Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On May 22, 2003 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that "Allison Park Assembly of God wants to expand. Some of its neighbors aren't pleased... Residents packed Hampton council's agenda meeting May 14 for a public hearing on the Duncan Avenue church's conditional use application... The church bought a vacant lot east of its complex with plans to expand its sanctuary to 1,000 seats from 452 and expand its fellowship area, children's ministry area and parking lot... The original facility was built with approval as a...

Source: In These Times

On May 22, 2003 In These Times reported that "undergraduate and graduate peace studies programs have seen a threefold increase since 1995, according to Simona Sharoni, executive director of the Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA), which tracks the major and assists schools setting up new programs. There are now 381 peace studies programs at U.S. colleges and universities, according to Sharoni... While the field got its start in the so-called peace churches -- Quaker, Mennonite and Church of the Brethren -- it has expanded...

Source: Christianity Today

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/120/31.0.html

On May 21, 2003 Christianity Today reported that "An appeals panel of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) has overturned the suspension of pastor David Benke for praying at an interfaith September 11 memorial event at Yankee Stadium. Despite the conclusion of the case, tensions run high in the 2.6 million-member denomination. Synod leaders expect a showdown at next year's synod...

Source: Portland Tribune

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/5892394.htm

On May 19, 2003 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that "Yvonne Matherson's sixth-grade class is a study of ethnic and religious diversity: My Thi Le is Vietnamese and Buddhist; Jannina Justice is African American and an Apostolic Christian; and Brian Warrington is white and Catholic... Which might seem surprising, given that they all attend St. Thomas Aquinas...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On May 18, 2003 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "last year, Abu-Akel gave the invocation at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday observance at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church. Despite his introduction as a local Presbyterian minister, despite a prayer that invoked God and Jesus, his name seemed to cause some confusion... For the past year, Abu-Akel has been preaching his message of tolerance and understanding from one of the loftier pulpits in American religion. Last June, he became...

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On May 17, 2003 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "a group of St. Louis regional religious and community leaders is taking to heart a line from the song 'Let There Be Peace on Earth.' The line that grabs them is 'And, let it begin with me...' This month, they are seeking like-minded people to form a corps of volunteer peacemakers... The volunteers will work in the front lines of peacemaking, helping forge truces between neighbors... In September, her church and another Mennonite congregation, Bethesda Fellowship...

Source: Ames Tribune

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 17, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "hundreds of religious leaders joined politicians at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast this week and heard messages from President Bush and congressional leaders congratulating Latino clergy on their commitments to faith, community and family life."

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 16, 2003 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "as in other Christian churches on Sunday morning, the nearly 200 people who have gathered at Savior of the World Ethiopian Orthodox Church praise God in a way that evokes images of their native land... The church provides a focal point for the Ethiopians, many of whom fled the political turmoil in their country in recent years and were granted asylum in the United States... Much of the Sunday service is conducted in the ancient Ge'ez language, although the homily is given in...

Source: NCM Civil Liberties Watch

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=9a3dd93e53c1ca0a9e9aecb068ad8cbc

On May 16, 2003 NCM Civil Liberties Watch reported that "Abdul Hatifie hosts a weekly radio show broadcast to the Afghan community in the Bay Area and Los Angeles [CA]. Along with announcements of community events and discussions of Afghan culture, the Alameda doctor tries to talk about discrimination and...

Source: Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/6727769p-7667818c.html

On May 15, 2003 the Fresno Bee reported that "the almost 90-year-old [Volga German Cross Church] was one of five downtown Fresno [CA] houses of worship featured on a self-guided tour held on the last day of a conference on historic preservation... Such diversity was on display Sunday. In addition to Cross Church and Holy Trinity, people visited St. Genevieve's Catholic Church (1938),...

Source: Newhouse News Service

http://www.newhouse.com/archive/okeefe051503.html

On May 15, 2003 the Newhouse News Service reported that "leading Muslim organizations say it's time for Americans to stop using the phrase 'Judeo-Christian' when describing the values and character that define the United States... Better choices, they say, are 'Judeo-Christian-Islamic' or 'Abrahamic,' referring to Abraham, the patriarch held in common by the monotheistic big three religions...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

http://www.suntimes.com/output/religion/cst-nws-matrix15.html

On May 15, 2003 the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "for four years, fans have watched "The Matrix" over and over, mining each frame for spiritual references. With today's release of the sequel "The Matrix Reloaded," the fervor is getting downright religious. At least a half-dozen books on the spiritual exegesis of "The Matrix" have been published on the blockbuster sci-fi...

Source: House.gov

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh09_kaptur/bigotry.html

On May 15, 2003 House.gov reported that "Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur today joined Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives condemning violence and bigotry against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikh Americans. Kaptur’s bill also calls upon law enforcement authorities to aid on the prevention and...