Source: Religion Writers

http://www.religionwriters.com/public/tips/051903/051903b.shtml

On May 19, 2003 Religion Writers reported that "the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were stressful for all Americans, regardless of national origin or religious background. But while most Americans say their general stress level has declined, doctors across the country say that is not the case among Arab-Americans and Muslims, which various studies number between 2 million...

Source: The Ledger

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003305180415

On May 18, 2003 The Ledger reported that "though Catholicism is the dominant organized religion in Haiti, voodoo is widely practiced in the country. Some Haitians in Polk County [FL] continue to practice voodoo but say the religion carries many misconceptions. 'It's worshiping spirits that help build consciousness,' said Alex Jack Creve-Coeur, a Haitian radio personality in...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On May 18, 2003 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "last year, Abu-Akel gave the invocation at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday observance at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church. Despite his introduction as a local Presbyterian minister, despite a prayer that invoked God and Jesus, his name seemed to cause some confusion... For the past year, Abu-Akel has been preaching his message of tolerance and understanding from one of the loftier pulpits in American religion. Last June, he became...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On May 17, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "hundreds of religious leaders joined politicians at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast this week and heard messages from President Bush and congressional leaders congratulating Latino clergy on their commitments to faith, community and family life."

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On May 17, 2003 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "a group of St. Louis regional religious and community leaders is taking to heart a line from the song 'Let There Be Peace on Earth.' The line that grabs them is 'And, let it begin with me...' This month, they are seeking like-minded people to form a corps of volunteer peacemakers... The volunteers will work in the front lines of peacemaking, helping forge truces between neighbors... In September, her church and another Mennonite congregation, Bethesda Fellowship...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 16, 2003 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "as in other Christian churches on Sunday morning, the nearly 200 people who have gathered at Savior of the World Ethiopian Orthodox Church praise God in a way that evokes images of their native land... The church provides a focal point for the Ethiopians, many of whom fled the political turmoil in their country in recent years and were granted asylum in the United States... Much of the Sunday service is conducted in the ancient Ge'ez language, although the homily is given in...

Source: NCM Civil Liberties Watch

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=9a3dd93e53c1ca0a9e9aecb068ad8cbc

On May 16, 2003 NCM Civil Liberties Watch reported that "Abdul Hatifie hosts a weekly radio show broadcast to the Afghan community in the Bay Area and Los Angeles [CA]. Along with announcements of community events and discussions of Afghan culture, the Alameda doctor tries to talk about discrimination and...

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-relations16may16,0,739026.story

On May 16, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Orange County authorities recorded a steep decline in reports of alleged ethnic harassment, reversing last year's post-9/11 surge in anti-Arab bigotry, according to a report by the Orange County Human Relations Commission released Thursday... In the last year, according to the report, 124 people said they were targeted by...

Source: House.gov

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh09_kaptur/bigotry.html

On May 15, 2003 House.gov reported that "Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur today joined Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives condemning violence and bigotry against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikh Americans. Kaptur’s bill also calls upon law enforcement authorities to aid on the prevention and...

Source: Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/6727769p-7667818c.html

On May 15, 2003 the Fresno Bee reported that "the almost 90-year-old [Volga German Cross Church] was one of five downtown Fresno [CA] houses of worship featured on a self-guided tour held on the last day of a conference on historic preservation... Such diversity was on display Sunday. In addition to Cross Church and Holy Trinity, people visited St. Genevieve's Catholic Church (1938),...

Source: Newhouse News Service

http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/mccutcheon051403.html

On May 14, 2003 Newhouse News Service reported that "the FBI is intensely recruiting Arab-Americans and Arabic speakers to demonstrate the bureau's commitment to diversity and to help target surveillance on terrorist activities without spying on innocent citizens... The CIA, which also has been looking for linguists and other Arab-American professionals, has launched its own...

Source: Plain Dealer

On May 13, 2003 the Plain Dealer reported that "threatened with the loss of federal money, the vast majority of the nation's schools have declared that they allow prayer wherever and however the Constitution permits... For the first time, federal law requires school districts to prove that they have no policy stifling court-protected prayer by students or teachers. Those that don't comply risk losing a share of elementary and secondary school money totaling $23 billion... Initial responses, due April 15, showed some states had dozens of...

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On May 11, 2003 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "about 150 adults and children of different faiths gathered in the basement of Trinity Episcopal Church yesterday afternoon to pray, enjoy music and affirm their commitment to peace... 'Peace is more than just an end to war,' said Joe Keehner of the Grassroots Congress, speaking during the Ohio Peace Rally... One of the most troubling issues, they said, is the continued U.S. presence in Iraq... Gilly Running, a Lakota-Sioux medicine man who led a native prayer yesterday...

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-religwork10may10,0,2377419.story

On May 10, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "a broad coalition of religious groups is pushing a bill that would protect religious expression in the workplace, but civil liberties groups are concerned that the bill could be used to advance on-the-job proselytizing... The Workplace Religious Freedom Act, introduced recently by Sens. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and John...

Source: Honolulu Advertiser

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/May/10/il/il42a.html

On May 10, 2003 the Honolulu Advertiser printed an editorial by Robert Ganung stating that "it is almost impossible for me to write about spiritual matters without referring to my spiritual master, Thich Nhat Hanh. Although I am from another religious tradition (United Methodist minister), this gentle Zen monk from Vietnam has influenced my spiritual journey...