Christianity

Controversy Over Prayers at Football Games

October 22, 2000

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On October 22, 2000, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that, "the U.S. Supreme Court continues to place restrictions on prayer and religious activity involving public schools. But several DeKalb County high schools are testing the limits of the law by having Baptist ministers serve as chaplains to school football teams. The ministers, including televangelist Bishop Eddie Long and some of his associates at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, provide pregame prayers and devotionals. 'It has a...

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Election 2000

October 22, 2000

Source: The New York Times

On October 22, 2000, The New York Times reported that "at New Salem Missionary Baptist, the little country church in Tennessee where Senator Albert Gore's private funeral was held, folks were not at all sure that a woman should be allowed to speak from the pulpit, even if she was an Episcopal bishop, in from Washington, D.C. And some mourners on the other side of the cultural and religious divide that day did not understand them or their point of view. 'At the New Salem Bible Thumping Good News Evangelical High Hope Church --...

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Diwali Celebrated

October 21, 2000

Source: The Seattle Times

On October 21, 2000, The Seattle Times reported that "the Roman Catholic Church sent greetings to the world's Hindus as they prepared for Diwali new year celebrations. It expressed the hope that improving interfaith relations will benefit world harmony and peace. 'May the world around us, particularly the world of the oppressed, the marginalized, the forgotten ones and the innocent victims of injustice, feel the warmth of our growing relationship,' said a letter written by Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the...

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Interfaith Prayer Vigil Held for Children

October 21, 2000

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On October 21, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported that "the hum of gospel hymns, clapping hands and fervent prayer echoed off the glass walls of the office towers surrounding Charles Center Plaza yesterday as young and old gathered to observe an interfaith Sabbath for children. About 100 Christians, Jews and Muslims joined hands and voices as they prayed for the youth in Baltimore in a local vigil that was part of the Children's Sabbath, an annual event sponsored by the National Children's Defense Fund. As part of the observance,...

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Clergy Object to Christian Coalition Voters Guides

October 13, 2000

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On October 13, 2000, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "A group of clergy from Missouri mailed 3,000 letters this week to pastors, rabbis, imams and other spiritual leaders across the state asking them not to distribute the voters guides from the Christian Coalition of America." The guides focus on the two major candidates for US President, Al Gore and George W. Bush. The Coalition is especially concerned with the "marriage tax penalty and other tax issues, abortion and school vouchers." Some are concerned that...

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Babysitting Swap Between Methodist Church, Reform Congregation

October 12, 2000

Source: The Washington Post

On October 12, 2000, The Washington Post reported that "members of Evergreen Church, a new United Methodist congregation in Leesburg, helped out the Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation during the recent Jewish High Holy Days, watching young members while their parents worshiped at the Ruritan Club in Sterling. The Rev. Chip Giessler, Evergreen's pastor, said he proposed the swap last year when his church was about to celebrate its first Easter service. 'We didn't want to have to pull anyone out of services to care for the...

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Numbers of Catholic Nuns Dwindling; Mississippi Order Fighting to Leave Their Legacy

October 10, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 10, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "during Barbara Dreher's first year as province director of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, 27 elderly nuns died. More important, no young women enrolled to take their place. Those who remained were aging rapidly, and the order lacked the long-term resources to care for them. A mortality study showed that the 350-year-old order was destined to disappear one day without a trace. Dreher's leadership team took drastic action. They sold property and cut living...

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New Mascot to be More Inclusive

October 10, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 10, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "the quest for a politically correct Christian mascot for Wheaton College has ended. The former Crusaders are now...the Thunder. The decision concludes two years of soul-searching and debate at the conservative Illinois college, whose alumni include evangelist Billy Graham. A few months ago, Wheaton's president sacked the Crusader emblem, saying it was too barbaric for modern times and offensive to Muslims and Jews. A committee was appointed to find a 'gender-neutral,' '...

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Ex-Nun Explains Religious Differences

October 9, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 9, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported on Karen Armstrong. It explained that, "for years she was tagged the 'runaway nun,' the rebellious ex-Catholic with outspoken opinions about religion--comparing, for example, Pope John Paul II to a Muslim fundamentalist. Now, with her 12th book, "Islam, a Short History" (Modern Library), Karen Armstrong has changed her image. She can still be sharp-tongued, inclined to draw conclusions that get a rise out of critics. But something closer to reconciliation, rather than anger, is...

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Christians React Strongly to Vatican Statement

October 7, 2000

Source: The New York Times

On October 7, 2000, The New York Times reported that "On Sept. 5, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who heads the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a document titled 'Dominus Iesus' ('The Lord Jesus') that condemned certain 'relativistic Theories' of religious pluralism. A month later, the dust has still not settled. In some eyes, Cardinal Ratzinger was only saying the obvious and doing his job. Haven't Christians always believed that it is through Jesus Christ and the church of the Gospel that salvation has...

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Interfaith Families Create New Traditions

October 6, 2000

Source: The Boston Herald

On October 6, 2000, The Boston Herald published an article entitled, "Guiding Light: Interfaith Families Share Ancient Traditions - and Create New Ones."

Effects of Fighting in the Middle East Felt in the U.S.

October 6, 2000

Source: The Buffalo News

On October 6, 2000, The Buffalo News reported that in an event "described as the first such meeting in recent memory, local Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders came together under one roof Thursday to denounce the violence that has erupted in Jerusalem and has threatened hopes of reviving the Middle East peace process. The local leaders signed a statement pleading for President Clinton to redouble his efforts to bring the parties back to the negotiating table so this conflict can be settled with conversation and not...

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Catholics Celebrate Jubliee

October 4, 2000

Source: The Washington Post

On October 4, 2000, The Washington Post reported that "about 22,000 area Roman Catholics are expected to attend the Washington Archdiocese's Eucharistic Congress, a four-day celebration of the Catholic faith starting tomorrow at the Washington Convention Center. A year in the planning, the congress is the archdiocese's most important Jubilee Year 2000 event. Based on registration, church officials predict that the congress's concluding Mass on Sunday--celebrated by Cardinal James A. Hickey--will be the largest gathering of...

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A Buddhist in a Presbyterian World

September 30, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On September 30, 2000, the Los Angeles Times told the story of Ai Tasedan. She has "attended services at St. Mark Presbyterian Church faithfully for the past 25 years. She got married there. She goes on church-sponsored mission trips and volunteers wherever needed." And, surprising to some, she is a Buddhist. "It's an ecumenical twist that doesn't bother the liberal Newport Beach congregation very much, if at all. St. Mark's elders decided in 1975 to help rescue Tasedan and her family, Vietnamese refugees who were in living in a...

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