Source: The New York Times

On October 26, 2000, The New York Times reported that "With children everywhere discussing the costumes and treats they expected for Halloween, it was natural enough that a teacher at Olinda Elementary School would assign her students to read a book themed to the holiday. But then a parent objected that Halloween was offensive to people of her faith. The teacher turned to her principal, Brenda Clark, who resolved the problem by suggesting the child be assigned a different book. That was the right solution, according to an expert...

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On October 26, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported on a Labyrinth located on the Bayview Campus of Johns Hopkins' Medical System. One walker stated that as she "walks the labyrinth, its smooth concentric paths carry her inward like a current. Approaching from the parking lot, she senses energy flowing from the classic design. It's as if she were at the shore, she says, watching the waves. Just looking at the circular formation feels really relaxing to me, she says at the beginning of the path. I wait here until I have an internal cue...

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

On October 26, 2000, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that, "after lengthy consideration, the Board of Directors of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) has concluded that we can no longer be a part of the Muslim-Jewish dialogue group initiated last year. Regrettably, we note that our Jewish partners in the group have rejected the issuance of a joint statement condemning the ongoing bloodshed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We feel that if the...

Source: The Times Picayune

On October 25, 2000, The Times Picayune reported that "school-sanctioned student-led prayers at public school football games, a practice ruled unconstitutional nationwide this year by the U.S. Supreme Court, have led to a parent's complaint against Natchitoches Parish schools. A letter from the Louisiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union asks the school district to stop the practice within 10 days or face a lawsuit. Through a spokeswoman, Superintendent Elwanda Murphy said: 'We will abide by the law.'

"'The...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 24, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that, "a group of religious leaders gathered Monday to protest Proposition KK, a controversial measure that would forbid the City Council from enacting a citywide wage law. The measure is backed by the city's luxury hotels. During a half-hour demonstration on the 3rd Street Promenade, representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Buddhist faiths quoted religious texts to demonstrate against the measure and support paying local hotel workers a living wage. 'This is not a new...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On October 23, 2000, The Houston Chronicle reported that, "as the bloodshed continued in the Middle East on Sunday, 11 children in The Woodlands lighted a single white candle and prayed for peace. They were among about 200 people of different faiths - Muslims, Jews, Christians of various denominations - who gathered at a community center to pray for an end to the violence on the other side of the world and for a return to negotiations toward an elusive peace there. 'A feeling of helplessness, a feeling of hopelessness, has...

Source: The Daily News

http://www.bgdailynews.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?200010/06+diversity20001006_news.html+2001006

On October 23, 2000, The Daily News (Bowling Green, Kentucky) published an article entitled, "Religious Diversity Unfolds."

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 22, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that, "The number of hate crimes reported in Los Angeles County and in California is rising. The increase in itself is alarming, and our concern is compounded by recent acts such as the destructive, hate-filled vandalism last month at the West Valley Hebrew Academy, a Jewish school in Woodland Hills. Analysts, however, note that the elevated hate crime figures may be due as much to increased awareness and reporting as an increase in bigoted acts. To begin reducing the scourge of...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On October 22, 2000, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that, "the U.S. Supreme Court continues to place restrictions on prayer and religious activity involving public schools. But several DeKalb County high schools are testing the limits of the law by having Baptist ministers serve as chaplains to school football teams. The ministers, including televangelist Bishop Eddie Long and some of his associates at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, provide pregame prayers and devotionals. 'It has a...

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On October 21, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported that "the hum of gospel hymns, clapping hands and fervent prayer echoed off the glass walls of the office towers surrounding Charles Center Plaza yesterday as young and old gathered to observe an interfaith Sabbath for children. About 100 Christians, Jews and Muslims joined hands and voices as they prayed for the youth in Baltimore in a local vigil that was part of the Children's Sabbath, an annual event sponsored by the National Children's Defense Fund. As part of the observance,...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On October 21, 2000, The Houston Chronicle reported that "Jews, Muslims and members of other faiths will gather Sunday to offer prayers for an end to the violence that has erupted in the Middle East. The community event, titled 'A Gathering to Pray for Peace and Healing in Jerusalem and the Middle East,' is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the South Montgomery County Community Center...The program is open to the public. Co-sponsors of the gathering are Congregation Beth Shalom of The Woodlands, The Islamic Society of The Woodlands...

Source: The Seattle Times

On October 21, 2000, The Seattle Times reported that "the Roman Catholic Church sent greetings to the world's Hindus as they prepared for Diwali new year celebrations. It expressed the hope that improving interfaith relations will benefit world harmony and peace. 'May the world around us, particularly the world of the oppressed, the marginalized, the forgotten ones and the innocent victims of injustice, feel the warmth of our growing relationship,' said a letter written by Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 19, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that, "an architect's vision for a long-anticipated, $4.5-million interfaith chapel--designed to be home to Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Muslims, Mormons and Wiccans--will be unveiled today at Chapman University. The 250-seat Wallace All Faiths Chapel on the Orange campus will be absent any permanent religious symbols. Even the center altar, on a hydraulic lift, will disappear into the floor at the flick of a switch. Religious objects such as crosses, arks and sacred...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 19, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "soon after his selection as Al Gore's running mate, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman met with several dozen Arab American leaders in Michigan who worried that, if elected vice president, the orthodox Jew would not be evenhanded on Middle Eastern policy. At the time, Lieberman earned guarded praise by listening to their concerns and reassuring them that he understands their agenda and has a record of fighting for the civil rights of Arab Americans. But after violence exploded in...

Source: The Los Angeles Times

On October 18, 2000, The Los Angeles Times reported that "in Pennsylvania, researchers are documenting how religion keeps young people from drugs and delinquency. In Cambridge, professors are pondering how faith propels environmentalism and inner-city economic development. And in one of the world's most religiously diverse laboratories--Southern California--scholars are visiting such sacred sites as Sikh gurdwaras, Chinese Buddhist temples and Armenian apostolic churches to scrutinize the powerful role that religion plays in...