Civic

Florida Church Can Proclaim: Jesus is the Reason for the Season

November 22, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.fac.org/rel_liberty/publiclife/news.aspx?id=12256

On November 22, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "a church can display a cross and a sign reading 'Jesus is the reason for the season' in a holiday lights attraction at a Broward County park, a federal judge ruled on Nov. 19. Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale claimed unconstitutional censorship after months of wrangling with county officials over its plans to join...

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Witch Sues Christians for Anti-Wiccan Comments

November 21, 2003

Source: Cybercast News Service

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus%5Carchive%5C200311%5CFOR20031121b.html

On November 21, 2003 Cybercast News Service reported, "Controversial new hate legislation already being applied against two Australian pastors accused of vilifying Islam, is now being used by a witch who objected to warnings made by elected officials about occult activity....

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Wisconsin Interfaith Youth Forum Finds Hope in Troubled Times

November 21, 2003

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/lifestyle/religion/nov03/187099.asp

On November 21, 2003 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that a group of Milwaukee Muslim, Christian, and Jewish youths are "finding tolerance and friendship in a world troubled by hate and violence. On Sunday, the group will put its cooperative spirit to work delivering Thanksgiving holiday greetings to suburban senior citizens. Organizers of the Interfaith Youth...

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Karachi City Nazim Says Interfaith Efforts Should be at Forefront of Peace Movement

November 21, 2003

Source: Dawn

http://www.dawn.com/2003/11/22/local10.htm

On November 21, 2003 Dawn reported, "City Nazim Naimatullah Khan said on Friday that combining globalization and religious harmony can go a long way towards eradication of hatred, alleviation of poverty , equitable resource distribution and making the world a safer place to live...Stressing the need for an inter-religion dialogue for peace, the Nazim said: 'Let us talk about building bridges between the civilizations; Let...

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New Jersey School District Reverse Ban on Religious Music at Holiday Concerts

November 20, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--school-holidayson1120nov20,0,4487759.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

On November 20, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "district students can once again perform songs with religious themes at holiday concerts. The Board of Education agreed Monday night to reverse the ban it had imposed in May. It came about after many...

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First Amendment Center Offers Guidelines for the "December Dilemma"

November 16, 2003

Source: First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=12217

On November 16, 2003 the First Amendment Center's scholar Charles Haynes offered the following suggestions for schools struggling to create Christmas holiday programs without violating the separation of church and state." Before planning December holiday concerts or other activities in a public school, choral directors and administrators should ask themselves three...

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Maine Religious Groups Collaborate to Embrace Religious Pluralism

November 15, 2003

Source: Portland Press Herald

http://www.pressherald.com/religion/stories/031115interfaith.shtml

On November 15, 2003 the Portland Press Herald reported that "two Maine religious groups are becoming neighbors so they can work more closely together on peace and social justice issues. Interfaith Maine is moving into the same Pleasant Avenue building as the Maine Council of Churches so the groups can do more collaborative projects. The groups already...

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Hindu Students Call Emory Professor's Book a "Hate Crime"

November 14, 2003

Source: The Straits Times

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,219915,00.html

On November 14, 2003 The Straits Times reported that "eighteen years after publishing a study of the Hindu god Ganesha, a US university professor is under fire from believers who brand sexual references in the book as an insidious 'hate crime'. Hindu student activists are demanding that Ganesa, Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings be taken out of...

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Update: 92-year-old Sikh Marathon Runner Wins Ellis Island Medal of Honor

November 14, 2003

Source: New York Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/136651p-121561c.html

On November 14, 2003 the New York Daily News reported that "Fauja Singh, a 92-year-old Sikh man who ran the New York City Marathon wearing his turban endured taunts of 'Hey, Osama Bin Laden' and 'Look at Saddam' along the 26-mile route. Fauja Singh had decided to run to educate the public about Sikhism, a religion founded in Punjab, India, in the 1500s......

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Pagan Rallies Florida Listeners Against Trade Rally

November 14, 2003

Source: Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-drally14nov14,0,2033132.story?coll=sfla-news-front

On November 14, 2003 Sun-Sentinel reported that "Starhawk, a pagan witch and author from Mendocino, Calif., conjured up some spiritualist theory to convince about 80 listeners they should join thousands of others in protest against the Free Trade Area of the Americas meeting next week in...

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Louisville, Kentucky's Festival of Faiths Highlights Religion and Justice

November 14, 2003

Source: The Courier Journal

http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2003/11/14ky/met-front-gandhi11140-6003.html

On November 14, 2003 The Courier Journal reported on a lecture by Arun Gandhi, grandson of India's late spiritual leader, Mohandas K. Gandhi and director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence, at the Festival of Faiths in Memphis, Tennessee: "Arun Gandhi's talk was titled 'Non-Violence as an Active (Not Passive)...

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Judge Rules: National Day of Prayer Should Receive Fee Waiver

November 14, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.fac.org/rel_liberty/publiclife/news.aspx?id=12207

On November 14, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "National Day of Prayer events on city property should be treated like those of other groups, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Frank Zapata ruled yesterday that the city’s policy barring organizers of events in direct support of religious organizations from receiving fee waivers granted to other...

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