Author: Scott Sonner

Source: North Lake Tahoe Bonanza

Wire Service: AP

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20061206/Nevada/112060003

RENO - Friends and family of a Nevada soldier killed in Afghanistan more than a year ago plan to gather at a veterans cemetery today to dedicate what they say is the first government-issued memorial plaque in the country to include a symbol of the Wiccan faith.

The...

Source: Catholic Online

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=22247

SYDNEY, Australia – The right to a safe ecological environment is a universal right and Catholics are called to respond with resolute action to the reality of global warming, said the Catholic bishops of Australia.

The Catholic bishops joined with religious leaders from 15 other Australian faith communities to demand stronger individual,...

Source: Channel New Asia

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/245663/1/.html

SINGAPORE: A multiracial group of young Singaporeans has found a useful way to spend the school holidays.

The 19-member group will be heading to Punjab in North India to help the needy children there.

Young Singaporeans from the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Sikh community make up the team.

They will be lending hands to...

Source: workpermit.com Immigration Newsletter

http://www.workpermit.com/news/2006_12_05/australia/living_in_harmony_program.htm

The Federal Government will pump AUD $1.5 million into projects designed to help refugees and immigrants adjust to life in Australia.

The "Living in Harmony" program funding will help 43 community groups, schools and local governments to develop initiatives to address intolerance at a local level, said Andrew...

Source: Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,234237,00.html

WASHINGTON -- A Muslim-American advocacy group has called on radio talk show host Dennis Prager to be removed from the governing board of the federally funded U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum after Prager last week blasted a representative-elect for planning to use the Koran at his swearing-in next month.

Prager, who is Jewish, slammed Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison...

Author: TOM GODFREY

Source: Toronto Sun

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/12/05/pf-2637825.html

TORONTO -- Federal immigration officials are working to fast track foreign religious leaders into Canada as landed immigrants after being pressured by ethnic communities nationwide.

Immigration Minister Monte Solberg is studying ways of granting priests and monks permanent resident status since many arrive as visitors to work in...

Author: Peter Smith

Source: The Courier-Journal

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/NEWS01/612050344

Several top Presbyterian and Jewish leaders have pledged to work more closely together to avoid a repeat of the recent bitter fight over whether the church would pull some investments from Israel.

"We affirm that peace for Israel and the Palestinians should be built on the...

Source: ITN News

http://www.itn.co.uk/news/britain_be4c0e8fe9babe292c1832389709d91f.html

The number of people charged with race crimes soared by 28 per cent last year, Crown Prosecution Service figures show.

There were a total of 7,430 cases and of those 6,123 defendants were actually taken to court.

Data also showed religiously-aggravated cases rose by 26.5 per cent although actual numbers of cases remained very small with 43...

Author: Miguel Angel Rivera

Source: Voice of America

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-12-04-voa44.cfm

ne of the themes of Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey last week was to strengthen the bonds between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Christians. But he also began his pilgrimage by expressing sympathy for the pressures felt by religious minorities within the Muslim world.

And he is expected to sharpen his calls for what the...

Author: Gregg Krupa

Source: The Detroit News

Author: Jennifer Barrios

Source: Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limusl045002044dec04,0,7252702.story

A Long Island Islamic group gave its community-service award to a Great Neck rabbi who was vocal this election season against a congressman who denounced the group as "radical Islam."

Rabbi Jerome Davidson of Temple Beth El received the third annual award from the Islamic Center of...

Author: Neela Banerjee

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/04/business/04chaplain.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

GLEN ALLEN, Va. -- At the Tyson poultry plant here, Fred L. Mason Jr. hangs live chickens by their feet before they move down a belt toward slaughter. A few months ago, Mr. Mason told his boss that he had a drug problem.

People urged him to see the plant’s chaplain, but he was skeptical...

Author: JAMEY KEATEN and PALMA BENCZENLEITNER

Source: Providence Journal

Wire Service: AP

http://www.projo.com/religion/content/LBreligioneurope_12-02-06_UM31QOM.229fd93.html#

PARIS — Nacera Berrouba, a young Algerian in Paris, says she couldn’t get the job she dreamed of until she dyed her hair blond.

Karima Ramani, who calls herself “addicted to freedom,...

Author: Tryst Williams

Source: Western Mail

Source: Mezun Group/Los Angeles Times