Author: Tom Heneghan

Source: Reuters

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7417776.stm

US officials in Texas have appealed against a court ruling which said they had no right to seize 463 children from a polygamist sect last month.

Texan child welfare workers filed the appeal to the state's Supreme Court.

Thursday's ruling said the reasons given for the children's removal were "legally and factually insufficient".

In April...

Author: Joseph Chaney

Source: Washington Post

Wire Service: Reuters

[washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/24/AR2008052400552.html]

Bells clanged, children played and police kept watch as pilgrims clutching rosary beads flocked to one of China's most revered Catholic shrines on Saturday, the day Pope Benedict XVI designated World Day of Prayer for China.

"There are fewer people than last year," said a 30-year-old seminary student surnamed Wu as...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Catholic Information Service for Africa

[allafrica.com/stories/200805230982.html]

Religious leaders have backed a national campaign to improve the health of children under the age of five.

The Malezi Bora programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and the United Nations children's agency UNICEF. The services offered by the programme include immunization, provision of Vitamin A supplements, protection against malaria, advice on breastfeeding and nutrition...

Author: Joseph Williams

Source: The Boston Globe/Political Intelligence

[boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/05/interfaith_grou.html]

After winning the backing of an influential Texas televangelist, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain today abruptly rejected the pastor's endorsement after more of his controversial remarks became public -- including a sermon in which he says the Nazis "operated on God's behalf" to drive Jews from Europe to Israel.

McCain had...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Hindustan Times/Agence France-Presse

Author: S. Digal and M. M. Perera

Source: Asian News

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12289&size=A

Asia’s Churches continue to mobilise in favour of the victims of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. In some cases they are trying to get aid into the country via Catholic channels; in others, they are collaborating with the local Buddhist community.

In the Philippines Caritas Manila is shipping its first aid collected in Manila...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Independent Catholic News/Fides

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/shinto435.html

Japanese priest Fr Yuji Sugawara SJ, professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, outlined the relationship between Shintoism and Christianity in Japan, in an interview with Agenzia Fides.

Fr Yuji said that Shintoism is the oldest traditional religion in Japan, begun by the pre-historic peoples living in central Asia, and has been left...

Author: Christine Morente

Source: The Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/religion/ci_9308551

Her Holiness Shinso Ito was the picture of quiet dignity as her followers cheered - and gleefully took her picture at a respectful distance.

When she walked past, they bowed - a sign of reverence for Shinnyo-en's first female leader.

The 66-year-old's task Sunday morning was to consecrate the Japanese Buddhist order's new U.S. Head Temple...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7406419.stm

A care service manager who resigned from a charity in protest at an alleged "Christian-only" recruitment policy has won his constructive dismissal case.

Mark Sheridan, 56, from Conwy, north Wales left Prospects, which works with adults with learning disabilities, after eight years in January 2006.

After a tribunal held last December the...

Author: Preeti Bhattacharji

Source: Council on Foreign Relations

(Updated 2020) https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/religion-china

Introduction

Religious observance in China is on the rise. According to a survey published in a state-run newspaper, 31.4 percent of Chinese adults are religious, a...

Author: CELIA W. DUGGER

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/world/africa/16zimbabwe.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print

The parishioners were lined up for Holy Communion on Sunday when the riot police stormed the stately St. Francis Anglican Church in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. Helmeted, black-booted officers banged on the pews with their batons as terrified members of the...

Author: Manya A. Brachear

Source: Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-interfaithmay15,0,439350.story

As a teen, Sarah Bier traveled from Chicago to Israel to learn more about Judaism. But her journey to the Holy Land, marred by religious violence from beginning to end, ultimately led her to explore other faiths as well.

Syafa Almirzanah chose to pursue similar studies after growing tensions...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: All Africa/New Vision

http://allafrica.com/stories/200805140045.html

TO teach or not to teach religious education as a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools was at the centre of debate yesterday as MPs considered the Education Bill 2007.

While some argued that it was necessary for the student's holistic growth, others contended that it would unnecessarily burden students with another compulsory subject...

Author: JIM DAVENPORT

Source: The State

Wire Service: AP

http://www.thestate.com/statewire/story/404027.html

Faith in the public square would have a high profile in South Carolina as three bills move closer to becoming law.

One creates license tags with "I Believe" in front of a cross; a second makes clear prayers can be offered before public meetings and a third allows set public displays of key historical...