Civic

Episcopalians Dissent Over Gay Bishop

January 21, 2004

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/religion/2363375

On January 21, 2004 The Houston Chronicle reported that "dissident Episcopalians upset over the consecration of a gay bishop formed an unprecedented national protest group Tuesday -- a network of conservatives who pledged to work with each other and oppose church leadership. Yet the creation of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes stopped short of a schism...

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Sikhs Lobby Against French Ban of Religious Symbols

January 19, 2004

Source: Sikhnet

http://www.sikhnet.com/s/SCFrance

On January 19, 2004 Sikhnet reported, "On Monday, January 19th, the Sikh Coalition and over eighty Sikh organizations issued a letter to French President Chirac stating concerns about the French government's possible ban on religious articles of faith in public schools. The letter outlines the necessity of the turban for a Sikh and calls on Chirac to withdraw his endorsement of proposed ban. This letter is the first step in a three-point...

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San Francisco Rally Against French Ban

January 18, 2004

Source: The Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7739835.htm

On January 18, 2004 The Mercury News reported, "About 250 Muslims, Christians and Sikhs marched on the streets of San Francisco on Saturday to protest a proposed ban of religious symbols in French public schools, including the hijab, the Muslim head scarf that many of the protesting women wore. The Bay Area protest, which started in front of City Hall and culminated...

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Sikh Community Rallies Against Ban of Religious Symbols

January 17, 2004

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3403775.stm

On January 17, 2004 the BBC News reported, "Hectic preparations are being made every day at the Gurdwara for chalking out a battle plan. Everyday, after school, students gather at the gurdwara to make banners for street demonstrations. One banner reads: 'Notre foi est non negotiable' (Our faith is non-negotiable). Another says 'Turban, Voile, Kippa ou Croix, laissez nous le choix' ('Turban, Scarf, Kippa or Cross,...

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CA Hindu Temple Offers Grants for the Needy

January 17, 2004

Source: Tri-Valley Herald

http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86~10671~1897693,00.html

On January 17, 2004 the reported, "The Hindu Community and Cultural Center of Livermore is beginning its annual grant program, which serves individuals in the local community. The center focuses on individual donations to support nonprofit, human services agencies. Krishna Reddy, chairman of the Hindu Community Center, hopes that this year will be...

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Update: Palm Beach Officials Give Up Public Holiday Display

January 17, 2004

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.fac.org/rel_liberty/publiclife/news.aspx?id=12477

On January 17, 2004 The Associated Press reported, "Palm Beach officials have decided to do away with all holiday decoration in a town park after being sued by two women who wanted to display a Nativity scene alongside a menorah and a Christmas tree. The town council voted unanimously to give a menorah back to its donor, and merchants decided to move a Christmas tree from...

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Alliance of Christian Churches to Form

January 17, 2004

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23788-2004Jan16.html

On January 17, 2004 The Washington Post reported, "Fifty-three leaders from numerous denominations announced plans to create Christian Churches Together, an alliance of major branches of U.S. Christianity, as early as next year. The leaders, who met last week in Navasota, Tex., achieved 'consensus on all major issues related to the founding document' and 'a...

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Kathuria Speaks Out Against French Ban on Religious Symbols

January 16, 2004

Source: Sikhnet

http://www.sikhnet.com/s/SenateCandidateResponse

On January 16, 2004 the Sikhnet reported, "On Friday, January 16th, U.S. Senate hopeful Dr. Chirinjeev Singh Kathuria issued a strongly-worded statement outlining his position on proposed legislation in France that would make it illegal to wear obvious religious signs in schools.

Dr. Kathuria, a turbaned and bearded Sikh currently running in the Illinois Senate Republican primary, said in his...

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Americans Celebrate Religious Freedom Day

January 11, 2004

Source: First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=12445

On January 11, 2004 the First Amendment Center reported on the significance of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, adopted by the Virginia Assembly on Jan. 16, 1786 – nearly 10 years after it was first written and proposed by Thomas Jefferson. "Today, more than 200 years later, few Americans know what the statute says or why it’s one of the most...

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Debate Over Free Speech and Islamic Extremism

January 11, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/11/weekinreview/11lipt.html

On January 11, 2004 The New York Times published an article debating whether or not radical Islam, particularly in prisons, should be protected under free speech laws, arguing that the United States allows religious hate speech to "flourish" as a result of First Amendment laws. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the Muslim cleric who coordinated New York's Islamic...

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Sikhs Ask for Exemption from Ban on Religious Symbols

January 9, 2004

Source: Yahoo! News

http://in.news.yahoo.com/040109/137/2atgc.html

On January 9, 2004 Yahoo! News posted a Reuters article that reported, "France's Sikhs, recalling their ancestors died for this country with their turbans on, urged President Jacques Chirac on Friday to exempt them from a planned law banning religious symbols from public schools. Chain Singh, spokesman for the community, wrote to Chirac that Sikhs in Britain, Canada and the United States had been...

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ACLU Wins Case Against San Diego's Financial Subsidy of Park for Boy Scouts

January 8, 2004

Source: American Civil Liberties Union

http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/LesbianGayRights.cfm?ID=14694&c=100

On January 8, 2004 the American Civil Liberties Union issued a press release that reported, "The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties today announced a settlement with the City Council here in its 2000 lawsuit challenging the city’s subsidy of the Desert Pacific Boy Scout Council through preferential...

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Democratic Candidate Lieberman Speaks About Religion and Freedom

January 8, 2004

Source: The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/7660927.htm

On January 8, 2004 The Miami Herald reported, "Of the Democratic candidates, Lieberman is the one most likely to discuss faith and the role it should play in daily life, and he's one of the few to support government funding for faith-based service organizations. In a recent speech in Portsmouth, N.H., Lieberman spoke about his Judaism and faith in general. He said America...

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