News

News

Powell adds Saudis to freedom watchlist

Iraq removed from list
Oct 05, 2004
The U.S. State Department has for the first time included Saudi Arabia on a list of “countries of particular concern” for not allowing religious freedom—a potential stumbling block for relations between the U.S. and its Persian Gulf ally.

Americans divided on church-state separation

Religious liberty prized
Oct 05, 2004
About half of Americans consider freedom of religion to be a top legal and guaranteed right, but a similar percentage think separation of church and state has become too severe or is not necessary in this country, a new survey indicates.

Antiapartheid activist Naudé dies at 89

"We mourn the loss of a great African"
Oct 05, 2004
Afrikaner cleric C. F. Beyers Naudé, who died September 7, could have led South Africa’s Dutch Reformed Church as well as the Broederbond, the once-powerful Afrikaner secret organization, but he turned his back on them and chose instead a lonely path of opposition to apartheid.

National Baptists reelect Shaw as president

Pulled the church out of scandal and disarray
Oct 05, 2004
One of the nation’s largest black religious denominations handed a second five-year presidential term to a Philadelphia pastor who pulled the church out of the scandal and disarray left by his predecessor.

Church urges new look at archbishop's murder

The Romero assassination
Oct 05, 2004
El Salvador’s Catholic Church is calling for a renewed investigation of the 1980 assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero following a ruling in which a Salvadoran man now living in California was found liable for the crime.