Christianity

Religious Institutions Exempt from Employer Religious Discrimination Law

May 17, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 17, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that "Religious institutions cannot be held liable for discriminating against employees on the basis of religion, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously... The state high court threw out a lawsuit by an evangelical Christian who was fired from a Catholic medical foundation after he proselytized to other employees... Secular employers can still be held liable for religious discrimination, but religions need 'considerable discretion to choose employees who will not...

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LDS Church Attempts to Buy Public Land of Religious Significance

May 15, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 15, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that "a bill in Congress, opposed by conservationists and history buffs, would allow the Mormon Church to buy a chunk of historic public land beside four pioneer trails southwest of Casper, Wyo... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to buy a 1,640-acre site known as Martin's Cove, where at least 56 Mormon immigrants died in a blizzard in 1856... But conservationists worry that the U.S. Department of the Interior would set a dangerous precedent by selling...

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Vietnamese Catholic Community of Boston Supports Cardinal Law

May 13, 2002

Source: The Boston Globe

On May 13, 2002, The Boston Globe reported that "the local Vietnamese Catholic community pledged its support for the archbishop [Cardinal Bernard Law]... and condemned sex abuse by priests... Theresa Pham, 55, of Boston, said she and other Vietnamese Catholics felt that Law has done much for their community and other refugees."

Sudanese Church Grows in Omaha, Nebraska

May 11, 2002

Source: Omaha World-Herald

On May 11, 2002, the Omaha World-Herald featured an article on Gatkouth Kuich, "a Sudanese refugee who fled Africa to escape religious persecution and civil war... [and] the leader of the first Sudanese congregation to join the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Nebraska Synod." The congregation's name is Cush Community Lutheran Church "a biblical reference to a land that is present-day Sudan... Kuich came to Omaha in 1997 to shepherd the city's growing Sudanese population, which now numbers between 2,000 and 5,000." The...

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Central Ohio Organization Offers a Model of Interfaith Relations

May 10, 2002

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 10, 2002, The Columbus Dispatch reported "Group Unites Eight Faiths for Mutual Enlightenment." It reported on the efforts of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio: "Members of the 17-year-old association think that the community's religious tolerance, though a good start, isn't enough. 'We need to move beyond that to understanding and respect,' said Tarunjit Butalia, a spokesman for the association and representative of the Sikh community." The article noted that "The association also benefits from having been...

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Minneapolis Religious Leaders and Educators Team Up to Improve Schools

May 9, 2002

Source: Star Tribune

On May 9, 2002, the Star Tribune reported that in Minneapolis, MN, "leaders from 60 churches, synagogues, mosques and temples... are pairing up with individual schools to offer tutoring, building space and other support to improve student achievement." The Religious leaders and school officials will meet at a "summit, to take place at a Minneapolis church, the first between the city's school and faith leaders, and the kickoff to a long-term partnership."

Episcopal Priests Visit Mosque in Jacksonville

May 8, 2002

Source: The Florida Times-Union

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050802/met_9348613.html

On May 8, 2002, The Florida Times-Union reported "Priests take closer look at Muslims: Episcopalians visit mosque for a better understanding of Islam." The article explained, "Bishop Stephen Jecko and about 30 clergy members of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida attended a six-hour open house at the mosque in Jacksonville. The clergy wanted to learn more about...

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Study Shows Average SAT Scores by Religious Tradition of Students

May 7, 2002

Source: The Plain Dealer

On May 7, 2002, The Plain Dealer featured an article on "a College Board statistical finding that ranked the SAT scores of college-bound seniors by their religion. Unitarians finished first, averaging 1,209 on the college-entrance exam. Jews averaged 1,161 followed by Quakers at 1,153 and Hindus at 1,110. The average SAT score for college-bound seniors is 1,020."

Presbyterian Congregation Open Church Space to Orthodox Neighbors

May 4, 2002

Source: The Buffalo News

On May 4, 2002, The Buffalo News reported on the Easter celebration of the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Buffalo, NY. "Because a fire last May inflicted heavy damage on their own church, members of the Greek Orthodox congregation will hold their Easter service in Westminster Presbyterian Church, about four blocks south of their own building."

Senate Discusses The Charity Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act

May 3, 2002

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On May 3, 2002, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "backers of a bill that would give faith-based organizations access to federal funds rallied at Senate offices Wednesday, but... critics in the House criticized the measure, saying it would allow religious discrimination... The Charity Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act has three main goals: creating tax incentives for charitable donations, giving low-income workers incentives to save money and allowing faith-based social service groups to...

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National Day of Prayer: Controversy Over Inclusiveness

May 2, 2002

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On May 2, 2002, The Baltimore Sun reported on the "Range of events planned for 'Day of Prayer.'" The article explained, "Organizers of the 51st annual event say it has taken on greater relevance and urgency since Sept. 11. They expect 'unprecedented' participation. ... But critics say the observance amounts to governmental promotion of religion. ... Others question the National Day of Prayer's inclusiveness. Although officially nonsectarian, the events tend to be heavily weighted toward Christianity. There is scarcely an...

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Pagan Ceremony Faces Hostile Christian Protests

April 30, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On April 30, 2002, the Los Angeles Times reported that on the evening of the spring equinox, 50 local pagans gathered in Lancaster, CA. Their rituals were interrupted by "about 20 Christians [who] had driven up to pray for the pagans' souls, and two were walking around the circle reading Bible verses... A praying man, who turned out to be a sheriff's chaplain, was blaring Christian pop tunes through his SUV speakers... The pagans said they felt intimidated and called the Los Angeles County Sheriff's...

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Catholic Priest Assists Detained Muslim Students in Oklahoma

April 21, 2002

Source: The Chicago Tribune

On April 21, 2002, The Chicago Tribune reported that in Norman, Oklahoma, many Muslim students and residents have been questioned, detained, and arrested on various charges. "As federal investigators searched for terrorist cells across America last fall, they conducted an intense sweep in this college town... Joseph Meinhart, a Roman Catholic priest, read about the arrests... in the local newspapers. After learning that friends of the students were afraid to visit them in jail, fearing they, too, would be arrested, Meinhart...

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Republican Congressman Tom Delay Criticized for his Remarks

April 20, 2002

Source: The Washington Post

On April 20, 2002, The Washington Post reported that in a speech "to about 300 people at the First Baptist Church of Pearland, Tex... House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) told evangelical Christians last week that only Christianity offers a reasonable answer to basic questions about the purpose of life... DeLay said that God is using him to promote 'a biblical worldview' in American politics... A recording of DeLay's speech was released by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based advocacy...

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Tibetan Buddhist Teacher Leads Interfaith Discussion on Peace in Cleveland

April 20, 2002

Source: The Plain Dealer

On April 20, 2002, The Plain Dealer featured an article on Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche, "a renowned scholar and a senior Tibetan Buddhist monk... [from] the Namdroling Monastery in southern India." Gyatso was in Cleveland, OH for a week of teaching sponsored by the Palyul Changchub Dargyeling Ohio, a center for Tibetan Buddhist studies in Chagrin Falls, of which he is the spiritual director. "About 35 local clergy joined... [Gyatso] Wednesday for a vegetarian kosher lunch at Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church. Afterward...

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