Source: The Washington Post

On September 2, 2002 The Washington Post reported that "in 1986... the evangelist Billy Graham told the audience that they should regard Muslims not as the enemy but as fellow believers, that they all worshiped the same God. Over a week he repeated it eight times. Over the last year, his son Franklin Graham, now head of the senior Graham's ministry, has called Islam a 'wicked' and 'evil' religion, 'a greater threat than anyone's willing to speak,' as he told Fox News on his book tour last month. In his book, he writes that...

Source: The Washington Post

On September 1, 2002 The Washington Post reported that "more than 30,000 Muslims converged on Washington yesterday to celebrate their wealth and freedom, renew social ties, hear investment advice and hunt for spouses, but they also complained that U.S. conservatives have dehumanized them since the terror attacks of Sept. 11."

Source: The Times-Picayune

On September 1, 2002 The Times-Picayune reported that "around the [New Orleans, Louisiana] area, the schedule of Sept. 11 remembrances shows no less than four major interfaith services, two civic prayer breakfasts and more than a half-dozen outdoor programs in parks, cemeteries, courthouse plazas and parking lots, not to mention unnumbered services morning and evening in the region's churches and synagogues. The collective mission, designers said, is to remember the dead and pray for community."

Source: The Washington Times

On September 1, 2002 The Washington Times reported that "a national campaign is swelling in support of the Rev. David Benke, who was expelled from his post as head of the New York-area Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for praying at a Yankee Stadium interfaith event after the terrorist attacks on the city. The 'It's OK to Pray' theme, being pushed by Mr. Benke's supporters in the 2.6 million-member conservative denomination, comes as a church review board considers his appeal that he did not commit 'syncretism' or 'unionism...

Source: The Boston Globe

On September 1, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that "for the [Islamic Center in Wayland], one of the most significant changes since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has come not in anger directed at members, but in a growing interest in their religion. 'While prior to Sept. 11 we'd be lucky to get 12 people, since then we've had several hundred visitors come to our interfaith meetings,' said Malik Khan, a member of the mosque. The center also has engaged in an extensive outreach program, with many members giving talks at churches...

Source: Reconstructionism Today

On September 1, 2002 Reconstructionism Today reported on "a congregation serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (GLBTQ) community... [and the] quarter-century-old umbrella organization, The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Jewish Organizations: Keshet Ga'avah. Jewish organizations serving the needs of the queer community have learned that these needs are as diverse as those of other Jews."

Source: Newsday

On August 31, 2002 Newsday reported that "[New York] houses of worship [will] offer special services, prayers and music to mark September 11... The Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Whitestone would build a shrine. 'One of St. Francis of Assisi's prayers is for peace,' says Latona, pastor of the 1,000-member congregation. For the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury, marking the first anniversary of the attacks will be about healing, for the families of the victims and also for the Muslim community. 'As we were mourning the...

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On August 31, 2002 St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on how "the Metro East [of St. Louis, Missouri benefited] by an interfaith network where lay people and leaders [got] to know each other, [held] joint worship events on Thanksgiving and Memorial Day and [worked] together... In early June [of 2002], [Cathy] Stoltz, [Brent] Shapiro and Dr. Muhlyuddin Khalid, a Belleville mosque founder, met for dinner and officially founded the Metro East Interfaith Alliance."

Source: The Boston Globe

On August 31, 2002 The Boston Globe reported that [Massachusetts] teens have "realized that as faithful Muslims they had an important obligation. 'Now I feel like we have more responsibility to do outreach and tell people about Islam,' said Kazmi, a sophomore at Notre Dame Academy in Worcester. 'If you don't tell them about Islam, they look to Osama bin Laden or suicide bombers [for answers to what Islam is.]' Following the attacks, Mohammad started a Muslim club at Belmont High and is [organizing] an interfaith group in her...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On August 31, 2002 The San Francisco Chronicle reported "some 35,000 followers of the prophet Mohammed are gathered at the Washington Convention Center for the 39th annual meeting of the Islamic Society of North America... The four-day meeting began... with a prayer for the victims of Sept. 11, then quickly turned into a call for American Muslims to assert their rights as U.S. citizens. 'Stand up for justice -- don't hide or run away,' said Muhammad Nur Abdullah, the president of the Muslim group. Thousands of Muslim...

Source: Orlando Sentinel

On August 30, 2002 the Orlando Sentinel reported that "central Florida's Muslims and Arab-Americans plan to commemorate the Sept. 11 anniversary with several events that they say will reaffirm their heritage and commitment to peace and unity in the United States. 'When people don't know you, it leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to hate, and hate may lead to violence,' said Muhammad Quadir, a native of Kenya and naturalized U.S. citizen. The Islamic community's events will culminate Sept. 11 with a minute of silence at area mosques...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On August 30, 2002 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "the Council of American-Islamic Relations in Washington intends to file the appeal next week with the 7th District Court of Appeals in Youngstown... to help fund and direct an appeal by a Maryland woman found guilty this week in Belmont County of aggravated menacing."

Source: The Associated Press

On August 29, 2002 The Associated Press reported that on the night of September 11, someone draped [Minnesota's Islamic Al-Amal] school in toilet paper, a usually benign prank that struck fear into students, parents and administrators in the context of the terror attacks. Since then, Al-Amal School has been reborn, determined to connect with its neighbors and demystify Islam. 'We felt the need to be more outspoken about the moral aspect and the peaceful aspect of our religion,' said Principal Salah Ayari. When police caught...

Source: The Charlotte Observer

On August 29, 2002 The Charlotte Observer reported that "the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond refused to stop seminar conversations about the Quran at the University of North Carolina... The appellate rejection by a three-judge panel upheld a lower-court ruling by a Greensboro, N.C., judge."

Source: The Denver Post

On August 29, 2002 The Denver Post reported that Aspen Elementary School's plans to start a pilot program called Yoga Ed has stirred up a controversy over separation of church and state. The report states, "several parents have objected to their little ones participating in what they see as something bordering on a mystical religious practice. The school now plans to hold a meeting for parents next week to explain the program. 'I wish I could just change the name of this to 'stretching and breathing' and call it good,' said...