Christianity

Neighbors Take Issue with Religious Lawn Statue

August 2, 2001

Source: The Boston Globe

On August 2, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on Jamal Saba of Canton, Mich. "When Saba moved his family into a $500,000 dream house," he included a statue of the Virgin Mary in the $10,000 landscaping design. "He was shocked recently to find an anonymous letter in his mailbox, telling him that religion should stay inside the home, and later to discover that he faces a legal challenge from his homeowners association over the statue...'They hate me because the Virgin Mary went up,' said Saba."

Justice Displays Ten Commandments in Montgomery Court Building

August 2, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On August 2, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "in the wee hours of the morning when nobody was looking, [Chief Justice Roy] Moore and a couple of workmen sneaked a 5,280-pound granite monument to the Ten Commandments into the rotunda of the Alabama Supreme Court...Moore paid for it with 'private contributions,' he said, and didn't tell any of the other eight justices...Predictably, the monument has caused a stir. Several Christian groups immediately voiced support, while the Alabama chapter of the American Civil Liberties...

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Mormon Denomination Changes Name

July 31, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On July 31, 2001, The New York Times reported on a Mormon denomination in Missouri that was called, until April 6, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "Now it is the Community of Christ -- the same organization, rechristened...The Community of Christ and the Mormons...trace themselves to the church begun on April 6, 1830, by Joseph Smith...Some [Mormon church members] regrouped and formally began the Reorganized Church on April 6, 1860." The church has changed its name to better reflect its current...

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HUD Withholds Funds from Youth Center with "Spiritual Rap Sessions"

July 30, 2001

Source: The Hartford Courant

On July 30, 2001, The Hartford Courant reported that officials of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development threatened to withhold $9,000 from Barbara Miller's I Have a Friend Youth Center in Hartford after "she supplemented the tutoring and after-school activities she offered by asking a minister she knew to hold what she called 'spiritual rap sessions' once a week...HUD's decision drew an angry response from Miller...She said the sessions were not Bible classes or religious instruction and filled an important need...

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Population of Korean Church-Goers Grows

July 29, 2001

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 29, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported on Atlanta's 200 Korean churches. "First Korean Presbyterian and Korean Community Presbyterian, both with about 1,000 members, are the largest Korean churches in the Southeast...The two churches' success reflects the explosive growth of metro Atlanta's Korean population since the churches began in the mid-1970s. Census figures show the Korean population here at more than 28,000, but Korean community leaders say the number is closer to 50,000. Korean...

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Churches Still Largely Segregated

July 29, 2001

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On July 29, 2001, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that "through their efforts, [religious groups] sometimes foster tolerance and sometimes foster intolerance, said John Green,...who researches grassroots politics...In spite of efforts to foster a multicultural society, churches remain largely segregated, Green said...The standout in church integration, however, are the Pentecostal congregations."

Daughter Carries on with Father's Teachings

July 28, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On July 28, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported on Torkom Saraydarian. "Through his philosophy, which he called Ageless Wisdom, he drew from the teachings of the world's religions to help others fulfill their destinies. He died at age 80 in 1997...Today in Cave Creek, his daughter, Gita Saraydarian, carries on her father's legacy by publishing his books and teaching classes...'It's a blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Sufi,'" she said.

Growing Religious Diversity in Bible Belt

July 28, 2001

Source: Messenger-Inquirer

http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/columnists/owen/3382699.htm

On July 28, 2001, the Messenger-Inquirer reported on the growing religious diversity in the Bible Belt. "About 200 Jains and about as many Sikhs live in west-central Kentucky and Tennessee now... Bowling Green has 2,000 actively practicing Muslims, mostly Bosnian immigrants... Nashville has about 24,000 Hispanics, compared to 2,700 a decade ago." Thomas Russell and...

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$2.5 Million Awarded to Man Fired for Not Working on Sabbath

July 27, 2001

Source: Intermountain Jewish News

On July 27, 2001, Intermountain Jewish News reported that the "Pueblo man who was found by a federal jury...to be a victim or religious discrimination said he hopes his legal victory will work to protect the rights of other religious minorities, especially those who -- like himself -- observe the Sabbath on Saturday instead of Sunday...[Don] Reed [the Pueblo man] is a member of a 'nondenominational' Christian group which, like Jews, marks the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday." Reed said "the significance of...

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Ten Facts Illustrate Atlanta's Growing Religious Diversity

July 26, 2001

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "during the second half of the 20th century, metro Atlanta...became a richly diverse religious community." The article listed ten facts that exemplified the growing diversity. For example, "Hindus have several worship centers in Atlanta" and "Pagans and witches worship in their own ceremonies throughout the metro area."

Court Rules in Favor of Moment of Silence Law

July 26, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

Onn July 26, 2001, The Washington Post published a piece on the court decision to allow a moment of silence in Virginia schools. "Even the judges who this week embraced Virginia's moment of silence law agree that for it to be constitutional, it must neither encourage nor discourage religion." However, "the children who went to court to fight the moment of silence know well that some of their peers are hungry to use that minute to promote the majority faith. There are already reports statewide of teachers encouraging children to...

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Former High School Coach Sues Parent Group over Prayer Issue

July 25, 2001

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On July 25, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "a former high-school football coach who led his players in prayer has filed a lawsuit against some members and supporters of a now-defunct parents group, accusing them of slander and libel. David Daubenmire...is suing supporters of Citizens Advocating Responsible Education, which...had sought his dismissal in the late 1990s. Daubenmire resigned on Jan. 6, 2000, after the American Civil Liberties Union sued him and school officials claiming the coach was leading religious...

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Court Rules in Favor of Moment of Silence Law

July 25, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

On July 25, 2001, The Washington Post reported that "a federal appeals court yesterday upheld Virginia's moment of silence law, ruling that requiring public school children to begin each day with meditation does not violate the First Amendment's ban on state-sponsored religion. Seven families backed by the American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the 2000 law, saying it promoted religion...ACLU volunteer attorney Stuart Newberger vowed an immediate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court."

Conservative Peoria Bishop Appointed to Newark Diocese

July 25, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On July 25, 2001, The New York Times reported that Bishop John J. Myers, of Peoria, Illinois, has been appointed as archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, a much larger and more diverse community than the rural one of Peoria. Bishop Myers "has become the darling of church conservatives, who see him as a bulwark against American Catholics who advocate greater flexibility...Joanne Bloom, a retired...teacher who serves on the board of the Roncalli Society, a group in Peoria that encourages discussion of church teachings, said Bishop Myers...

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Dangers of Faith-Based Initiative

July 25, 2001

Source: USA TODAY

On July 25, 2001, USA TODAY published an opinion piece about Bush's faith-based initiative that worried that "most agencies and institutions that receive federal funds must endure the dependency and political pressures that come with the support...Also, let's not forget the fact that some Americans may forgo charitable giving to faith-based programs if they believe they already contribute through tax dollars."

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