Source: USA TODAY

On April 2, 2001, USA TODAY reported that the huge population increase from 1990 to 2000 reported by Census 2000 was caused in large part by increased immigration and higher birth rates among recent immigrants.

Source: The Arizona Republic

On April 1, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported that "dissenting Lutherans voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new branch within the church as a backlash to the full communion agreement between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church U.S.A...About 160 of the 10,000 ELCA congregations have voted to join. Others...want to work within the ELCA to reverse the decision that gives bishops more power."

Source: The Denver Post

On April 1, 2001, The Denver Post reported that Bush's faith-based initiative "has unleashed intense argument and soul-searching among those who were presumed to be its prime supporters and beneficiaries - Christian activists and active Christians." In addition, "the Bush initiative has forced us to confront how little most of us, religious or not, actually do to help the poor. That debate may accomplish more in the long run than any of the programs Bush gets enacted."

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 1, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "reaching across religious and cultural lines, a Greek Orthodox archbishop, a Roman Catholic cardinal and Protestant and Jewish leaders...celebrated a revitalized neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles as a showcase of civic cooperation in the midst of diversity." The interfaith cooperation has "led to a kind of urban resurrection" in an area that "has been dubbed the 'Byzantine-Latino Quarter.'"

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On March 31, 2001, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that at a Sabbath service at Temple Ohav Shalom in Pennsylvania, Jews and Muslims were described as "close-knit cousins." Farooq Hussaini of the Islamic Center of Greater Pittsburgh said Islam "has more in common with the Judeo-Christian faith than with any of the world's other religions." The rabbi who led the service noted that both groups have experienced being "the other."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On March 31, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "one of the largest philanthropy organizations in the nation said this week it will devote $100 million to faith-based volunteer groups that serve the elderly, disabled and chronically ill people." The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will only disburse funds to "volunteer groups composed of people from a variety of faiths."

Source: New York Daily News

On March 30, 2001, the New York Daily News reported on the "winners in an essay contest promoting unity and peace sponsored by Community School Board 20." The winners were 30 youngsters from schools in southern Brooklyn who came from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 25, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that, "nationally, 13.6 percent of Catholic school students are non-Catholic." Many are not even Christian. Catholic schools are appealing for their safety, strong academics, a moral-based education, the discipline, and the small-school atmosphere. This makes it difficult for Catholic schools to maintain their Catholic identity.

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/03/25/city/EVANG25.htm

On March 25, 2001, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that "responding to Muslims has become a keen concern for many Christians as they watch Islam's steady growth in size and respectability in this country. While Roman Catholic and most Mainline Protestant churches promote theological tolerance and dialogue," evangelical leaders have rallied "their troops...

Source: The New York Times

On March 25, 2001, The New York Times reported reported that Mississippi's "Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has signed a law requiring public schools to display 'In God We Trust' in classrooms, cafeterias and auditoriums... The American Civil Liberties Union threatened to bring suit."

Source: The New York Times

On March 24, 2001, The New York Times reported that "to a small group of sociologists, the reason there are so many kinds of houses of worship" in America can be explained by the economic theories of competition and supply and demand. Moreover, "religious pluralism ...explains why the United States is so religiously vibrant" compared to most modern societies, they say.

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On March 23, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported on "the Eighth Annual Sufism Symposium in Fremont [California]...The symposium is being held to promote dialogue, cross-cultural understanding, interfaith education and unity among the people of the world... Sufism is an ancient religion that dates back to the prophet Mohammed and the 7th century."

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

http://www.rgj.com/news2/stories/news/985328798.php

On March 22, 2001, The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that "Sparks police said Wednesday the second teen suspect has been arrested in last week's baseball bat attack on two men outside a mosque, and local Muslim leaders said at an interfaith gathering they accept the police theory that it may not be a hate crime...Other Muslims said they think the motivation for the attack may have been the...

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

On March 22, 2001, The Christian Science Monitor reported on the "Faith Communities Today" survey. The director of research for the United Methodist Church said "this study can help denominations help churches that are struggling."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/newsatlanta/alamin/032201.html

On March 22, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin's supporters say a sheriff's deputy threatened to kill Al-Amin...[Al-Amin] is accused of killing Deputy Ricky Kinchen and wounding Deputy Aldranon English in a shootout March 16, 2000...The threat adds to tensions between the sheriff's...