Source: The Associated Press

http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17417

On January 3, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "seven Westfield High School [MA] students are fighting the suspensions they received for passing out candy canes and religious messages to classmates before Christmas, their lawyer said yesterday... Erik Stanley, a lawyer for the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel, said the high school principal gave the...

Source: The Associated Press

On January 2, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "Muslims, Jews and Christians and people of diverse ethnic backgrounds gathered at a mosque to call for a future without war and conflict. About 150 people attended the second-annual Day of Peace at the Islamic House of Wisdom Wednesday [in Michigan]. U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, initiated the event, which focused on young people. The program featured songs and poems of peace performed by children from elementary through high school and ended with refreshments to...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On January 2, 2003 The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that "a survey being conducted by New Venture Christian Fellowship about its expansion plans is rankling some of the church's neighbors in the Ocean Hills neighborhood. They think some inquiries, about ethnicity, for instance, are inappropriate. 'The questions are questionable,' said attorney Everett DeLano, who has spearheaded some of the opposition to the church's expansion plans. The church's pastor, the Rev. Shawn Mitchell, admitted that the survey asked...

Source: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/102361_medidate01.shtml

On January 1, 2003 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that "hundreds of men, women and children gathered at Green Lake to take time out for peace... Before taking to the 2.7-mile path around the lake, the walkers gathered in a circle near the Green Lake Community Center to hear prayers, songs and chants from representatives of a variety of religious and...

Source: Rocky Mountain News

On January 1, 2003 Rocky Mountain News reported that "a new clergy group composed of Jews, Christians and Muslims is planning its first interfaith service Sunday dedicated to 'peace and light.' The group, which says it is nonpolitical, will travel to three different worship centers in the Denver area to pray or meditate for world peace and unity. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Rodef Shalom Synagogue, then proceeds to Aurora for a 7 p.m. gathering at Mountain View Community Church, and concludes with an 8 p.m. service at the...

Source: The Flint Journal

http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news-9/1041436261225710.xml

On January 1, 2003 The Flint Journal reported that "C. K. Venkateswaran, a Sunday school teacher at the local Hindu Temple and Chinmaya Mission, began the readings with a peace prayer in Hindu... The Rev. Deborah Kohler, pastor of Woodside Church of Flint, read a Christian...

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/fayette/0103/02islam.html

On December 31, 2002 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that "The Rev. Bob Hudak wants to see Muslims working alongside other religious denominations in metro Atlanta... Hudak, who leads the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville, already practices what he preaches... Hudak is working with Fayetteville's Muslim Community Center of...

Source: The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/104133784640550.xml

On December 31, 2002 The Plain Dealer reported that "evangelist Leroy Jenkins plans to move to Columbus as part of a real-estate deal in which a Hindu temple would be placed at the site of his current church in Delaware... Jenkins said Monday he wants to operate his church in a former hotel on Columbus' east side, but that he...

Source: Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-31-me-sprinklers31-story.html

On December 31, 2002 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Praise Christian Center... has been forced outside because of a zoning battle...

Source: The Plain Dealer

On December 31, 2002 The Plain Dealer reported that "the Plain Dealer asked Northeast Ohioans representing different faiths to share their thoughts and prayers for the new year. If there is one theme that runs through these reflections, it is a sense of hope amid despair. Religious leaders seek faith to not only be peacemakers and serve the poor and the homeless and others in need next year, but to do what they believe is God's work with a spirit of joy and peace... Ven. Shih Ying-Fa, Abbot, CloudWater Zendo, Zen Center of...

Source: Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3562134.html

On December 30, 2002 the Star Tribune reported that "a Somali advocacy group is branching out beyond the Twin Cities with its 'National Tour Against Hate,' aimed at raising awareness about the struggles of Somali communities in Seattle and Lewiston, Maine... Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center of St. Paul, will be leaving Jan. 6 for a journey on which he plans to...

Source: The Birmingham News

http://www.al.com/living/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/living/1040984191150340.xml

On December 27, 2002 The Birmingham News reported that the "First Baptist Church of Dadeville [AL]... sued... two self-described witches, [wolf breeders Joseph and Deborah Wilson],... after they refused to sell a building the church wants to buy for an expansion...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On December 26, 2002 The San Diego Union-Tribune printed an editorial by Samuel Sokolove and Marty Block that states, "the roots of Latino and Jewish immigration to America are common, as both groups sought refuge and a better life by fleeing persecution, poverty and political turmoil.  In the process, both groups experienced discrimination as foreigners in America, and both groups tend to be socially liberal, fiscally conservative and culturally urbane.  Both groups exalt family ties and cultural traditions, and...

Source: The Seattle Times

On December 25, 2002 The Seattle Times reported that "newcomers face many adjustments as they begin new lives here. Learning about American Christmas customs is one of them. Depending on their heritage and religion, some enjoy blending American traditions with their own. Others from non-Christian backgrounds may simply watch from the sidelines. For some of the approximately 1 million immigrants and refugees who enter the U.S. each year, the festivities embody the American dream they harbored for years before they arrived. Many...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On December 25, 2002 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "last night, a group of Hindu children arrived at the Belani family's home in Brookfield for a party complete with gifts and a visit from Santa Claus. 'It's not something that we do for religious reasons,' said Belani, who has two daughters, ages 9 and 10. 'I just want the kids to feel like a part of it just because everyone else is doing it. I feel like kids are growing up here and it's hard for them.' With carols playing on every radio station,...