2 of 6

Church & state:

• Court to rehear white separatist case | Inmate is suing under RLUIPA to hold group worship with other separatists in prison (Associated Press)
• Battle urged to save cross | A Christian group said it has lawyers and a strategy, and is raising money for the fight (The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Ca.)
• Schools bar anti-drug program | L.A. district warns against the use of presentations by a group linked to the Church of Scientology. The state plans an investigation (Los Angeles Times)
• Nagin, clergy bridge gap over breakfast | Mayor vows city will aid pastors (The Times-Picayune, New Orleans)
• U.S. judge issues a mixed ruling in Quaker tax case | A federal judge ruled yesterday that the IRS may not impose a 50 percent tax penalty against Philadelphia's Quakers for refusing to pay a levy on the wages of an employee who is a "war-tax protester" (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Local man says Army refusing military medals over religious reference | Although Bob Parker has been working with all the branches of the U.S. military to send the medals to surviving family members, he recently received a letter from the Army informing him that because the medals contain a religious reference, the Army can no longer facilitate their distribution (WBIR, Knoxville, Tenn.)
• City to open parades to all | Parades and other events sponsored or co-sponsored by the city would be open to virtually anyone who wants to participate under a new set of rules being drafted by the city (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

Religious freedom:

• Vatican accuses China of human rights violations | The Vatican accused China Wednesday of violating human rights, stepping up its criticism of the communist government for what it sees as the repression of religion (Reuters)
• Vatican condemns China's arrest of bishop | "The Holy See feels deep pain for these actions, for which no explanation has been given" said a statement by Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls (Associated Press)
• Fired Muslim trucker sues company | A Muslim truck driver is suing his former employer for religious discrimination, claiming he was fired for refusing to haul beer because doing so would violate his beliefs (Associated Press)

Under God & in God:

• Councilman to try again to get 'In God' in chambers | City Councilman Jack Feller is reviving his request to place the motto "In God We Trust" behind the dais in the council chambers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• "Under God" and meaning it | The Supreme Court should fix past precedent (Peter Augustine Lawler, National Review Online)
• Still "under God"? | The Pledge of Allegiance is still in danger (Vincent Phillip Muñoz, National Review Online)

Moon receives capital crowning:

• A crowning at the capital creates a stir | The Rev. Sun Myung Moon donned a crown in a Senate office building and declared himself the Messiah while members of Congress watched (The New York Times)
• Moonie leader 'crowned' in Senate | Republicans and Democrats attend cult blessing ceremony (The Guardian, London)

Religion & politics:

• Religious groups campaign against poverty | Religious groups have this morning united to form an alliance to make poverty a priority in the upcoming election (The World Today, ABC, Australia)
• Religious right could be strong pillar for Bush | Gay marriage, abortion issues energize voters (Chicago Tribune)
• Christians need to exercise voting rights, send a message | This failure to exercise our most fundamental citizenship duty cannot continue, lest we allow the secular minority to destroy the Christian foundations upon which our nation was established (David Crowe, The Oregonian)

next page... |  2 of 6

share this page

June (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48