Author: Kim Lawton

Source: PBS/Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-14-2011/martin-luther-king-and-robert-graetz/7884/

KIM LAWTON, correspondent: Although the social revolution led by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. grew out of the black church, from even the earliest days of the movement there were white foot soldiers, too. King initially...

Author: Barack Obama

Source: The White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/14/presidential-proclamation-religious-freedom-day

Our Nation was founded on a shared commitment to the values of justice, freedom, and equality. On Religious Freedom Day, we commemorate Virginia's 1786 Statute for Religious Freedom, in which Thomas Jefferson wrote that "all men shall be free to profess,...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Hindu America Seva Charities

http://www.hinduamericanseva.org/Press-release/january-14-2011

Today, more than ever, we all need to advance peace and harmony. UtsavSeva, the signature program of Hindu American Seva Charities, supported by Hindu and Dharmic faith based and secular leaders, is promoting the understanding of ShantiSeva—or peace and harmony—across the United States—through...

Author: Helen Gray

Source: The Kansas City Star

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/14/2584481/kcs-faith-leaders-expect-challenges.html

The Rev. Canon Susan Sommer of Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral recalls arriving in downtown Chicago on a commuter train on Sept. 11, 2001.

Police turned the train back, fearing the Sears Tower would be next after the New York tragedy earlier that day...

Author: Kate Shellnut

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/7380511.html

Decades after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, his message of equality, freedom and liberation for the oppressed continues to inspire Americans across religious traditions, including Muslims, who will join in this year's parade Monday in Houston.

Author: Rose French

Source: The Minneapolis Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/113302224.html

A number of religious groups in the Twin Cities and beyond are renewing their efforts to help aid Haiti in light of the first anniversary of the earthquake that devasted the impoverished country.

Author: Kirk Semple

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/nyregion/12mosque.html?_r=1&ref=religionandbelief

Lawyers representing a firefighter who is suing to block the development of a Muslim community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan filed a motion on Tuesday seeking to block the developers from doing any construction on the site.

The motion, filed in State Supreme...

Author: William K. Alcorn

Source: Vindy

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/jan/10/habitat-home-will-be-interfaith-effort/

One of the four homes that Mahoning County Habitat for Humanity plans to build this year will be a collective effort involving Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Baha’i groups.

“We hope to build our first interfaith home, the House of Abraham, this year,” said Monica...

Author: Lauren Markoe

Source: The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life

Wire Service: RNS

http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/RNS-Institute-probes-religion-s-role-in-peace-making.aspx

Just steps from the Lincoln Memorial, the new building -- topped by a translucent white roof that resembles the wings of a giant dove -- is puzzling tourists and commuters alike.

Author: Kirsten Grieshaber

Source: The Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/08/AR2011010800335.html

The 200 robed and bearded men gathered at dusk on the market square, rolled out their prayer rugs and intoned Allah's praises as dismayed townspeople looked on.

It was Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, and...

Author: Carla Hinton

Source: The Oklahoman

http://newsok.com/a-walk-in-progress/article/3530362

With the pioneering spirit of their adopted state, a group of Buddhist nuns is forging a path through a new frontier.

That untamed land is right outside their doors at the Buddha Mind Monastery, 5916 S Anderson Road.

Author: Kevin Schwaller

Source: Ozarks First

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=383566

Vandals spread messages of intolerance at one of the only places for Muslims to worship in the immediate Springfield area.

Members of the Islamic Center of Springfield say they attended evening prayer Friday. When they returned on Saturday morning, they found graffiti on three of the four walls of the structure.

Author: Peg McNichol

Source: The Plymouth Patch

http://plymouth-mi.patch.com/articles/sikh-101-forum-leaves-some-hopeful-others-doubtful-2

Anne Marie Graham-Hudak would have been happy to see 50 or 60 people show up to learn more about the Sikh faith Thursday evening. She was delighted when nearly 75 attended the event at St. Thomas a’Becket on Lilley Road.

Author: Kathy Uek

Source: The MetroWest Daily News

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x198684497/Interfaith-group-Spreads-the-Word-in-Marlborough

Shelby Magid, a Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School senior, lives her dream of reducing prejudices.

Knowing Shelby's involvement in the community, Ann Kramer, an adviser of the Breaking Barriers club, recommended she join Camp IF....

Author: Hari Bansh Jha

Source: EKantipur.com

http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/01/07/oped/samskara-in-action/327641/

US President Barack Obama had made an historic appeal on June 22, 2009 under the United We Serve Campaign to extend support to Americans engulfed in the economic crisis. Not much is known about the response made by different groups to that call. It is known, however, that Hindu Americans responded with great zeal.

...