Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 28, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "More than a quarter of all hate crimes in the state last year occurred in Los Angeles, nearly three times as many as in the next-highest city, according to a report released Thursday by the state attorney general's office. The state's 1,962 hate crimes, occurring at a rate of more than five a day last year, represent an increase of 12% over the previous year. The total is the second highest since California began keeping track in 1994, the report stated."

"Last year...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On July 28, 2000, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an article entitled "Bill Targets Zoning that Bans Churches."

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 27, 2000, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "the city has become home to some of the strongest, largest churches in America. The suburbs, home to some even older churches, have their own healthy congregations." Some examples include:

"Peachtree Presbyterian Church on Roswell Road is the largest mainline Presbyterian church in the country...Mount Paran Church of God for years has led its denomination in members and its pastor emeritus, the Rev. Paul Walker, is the general...

Source: Star Tribune

On July 26, 2000, the Star Tribune published an article entitled "Finding a Role for Faith in Medicine; Both Doctors and Counselors Observe That a Patient's Religious Beliefs May be Helpful, But They Caution Against Making Faith a Formal Part of Treatment." In a recent study, "Seventy-five devout Christians were asked to take part in an unusual experiment: Researchers had them pray for 466 strangers, each of whom had been hospitalized with serious heart problems." When those who were prayed for were compared to a control group that...

Source: The Denver Post

On July 25, 2000, The Denver Post published an article about the recent House of Representatives vote which urged the "display of the national motto - 'In God We Trust' - in public buildings. The House action came on a voice vote on a resolution introduced by Rep. Bob Schaffer, R-Fort Collins, who acknowledged his measure was inspired by the 5-to-1 vote of the [Colorado] state school board on July 6." Schaffer commented that "This is our national motto, not a prayer, This is the motto right before us. This is not a controversial...

Source: The Courier-Journal

On July 24, 2000, The Courier Journal of Louisville, KY published an article about a collaboration between Buddhist and Catholic monks. The project is a result of the work of Louisville musician Michael Fitzpatrick, who was "so deeply moved by a 1996 gathering of Catholic and Buddhist monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani that he wanted to capture some of that feeling in music. The result is the CD "Compassion," released last month, which blends Tibetan and Western monastic chants, classic pieces of Western religious music and...

Source: The Denver Post

On July 24, 2000, The Denver Rocky Mountain News published an article about Denver International Airport's Interfaith Chapel. "Sponsored by Christian, Muslim and Jewish organizations, the chapel, simply dressed in cool shades of blue and white, is meant to be a spiritual decompression chamber for all." An adjoining room has been angled to face Mecca, allowing Muslims to fulfill their daily prayer requirements while traveling. The Interfaith Chapel also holds Catholic Mass on Sundays in addition to "noon communion services several...

Source: The Boston Globe

On July 23, 2000, The Boston Globe published an article about a debate in Lexington, Massachusetts, regarding the placement of a nativity scene on Lexington's Battle Green, a public place. Many gathered on the Green to ask the question aloud: "Should selectmen ban the nativity scene from the Green, its home for more than half a century?" The issue has "cast a cloud over the town common for more than a decade," and it remains controversial for the residents. One resident explained why he, like others, hoped the creche would be...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

On July 23, 2000, The Houston Chronicle reported that the Miami-Dade police department is recruiting 20 Bible-carrying clergy to ride with them in police cars. "The recruitment drive is an effort to save Miami-Dade's flagging police chaplaincy program, which started 11 years ago with a rabbi, priest and Baptist minister, and lost steam as pastors retired or moved on." The hope is that at least two ministers will be hired and trained to serve as "volunteers in each of the county's eight districts." Irving Heller, assistant...

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune

On July 22, 2000, The San Diego Union-Tribune published an article entitled "Cereal Maker Apologizes, Says Bible Offer a Mistake." More than 12 million boxes of cereal are soon to hit the store shelves with CD-ROMs of the New International Protestant version of the Bible enclosed.

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 22, 2000, the Los Angeles Times published the article, "Exploring Issues, Answers and Beliefs; A Union of Faith and Labor; As a Booming Economy Leaves Some of its Workers Far Behind, An Interfaith Convocation Reminds Members of the Clergy about Scriptural Commands to Help the Needy." It reports that "In the underbelly of Southern California's booming economy, countless workers, largely anonymous and voiceless, struggle daily with long hours, low pay and dismal working conditions as they wash dishes, prepare food, clean...

Source: The Washington Post

On July 20, 2000, The Washington Post published an article on the latest interfaith center to be built in the Washington area. The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew and the Cornerstone Community Church of God will "build and share space at the Kings Contrivance center. In an effort to promote tolerance and foster bonds between people of different faiths, Columbia's founders set aside land for the interfaith centers, where different religious groups gather under one roof."

Source: The Associated Press

On July 20, 2000, the Associated Press released an article about how the plan to convert a church into a mosque has divided the mostly Christian Chicago suburb of Palos Heights. Yet even with all the "political sniping and accusations of bigotry, residents seemed a little stunned when a federal mediator stood up at a recent city council meeting with an offer to step in." The council did not immediately accept the offer, but the mayor seemed open to the idea. Some in the small town wish the spotlight had never hit their quiet...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On July 19, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times published an article about a group of Muslims in Palos Heights who wish to buy a church and turn it into the city's first mosque, following a promised mayoral veto of a $200,000 offer for the Muslims to walk away from the project. The Al Salam Mosque Foundation plans to buy the "Reformed Church of Palos Heights building for $2.1 Million, even though many residents and some city council members had hoped to acquire the church for a new recreation center." Mayor Dean Koldenhoven vowed to veto...

Source: National Public Radio

On July 19, 2000, National Public Radio aired a story entitled "Chicago Suburb Wrestles with Racist Overtones of City Council." The mayor of Palos Heights vetoed the $200,000 offer by the city council, calling it "an insult to Muslims and fiscally irresponsible for the city." Yet the Al Salam Mosque Foundation unexpectedly accepted the city's buyout. Speaking at a press conference, the foundation's attorney, Rouhy Shalabi, said "deciding to accept the money and walk away was a tough decision, but his clients did not want to be in a...