Source: The Record

On May 15, 2001, The Record reported that "lawyers for the Orthodox [Jews in Tenafly, New Jersey] introduced into evidence a pile of photographs...of signs that churches had posted on the right of way in the borough...The leader of Tenafly's Orthodox community demonstrated to the court that the borough allows some groups to use the right of way, but not the Orthodox, who need the utility poles to mark the boundaries of the eruv." One councilman said he voted to take down the eruv because "he sensed 'a lot of fear and hatred' coming...

Source: American Muslim Council

On May 15, 2001, the American Muslim Council issued a press release in which they reported that "the Director of the White Faith-Based Initiative, Dr. John Dilulio, met at his office in the White House with Dr. Yahya Basha, President of American Muslim Council (AMC) and Imam Hassan Qazwini, leader of the Islamic Center of America and member of the Board of Directors of (AMC). The discussion centered on relations with the American Muslim Community and the concerns raised by Rev. Jerry Falwell's comments calling on the White House to...

Source: The Kansas City Star

On May 5, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported on "recent evidence...from a new study of Islam in this country called 'The Mosque in America: A National Portrait.'...Kansas City, it turns out, has become an attractive place for Muslims to live, with their numbers here now estimated to be at least 15,000 - double the number living here just a few years ago...As Islam becomes more prominent in America and Kansas City, Muslims and non-Muslims would do well to understand each other's traditions and find ways together to value diverse...

Source: Newsday

On May 5, 2001, Newsday reported that, "led by the Rev. Noel Vanek, pastor of The Church- in-the-Gardens, a Congregational church in Forest Hills [New York], and chairman of Interfaith Dialogue, the renovation of the three-bedroom single family house on Lucas Street in Springfield Gardens [by Habitat for Humanity]...is all but completed...Vanek has been active, mostly raising funds, for as long as Habitat for Humanity has been around, but this house was a first for Interfaith Dialogue, "a group of eight Forest Hills religious organizations...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On May 5, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "Pope John Paul II plans to become the first pontiff to step through the doors of a mosque...He and his Syrian hosts hope for a moment of unity between the world's two largest faiths...'The whole visit itself is a very important symbol that in a way is a reversal of the Crusades,' said John Voll, associate director of the Georgetown University Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. 'He's not going to the mosque to convert or conquer people; he...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On May 5, 2001, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "relations between Jews and Muslims in the United States...have been strained further by the release of Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Islam for Jews, a book whose stated purpose, paradoxically, is 'to enhance mutual understanding and reduce mutual ignorance and suspicion.'" The full version of this story can be found online at http://www.jsonline.com.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 4, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "legions of the county's faithful [in Ventura County, California] spent Thursday toting Bibles, singing Christian hymns and raising their arms to the sky in celebration of the annual National Day of Prayer...The references to Jesus Christ at several of the events had one Jewish rabbi hoping next year's event is more multidenominational."

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On May 4, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported that "Vinson...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 1, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported on "an unusual campaign to improve local ethics [in Pacific Palisades by] posting 3,500 signs along neighborhood roads to promote community values...The stake-mounted placards bearing the words 'love,' 'courage,' 'respect,' 'integrity,' 'passion,' 'good works' and 'kindness' were being confiscated by Los Angeles street-use inspectors" because permits are required by the city for the signs to be on the public right of way. "The community values crusade was launched after Kehillat Israel...

Source: The Times-Picayune

On April 28, 2001, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that "the 50th observance of the National Day of Prayer will be marked... with celebrations across the country and the recitation of a special prayer written by evangelist Billy Graham...Recently, boosted by the work of an evangelical Christian ministry called the National Day of Prayer Task Force, observances have continued to expand...The work of the task force has been criticized by church-state separationists who believe the day has become focused primarily on...

Source: National Journal

http://www.uga.edu/bahai/News/042801-2.html

On April 28, 2001 National Journal ran an article on the increasing religious diversity in Greenville, S.C. as an example of a trend across the Bible Belt: "Historically, Greenville residents' passion for churchgoing has been manifested most prominently at conservative Christian churches, particularly Baptist denominations. That is still true today in Greenville, as elsewhere in the South: Recent surveys show...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On April 27, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will decide this summer whether to become an observer member of Churches Uniting in Christ, a coalition of nine Protestant churches hoping to move toward eventual full communion...As a partner, the ELCA would send a delegation to CUIC's inaugural celebration next January, work to combat racism and join dialogues on ministry."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On April 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "a Republican-led summit...built momentum among religious leaders for partnerships with government, but opposition groups protested that they had been excluded...'Today's invitation-only Republican faith-based summit looks like the manipulation of religion for partisan politician gain,' said the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of Interfaith Alliance...The summit was intended to open a dialogue on ways religious groups can tap into the...

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On April 25, 2001, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that "the Pittsburgh North Anti-Racism Coalition hopes to raise awareness of local racial and religious diversity at its fourth annual North Hills Interfaith Gathering...at Christ Episcopal Church in Ross [Pennsylvania]. Spiritual leaders from Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Protestant, Quaker, Roman Catholic and Unitarian Universalist traditions will talk."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On April 24, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution published an editorial arguing that "the pastor at Mount Bethel United Methodist Church in Cobb County [Georgia] was acting fully within his prerogatives in deciding that a rabbi would not be welcome to deliver a sermon during a baccalaureate service for Walton High School...That said, we also believe that the Walton High PTSA committee was absolutely correct to move its baccalaureate service to the Cobb Civic Center rather than allow any hosting facility...