Source: The Daily Southtown

On August 30, 2003 The Daily Southtown reported that "U.S. Senator Dick Durban (D-Ill) visited Marian Catholic high school for a short tour and question and answer session on Monday....Durbin brought up the issue of the Ten commandments monument in Alabama. After mentioning the increases in Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim population in the United States, Durbin said he agreed with the decision to remove the monument. 'I frankly think we have to take care to protect that diversity."

Source: The Washington Post

Source: The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1062236118108620.xml

On August 30, 2003 The Plain Dealer reported: "A group of religious leaders is developing a Muslim-Christian dialogue to promote understanding between the two faiths in Northeast Ohio. Christians and Muslims Establishing Peace, the working title of the new group, is planning an evening of prayer and reflection on "Making...

Source: News 8 (Austin)

Source: Baptist Press

http://www.www.bpnews.net/

On August 23, 2003 the Baptist Press reported that "a federal judge recently expanded the scope of a religious discrimination lawsuit against the Navy, further whipping the tempest that threatens to force the sea service into reviewing the promotions of every evangelical in its Chaplain Corps since 1977... The decision effectively doubles the number of former and present chaplains represented in the case to about 2,000 by widening the span of...

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08232003/saturday/saturday.asp

On August 23, 2003 The Salt Lake Tribune ran a feature article on the appeal of botanicas (shops selling herbs, oils, soaps, and candles believed to bring good luck) to Salt Lake's Latino population. Reporter Rhina Guido writes, "For about 10 years, many Latin American immigrants to Utah have come to these shops called botanicas and to their spiritual directors or...

Source: Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR082203.html

On August 22, 2003 the Religion News Service posted a press release about a "grassroots" peace effort in Erie, PA that is sponsoring billboards reading, "God Bless the World World." The press release stated, "The impetus for this project emerged from the sponsoring Erie Peace and Justice Center's desire to build tolerance after 9/11. The Center believes that asking God’s blessings on all...

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2003/religion/0308/22/d01-251171.htm

On August 22, 2003 The Detroit News reported that Pope Shenouda III, "the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, visited Metro Detroit for the first time in 26 years to check on the progress of the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Troy, whose cornerstone he laid 26 years ago. About 450 families attend St. Mark's, Michigan's only Coptic Church according to Dr. Anis Milad, a church...

Source: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week651/cover.html

On August 22, 2003 Religion and Ethics Newsweekly reported, "In recent years, the United States has grown more accepting of homosexuality, in public policy as well as in pop culture. But when it comes to the question of marriage, the nation remains sharply divided. A recent WASHINGTON POST poll found that fewer than four in 10 Americans support same-sex civil...

Source: Pioneer Press

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/6580090.htm

On August 21, 2003 the Pioneer Press reported, "After offering a series of programs to meet that need in recent years, [the Minnesota International Center] today is bringing together 'three great world religions' to help the public learn more about Christianity, Islam and Judaism and teach area teachers how to lead classroom discussions on religion. The center, based...

Source: Beliefnet.com

http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/131/story_13134_1.html&storyID=13134&boardID=62843

On August 21, 2003, Beliefnet.com posted an article by M. Casey Mattox entitled, "Why Roy Moore Lost," excerpted from The Rutherford Institute. In the article, Mattox analyzes the issues at stake in the Alabama Ten Commandments case.

Source: Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/RelChStSep_90/4341_90.htm

On August 21, 2003, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement welcoming the Alabama Supreme Court's decision mandating the removal of the Ten Commandments monument from its public site in the state house.

Source: Argus

On August 21, 2003 the Argus reported that "some pray to God, others to Allah. Still others worship the Brahman, the Great Spirit or the Great Truth... The names for the 'divine' vary from Christianity to Buddhism and understanding the differences and similarities among world religions can enhance the faith of all religious seekers... That's the philosophy behind a 'World Peace Village' sponsored by the Menlo Park-based Child and Family Institute and Fremont's St. James Episcopal Church today... The community is invited to participate in...

Source: Mercury News

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/6566348.htm

On August 19, 2003 the Mercury News reported that "people of all faiths are rallying around a Livermore mosque leader who could be deported despite his lawyer's claim that a bureaucratic mix-up caused his immigration problems... Egyptian citizen Ahmad Abdalghafar Abdalla has been the calm center of a storm that has involved everyone from Amnesty International to the First...

Source: The Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20030818_touro18.789c7.html

On August 18, 2003 The Providence Journal reported that "more than 150 spectators and dignitaries packed into Touro Synagogue yesterday for a lesson on history, religion and, courtesy of Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, a firsthand demonstration of politics... There to witness the annual...