Christianity

SJC's Ruling on Mormon Temple's Steeple Protects Religious Groups' Freedom From Interference by Civil Authorities

May 17, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On May 17, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that "the Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously yesterday that Mormons have a legal right to erect a giant steeple, topped by a golden angel, atop their new temple in Belmont [Massachusetts]. The decision...broadly affirms the right of religious groups to decide the scale and features of houses of worship...In the Belmont case, a handful of residents of Belmont Hill filed two suits to block the temple."

Task Force Asks Town For Permanent Commission to Address Problems of Intolerance and Bigotry

May 16, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On May 16, 2001, The Arizona Republic published an article defending a task force that "told the Gilbert [Arizona] Town Council that problems of racism, homophobia and religion-based unease...can't be dealt with on an ad hoc basis. There needs to be a permanent body in place - a town Human Relations Commission - to help focus on the problems and deal with them." The task force's request is a response to the recent activities of terrorist groups like the Devil Dogs, a group of young men with an ugly history of violence, in an...

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Orthodox Jews Face Prejudice In New Jersey Town

May 15, 2001

Source: The Record

On May 15, 2001, The Record reported that "lawyers for the Orthodox [Jews in Tenafly, New Jersey] introduced into evidence a pile of photographs...of signs that churches had posted on the right of way in the borough...The leader of Tenafly's Orthodox community demonstrated to the court that the borough allows some groups to use the right of way, but not the Orthodox, who need the utility poles to mark the boundaries of the eruv." One councilman said he voted to take down the eruv because "he sensed 'a lot of fear and hatred' coming...

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Director of Faith-Based Initiative Meets with Muslim Leaders

May 15, 2001

Source: American Muslim Council

On May 15, 2001, the American Muslim Council issued a press release in which they reported that "the Director of the White Faith-Based Initiative, Dr. John Dilulio, met at his office in the White House with Dr. Yahya Basha, President of American Muslim Council (AMC) and Imam Hassan Qazwini, leader of the Islamic Center of America and member of the Board of Directors of (AMC). The discussion centered on relations with the American Muslim Community and the concerns raised by Rev. Jerry Falwell's comments calling on the White House to...

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Many American Women Drawn to Islam, to their Families' Dismay

May 13, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On May 13, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on "a growing number of women embracing Islam in Greater Boston, and in one mosque, the Islamic Society of Boston in Cambridge, they outnumber new Muslim men by as much as 2 to 1." These women insist that, contrary to popular belief in America "in fact Islam is more forward-thinking about gender than many Western traditions...In modelling a more egalitarian form of Islamic culture in the United States than in some parts of the world, these women also say they may influence Muslims worldwide...

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Four Language Groups Share Church and Unite in Worship

May 5, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 5, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "most Sundays at Wilshire United Methodist find the congregation worshiping, studying the Bible and practicing hymns separately in four languages: Korean, Spanish, English and Tagalog. But next month for Pentecost, as it does three other times annually, the congregation's groups will unite in one service. The events are delicate juggling acts, involving multilingual tag teams, that typify the ethnic complexity of Los Angeles...Church officials continually work to ensure that each...

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Pope Plans Unprecedented Visit to Syrian Mosque

May 5, 2001

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On May 5, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "Pope John Paul II plans to become the first pontiff to step through the doors of a mosque...He and his Syrian hosts hope for a moment of unity between the world's two largest faiths...'The whole visit itself is a very important symbol that in a way is a reversal of the Crusades,' said John Voll, associate director of the Georgetown University Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. 'He's not going to the mosque to convert or conquer people; he...

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Interfaith Group Renovates House with Habitat for Humanity

May 5, 2001

Source: Newsday

On May 5, 2001, Newsday reported that, "led by the Rev. Noel Vanek, pastor of The Church- in-the-Gardens, a Congregational church in Forest Hills [New York], and chairman of Interfaith Dialogue, the renovation of the three-bedroom single family house on Lucas Street in Springfield Gardens [by Habitat for Humanity]...is all but completed...Vanek has been active, mostly raising funds, for as long as Habitat for Humanity has been around, but this house was a first for Interfaith Dialogue, "a group of eight Forest Hills religious organizations...

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Character Education of Government Employees in Maryland Causes Controversy

May 4, 2001

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On May 4, 2001, The Baltimore Sun reported that "the Carroll County commissioners voted yesterday to embrace a character development program lauded by a fundamentalist Judeo-Christian group, becoming the first locality in Maryland to promote traits in county [government] workers it deems critical to good citizenship...Critics say such government-sponsored programs are cause for concern because they promote religious values and might violate the First Amendment."

Apprenticeships of Amish Teenagers Conflict with Federal Safety Laws

May 4, 2001

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On May 4, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "the centuries-old Amish tradition of allowing teen-agers to serve apprenticeships in sawmills and woodworking shops clashed yesterday at a Senate hearing with the government's desire to ensure workplace safety. The Amish want the law changed so that when their sons leave school [after eighth grade] they can legally work in family owned shops."

National Day of Prayer Celebrated with Christian Focus

May 4, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 4, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "legions of the county's faithful [in Ventura County, California] spent Thursday toting Bibles, singing Christian hymns and raising their arms to the sky in celebration of the annual National Day of Prayer...The references to Jesus Christ at several of the events had one Jewish rabbi hoping next year's event is more multidenominational."

Representatives from Three Faiths Compare Notes at College Panel

May 2, 2001

Source: The Kansas City Star

On May 2, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported that Penn Valley Community College invited "Imam Mohammed Adnan Bayazid of the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City, Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn of the New Reform Temple and Father Jose Geronimo Herrera of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to answer questions about...Islam, Judaism and Christianity. For many, this was the first time to hear differing faith leaders compare notes about their traditions."

Disagreement Over Appropriate Reaction to Dalai Lama's Visit

May 2, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On May 2, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that "a 'protest and dissent' statement that scolds state Rep. Arlon Lindner for criticizing the Dalai Lama and Buddhism was signed by more than 60 House members...The statement, a form of protest that is provided for in the Minnesota Constitution, faults Lindner for showing 'a lack of respect and tolerance for other religions.' It also describes his comments as 'bigoted.'"

Interfaith Campaign to Promote Ethics

May 1, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 1, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported on "an unusual campaign to improve local ethics [in Pacific Palisades by] posting 3,500 signs along neighborhood roads to promote community values...The stake-mounted placards bearing the words 'love,' 'courage,' 'respect,' 'integrity,' 'passion,' 'good works' and 'kindness' were being confiscated by Los Angeles street-use inspectors" because permits are required by the city for the signs to be on the public right of way. "The community values crusade was launched after Kehillat Israel...

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Disagreement Over Appropriate Reaction to Dalai Lama's Visit

May 1, 2001

Source: Star Tribune

On May 1, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that "Rep. Arlon Lindner...told colleagues in an e-mail...that he is offended by the Dalai Lama's planned speech to the Legislature and that he views Buddhism as a cult that is 'incompatible with Christian principles.' The Corcoran [Minnesota] Republican, who has a Baptist seminary degree, said he will not attend the Dalai Lama's speech to a joint meeting of the House and Senate on May 9."

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