Author: Ben Winslow

Source: Deseret News

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,5143,695277280,00.html

The American Civil Liberties Union said it has "serious concerns" about the way the government is handling the massive child custody case over the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.

"The ACLU has serious concerns that the state's actions so far have not adequately protected the fundamental rights at stake," the national organization said...

Author: Dave Kinchen

Source: NBC-25

http://www.weyi.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=131113

The hot political issue in Mid-Michigan is all about religion. A group asked the Frankenmuth City Coucil to remove the cross from it’s shield, a request that the council members denied.

In a packed council meeting, residents and non-residents lined up to either attack or defend the Lutheran cross displayed on the city’s shield. Lloyd Clark, a...

Author: Charles Leroux

Source: The Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-goshen-0506may06,0,1827181.story

At the east end of the giant Wal-Mart parking lot in this northern Indiana town of about 32,000, there's a metal-roofed building accommodating as many as 20 horse-drawn buggies. People in plain dress—flat black hats, white bonnets—can be seen around town.

...

Author: Faye Bowers

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0505/p02s01-usju.html?page=1

It was a showdown, of sorts, over how far states should go to keep tabs on the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, the group known to endorse multiple wives for men and motherhood for underage girls. In a public spat, officials from Arizona and Utah squared off last week against a US senator who suggested that the two...

Author: Eileen Ng

Source: Independent Online

Wire Service: AP

http://article.wn.com/view/2008/05/05/Allah_ban_Newspaper_wins_first_round/

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - A Roman Catholic newspaper cleared its first legal hurdle on Monday in its fight against a Malaysian government ban on Christians using the word "Allah" as a synonym for "God."

High Court Judge Lau Bee Lan ruled that...

Author: ANITA CHANG

Source: Washington Post

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/05/AR2008050500375.html

The China Philharmonic Orchestra plans to perform this week for Pope Benedict XVI, state media reported Monday, the latest indication that the often-strained ties between Beijing and the Vatican are improving.

The performance at the...

Author: Philip Pullella

Source: The Star

Wire Service: Reuters

Author: Mourad Sellami

Source: The Arab American News

Author: John Milburn

Source: Star Bulliten

Wire Service: AP

http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/03/news/story09.html

The founder of a foundation that has sued the military, alleging widespread violations of religious freedom, has criticized the promotion of an Army general who was reprimanded last year for helping a Christian group produce a fundraising video.

Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom...

Author: JOHN STRAUSBAUGH

Source: The New York Times

Author: Jeremy Reynalds

Source: crosswalk.com/ASSIST News Service

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11574580/

The lower chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament has passed new legislation that would impose tough new restrictions on foreign missionary activity and evangelical churches.

Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural River in eastern-most Europe.

According to a news...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Fox News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353421,00.html

Pope Benedict XVI met Wednesday with a group of Islamic scholars from Iran following their talks with a Catholic delegation on issues apparently related to recent tensions between Muslims and Christians.

The Vatican said the pope received the Iranians after his weekly public audience, describing Benedict...

Author: ANDRE SALLES

Source: The Beacon News

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/lifestyles/919919,2_5_AU29_10QUESTIONS_S1.article

If you look up "theologian" in the dictionary, you might find a picture of Martin Forward.

Forward is the executive director of the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action at Aurora University, and a full-time truth-seeker. He teaches religion at AU, which...

Author: Katherine Geyer

Source: The Signal

http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/1623/

A local business group will be hosting the 4th annual Santa Clarita Valley Mayors Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning at the Valencia Hyatt to pray for leaders who shape the future of the community.

The Santa Clarita Valley Interfaith Council will be hosting its own prayer event in front of City Hall after the breakfast.

The breakfast has drawn fire...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indians_Abroad/US_Catholic_leadership_invites_Hindu_leader/articleshow/2987587.cms

Acclaimed Hindu and Indo-American leader, Rajan Zed, has been invited by US Catholic leadership for improving Hindu-Catholic relations.

In a communiqué, Reverend Francis V Tiso, Associate Director Interreligious...