Source: The Kansas City Star

On March 19, 2001, The Kansas City Star reported on John Ashcroft's ceremonial installation as attorney general. "Ashcroft, who is a devout Christian, made only passing religious references in his speech" and "repeatedly called for reaching out to people of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds and economic means."

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On March 18, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported on "a controversy that erupted at recent meetings of the Marion City Council [in Ohio], where the Lord's Prayer is recited before every meeting...City law requires that a prayer be read." One citizen suggested a silent or nonsectarian prayer be read so as not to exclude non-Christians. "From now on, various ministers will be on hand to open the meeting with a nonsectarian prayer." Most residents nevertheless support the use of the Lord's prayer.

Source: The New York Times

On March 17, 2001, The New York Times reported on "a survey called 'Faith Communities Today,' which includes data on topics like finances, programs and leadership, among 41 denominations and faith groups, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim and Baha'i...Half of all congregations, according to the report, contain fewer than 100 adults who regularly participate." The article talks about the implication of this finding for Bush's faith-based initiatives. The survey can be found at...

Source: The Boston Globe

On March 17, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that, "to repair the rift with the Christian right, White House officials privately have repudiated critical remarks that the director of the office of faith-based initiatives made about evangelicals, and have assured conservative leaders their concerns will be addressed." Some of these leaders asked for DiIulio's resignation, while others merely see him as a political liability for Bush. In a recent speech DiIulio "accused conservative Christian leaders of lacking commitment to the poor...

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

On March 17, 2001, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on a conference titled "'Affirming Common Values in the Midst of Religious Diversity.' Sponsored by the Milwaukee Association for Interfaith Relations, it is at the new Hindu Temple of Wisconsin in the City of Pewaukee." Anant Rambachan, a global expert on interfaith dialogue and a speaker at the conference, says that Americans now have no choice but to learn to live, work with, and understand people of other faiths. The new Hindu temple is "itself a symbol of the...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/main/advancedsearch.html

On March 17, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an editorial by Jane Eisner of the Philadelphia Enquirer, in which she wrote that, "with a great deal of sophistication and smarts, the new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives can navigate the fault lines while upholding" the values of "tolerance, civil rights, free speech, [and] respect for the...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On March 17, 2001, The Houston Chronicle reported on Sister Carletta LaCour, who teaches Tai Chi at the Christian Renewal Center in Dickinson, Texas. "Though part of the benefit of practicing the moves is physical, LaCour also emphasizes the spiritual." She sees no incongruence between Catholicism and Tai Chi.

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

On March 16, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center is about to open in Washington, D.C. It "is slated to become a combination research center and interactive museum, art gallery and a bit of a presidential library." According to the cardinal who came up with the idea, the center is "designed to bring about a dialogue of cultures, to encourage ecumenical and interfaith activity...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

On March 16, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an editorial by Mohamed El-Bendary, a doctoral student at Louisiana State University in which he condemned the Taliban's destruction of Buddhist statues.

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

On March 14, 2001, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an editorial by Muhammad Aquil, director of public relations at the Islamic Center of San Diego, in which he said that the way the press covers the Taliban often casts a bad light on Muslims in general.

Source: The Washington Post

On March 14, 2001, The Washington Post reported that "nearly two-thirds of U.S. congregations maintain strong ties to their religious denominations, debunking the widely held belief that affiliation with major religious groups has declined, according to the largest study ever of congregational behavior, which was released yesterday...The interfaith survey, 'Faith Communities in the United States Today,' involved 14,301 congregations in 41 denominations or faith groups...The survey confirms that the growth of less hierarchical,...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On March 14, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported on "the findings of Faith Communities Today, the largest survey of American religious congregations ever conducted. Among these are that "more than three in four congregations report that most or all of their regularly attending adult worshippers are white." In addition, "Changes in worship patterns...have a strong, positive association with congregational vitality, member growth, financial stability and other signs of a healthy congregation."

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 13, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that, according to the 2000 census, "nearly one in every three Americans is a member of a minority group, reflecting a massive surge in immigration during the 1990s." The Latino and Asian populations are making the most rapid increases. "On initial analysis, the Census Bureau's first attempt at giving respondents the chance to choose more than one race may yield as much befuddlement as enlightenment."

Source: AMC-NET

On March 13, 2001, the American Muslim Council reported that "the American Muslim Council hosted a forum Monday, at Georgetown University, geared toward helping formulate a policy position and consensus among the community regarding President Bush’s Faith-based Initiative." A lot of the talk focused on American Muslim involvement "in the selection process when it comes to determining eligibility. The community called on the White House to ensure balanced representation and objectivity in the Office." The AMC Executive Director sees the...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On March 13, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "according to results released by the Census Bureau...2.4 percent of Americans, or nearly 7 million out of 281 million people, took advantage of the new census option to identify themselves as belonging to more than one race...About 4 percent of Americans under age 18 were listed as multiethnic, compared with about 2 percent of those 18 and over."