Author: Rev. C. Denise Yarbrough

Source: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070410/OPINION02/704100358/1039/OPINION

(April 10, 2007) — What is your community doing about environmental issues?" asked the articulate and erudite preacher. As she continued with her sermon, she encouraged the gathered faithful to look beyond the confines...

Author: NIRAJ WARIKOO

Source: Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/NEWS05/704130367/1007#articlecomments

As the Indian-American population surges in metro Detroit, so does the number of Indian New Year celebrations.

A generation ago, the Detroit area had only a handful of such events. Now, dozens of Indian and Hindu groups hold special gatherings every April...

Author: Tina Ramirez

Source: Journal Chretien

http://www.spcm.org/Journal/spip.php?article9080

ARLINGTON, VA — On Friday, the United Nations passed a seemingly innocuous resolution combating the “defamation of religions.” Further investigation reveals that this motion has erroneously equated legitimate discussion of religious beliefs with the incitement of religious intolerance. Under this resolution, when an individual’s...

Source: The Star Online

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/13/nation/17428052&sec=nation

KUALA LUMPUR: The special commission for religious-sensitive matters will have the final say, if the Cabinet approves its establishment.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said the proposed commission would focus more on moral obligations in discussing these matters.

“Such...

Author: Donald MacLeod

Source: The Guardian Unlimited

http://education.guardian.co.uk/faithschools/story/0,,2056606,00.html

Teachers have demanded a halt to the government's plans for a new generation of faith schools.

But the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) annual conference in Belfast today stopped short of calling for existing faith schools to be phased out.

The...

Author: Robert Schwaneberg

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=13220

"Let us pray. Mother and Father of us all, we give thanks for the women who have been part of our life's journey ..."

Spoken aloud at a public high school graduation, these words probably would trigger a lawsuit. But in the New Jersey Legislature, where they were said recently, it's just a matter of getting things started.

The...

Author: Frances Kraft

Source: The Canadian Jewish News

http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=11549

TORONTO - Rabbi Lori Cohen of Temple Sinai Congregation and Rabbi Roy Tanenbaum of Beth Tzedec Congregation are part of the new Toronto Area Interfaith Council, launched March 20 at a breakfast with Mayor David Miller.

The two rabbis, representing the Toronto Board of Rabbis, were among more than 190 representatives from more than 40 faith...

Source: Radio Australia

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/programs/s1893868.htm

Thailand is in the middle of drafting a new constitution. Many lobby groups have been voicing their opinions since the drafting process began last September. But one of the most controversial lobbyists is the Thai Buddhist clergy, who are again calling for the religion to be part of the new constitution.

HILL: Buddhism's influence on Thai culture is obvious to even a...

Author: Kristin Erekson

Source: The Jewish Advocate

http://www.thejewishadvocate.com/this_weeks_issue/news/?content_id=2859

Religious leaders on the South Shore are helping to ease the financial burden of an imam who was arrested last year as part of an ongoing investigation into a visa fraud scheme.

Rabbi Barry Starr of Temple Israel in Sharon, the Rev. Deborah Cayer of the Unitarian Church of Sharon and Janet Penn,...

Author: Peter Corbett

Source: The Arizona Republic

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0409islamic0409.html

Arif Kazmi is out to try to help the Valley community better understand his Islamic faith and its prophet.

On Easter Sunday, Kazmi was one of the organizers of a religious and social gathering of about 200 Muslims at the Chandler Community Center that was open to all faiths.

The event celebrated the birthday of...

Source: Multichannel News

Wire Service: AP

http://dtv.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=125309

(Multichannel News) _ Religious networks increasingly are exploring ways to bridge different denominations and shifting viewer habits. As a result, programmers are looking to interfaith fare, as well as new formats.

Subscription video-on-demand service Shalom TV bills itself as a "mainstream Jewish television...

Author: Geoffrey Lean and Jude Townend

Source: The Independent

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article2432450.ece

Hundreds of thousands of sacred places around the globe are to be linked together in a new UN-backed network to try to preserve the world's fast-disappearing wild species.

They range from Jerusalem's Garden Tomb - where more than 3,000 people gathered today to celebrate Easter - to "skull caves" in Kenya...

Source: International Herald Tribune

Wire Service: AP

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/02/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Religious-Disputes.php

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A small party in Malaysia's ruling coalition has called for the establishment of a special court to deal with loopholes in the constitution that activists say are leading to an erosion of minority rights in this mainly Muslim country.

The...

Source: DNAIndia

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1089641

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad will have a new $400 million ‘green-field’ airport with a capacity to handle 6.5 million passengers annually and would reflect the diverse cultural heritage of Pakistan.

The foundation for the ambitious airport project, incorporating the state-of-the-art facilities and reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of Pakistan, was laid by President Pervez Musharraf on...

Author: Eric Leach

Source: Los Angeles Daily News

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_5624628

More than 10,000 people celebrated the Sikh religious holiday of Baisakhi Sunday and denounced a series of hate crimes against the sect following the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Sikhs shared food, music and art in the Los Angeles Convention Center and later paraded through the streets of downtown, singing prayers as they marched behind a dozen colorful floats....