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...

Source: The Buffalo News

On July 28, 2001, The Buffalo News published an opinion piece that said that "if President Bush's 'faith based' initiative is passed, I think the role of the church in society will become greatly distorted to the detriment of everyone involved...Religious groups will be forced to compete for funds, while the government decides which religions to recognize under the law. The church will become 'a servant of the state.'"

Source: The New York Times

On July 27, 2001, The New York Times reported that "in Missouri, residential schools and homes for troubled youths are exempt from virtually all state regulation if they are run by religious organizations...When it comes to exempting religious institutions from state laws and regulations, Missouri is not alone. Some states grant exemptions to religious academies or boarding homes; others allow day care centers run by religious groups to operate without licenses. Increasingly, legal experts say, religious organizations have been...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On July 27, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch published an opinion piece that said that "the Bush administration's 'charitable choice' initiative was a clear violation of the equal protection clause outlined in the U.S. Constitution...If nonprofit entities agree to receive federal tax money, they must comply with existing anti-discrimination laws. By accepting tax dollars from law-abiding gay Americans, religious affiliations cannot legitimately refuse citizens work solely because of their sexual orientation."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 27, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "despite predictions of a quiet death in the Senate,... Bush's [faith-based] initiative...is gaining traction among key Democratic senators...[Sen. Joe] Lieberman pointed out that Democrats have supported charitable choice in the past and that Democratic Vice President Al Gore proposed expanding it last year when he was running for president."

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."

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...

Source: The Boston Globe

On July 25, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on the Kentucky ruling on the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. "'The civil rights statutes protect religious freedom, not personal lifestyle choices,' the judge wrote." The president of the child-welfare agency said that the ruling "would allow his agency, the largest provider of services for abused and neglected children in Kentucky, to continue operating in accord with its religious principles, which include opposition to homosexuality," which he holds to be one of the ministry's...

Source: USA TODAY

on July 25, 2001, USA TODAY published a piece that said that "recent news coverage of the Salvation Army's support for President Bush's faith-based initiative may have obscured a fundamental point: The Salvation Army fully complies with all laws applicable to religious organizations in choosing whom we hire... We do not ask prospective employees about their sexual orientation... Last year, the Salvation Army helped 36 million Americans without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation or any other factor."

Source: USA TODAY

On July 25, 2001, USA TODAY published an opinion piece that said that "it appears that faith-based groups will be making a deal with the devil by signing up for federal funds...When it comes to a church's staff...each church has the right to employ those who hold to the tenets of their faith...Secular demands such as anti-discrimination regulations will bring only negative consequences."

Source: The New York Times

On July 25, 2001, The New York Times reported that "in a case with implications for [Bush's faith-based initiative], a federal court in Kentucky ruled against Alicia Pedreira in a lawsuit accusing the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children of discrimination...Ms. Pedreira, a lesbian, was told she was fired...because the 'homosexual lifestyle is contrary to Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children core values.' Officials at the American Civil Liberties Union...joined her in the lawsuit...The home receives financing from Kentucky."

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."

Source: Sightings

On July 25, 2001, Sightings reported that "the front page of the Chicago Tribune Metro section for July fifth shows two pictures of religion in America that capture well its ambivalence as a public force. The first story concerns [a] Hindu leader...A woman of humble Indian birth, Amritandandamayi now touches the lives of a worldwide community...[She] hugs follower after follower, at times for eighteen straight hours...Directly below this story of religious diversity and the power of shared affection is a picture of Richard Loy,...

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."

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 25, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "the city Police Commission decided Tuesday to substitute a moment of silent personal reflection for the traditional public prayer at Police Academy graduation ceremonies...The change...was prompted by last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision barring prayer at public school gatherings." The commissioner "conceded afterward that the change 'might not be very popular politically.'"