Civic

"National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection" for Darfur Planned by U.S. Multifaith Coalition

July 14, 2005

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0714/p11s02-ussc.htm

On July 14, 2005 The Christian Science Monitor reported, "From July 15 to 17, thousands of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations will hold worship services, offer sermons and homilies, and engage in prayer for the people of Darfur, in western Sudan. Some 400,000 people in that region of Africa's largest country have died amid conflict over the past two years, and more than 2.5...

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Sikh Student Rejects School’s Kirpan Decision

July 13, 2005

Source: United Sikhs

http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/COMVCE-02-07-2005-00.htm

On July 13, 2005 United Sikhs reported, "A 16 year old Sikh school girl has rejected her school's decision to allow her to wear her Kirpan only if it is welded shut to the sheath. Fortunately for her, she will not have to face the consequences of the school's ruling because she has been selected to complete her schooling at the University of North Texas, under a...

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Hindu American Foundation Issues Results of Hindu Human Rights Survey

July 13, 2005

Source: Hindu American Foundation Press Release

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/Content/Achievements/media_press_release_1stannualsurvey.html

On July 13, 2005 a Hindu American Foundation press release reported, "The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) released today its first annual report on the status of Hindu human rights in Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Entitled 'Hindus in...

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Muslim Girl Scouts in Minneapolis

July 11, 2005

Source: Minnesota Public Radio

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/06/30_tonessb_girlscouts/

On July 11, 2005 Minnesota Public Radio reported, "A group of Girl Scouts gather at a community center in Minneapolis. Like many Girl Scout troops, these young girls start each meeting with the Girl Scout promise. The girls face each other, holding their three middle fingers in the air, and recite their pledge. But this troop does it a...

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Update: Religious Hate Law Approved; Government Assures Proper Limits

July 11, 2005

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4673301.stm

On July 11, 2005 BBC News reported, "Government attempts to clamp down on expressions of religious hatred have cleared the Commons, but are set for a rocky ride in the House of Lords. MPs gave the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill a third reading by 301 votes to 229, a majority of 72. Shadow minister Dominic Grieve said the bill would not improve race relations. But Minister Paul Goggins said: 'I...

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ACLU, Muslim, and Interfaith Groups Urge Courts to Allow Multiple Religious Texts for Oaths

July 11, 2005

Source: ACLU

http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.cfm?ID=18762&c=141

On July 11, 2005 an ACLU Press Report stated, "The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina today accused the Administrative Office of Courts of dragging its feet on an important issue of religious freedom and called upon the rule-making body to adopt a policy allowing the use of the Qur’an and other religious texts for the swearing of oaths in court...

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Commentary: Supreme Court Decision on Ten Commandments is Messy but Necessary

July 10, 2005

Source: First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=15530

On July 10, 2005 the First Amendment Center reported, "It only took two cases, 10 opinions and 136 pages. But on June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court finally answered the question about the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays with the two words neither side wanted to hear: It depends.

Unable to agree on any bright lines, a divided court handed down split...

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Opinion: Americans Should Display God's Law on Heart, not on Courthouse Lawn

July 10, 2005

Source: Star-Telegram

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/12094322.htm

On July 10, 2005 the Star-Telegram ran an opinion piece by Charles Foster Johnson, senior pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church of San Antonio. He reflects on American civil religion in light of the current public debate on the display of the Ten Commandments. Johnson says, "today religion in the public square has been stripped of its civility. A disease of uncivil religion has infected our...

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Opinion: Maintaining Civil Society in Wake of Bombings Requires Acknowledgement of Shared Responsibilities

July 9, 2005

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/comment/story/0,16141,1524839,00.html

On July 9, 2005 The Guardian ran an opinion piece by Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Muslim scholar, on the importance of maintaining unity in the face of the July 7 bombings. Ramadan writes, "The proponents of the 'clash of civilisations' theory will have won if we allow ourselves to become suspicious towards people of other faiths and cultures......

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Tulsa Board Rejects Plan to Add Creationist Exhibit to Zoo

July 7, 2005

Source: The Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/07/AR2005070702015.html

On July 7, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "A city board reversed direction on Thursday and rejected plans to add a creationist exhibit to the Tulsa Zoo.

Board members voted 3-1 against installing an exhibit on the origin of life from the Bible. The vote, made at...

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Florida Buddhists Raise Money to Build Houses for Tsunami Victims

July 5, 2005

Source: FirstCoastNews.com

Wire Service: AP

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/florida/news-article.aspx?storyid=39926

On July 5, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "A Buddhist temple in Tampa is donating money for the construction of houses for people in tsunami-torn Sri Lanka. Last month, builders broke ground on the first of 16 houses to be built with 104-thousand dollars raised by Florida Buddhist Vihara...

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Opinion: Muslim Civil Liberties Under Attack on the Fourth of July

July 2, 2005

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/01/AR2005070101786.html

On July 2, 2005 The Washington Post ran an opinion piece by Colbert I. King. "On this Fourth of July, what must Muslims in America be thinking? Do they feel within or beyond the pale of our national celebration?

Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union released a report last month called 'U.S.:...

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