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• Also: U.S. priest arrested over rape claims (BBC)
  
  
• Also: Priest arrested on child rape charges (CNN)

Burnhams:

• Abu bluffing on execution | Military unfazed by threats of Abu Sabaya (AFP)
  
  
• 'We don't entertain threats,' Sabaya told | U.S. forces training in the Philippines respond to death threats. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Pope's letter on penance:

• Vatican penance letter stirs ire | The Vatican on Thursday stressed the need for Catholics to confess their sins—but said some "habitual" sinners could never be forgiven. (Chicago Tribune)
  
  
• Also: Priests told to cut back on absolution for groups (The New York Times)

Church and state:

• School choir must stop rehearsing Lord's Prayer | Federal judge orders them to cease practicing until he decides if it can be sung at graduation. (Associated Press)
  
  
• Ten Commandments trial opens | County pleads that display is not religious. (The Tennessean)
  
  
• Valedictorian barred from giving graduation speech settles lawsuit | Student not allowed to speak, lead the flag salute, or participate in the graduation ceremony because of religious nature of his speech awarded $59,000. (Associated Press)
  
  
• Student who waved unauthorized banner during torch run fights suspension | Civil liberties group said the school violated Frederick's rights to free speech when expelled for greeting Olympic torch with "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" sign. (Freedom Forum)

Islam:

• Vatican reaches out to Islamic world | The Vatican has signed an unprecedented agreement with the Government of Turkey to promote religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims. (BBC)
  
  
• Some Saudis speak out against religious police | The muttawa are the shock troops of the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Saudis do not reject those duties, but many feel the muttawa have exploited their broad mandate. (Chicago Tribune)
  
  
• Bias incidents against Muslims are soaring, Islamic council says | Two-thirds of the incidents reported in the last year occurred less than six months after the terrorist attacks. (The New York Times)
  
  

Interfaith relations:

• Muslim's call on Christian groups is 'ridiculous' | A document saying student religious groups must admit people who are opposed to their aims has been described as "ridiculous." (Daily Telegraph, London)

Church life:

• 3 hopefuls for top Presbyterian job call on church to unite | Centrists address gathering at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
  
  
• Orthodox priests have the option | Greek Church, unlike Catholic, allows clergymen to marry, but celibacy has its rewards (The Washington Post)
  
  
• Chaplains take on new roles in handling crises | Police and fire chaplains increasingly find themselves involved in preserving evidence and helping people deal with horrific events. (Chicago Tribune)

Politics and law:

• Bush promotes virgin values to curb teen sex | Washington has adopted the Right's abstinence campaign (The Guardian, London)
  
  
• Bush risks evangelical wrath | If the president heeds Crown Prince Abdullah's advice, resentment from the Christian right could become an open revolt. (Boston Herald)
  
  
• Virgin Airlines Settles Case, Allowing Time Off for Religion | The settlement will require the company to develop special work schedules where possible to accommodate an employee's request for time off for religious observance. (The New York Times)

Persecution:

• Group condemns discrimination against Christians in schools | Northern Nigerian Christians are being denied registration in some institutions and educational programs. (This Day, Lagos)
  
  

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April (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46