Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.religionandpluralism.org/GranteeArticles/KarenMcCarthyBrown_LA_Times%20OpEd122402.pdf

On December 24, 2002 the Los Angeles Times printed an editorial by Karen McCarthy Brown that stated, "lots of people seem to think that federal funding for faith-based charity violates the separation of church and state... It does. But there is another reason why Americans should be wary of allowing the...

Source: Oroville Mercury Register

Source: The Modesto Bee

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/5679825p-6653509c.html

On December 22, 2002 The Modesto Bee reported that "Modesto City Schools [district] is the only district in California, and perhaps the only one in the nation, to require the study of comparative religion, though some schools offer such classes as electives... Officials hope the class helps cut down on the fights and bullying that can happen when teen-agers are afraid of the...

Source: The New York Times

On December 22, 2002 The New York Times reported that "last night was the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, a good opportunity to explore what New York City residents would do with an extended period of darkness -- 886 minutes, to be precise -- from 4:32 p.m. yesterday, when the sun set, until 7:18 a.m. this morning, when it rose again, according to Tim Morrin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. The solstice itself occurred last night at 8:14 p.m., Mr. Morrin said. In the northern hemisphere, it...

Source: The Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/religion/cst-nws-relbriefs20.html

On December 20, 2002 The Chicago Sun-Times reported that "new population figures for religious communities in the Chicago area show there are more Muslims living in the area than Jews or Orthodox Christians... The figures, from the National Conference for Community and Justice, are based on statistics submitted to the organization by various religious communities...

Source: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=1489

On December 19, 2002 The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued a press release that stated, "(ADC) today expressed serious concerns regarding reports of mass detentions of Arab and other Middle Eastern immigrants in California. Report by Reuters and AP last night suggested that between 500 and 1,000 Middle Eastern immigrants had been detained in the Los Angeles/Orange County area...

Source: The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4762383.htm

On December 18, 2002 The Miami Herald reported that "when Ditsy Carmen Suarez glanced at the holiday display in a West Miami-Dade County government building a week ago, she did a double-take... There, brightening a corner: a Christmas tree, a Hanukkah menorah, six dreidels and a Kwanzaa candelabra... But missing was a nativity scene, a symbol of the birth of Jesus... That started her crusade against...

Source: The Orange County Register

http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=16527

On December 17, 2002 The Orange County Register reported that "at least 22 men from Arab or Islamic countries were arrested Monday as they went to the Immigration and Naturalization Service's Santa Ana office to register under a new program aimed at improving screening of foreign visitors in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, police officials confirmed... The men...

Source: The American Immigration Lawyers Association

Source: The New York Times

On December 14, 2002 The New York Times reported that "they are immigrants, or immigrants' children, who want to combine the hectic reality of American life with the ancient Chinese practice of filial piety... They want to take care of the souls of their ancestors but cannot frequently visit their loved ones' distant graves in the mountains of China or even among the woods in upstate New York... So on Sunday mornings or on their way home from work, they go to [the] Mahayana Temple on the eastern edge of Manhattan's Chinatown...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On December 13, 2002 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "for house hunters in a new city, finding the right place to worship ranks right up with tax rates, schools and entertainment as a priority... Real-estate agents anticipate clients' religious needs...'It's a very important part of people's lives; it's something that absolutely comes up,' said Lynda Long, president of the Columbus Board of Realtors... When newcomers narrow their home selection to a given community, she retrieves names and contact information for the 25...

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/4728127.htm

On December 13, 2002 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that "President Bush signed an executive order in Philadelphia yesterday that bars federal agencies from discriminating against religious organizations when awarding social service money. The order - which circumvents Congress - directs all federal agencies to give equal consideration to both faith-based and secular organizations seeking...

Source: White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021212-6.html

On December 12, 2002 the White House reported that President Bush issued an Executive Order that aims to "guide Federal agencies in formulating and developing policies with implications for faith-based organizations and other community organizations, to ensure equal protection of the laws for faith-based and community organizations, to further the national effort to expand...

Source: The Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/CvlRt_32/4210_32.asp

On December 12, 2002 The Anti-Defamation League reported that "Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: 'While we welcome the President's remarks making it clear that he supports the Constitutional mandate requiring that no federal funds be used to directly support inherently religious activities, we are very concerned that the Executive Order he signed will...

Source: The Interfaith Alliance

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/press/index.htm

On December 12, 2002 The Interfaith Alliance issued a statement from its Executive Director, Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, which states, "President Bush’s Executive Order, signed today in Philadelphia, represents a step backward in the fight to promote equality for all Americans. The president’s Order, promoting key pieces of his faith-based initiative, not only usurps congressional power...