Religion

Washington, DC - 11/16/2009 - A new report based on a recent national survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that more than eight years after former President George W. Bush unveiled his faith-based initiative, the policy continues to draw broad public support. At the same time, many Americans express concerns about blurring the lines between church and state, as was the case when Bush first announced the initiative.    » read more »

Michael H. Posner, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Washington, DC -- October 26, 2009 -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSNER: Thank you, Madame Secretary, for your remarks and for your leadership on this issue of religious freedom. I have recently been confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. In this position, I’m charged with leading the bureau in which the Office of International Religious Freedom is a part.    » read more »

Harsh Crackdown on Followers of Buddhist Peace Activist Thich Nhat Hanh

October 18, 2009 -- (New York) - The violent forced expulsion of more than 300 followers of the world-renowned Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh from Bat Nha monastery in late September highlights the Vietnamese government's suppression of religious freedom, Human Rights Watch said today.

In 2005, the Vietnamese government welcomed Thich Nhat Hanh during his first return to his homeland after 39 years in exile abroad. Government and religious officials subsequently invited him to open a Buddhist meditation center at Bat Nha monastery in Lam Dong province, which soon began to draw large numbers of followers.    » read more »

Washington, DC - 10/08/2009 - A new, comprehensive study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 1.57 billion Muslims of all ages living in the world today, representing 23% of an estimated 2009 world population of 6.8 billion. Released today by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, Mapping the Global Muslim Population offers the most up-to-date and fully sourced estimates of the size and distribution of the worldwide Muslim population, including sectarian identity.

Key findings include:

* While Muslims are found on all five inhabited continents, more than 60% of the global Muslim population is in Asia and about 20% is in the Middle East and North Africa.    » read more »

"Faith Leaders for Workplace Fairness" says labor law reform, restoring balance to economy, is "a moral imperative"

May 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC-- Prominent interfaith leaders today called on Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, calling it a "moral imperative" and a civil and human right. The diverse group included Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Dr. Joseph Fahey of Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice, Bishop Greg Rickel of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, and Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, former Executive Director of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation.

Leaders of the new group, called Faith Leaders for Workplace Fairness, spoke on a conference call for press moderated by Kim Bobo of Interfaith Worker Justice.    » read more »

Strengthening Communities Fund is Supported by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

May 11, 2009 -- The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the availability of grants worth $50 million from the Strengthening Communities Fund, a new fund created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The fund will strengthen nonprofit and faith-based organizations that aid families and communities who are struggling in the economic downturn.

The Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) is divided into two parts. The Nonprofit Capacity Building program will make one-time, two-year awards of up to $1 million to lead organizations that will use the funds to support other faith-based or secular nonprofit organizations.    » read more »

Washington, DC, April 6, 2009 -- President Barack Obama today announced additional members of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The Advisory Council is part of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and is composed of religious and secular leaders and scholars from different backgrounds.

Each member of the Council is appointed to a one-year term. The members of the Council are:

Diane Baillargeon, President & CEO, Seedco
New York , NY

*Anju Bhargava, Founder, Asian Indian Women of America
New Jersey

*Bishop Charles Blake, Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ
Los Angeles, CA

Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association
Chicago, IL    » read more »

24 March 2009 -- Leading members of the Texas scientific community, in collaboration with AAAS, have urged the Texas State Board of Education to reject amendments to the state's draft science standards that would undermine sound science teaching. And in a commentary published in the San Antonio Express-News online edition, AAAS officials warned that approval of the anti-science amendments could undermine Texas's reputation as a world engine of scientific discovery and innovation.

Read the full text of the letter to the Texas State Board of Education from AAAS and two dozen leaders of the Texas science community.

The board is to take a final vote on the standards on Friday 27 March.    » read more »

New Delhi -- 3 August 2008 -- Up to 150 Hindu pilgrims attending an annual festival have been killed in a stampede in Northern India. Many of the victims are women and children.

Officials say the tragedy occurred when a metal railing along a narrow mountain path leading to Naina Devi temple in Himahcal Pradesh state collapsed under the weight of tens of thousands of devotees who had come to attend a religious festival on Sunday.

The temple is situated on a hilltop in the state's Bilaspur district.

Officials say the collapse of the railing triggered panic among pilgrims, and a stampede ensued as people tried to flee to safety. There are many women and children among the victims, who fell down and were trampled.    » read more »

June 25, 2008 -- MR. HEIN: Good afternoon. This is Jay Hein. Thank you for joining this call and for your interest in the conference. Tomorrow, Thursday, the 26th, and Friday, the 27th, the White House is convening over 1,000 policymakers and faith-based and community leaders, researchers and others who are interested in the initiative.

The purpose of this national conference is to survey the landscape of the changes that have been made and the progress that's been achieved since the President launched the Faith-Based and Community Initiative during the second week of his first administration.    » read more »

Rome -- June 2008 -- A unique musical about the life of the Virgin Mary will premiere at the Vatican Tuesday evening. Mary of Nazareth - An Ongoing Story is the first musical to be made of the life of Mary. It traces the battle between good and evil, God and the devil, in Mary's life.

Mary of Nazareth - An Ongoing Story is an Italian production sponsored by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

The story chronicles Mary's life - from her Jewish childhood, the Annunciation, her marriage to Joseph, the birth of Jesus and her Assumption*. It traces the battle between good and evil - God and the devil - in Mary's life as she grows up.    » read more »

Two anti-evolution bills pending in the Louisiana Legislature would "unleash an assault against scientific integrity, leaving students confused about science and unprepared to excel in a modern workforce," AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner wrote in a letter to the New Orleans Times-Picayune

A home in the Louisiana bayou: Photo by Brit (CC)

The letter, published Tuesday 6 May, warns that Louisiana is already facing considerable economic and education challenges, with employers are struggling to fill science and tech jobs and 53% of state eighth-graders scoring below basic competence on the most recent national science tests.    » read more »

April 18, 2008 -- As John McCain attends the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington today, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on the Republican nominee to denounce insulting comments made by one of his campaign surrogates, Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Tancredo issued a press release yesterday attacking the "Pope's comments regarding U.S. immigration policy" and accusing his position of stemming from an interest in "recruiting new members."

Tom Tancredo: Photo by VictoryNH: Protect Our Primary (CC)

Dean issued the following statement:    » read more »

April 20, 2008 -- JFK Airport -- New York, New York -- DICK CHENEY: Your Holiness, President and Senator Clinton, Your Eminences Cardinal Bertoni and Cardinal Egan, Your Excellency Bishop DiMarzio, clergy and religious, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

Anti-Cheney bumper sticker: Photo by futureatlas (CC)

It's a privilege to join all of you as our esteemed visitor, the Holy Father, concludes his visit to the United States. It has been a memorable week, and Pope Benedict XVI has stepped into the history of our country in a very special way.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- PRESIDENT BUSH: Holy Father, Laura and I are privileged to have you here at the White House. We welcome you with the ancient words commended by Saint Augustine: "Pax Tecum." Peace be with you.

You've chosen to visit America on your birthday.

Pope Benedict XVI and George W. Bush behind shrub: White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Well, birthdays are traditionally spent with close friends, so our entire nation is moved and honored that you've decided to share this special day with us. We wish you much health and happiness -- today and for many years to come.    » read more »