Interfaith

Catholics Must Reach Out to Islam

January 14, 2004

Source: National Catholic Reporter

http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004a/011604/011604l.php

On January 14, 2004 the National Catholic Reporter reported, "The Roman Catholic church has the opportunity to clarify the relationship among the three Abrahamic faiths by making a minor change within its administrative structure. Currently, Catholic-Jewish relations are handled by the Council for Promoting Christian Unity, while Catholic-Muslim relations...

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Opinion: U.S. Report Shies Away from "Hard Truths" of Religious Intolerance

January 12, 2004

Source: The Moscow Times

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/01/12/006.html

On January 12, 2004 The Moscow Times ran an opinion piece by Lawrence A. Uzzell, president of International Religious Freedom Watch, in which he pointed out the shortcomings of the U.S. State Department's 2003 International Religious Freedom Report. Uzzell writes, "[G]overnment reports, produced by compromises between bureaucratic factions, are less adept at creative analysis. They...

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Ottowa's Jewish Family Services Mentors Somali Community Organization

January 11, 2004

Source: JTA

http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=13643&intcategoryid=#

On January 11, 2004 JTA reported, "Ottawa’s Jewish Family Services is helping improve Muslim-Jewish relations in Canada’s capital by mentoring a Somali community organization. The partnership — which recently won an award from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation — also is helping shape Ottawa’s emerging ethnic mosaic. 'North America is...

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Americans Celebrate Religious Freedom Day

January 11, 2004

Source: First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=12445

On January 11, 2004 the First Amendment Center reported on the significance of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, adopted by the Virginia Assembly on Jan. 16, 1786 – nearly 10 years after it was first written and proposed by Thomas Jefferson. "Today, more than 200 years later, few Americans know what the statute says or why it’s one of the most...

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Not All Christians Agree on Interfaith Dialogue

January 11, 2004

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-oe-oc-hubbard11jan11,1,2426229.story?coll=la-editions-orange

On January 11, 2004 the Los Angeles Times reported, "Non-Christians might be confused by the mixed signals coming from different sectors of the Christian world about the value of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. President Bush's comment during his recent visit to England that...

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Christian-Muslim Relations Have Improved Since 9/11 in East Valley, Ariz.

January 10, 2004

Source: East Valley Tribune

http://evtribune.com/index.php?sty=15285

On January 10, 2004 the East Valley Tribune ran a feature article on Christian-Muslim relations in the East Valley area after 9/11: "Though polarization followed [9/11] and some grew wary of Muslims, some Americans — especially the faith community — rallied around Islamic communities to confront hatred. Many set about trying to better understand Islam...The Rev. David Hodgson, pastor of the Congregational Church...

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Jewish-Muslim Comedy Duo Seeks to Ease Tensions

January 9, 2004

Source: Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1879839,00.html

On January 9, 2004 the Denver Post ran a feature article on a Jewish-Muslim comedy team seeking to ease relations between the two groups: "These two are professional comedians. And after they ate, they set about their unique mission: easing that tension through laughter. On a day when Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian activist, and the Palestinian prime minister threatened...

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Diversity Grows in Suburban Michigan

January 9, 2004

Source: The Detriot News

http://www.detnews.com/2004/wayne/0401/09/b03-31159.htm

On January 9, 2004 The Detriot News ran a feature article on increasing diversity in the suburbs. The article reported, "As the population grows in western Wayne County’s affluent suburbs, diversity is expanding as well. In Canton Township, for example, the African-American population grew 197 percent from 1990 to 2000, from 1,167 people to 3,466. The Asian-American population...

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Pittsburg Concert Will Give Preview of Vatican Interfaith Concert

January 8, 2004

Source: Valley News Dispatch

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/lifestyles/s_173629.h tml

On January 8, 2004 the Valley News Dispatch reported, "Music's power to heal and inspire is about to have a worldwide stage...World-renowned conductor Gilbert Levine, known as 'the Pope's maestro,' will lead the Pittsburgh Symphony in what promises to be a historic concert, carrying a theme of reconciliation, celebrating the silver jubilee...

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Rockland County (N.Y.) Creates Task Force On Tolerance and Harmony

January 8, 2004

Source: The Journal News

http://www.nynews.com/newsroom/010804/b0108taskforce.html

On January 8, 2004 The Journal News reported, "Kenny Grand-Pierre said yesterday that the creation of a new task force to promote tolerance and harmony after a countywide spate of hate incidents was 'long overdue.' 'It's necessary,' the Spring Valley man said. Grand-Pierre is a Haiti native who has lived in Rockland for 23 years. During those years, he said, he has seen exchanges...

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Inter-Faith Fellowship Celebrates 10th Anniversary

January 6, 2004

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040106/mind/mind1.html

On January 6, 2004 the Jamaica Gleaner reported, "The Inter-Faith Fellowship of Jamaica, which represents another dimension of ecumenism, celebrated the achievements of the first decade of its existence in Jamaica. It brings together representatives of the church and of religious traditions such as Islam, Hinduism, Bahai, Rastafarianism and Ananda Marga and Buddhism for...

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The Law on Holiday Decorations

January 4, 2004

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/01/01/findlaw.analysis.hamilton.decorations/

On January 4, 2004 CNN published an article in its FindLaw column setting out the rules on holiday decorations and discussing the larger meaning, and prescience, of the Court's jurisprudence in this area. The article explains that "the Establishment Clause, of course, prohibits the government from endorsing a particular religion... But suppose a display sweeps more...

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Interfaith Crowd Welcoms New Year with Prayer

January 2, 2004

Source: The Straits Times

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,4386,228044,00.html

On January 2, 2004 The Straits Times reported, "More than 1,000 people chose to welcome the new year with prayer. And those gathered at the Kallang Theatre were of various religious faiths and from all walks of life. Wednesday's 4 1/2-hour event, which ended with a countdown at midnight, was aimed at spreading the word of peace. It was organised by the...

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Rhode Island Courthouse Sees Religion... Again

January 2, 2004

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0104/02barrow.html

On January 2, 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, "Another religious display has been set up in the Barrow County Courthouse. The latest display includes alternate versions of the Ten Commandments, Hindu stories, Buddhist teachings, excerpts from the Quran and writings defining agnosticism. It has been placed across a breezeway from a Ten Commandments...

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