Author: Derek Moore

Source: The Press Democrat

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091221/NEWS/912219968?Title=Ban-on-angels-stars-on-county-Christmas-trees

Sonoma County's top official on Monday ordered the removal of stars, angels and other religious symbols from Christmas trees in county buildings after a complaint that the decorations violate constitutional protections.

...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Times Leader

Wire Service: AP

http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=3460377

Santa, a snowman, an elf and other secular figures have joined a nativity scene at a northeastern Pennsylvania courthouse, resolving a controversy over the display of religious holiday symbols in a public space.

Luzerne County commissioners had removed the creche (CRESH') and menorah from the...

Author: Francis X. Rocca

Source: The Pew Forum/Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=19330

Jewish leaders warned of new strains in Catholic-Jewish relations after Pope Benedict XVI moved his controversial wartime predecessor, Pope Pius XII, one step closer to possible sainthood.

Benedict signed a decree on Saturday (Dec. 19) recognizing Pius' "heroic virtues" and declaring him "venerable." That new status makes...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Los Angeles Times

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09354/1022372-84.stm

Congregants at Temple Beth El who had gathered to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah were met by a group of neo-Nazi demonstrators who waved red-and-black swastika flags outside the Reform synagogue in Riverside, Calif., on Friday evening.

Rabbi Suzanne Singer said she suspects that the demonstration -- the third such...

Author: Abhay Kumar

Source: Deccan Herald

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/42377/muslim-donates-land-temple.html

Author: Bob Smietana

Source: The Tennessean

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091220/NEWS06/912200370/1971

When Daoud Adudiab first heard that the Islamic Center of Columbia was on fire, he prayed the damage would be minimal.

But when he arrived at the center on Feb. 9, 2008, he realized the mosque could not be saved. Then he noticed the graffiti spray painted on the foundation of the building — three swastikas and the...

Author: Surapan Boonthanom, Viparat Jantraprap and Jason Szep

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BI0TD20091219

Suspected Muslim insurgents blew up a gas tank near a school in southern Thailand on Saturday, killing three Buddhist villagers and wounding two including a local leader, police said. 

The blast appeared intended for a senior official of Bajao district in Narathiwat, one of Thailand's three southernmost...

Author: Jennifer Learn-Andes

Source: Times Leader

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Loss_of_holiday_display_sparks_backlash_12-18-2009.html

Former Luzerne County commissioner Frank Trinisewski said he will resort to legal action against the county if a Nativity scene and menorah are not returned to the courthouse lawn.

Political activist Gene Stilp is also organizing a live Nativity scene – complete...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Baha'i World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story/743

The United Nations General Assembly gave its final stamp of approval today to a strongly worded resolution condemning Iran for a long list of human rights violations.

By a vote of 74 to 49, with 59 abstentions, the General Assembly confirmed an earlier vote by its Third Committee in November on a resolution that expresses "deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The New York Times

Wire Service: Reuters

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/18/world/international-us-un-religion.html?_r=2

The U.N. General Assembly condemned defamation of religion for the fifth year running on Friday but support continued to erode for a resolution Western countries say threatens freedom of speech.

The assembly...

Author: Mirko Petricevic

Source: The Record

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/646975

With Arabic script regarding the Prophet Muhammad and his son-in-law Ali hanging over each shoulder, Bob Chodos leaned forward Friday afternoon and lit a row of colourful candles seated on a tiny menorah.

Onlookers, among more than 50 people gathered in the audience, included Muslims and Christians from more than a handful of faith traditions....

Author: Peter Steinfels

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/us/19beliefs.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

It comes to mind now because the Beliefs column is about to close out 20 years of appearing every other week, with occasional absences, in these pages — 486 columns, counting this one, or 482 over the strict quota of four good ones.

That student’s opinion also comes to mind because the...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gh0-A7VXdEglScaadBAOJmd85SXgD9CLB38G1

Officials in northeastern Pennsylvania have removed a pair of religious holiday symbols from a public space after being threatened with legal action.

Luzerne County commissioners took down the creche (CRESH') and menorah from the...

Author: Dave Bryan

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioSE4vc2Ahae2I5Bke5rh5i9_hsAD9CKOMCG0

In Indonesia, Muslim groups burn down a mosque belonging to the minority Ahmadiyya. In Singapore, the government refuses to recognize Jehovah's Witnesses. In Belgium, 68 religion-based hate crimes are reported in 2007 alone.

People...

Author: Dan Elliott

Source: Google News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxguLPR5dm3gs41EB02qj7nXcLpgD9CKI9H80

The Air Force Academy says religious tolerance has improved dramatically since allegations five years ago that evangelical Christians harassed cadets who didn't share their faith. Even the school's most vocal critic agrees.

"This is...