Bible looted on Kristallnacht returns to Vienna home A 16th century Hebrew Bible looted by the Nazis from a library in Vienna during Kristallnacht, the start of the Nazi pogrom against Jews six decades ago was returned to city's Jewish community on Monday. (Associated Press)
US lawmakers urge India to protect Christians The US Commission on International Religious Freedom in August placed India on its watch list, citing violence against Christians in Orissa and Muslims in the western state of Gujarat. (AFP)
Pakistani Christians fear more extremist attacks Almas Hameed lost seven relatives when an angry mob burnt down his home in a rampage against Pakistan's minority Christian community and lives in fear that more violence is looming. (AFP)
Iraq Christian leader denounces latest attacks The body of a Christian health worker turned up in a field two days after he was kidnapped — prompting several more Christian families to leave their ancient homeland in northern Iraq. (The Associated Press)
Poll: Democrats Now More Supportive Than Republicans of Faith-Based Initiatives The bombshell from the new Pew survey on government faith-based initiatives: Democrats are now more supportive than Republicans of houses of worship getting government money for social services, a turnabout from 2001, when George W. Bush launched the White House faith-based office. ( God & Country (usnews.com)
Faith-Based Council Produces Muslim Celebrity The sight of Mogahed, a Muslim, in her hijab, seeming very official and "Washington," prompted Muslims to think of her as something more. To them, she is the hijabi in the White House. (NPR)
Faith-Based Discrimination Mr. Obama has not made good on his promise. His February executive order left untouched a 2002 presidential directive authorizing religious-oriented programs that receive federal financing to hire and fire on religious grounds. (The New York Times)
Lawmakers back officials facing jail for prayer Two Florida school officials facing possible jail terms for praying in the presence of students arrive in court Thursday enjoying the support of more than 60 members of Congress. (The Washington Times)
Idaho school sues state over Bible plan The Alliance Defense Fund says the school has a statutory right to choose its own curriculum and the Bible shouldn't be singled out for censorship. (The Associated Press)
Christian coach files suit against Dearborn schools A former high school wrestling coach who is Christian filed a lawsuit today against Dearborn Public Schools and a high school principal who is Muslim, saying he was terminated because of his association with an assistant who had helped convert a Muslim student. (Detroit Free Press)
State House edits 'Jesus' from pastor's prayer It is not an attempt to silence religious leaders, but rather an effort to prevent taxpayers from having to foot the bill of a lawsuit if someone objects to a prayer's contents and chooses to sue the state. (The York Daily Record, Pennsylvania)
AP Exclusive: Muslim countries seek blasphemy ban Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially a ban on blasphemy that would put them on a collision course with free speech laws in the West. (The Associated Press)
NJ teen barred from abortion protest sues school A high school student claims lawsuit that school administrators violated her First Amendment free-speech and religious-freedom rights when they said she couldn't participate in a day of silent protest against abortion. (Associated Press)
Court turns down student over religious speech The justices said Monday they will not revive a lawsuit filed by Brittany McComb of Henderson, Nev. challenging the actions of Clark County school officials. A federal appeals court ruled previously ruled against her. (Associated Press)
Court rejects Pa. buffer law on abortion clinics A federal appeals court has struck down an ordinance that created two types of buffer zones around medical facilities after a Christian legal group challenged the law on behalf of a nurse who protests abortions. (Associated Press)
Golden cross in Vatican's collection gets new look The Vatican unveiled the restored Crux Vaticana, a foot-high jewel-encrusted golden cross containing what tradition holds are shards of Jesus' cross inside. (The Associated Press)
European court: No crucifixes in Italian schools Europe's court of human rights said the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools violates religious and education freedoms, prompting an angry reaction from the Catholic Church and government officials in Rome. (The Associated Press)
Church plans Christ the Redeemer upgrade in Brazil The Catholic Church announced plans to raise 3.5 million dollars for a major upgrade of Christ the Redeemer, the iconic giant statue of Jesus with outstretched arms that overlooks Rio de Janeiro. (AFP)
Court turns down student over religious speech The justices said Monday they will not revive a lawsuit filed by Brittany McComb of Henderson, Nev. challenging the actions of Clark County school officials. A federal appeals court ruled previously ruled against her. (Associated Press)
Students sue Tenn. county schools over religion The complaint states the schools showed a pattern of endorsing religion that included the distribution of Gideon's Bibles in class, a teacher who has a cross on a classroom wall and sectarian prayers at school events. (Associated Press)
ACLU: Bibles passed out, prayer encouraged in Cheatham County schools A lawsuit has been filed against the Cheatham County School Board alleging that school officials have promoted their own religious beliefs and allowed and encouraged public prayers at school events. (The Tennessean)
Bachmann backs "God" at Capitol Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Eric Cantor (R-Va.) are ganging up to block a lawsuit seeking to scrub "In God We Trust" from the wall of the new Capitol Visitors Center. (Politico)
More preachin’ in school For several years — at least six, principal Ann Kerr says — the school has allowed members of Gideons International, armed with copies of the New Testament and accompanied by the principal, to come speak to fifth graders about their evangelical work. (Arkansas Times)
Seeking a Right to Carol in the Classroom If Merry Susan Hyatt has her way, every public school pupil in California will have the voter-approved right to sing “Joy to the World” in the classroom (The New York Times)
It's a 'Christmas' tree at the Ky. Capitol again A spokeswoman for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says he's calling the tree on the Capitol's front lawn a "Christmas" tree this holiday season. (Associated Press)
Healthcare provision seeks to embrace prayer treatments A little-noticed measure would put Christian Science healing sessions on the same footing as clinical medicine. Critics say it violates the separation of church and state (Los Angeles Times)
Appeals panel dismisses Fla. Christian frat case A federal court has dismissed an appeal by Beta Upsilon Chi, a Christian fraternity that tried to force the University of Florida to recognize it as an official organization (Associated Press)
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling Tuesday found the controversy was moot because the university had amended its policy and allowed Beta Upsilon Chi to register.
Judge: Local charity can't be termed a terror group A local Muslim charity, whose constitutional rights were found to have been violated when the U.S. government froze its financial assets in 2006, cannot be labeled as a terrorist organization, a federal judge in Toledo ruled Monday. (Toledo Blade)
Barred From Field, Religious Signs Move to Stands A month later, the new policy has produced an unexpected result: more biblical verses than ever at football games, displayed not by cheerleaders but by fans sitting in the stands. (New York Times)
Transcript reveals details of runaway convert case Florida authorities have released a transcript and audiotape of a more than two-hour interview of the 17-year-old by investigators. (The Columbus Dispatch)
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