Source: The Tampa Tribune

On March 22, 2001, The Tampa Tribune reported that "faith-based healing is becoming a more accepted topic in mainstream American medicine. In the past decade, nearly 1,500 research studies, articles and clinical trials have been published on the connection of spirituality to medicine and health...Now more medical schools are incorporating faith-based healing into their curricula."

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On March 22, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported that "legislation was announced Wednesday advancing President Bush's faith-based agenda, with proposals for tax incentives and government funding for religious groups...The House version would allow religious organizations to compete with secular groups for federal grants to address social concerns."

Source: The Denver Post

On March 21, 2001, The Denver Post reported that "the Grand Junction City Council [in Colorado] voted 5-2 this week to keep a granite monument depicting the Ten Commandments at city hall" and also to post a disclaimer on the commandments stating in part, "This display is not meant to support any particular religious belief." The display is intended to avoid a lawsuit. "The council also will create a cultural heritage plaza around the Ten Commandments."

Source: The Associated Press

On March 21, 2001, The Associated Press reported that "police joined an interfaith service Wednesday to assure religious and minority leaders they have not ruled out the possibility the beating of two Muslims outside a mosque was a hate crime." They promised "to continue to investigate absolutely everything."

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 21, 2001, The Boston Globe published an op-ed article by Don Muhammad, a regional minister of the Nation of Islam, in which he criticized Bush's faith-based initiative. His principle criticism was of the exclusion of the Nation of Islam from the initiative.

Source: The Reno Gazette-Journal

http://www.rgj.com/news2/stories/news/985245836.php

On March 21, 2001, The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that "a 15-year-old Hug High School student was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of beating two Muslim men last week in Sparks. The attack was motivated by robbery, not racial hatred as initially suspected, police said...The teen-agers did not know they were at a mosque," where the attacks took place. "The Muslim community is planning an...

Source: The Kansas City Star

On March 19, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported on John Ashcroft's ceremonial installation as attorney general. "Ashcroft, who is a devout Christian, made only passing religious references in his speech" and "repeatedly called for reaching out to people of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds and economic means."

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On March 18, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported on "a controversy that erupted at recent meetings of the Marion City Council [in Ohio], where the Lord's Prayer is recited before every meeting...City law requires that a prayer be read." One citizen suggested a silent or nonsectarian prayer be read so as not to exclude non-Christians. "From now on, various ministers will be on hand to open the meeting with a nonsectarian prayer." Most residents nevertheless support the use of the Lord's prayer.

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/main/advancedsearch.html

On March 17, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an editorial by Jane Eisner of the Philadelphia Enquirer, in which she wrote that, "with a great deal of sophistication and smarts, the new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives can navigate the fault lines while upholding" the values of "tolerance, civil rights, free speech, [and] respect for the...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On March 17, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported on Sister Carletta LaCour, who teaches Tai Chi at the Christian Renewal Center in Dickinson, Texas. "Though part of the benefit of practicing the moves is physical, LaCour also emphasizes the spiritual." She sees no incongruence between Catholicism and Tai Chi.

Source: The New York Times

On March 17, 2001, The New York Times reported on "a survey called 'Faith Communities Today,' which includes data on topics like finances, programs and leadership, among 41 denominations and faith groups, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim and Baha'i...Half of all congregations, according to the report, contain fewer than 100 adults who regularly participate." The article talks about the implication of this finding for Bush's faith-based initiatives. The survey can be found at...

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 17, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that, "to repair the rift with the Christian right, White House officials privately have repudiated critical remarks that the director of the office of faith-based initiatives made about evangelicals, and have assured conservative leaders their concerns will be addressed." Some of these leaders asked for DiIulio's resignation, while others merely see him as a political liability for Bush. In a recent speech DiIulio "accused conservative Christian leaders of lacking commitment to the poor...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On March 17, 2001, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on a conference titled "'Affirming Common Values in the Midst of Religious Diversity.' Sponsored by the Milwaukee Association for Interfaith Relations, it is at the new Hindu Temple of Wisconsin in the City of Pewaukee." Anant Rambachan, a global expert on interfaith dialogue and a speaker at the conference, says that Americans now have no choice but to learn to live, work with, and understand people of other faiths. The new Hindu temple is "itself a symbol of the...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

On March 16, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an editorial by Mohamed El-Bendary, a doctoral student at Louisiana State University in which he condemned the Taliban's destruction of Buddhist statues.

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

On March 16, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center is about to open in Washington, D.C. It "is slated to become a combination research center and interactive museum, art gallery and a bit of a presidential library." According to the cardinal who came up with the idea, the center is "designed to bring about a dialogue of cultures, to encourage ecumenical and interfaith activity...