Author: Peter Steinfels

Source: The New York Times

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50A13FA3E550C718DDDAC0894DF404482

And so, members of the graduating class of 2007, we've come almost to the end of this commencement ceremony and of these brief commencement remarks.

We've told some predictable jokes about your imminent unemployment and your student loans. We've thanked your parents, praised...

Source: The News Press

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070512/OPINION/705120510/1015

Rev. Gary Cox of First Christian Church asked 1,200 people to publicly share their prayers with each other at their tables, in lieu of a traditional morning prayer from the pulpit on stage.

They prayed for our community, their families, our military, our country and our local charity efforts, among other things.

This...

Author: Della Pacheco

Source: Indianapolis Business Journal

http://cms.ibj.com/ASPXPages/6iframes/FrontEndArticlesDetailPage.aspx?ArticleID=01818&NoFrame=1

When a group of Iraqi editors and writers visited Indianapolis last summer as part of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, they learned about American journalism and Hoosier hospitality.

Florence May, a...

Source: Nevada Appeal

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20070512/COMMUNITY/105120105

The Second annual Interfaith Baccalaureate Service of University of Nevada, Reno will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate academic achievement.

To mirror the world citizenship of the UNR community, the service will include hymns, readings from scriptures, blessings, teachings, music, prayers, etc., from various religious traditions, according to Rajan Zed,...

Source: Lake Superior Interfaith

http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/

(Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan Religious leaders are pleased their environmental message reached a large segment of the public who honored Earth Day by turning in tens of thousands of pills plus narcotics with an estimated street value of half a million dollars during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep.

Over one ton of medicines and personal care products were turned in by the public during...

Author: Lawrence Swaim

Source: Infocus News

http://www.infocusnews.net/content/view/14705/286/

When Omar Mohammedi filed a lawsuit in defense of six Imams who were unceremoniously kicked off a US Airways flight, he thought he was engaging in straightforward civil rights litigation. Then Kevin J. Hasson, President of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, offered free legal services to John Does cited in the lawsuit. In an open letter to Nihad Awad,...

Author: Peggy Fletcher

Source: Whittier Daily News

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_5812665

Thursday's National Day of Prayer was once a symbol of American unity and faith in God that transcended boundaries. In recent years, though, the decades-old tradition has become mired in divisions.

Across the nation, most celebrations are organized by and for evangelical Christians, with others choosing to host alternative services. Believers in...

Source: Punjab Newsline Network

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/4004/38/

N[E]VADA (USA): History was created when Rajan Zed, Director of Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada, Public Relations Officer of India Association of Northern Nevada, and a Hindu chaplain, read ancient Hindu prayer/blessing in Sanskrit at the opening of the Nevada State Senate session here Monday.

This is the first time any Hindu prayer is delivered in the Nevada...

Author: Rosa Davis

Source: The Guardian

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/rosa_davis/2007/05/chinas_church_crimes.html

The decision by the Archbishop of Canterbury to defend China in the face of accusations of human rights abuses is not only a travesty, but could result in further occurrences as a result of his words. Dr Rowan Williams' assertion that "there is not systematic persecution of Christians, apart from certain...

Source: Gulf News

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Syria/10123765.html

Dubai: An interfaith dialogue between Muslim Syrian women and Christian and Jewish Americans will be launched next month by Syrian Islamic teacher and preacher Huda Habash, reports Al Arabiya.net.

Habash, who has been teaching women the Quran for over 25 years at Al Zahra mosque in Damascus, said that in the next six months, some of her veiled students will have audio visual conversations over the...

Author: Serdar Tumgoren

Source: Gilroy Dispatch

http://www.gilroydispatch.com/news/contentview.asp?c=213604

Gilroy - A growing Islamic organization hopes to build a mosque, school and interfaith community center on a hilltop just south of Morgan Hill.

Silicon Valley Islamic Center, now based in Morgan Hill, is in the earliest stages of planning its future Cordoba Center for Muslim Community and Religious Affairs. After five years of...

Author: Eric Gorski

Source: Houston Chronicle

Wire Service: AP

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4780943.html

Muslim leaders are trying to strengthen Sunni-Shiite ties in the United States, hoping to head off conflicts between the faith's two major sects and get American Muslims to focus on common problems.

With sectarian divisions fueling violence in Iraq, Sunnis and Shiites in the U.S....