Interfaith

Gujarat Religion Law Hotly Contested

September 20, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5362802.stm

On September 20, 2006 BBC News reported, "Christians and Muslims in the western Indian state of Gujarat have expressed resentment over an amendment in the law relating to religious conversions. They say that moves by the state government to classify Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion are unconstitutional. Christians and Muslims have accused the authorities of trying to polarise the...

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Critics Say Pope Needs to Refocus on Interfaith Efforts

September 20, 2006

Source: The Baltimore Sun

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.pope20sep20,0,6467396.story

On September 20, 2006 The Baltimore Sun reported, "When Pope Benedict XVI was elected almost 18 months ago, some people within and outside the Roman Catholic Church predicted that his background would shift the papacy away from the interfaith outreach that was the legacy of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. They say the flap over Pope...

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Michigan Religious Leaders Respond to Challenges Posed by Pope's Remarks

September 19, 2006

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060919/OPINION01/609190305/1008

On September 19, 2006 The Detroit News reported, "In a Sept. 12 homily in Germany, Pope Benedict XVI quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who criticized the Prophet Mohammed. He has apologized for reading the statements, 'which do not in any way express my personal thought.' The following are reactions from Michigan's...

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World Sikh Council Participates in 9/11 Global Congress of World Religions

September 19, 2006

Source: World Sikh Council

On September 19, 2006 the World Sikh Council issued a press release stating, "In observance of the 5th year anniversary of 9/11, the World Sikh Council – America Region (WSC-AR) participated in a conference 'World’s Religions After September 11: A Global Congress' held September 11 – 15, 2006 in Montreal, Canada. The conference program focused on the theme 'Can religion be a force of good?' At the Congress, Dr. Manohar Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR, presented a paper on 'Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Sikh Religion'...

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Baha'i and First Nations Youth Bond Over Soccer Match

September 19, 2006

Source: Baha'i World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story/479

On September 19, 2006 the Baha'i World News Service reported, "It's not often the players on opposite sides of a soccer team huddle together for prayers before a game. But neither is it common for outsiders to play in a soccer league that is otherwise composed entirely of Native Canadians. The Twin Arrows soccer team, made up of young Baha'is from the cities of Victoria, Nanaimo, and Vancouver in British Columbia...

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"Pope Benedict's Comments Were Unwise and Provocative, But the Best Course for Muslims is to Turn the Other Cheek" by Raheel Raza and Tarek Fatah

September 19, 2006

Source: Muslim Wake Up!

http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2006/09/pope_benedicts.php#more

On September 19, 2006 Muslim Wake Up! published a commentary by Raheel Raza and Tarek Fatah, "It's ironic that while more than 1,000 delegates met at a congress in Montreal called World's Religions After September 11, where they discussed initiatives aimed at building greater understanding among followers of all faiths, halfway across the globe Pope...

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Pope's Apology Fails to Quell Protests

September 19, 2006

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/world/europe/19pope.html

On September 19, 2006 The New York Times reported, "Many Muslims insisted Monday that Pope Benedict XVI did not go far enough in his apology on Sunday for the offense caused by a speech he gave last week that discussed Islam and holy war. In the southern Iraqi city of Basra, protesters burned an effigy of the pope, and an Iraqi group linked to Al Qaeda posted a warning on a...

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Hindu Fears Over Secular Nepal

September 18, 2006

Author: Charles Haviland

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5355816.stm

Young and old, some dressed in saffron, some wielding tridents, Hindu nationalists march in the streets of Kathmandu, letting out a cry of indignation.

"Bring back the Hindu kingdom," they shout.

It is a pattern being regularly repeated, mainly in the capital and the plains bordering India, by Hindus incensed by parliament's recent...

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CAIR Calls for Increased Dialogue Between Catholics and Muslims

September 18, 2006

Source: United Press International

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060918-122957-2467r

On September 18, 2006 the United Press International reported, "The U.S. Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for a stepped-up dialogue between Muslims and Catholics. The CAIR statement was issued Friday following the public controversy over Pope Benedict XVI's remarks last week that were criticized by various Muslim groups...

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"Divided We Fall" Documentary Premieres in Phoenix

September 18, 2006

Source: East Valley Tribune

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=74116

On September 18, 2006 the East Valley Tribune reported, "Hundreds from across the Valley gathered at the Carpenters Union building in southwest Phoenix on Thursday night, the eve of the anniversary of [Balbir Singh Sodhi's] death, to memorialize him and watch the world premiere of a documentary prompted by his murder. Sodhi practiced Sikhism, a religion in which followers believe all...

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Muslims from Israel Bring Fresh Insights to Boston

September 18, 2006

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/09/18/muslims_from_israel_bring_fresh_views_to_hub/?page=1

On September 18, 2006 The Boston Globe reported, "Al Qasemi College , which was founded in 1989 as the first institute of Islamic higher education in Israel, is trying to export revolutionary openness and liberalism to the wider Islamic world, leaders of the faculty told educators, Jewish...

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Albany Catholic and Muslim Leaders Respond to Comments by the Pope on Islam

September 18, 2006

Source: Capital News 9

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/your_news/capital_region/default.asp?ArID=192355

On September 18, 2006 Capital News 9 reported, "The Pope's recent comments have Muslim leaders up in arms. He quoted a 14th century Byzantine text that calls the Prophet Muhammad 'evil and inhuman.' And it refers to the spread of Islam as 'by the sword.' But Father William Pape at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in...

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Virginia Muslims Active in Fight Against Global Warming

September 18, 2006

Source: Augusta Free Press

http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$40562

On September 18, 2006 the Augusta Free Press reported, "'In the Koran, God said that He created nature in a balance or mizam, and that it is mankind's responsibility to maintain this fragile equilibrium,' says Richmond-based Islamic leader Dr. Imad Damaj. 'We cannot maintain it by blaming each other, but must do so by working together.'

Last week, the faith-based...

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Opinion: "We Cannot Afford to Maintain These Ancient Prejudices Against Islam"

September 18, 2006

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1874786,00.html

On September 18, 2006 The Guardian ran an opinion piece by Karen Armstrong, author of Islam: A Short History. "Last week, Pope Benedict XVI quoted, without qualification and with apparent approval, the words of the 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II: 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such...

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