The Providence Journal

http://projo.com/cgi-bin/story.pl/opinion/06719201.htm

On December 18, 2001, The Providence Journal featured an editorial on holidays in the workplace. "Many bosses decide, with a wink and a nod, to recast their Christmas parties as 'holiday' parties, but then still decorate in green and red and play Christmas carols. Such watering-down seems to work. The Christians can see their tradition in abstract form, and non-Christians find it...

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Editorial: "Workplace understanding without 'Secret Santas'"

December 18, 2001

Source: The Providence Journal

http://projo.com/cgi-bin/story.pl/opinion/06719201.htm

On December 18, 2001, The Providence Journal featured an opinion piece by Dr. Doug Hicks "Workplace understanding without 'Secret Santas.'" It began: "The best debates about religious diversity take place beside the water cooler in the December-holiday season at the office." Further, "September's terror has forced Americans to take a fresh look at themselves. They have discovered...

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Employers and Religious Holidays

December 17, 2001

Source: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

On December 17, 2001, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that "almost all companies count Christian celebrations as their only official religious holidays, with employees of other faiths often forced to work on their holy days or use vacation time for a holiday off... Still, a growing number offer floating holidays or other schedule adjustments that allow workers to stay home on the days that matter to them... A survey this year by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious...

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Religious Holidays at the White House

December 17, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On December 17, 2001, The New York Times reported that "there is a creche in the East Room of the White House this year, as there has been every December since... 1967. But last week there was also a Hanukkah party with a kosher buffet among the glittering forest of White House Christmas trees, and last month there was the first iftar dinner held in the Executive Mansion, complete with fresh dates and Muslim prayers, to break the daily fast during Ramadan... The many gods in American life are alive and well at the White House,...

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Town Common to be Home to Diverse Displays

December 16, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On December 16, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that "two more displays will soon join the Christmas creche on the town common [in Norwood, MA] this holiday season. Norwood selectmen, with little discussion, approved the applications... for a kiosk celebrating religious diversity and a billboard supporting separation of church and state.

Interfaith Talks Take New Dimensions in Seattle

December 16, 2001

Source: The Seattle Times

On December 16, 2001, The Seattle Times reported that, in Seattle, "two Christian pastors, a Jewish rabbi and a Muslim layman talked about how people of different faiths can learn to trust each other in these troubled times... In the aftermath of Sept. 11, interfaith groups -- especially those featuring Jews, Christians and Muslims -- are finding a renewed sense of purpose. Though Christian-Jewish dialogues have taken place for decades in Seattle, it has only been in recent years -- and especially since Sept. 11 -- that such groups...

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Utah Church Celebrates Solstice

December 15, 2001

Source: The Deseret News

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,355012326,00.html

On December 15, 2001, The Deseret News reported that the "First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City... will hold its 10th annual Solstice... The Rev. Silvia Behrend said the event is more than just a fun celebration for the church — it is also a religious-oriented event that welcomes the renewal of life... She believes the solstice event can bring additional Christmas meaning...

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Connecticut School Board Addresses Celebration of Religious Holidays

December 14, 2001

Source: The Hartford Courant

On December 14, 2001, The Hartford Courant reported that at a recent school board meeting in Coventry, CT, "parents were upset about the wording of a memo School Superintendent Michael Malinowski sent to principals. The memo urged them to be mindful of the separation of church and state. Malinowski sent the memo after discovering that a creche and a cross had been put up in the school system... In impassioned speeches, parents said that in striving to be politically correct, the school system is being intolerant by not exposing...

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Hate Group Distributes Anti-Semitic Literature

December 13, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On December 13, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that "for the third time in two months, Sharon [MA] residents found anti-Semitic literature from a West Virginia hate group thrown on their front yards... The papers blamed Jews for a recent anti-Catholic incident at the town's high school, and attacked Israel." The article also reported that similar literatures appeared recently in numerous other towns, including Weston and South Boston.

Kansas City Celebrates Pluralism

December 12, 2001

Source: The Kansas City Star

http://www.cres.org

On December 12, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported that "since Sept. 11, leaders in government - like those in schools, hospitals, media and business - want to be sure they are discharging their duties with particular sensitivity to religious concerns... As part of a recognition of pluralism in the [Kansas City] area, Jackson County Executive Katheryn J. Shields is developing a six-month calendar of community open houses scheduled by ethnic and faith...

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Rochester Interfaith Group to Visit "Ground Zero"

December 11, 2001

Source: The Democrat and Chronicle

http://www.rochesternews.com/1211story5.html

On December 11, 2001, The Democrat and Chronicle reported "Diverse area delegation on visit to ground zero." The article noted, "An interfaith delegation from Rochester will journey to New York City today. Approximately 50 participants -- representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities -- will make the trip, hoping to reflect on the events of Sept. 11 and to solidify their...

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Conversion to Islam at Time of Crisis

December 11, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On December 11, 2001, the Los Angeles Times featured an article on Dia Richardson, a recent convert to Islam. "Richardson personifies the majority [of converts]: African American, urban, in search of answers and a more disciplined form of worship... Like many new converts of any faith, Richardson came to Islam at a time of crisis. A few weeks ago, she lost her latest job, her apartment in Acton, and then her father broke his hip and slipped into a coma during surgery... She [now] enjoys reading the Koran in English and has been...

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Arson at New York Sikh Center, Gobind Sadan USA

December 10, 2001

Source: United Press International

On December 10, 2001, The United Press International reported that "the 'real story' of the blaze at the Gobind Sadan shrine actually developed into a rather marvelous one, recounts Ralph Singh, the center's spokesman... Jews, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists came out to express their solidarity, Singh recalled. And then there were individual acts of kindness... With a trembling voice, Ralph Singh spoke of the 'outpouring of love' the 100-strong congregation at the former farmstead received from neighbors and...

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Multifaith Service for Unity on Long Island

December 10, 2001

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-liisla102503970dec10.story?coll=ny%2Dlinews%2Darchive

On December 10, 2001, Newsday featured the article "Religious leaders reach out with unity service at LI mosque." It reported, "In an unprecedented act, the leader of Long Island's Catholic Church visited the Island's largest mosque yesterday, attending a multifaith service aimed at...

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