Muslims say Pope Francis offers message of unity
By Shahid Abdul-Karim, New Haven Register, 4/13/2013 After Pope Francis I urged the West to intensify dialogue with Islam, some Connecticut Muslim leaders said steps have been made to further interfaith exchange with the Christian community. In an audience last month, where he urged and appealed to 180 ambassadors including Muslim leaders, the pope said, […]
How to develop compassion in every facet of community
Eileen FitzGerald and Robert Miller, News Times, 4/13/2013 DANBURY — Compassion — whether the underlying force in individual lives, for crafting new laws, or for teaching students life lessons — may be one of the key elements of human civilization we take for granted. In a two-day workshop on Compassion and Creativity at the Portuguese […]
Fla. Democratic Sen. Thompson gets money for earmark after voting for Republican-backed bill
By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel, 4/10/13 Forty-eight hours ago, Sen. Geraldine Thompson stunned activists by casting the deciding vote in favor of a hotly contested bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Alan Hays, that would restrict courts from invoking international law in certain legal disputes, such as divorce or child-custody cases. Critics have blasted the legislation […]
Suit says Muslim’s firing was based on religious bias
By JoAnne Viviano, The Columbus Dispatch, 4/11/2013 A North Side man has filed a federal lawsuit that says a Westerville-based logistics company fired him after he sought permission to attend weekly Muslim worship services that conflicted with overtime shifts. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of Yusuf Sufi, 23, by the Columbus chapter of […]
AP Stylebook Revises Definition of ‘Islamist’
by Jorge Rivas, Colorlines, 4/8/2013 Last week the Associated Press made national headlines when they announced they would no longer recommend journalists using their Stylebook to identify undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as “illegal immigrants.” But there was another update to the Stylebook that advocates say will help present Muslims in the news in a […]
Punished for Refusing to Disrespect Jesus
A student at Florida Atlantic University was suspended from class this month for declining to write the name of Jesus on a piece of paper and step on it. By Wayne Laugesen, National Catholic Register, 3/27/2013 BOCA RATON, Fla. — Ryan Rotella refused to step on Jesus. The Florida Atlantic University junior’s act of reverence […]
Video: CAIR-TX Rep Joins ACLU in Testifying Against Anti-Islam Bill
Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of CAIR-Texas’s Houston chapter, testified yesterday against anti-Islam bill SB 1639 that has been introduced in the state legislature. Rebeca Robertson of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas also testified. ACLU and CAIR testimony begins at 2:07:14 and ends at 2:16:14. View the video. Transcripts are below. For background on […]
CAIR-SFBA, JACL Seek Applicants for ‘Bridging Communities’
From The Rafu Shimpo, 4/1/2012 SAN FRANCISCO — The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), in collaboration with the San Francisco Bay Area Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Tule Lake Committee, will be sponsoring a program whose goal is to bridge communities and build partnerships of understanding. Titled “Bridging Communities: Preserving the Legacy,” the […]
CAIR-Chicago: Religious Leaders Highlight Commonalities
By Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 4/1/13 Christianity, Islam and Judaism may seem like totally different religions, but participants at an interfaith forum in Frankfort learned they all share some basic principles. The South West Interfaith Team (SWIFT) forum included talks on “faiths respecting other faiths,” and the history and similarities of the three religions. The […]
Growing Population of Muslims Calling Tijuana Home
Brooke Binkowski, Fronteras TIJUANA, Mexico — Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country, but the border city of Tijuana has always hosted a more diverse population of worshipers. In the last few years, one of the largest religions in the world has begun making inroads and building a presence there. Every day, at a small, nondescript […]