Author: Rob Hotakainen

Source: Yahoo News/Mcclatchy Newspapers

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090718/pl_mcclatchy/3274259

A California Republican congressman wants to do a little writing on the walls of Washington's newest federal building. If Rep. Dan Lungren gets his way, Congress will spend nearly $100,000 to engrave the words "In God We Trust " and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent spots at the Capitol Visitor Center .
...

Author: Michael M. Phillips

Source: The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124544682085632447.html

In a country soaked with religion, it has fallen to an Oklahoma Baptist to turn Islam into a weapon against the Taliban.

The U.S. military, eager to hand the war over to the Afghan government, has placed mentors throughout the Afghan National Army. The Americans help commanders command, fliers fly and spies spy. U.S. Army...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

http://www.examiner.com/p-375700~CAIR__Oregon_Bill_Reinforces_Ban_on_Muslim__Sikh__Jewish_Teachers.html

A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization oday joined America's Sikh community in expressing concerns about legislation awaiting the governor's signature in Oregon that purports to broaden religious freedom, but would...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: World Sikh News

http://worldsikhnews.com/15%20July%202009/Sikhs%20join%20Faith%20Trail%20in%20London%20suicide%20bombers%20town.htm

Sikhs in Leeds have taken the initiative to invite members of other faiths to see their place of worship in step with similar reciprocal action by others.

Four years on from the 7/7 London bombings, Muslims, Sikhs and...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8151352.stm

Police in Malaysia have said they will release nine Christians mistakenly accused of trying to convert Muslim university students to Christianity.

A university security guard wrongly thought they were handing Christian pamphlets to Muslims, police said.

Trying to convert Muslims to another religion is forbidden in Malaysia, though Muslims...

Author: Peter Wallsten

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-jews14-2009jul14,0,1886892.story

A private meeting Monday held to ease tensions between the White House and American Jewish leaders included a pointed exchange as President Obama said public disagreements between the U.S. government and Israel are useful in the pursuit of Middle East peace, several...

Author: Julia Zappei

Source: wtop.com

Wire Service: AP

Author: Adelle M. Banks

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=18393

As a federal judge, Sonia Sotomayor sided with Santeria prisoners who wanted to wear religious beads and Muslim inmates who wanted to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

At the same time, she ruled against Muslims who wanted a Muslim crescent and star added to post office holiday displays that featured Christmas and Hanukkah...

Author: Nada Bakri

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/13/AR2009071302043.html

Iraqi authorities on Monday tightened security around churches across Baghdad and in two Christian towns in the northern province of Nineveh, amid fears that a series of attacks against them could escalate.

The security measures were imposed a day after bombings in and around...

Author: Tim Cocks

Source: Reuters

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/07/14/baghdad-church-bombings-leave-tiny-christian-minority-trembling/

A spate of bombs targeting churches in Baghdad this week has Iraq’s minority Christian community trembling at the prospect of being the next victim of militants trying to reignite war.

Iraqi Christians, one of the country’s...

Author: Declan Walsh

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/13/swat-valley-refugees-sikhs-taliban

Flight from the Taliban has been a bittersweet experience for Darsha Singh, a turbaned Sikh farmer sitting on the steps of an ancient, glittering shrine just outside Pakistan's North-West Frontier province.

For two months he has been living at the Panja Sahib gurdwara, an ornate temple that is...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: WebWire

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=99117

The ACLU’s fight to stop a Texas school district from punishing a five-year old student for wearing his long hair in braids as an expression of his American Indian heritage and beliefs has drawn support from a diverse group of American Indian tribes and scholars, religious freedom organizations and representatives of a variety of faith traditions.

...

Author: Michele Chabin

Source: Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnstext

When Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat decided in June to open a municipal parking lot that had been closed on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, his office said he was simply being practical.

Extra parking is needed to help ease lines of double-parked cars near the Old City that have become an impenetrable maze for emergency vehicles and “an issue of...

Author: Florence Dethy

Source: The Toledo Blade

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090713/NEWS16/907130334

Joseph Zielinski is proud to be an American.

In America, he said, if you choose to be open to new ideas, to be open to new cultures, "we'll give you all you can handle."

And yesterday evening, in the spirit of camaraderie and brotherly love, almost 100 people of myriad faith...

Author: Simran Singh Khalsa

Source: SikhNet

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/first-time-sikh-participation-south-east-european-prayer-breakfast

A group of 150 dignitaries and friends from 18 countries came together from May 22-24 in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina for the 6th Annual South East European Prayer Gathering.

I was honored to be the first Sikh representative to attend, and...