Author: Michael Paulson

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/12/20/brushed_by_the_spirit/

The altar at Grace Chapel is all decked out for Christmas. A pair of star-topped evergreens frame the poinsettia-filled stage, and artificial swag, laced with white lights, is strung along the walls and the balcony.

On the stage are the usual elements of worship here...

Author: Steven Lee Myers

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/world/middleeast/19monastery.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

When the 101st Airborne Division captured this base back in 2003, an American tank blasted the turret off a T-72 tank, catapulting it into the side of St. Elijah’s Monastery.

The force buckled a wall of mortar and stone that had stood for more than 1,...

Author: Jennifer Learn-Andes

Source: Times Leader

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Loss_of_holiday_display_sparks_backlash_12-18-2009.html

Former Luzerne County commissioner Frank Trinisewski said he will resort to legal action against the county if a Nativity scene and menorah are not returned to the courthouse lawn.

Political activist Gene Stilp is also organizing a live Nativity scene – complete...

Author: Kristi Keck

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/18/war.on.christmas/index.html

Americans are in a war that pits the politically correct against Christmas carolers, some say. They say it's a battle that plays out in the halls of Congress, retail stores and public schools across the country, and it's one that's been raging for years.

Republican Rep. Henry Brown of South Carolina introduced a resolution this...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gh0-A7VXdEglScaadBAOJmd85SXgD9CLB38G1

Officials in northeastern Pennsylvania have removed a pair of religious holiday symbols from a public space after being threatened with legal action.

Luzerne County commissioners took down the creche (CRESH') and menorah from the...

Author: Dan Elliott

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxguLPR5dm3gs41EB02qj7nXcLpgD9CKI9H80

The Air Force Academy says religious tolerance has improved dramatically since allegations five years ago that evangelical Christians harassed cadets who didn't share their faith. Even the school's most vocal critic agrees.

"This is...

Source: UPI

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/12/16/Lawsuits-wont-stop-jail-Christmas-tunes/UPI-53031261005396/

Authorities in Arizona's Maricopa County said lawsuits filed to prevent Christmas music from being played in jails will not stop the tradition this year.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said Monday that Sheriff Joe Arpaio's tradition of having Christmas and other holiday tunes played all day in all of...

Author: John Hilliard

Source: Wicked Local Newton

http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x1145288200/Newton-South-officials-cave-in-to-students-refusal-to-study-Bible-as-literature

Newton South High School officials dropped a requirement to read excerpts from the Bible for one student last month, after he refused to read the Biblical passages as a literature assignment...

Author: Jill Zeman Bleed

Source: Law.com

Wire Service: AP

Author: Corneliu Rusnac

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h5QM7rGb_P_klRNQyXOJthQfGhiAD9CJ7ENO1

Dozens of people led by an Orthodox priest smashed a menorah in Moldova's capital, using hammers and iron bars to remove the candelabra during Hanukkah, officials said.

The 1.5 meter(5-foot)-tall ceremonial candelabrum was...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iBsivc5w3lwu3BlDOW-WCA4b01cgD9CJ2H081

Lawyers for the Roman Catholic Church urged a court Monday to let Christians use "Allah" as a translation for God and overturn a government ban that has become a symbol of religious grievances in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

The High...

Author: Brenda Bernet

Source: Amarillo Globe-News

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/121209/new_news2.shtml

Fifteen-year-old Katarina Keen won't sing along to "Silent Night" or "Listen to the Stars," two Christian songs planned for her choir's upcoming Christmas concert at Borger High School. But she will sing "Jingle Bells" and "A Carol in Winter."

Katarina and her family are Wiccan.

The Borger High choirs have given a concert every...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8407704.stm

Thirty elderly women have been arrested in Eritrea while praying together, one of their relatives living in the United States has told the BBC.

Requesting anonymity, she said she only found out about her mother when she phoned to speak to her this week.

Most of the women belonged to an outlawed evangelical group.

The government recognises only four...

Author: Verena Dobnik

Source: Delaware Online/USA TODAY

Wire Service: AP

Author: Staff Writer

Source: KGW

Wire Service: AP

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/78933227.html

A southern Oregon elementary school principal's decision to remove a holiday "giving tree" after a family's complaint has created an uproar. Now school district officials have decided to replace the original tree with a holiday display including three trees, snow and gifts for needy children.

Ashland School District...