Source: Newsday

On June 29, 2002 Newsday reported on an interfaith conference in New York City designed to help religious leaders "sustain their post-9/11 ministry." The conference was attended by "approximately 800 priests, pastors, imams, rabbis and other spiritual leaders from the metropolitan area... 'Leaders of faith communities are the first line (of defense) in mental health,' said Rabbi Stephen Roberts, president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, who chaired the daylong conference sponsored by the American Red Cross last month in...

Source: The Buffalo News

On June 29, 2002 The Buffalo News reported that various congregations in Western New York State "have come to the aid of refugees from some of the most dangerous parts of the world to assist them as they start a new life in the area... St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church... in the Town of Tonawanda recently heeded the call when it sponsored a four-member family from Bosnia. The church was expecting a Christian family, but the family is Muslim... 'As Christians we are all called to love all people, regardless of background...

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On June 29, 2002 the St. Petersburg Times reported that "in the classrooms of a small Episcopal church... Hindu members of the Swadhyaya movement (pronounced Swad-HI-ya), a sect little more than 50 years old... chant and study... The arrangement is treated with aplomb by the two vastly different religious communities... The St. Petersburg Swadhyayees have met since the late 1980s. The group, one of 350 in the United States, started with two people. Today there are 50 families, which include many children. Members come from...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.myholygita.com

On June 29, 2002 The Houston Chronicle reported that the Chinmaya Mission of Houston, Texas has published "'The Journey to the Truth,' a multi-media CD-ROM set, [which] contains not only the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most sacred writings, but presents the Scriptures in user-friendly formats suited for children, adults and even for those who can manage only a few minutes a day... 'This is primarily for people who do not have...

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16483

On June 28, 2002, The Associated Press reported that "a federal appeals court judge has put his own controversial Pledge of Allegiance decision on hold while the court decides how to respond to calls for a rehearing."

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On June 28, 2002 The Houston Chronicle reported that "the Supreme Court approved the use of tax-funded vouchers for religious school tuition." This decision could reshape "the symbolic line between church and state and... the parameters of public school financing... In a 5-4 decision, the bitterly divided justices declared constitutional the 6-year-old tuition voucher program for low-income students in the troubled Cleveland Municipal School District... The court's conservative majority said the use of vouchers...

Source: Americans United for Separation of Church and State

http://www.au.org/press/pr062602.htm

On June 28, 2002 the Americans United for Separation of Church and State reported that their Executive Director, Rev. Barry W. Lynn... said the court decision reflects an appropriate concern for the religious liberty rights of all Americans... 'America is an incredibly diverse country with some 2,000 different religions and...

Source: The Washington Post

On June 28, 2002, The Washington Post reported that "even as a court ruled that it is illegal for school children to recite a Pledge of Allegiance that mentions God - and then swiftly put an indefinite hold on that decision - Virginia schools are preparing to quietly welcome Him into every foyer... Starting Monday, every Virginia school will be required to hang a poster with the words 'In God We Trust, the National Motto, enacted by Congress in 1956,' in accordance with a law signed by Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) in May...

Source: The New York Times

On June 28, 2002, The New York Times featured an editorial by Jeffrey Rosen, a professor at George Washington University Law School, that finds the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold neutrality and balance the opposing political views. "In a welcome decision, the court upheld a public program in Cleveland that financed vouchers that could be used in religious or secular, public or private schools. In doing so, it embraced a healthy vision of religious neutrality... Embracing the Supreme Court's moderate compromise - requiring...

Source: CNS News

http://www.CNSNEWS.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200206\CUL20020627b.html

On June 27, 2002 CNS News featured an article on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act currently under review. The Bill would be an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16477

On June 27, 2002, The Associated Press reported that "a federal appeals court panel drew outrage from across the political spectrum by ruling yesterday that it is unconstitutional for school children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance but the decision may not last long." Read more on the...

Source: Muslim Public Affairs Council

http://www.mpac.org/NEWS/newsitemdisplay.asp?ID=177&ITEMTYPE=NEWS

On June 27, 2002, The Muslim Public Affairs Council issued a press release declaring their agreement with the statement issued by The Interfaith Alliance which concludes that "it is sad to see that religion has been so secularized that its use in a patriotic statement must be considered unconstitutional."

Source: Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Rel_ChStSep_90/4120_90.asp

On June 27, 2002 Anti-Defamation League issued a press release in which ADL leaders say the appeals court ruling on 'One Nation Under God' was wrong.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On June 24, 2002, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featured a letter to the Editor from Rabbi James Gibson, responding to the comments of Rev. Vines. "I am the senior rabbi of Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill and have worked to improve inter-group relations in Pittsburgh for the last 14 years. I am shocked at Mr. Vines' callous disregard for interfaith sensibilities as well as his ignorance about Islam... Every person of faith, regardless of their belief, should demand a public retraction of Mr. Vines' statement. Neither explanation...

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26419-2002Jun21.html

On June 23, 2002, The Washington Post featured the editorial "Back to the Bully Pulpit." It noted, "Some people who follow these things say no one should be surprised by the anti-Muslim bigotry of a former leader of the Southern Baptist Convention. Maybe ... we shouldn't have been shocked, only disgusted. What is surprising, and more than disappointing, is the...