Free Republic

Riyadh, Mar. 25, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The president of the Middle East Center for Strategic Studies, Anwatr al Oshqi, has reported that Saudi Arabia’s royal family has decided against building a Catholic church in the kingdom. Earlier this month Vatican Radio reported that the Saudi government was weighing a proposal for the construction of a Catholic church. That report came as a surprise, since the Saudi regime does not allow public worship by any faith other than Islam. In November 2007, when King Abdullah became the first reigning Saudi king ever to visit the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI urged...

Teacher's comments lead to complaint By: JENNIFER KABBANY - For The Californian TEMECULA -- A Temecula Valley High School student has decided to opt for an independent study program rather than finish out the semester on campus because of her teacher's derogatory comments about Christians, the girl's attorney said Friday. Attorney Bob Tyler said 17-year-old junior Brittney Cowles became very upset Thursday after her creative writing teacher allegedly called local Christian parents "crazy" and "prejudiced" for keeping their children home from school to protest a new state law that some parents contend promotes a homosexual agenda in public schools. The...

In the days before the mid-term election, The Stiletto observed that Americans were dividing themselves into political and ideological tribes, creating schisms that parallel those between the Sunni and Shia in Iraq – the inevitable outcome being utter destruction of national identity and purpose.Now, The New York Times reports that the Iraq war and Saddam’s trial and execution are escalating sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shia right here in the US – a country that has no state religion, and in which millions of (legal) immigrants of every creed and color have hitherto lived together in harmony because they assimilated,...

Stamford, Conn. -- Five months after juice spiked with dishwashing soap sickened more than 40 people during a church communion service, police on Monday arrested an employee of the store where the juice was purchased. Wendell Woodroffe, 28, was charged with 22 counts of assault and 22 counts of assault of a victim 60 or older, said Darien police Lt. Ron Bussell. Bail was set at $50,000 and he was expected to be arraigned Tuesday, Bussell said. "We're very happy we brought it to a conclusion," Bussell said. "Everyone wanted to make sure this didn't happen again." More than 40...

Jewish Scouting struggles to attract new members http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2006/05/23/news/local/acover0519.txt http://tinyurl.com/eomag BY: ALAN SMASON, Staff Reporter Tuesday May 23, 2006 When Boy Scout Troop 96, chartered to B’nai Jeshurun Congregation’s Men’s Club, folded last fall after nearly 50 years of continuous operation, many felt it may have signaled the end of all Jewish scouting units in Cleveland. Through nine decades, nearly a dozen different Jewish scouting units — Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops and Explorer posts — have closed. Yet, hot on the heels of Troop 96 closing comes news from Temple Israel Ner Tamid (TINT) they are chartering a new...

Volunteers from Indonesia's largest Islamic organisation will guard churches across the world's most populous Muslim nation on Christmas amid fears of terrorist attacks on those places, the group said on Friday. Jakarta police have said they would boost security in the capital ahead of Christmas to avoid a repeat of 2000 Christmas Eve bombings on churches in several Indonesian cities, including in the country's capital. A youth wing affiliated with Indonesia's largest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama, some 40 million strong, said that members would guard churches for the coming Christmas festivities and it had persuaded youths from other religions to...

N.M. Church May Use Special Tea for Now Fri Dec 10, 8:09 PM ET By MARY PEREA, Associated Press WriterALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) sided Friday with a New Mexico church that wants to use hallucinogenic tea as part of its Christmas services, despite government objections that the tea is illegal and potentially dangerous. The high court lifted a temporary stay issued last week against using the hoasca tea while it decides whether the Brazil-based O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal is permitted to make it a permanent part of its services. The...

Town of Palm Beach Pays $50,000 In Attorney Fees – Apologizes To Women In Nativity Lawsuit ANN ARBOR, MI — Ending a six month legal battle over Christmas displays, the Town of Palm Beach, Florida this week paid $50,000 in attorney fees to the Thomas More Law Center pursuant to a previously entered federal court Consent Judgment. The Town also acknowledged and publicly apologized for its failure to respond to multiple offers by two of its residents, Maureen Donnell and Fern Tailer deNarvaez, to donate Christian Nativity scenes for display alongside two Town-sponsored Jewish Menorahs during the Christmas holiday...

Religious Intolerance and the ACLU By Robert Wolf Amendment I of the Constitution of the US reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” and continues with “or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This is the so-called Establishment clause we hear so much about. The phrase separation of Church and State we hear so often comes from a letter by Thomas Jefferson 21 years later in which he...