Source: The New York Times

On February 22, 2003 The New York Times reported that "on a bright, tropical Sunday, the pews at Kawaiahao Church are filled with the faithful: locals in suits or flowered muumuus, tourists in shorts, conspicuous with their name tags and camera bags... The Hawaiian rendering of the Lord's Prayer, with the soft, round vowels of the native language, tumble over the crowd like a wave coming in to shore. 'E ko makou makua iloko o ka lani...' But the tourists, many reading along from a program, are not the only ones who do not...

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On February 22, 2003 the St. Petersburg Times reported that "a pagan couple have sued school officials in Union County, Tenn., after they claimed their daughter was harassed for not playing the Virgin Mary in a school play... Greg and Sarajane Tracy say the school district promoted religion, denied their daughter's right to free exercise of her own religion and failed to protect her from verbal and physical abuse... The parents said their daughter, India, was reprimanded for not wanting to play the Virgin Mary in a school play,...

Source: The Baltimore Sun

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.fund21feb21,0,7364070.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines

On February 21, 2003 The Baltimore Sun reported that "a coalition of religious groups has started an interfaith community development fund that will lend money to developers who build businesses, housing and community centers in needy neighborhoods throughout the region... The nonprofit Faith Fund has...

Source: Press Republican

http://www.pressrepublican.com/Archive/2003/02_2003/022120038.htm

On February 21, 2003 the Press Republican reported that "built in 1932 by P.J. Murtagh of Plattsburgh, the old-brick and slate-roof [World War I Memorial Chapel] is online to receive overdue attention... In December 2001, City of Plattsburgh Mayor Daniel Stewart appeared before the Interfaith Council of Plattsburgh and Clinton County to lobby for the chapel’s...

Source: Episcopal Divinity School

http://www.episdivschool.org/whatsnew/peace%20pins.htm

On February 20, 2003 the Episcopal Divinity School issued a press release stating that "announced today the school's call to conscience action in response to the growing crisis between the United States and Iraq.  EDS has created a series of peace pins on which the name of an Iraqi child and a dove is printed. These pins are designed as a visible reminder of the human cost...

Source: The Hartford Courant

On February 20, 2003 The Hartford Courant reported that "Minister Naeem Muhammad, spiritual leader of the Muhammad Mosque No. 14 in Hartford, is wondering where all the peacemakers have gone. Why aren't more people speaking out against the prospect of war in Iraq? he asks... 'There's been a great silence in the Christian religious community. There's also been a great silence in the Muslim community,' Muhammad said... As if he heard the words of Muhammad, the Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak said Christians, as well as religious leaders...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On February 20, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "True Light's roots go back 126 years in Los Angeles, when the Rev. Ira M. Condit, a former missionary to China, founded it as Chinese Presbyterian Church. The ministry began with children whose parents worked in Chinatown's laundries, produce markets and restaurants, much as [Irvin] Lai's group does today... In 1996, it became Alhambra True Light Presbyterian Church after merging with a dwindling congregation in Alhambra... The True Light building in Lincoln Heights serves...

Source: The Denver Post

On February 20, 2003 The Denver Post reported that "a bill requiring public buildings in the state, including  classrooms, to post donated plaques bearing the national motto 'In  God we trust' passed the House on Wednesday morning by a vote of  36-28... Several Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Fran Coleman of  Denver, spoke out against the bill, saying it violates the  country's founding principles... 'I absolutely believe in the separation of church and state,' she  said. 'It's the very thing our country was founded on. Now we'...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On February 19, 2003 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "Hasan Dede is the spiritual master of the Contemporary Lovers of Mevlana Society, which he formed in 1989. He leads a group of young Semazen --- more commonly known as whirling dervishes --- who recently journeyed from Istanbul, Turkey, to Atlanta to perform a Sufi concert and Sema ceremony at several venues, Agnes Scott College and Central Congregational United Church of Christ among them... The Rev. Gilbert Friend-Jones, pastor of the...

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/atlanta/0203/18protest.html

On February 18, 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that "two hundred solemn faces -- some seasoned with age, others fresh with youth -- packed the pews at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday night as leaders from various faiths took to the pulpit to pray for peace... The choice of venue for the Interfaith Prayer Meeting for Peace was...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On February 18, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "flush from antiwar demonstrations that drew millions of participants worldwide, Los Angeles religious leaders and peace activists said Monday they are already looking beyond a possible war with Iraq to building a broad-based peace movement... Meeting at the USC Religious Center, about 20 priests, ministers, rabbis, Muslim leaders and peace activists said their first priority is to press opposition to a war in Iraq and to support those in the military who may want to...

Source: St. Joseph News

Source: Mercury News

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/5194938.htm

On February 16, 2003 the Mercury News reported that "awakened and alarmed by America preparing for war, thousands of chanting demonstrators gathered in San Jose and Santa Cruz on Saturday, joining an increasingly visible movement against a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq... The San Jose turnout was as deeply diverse as the city, with many of the estimated 3,000 marchers from the...

Source: The Express-Times

http://www.pennlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-4/1045389907167740.xml

On February 16, 2003 The Express-Times reported that "the group of young and old from diverse backgrounds, lead by the Lehigh Valley Peace Coalition, chartered four buses for Manhattan's Upper East Side, where they planned to meet with other groups from the Northeastern United States... The wide-ranging protest was set to kick off Saturday in...

Source: The Times-Picayune

On February 15, 2003 The Times-Picayune reported that "for the world's 30,000 Swedenborgians who wish more people were familiar with their beliefs, the Swedenborg Chapel's presence at Harvard University often has seemed a blessing... That coveted spot within a stone's throw of Harvard Square, however, comes with the curse of skyrocketing real estate prices. Now, the cash-strapped House of Studies is selling its neogothic stone temple, and unless the congregation comes up with $2 million by March 30, the flagship site of...