February 21, 2008

EDUCATION
For Muslim Students, a Debate on Inclusion
Neil MacFarquhar/New York Times (02/21/2008)
The intense debate over whether organizations for Muslim students should be inclusive or strict is playing out on college campuses across the United States, where there are now more than 200 Muslim Students Association chapters.

DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE
Muslim leader decries American 'bigotry' against Islam
Bruce Nolan/Religion News Service (02/20/2008: usatoday.com)
American culture's view of American Muslims and Islam is steadily deteriorating under an onslaught of "bigotry" on cable news shows, newspaper op-ed pages and in the blogosphere, an Arab-American activist told an audience at Tulane University here Tuesday.

Vatican Cardinal Travels to Cuba
Anne-Marie Garcia/Associated Press (02/21/2008: washingtonpost.com)
HAVANA -- The Vatican secretary of state's trip to Cuba Wednesday to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Pope John Paul II's historic visit comes at a critical moment in the future of the island country, which has had mixed relations with the Roman Catholic Church.

St. Patrick feeling the squeeze
Tribune news services and Tribune reporter Margaret Ramirez (02/21/2008)
For the first time since 1940, St. Patrick's Day will fall during Holy Week, the sacred seven days preceding Easter. Because of the overlap, some U.S. cities are holding St. Pat's festivities before March 17. In Ohio, Roman Catholic leaders and event planners are feuding over the schedule.

SPORTS
NFL Reverses Call On Church Parties
Jacqueline L. Salmon/Washington Post (02/21/2008)
The NFL, which found itself on the receiving end of protests and controversy after it objected to churches showing the Super Bowl on big-screen televisions, has reversed course and will now permit the viewings.

ABUSE CRISIS
Bill toughens penalties for sexual abusers
Peter Smith/Courier-Journal (02/21/2008)
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A bill strengthening penalties for sexual abusers and those who fail to report them passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously yesterday. The vote came after committee members listened in somber quiet to the gripping testimony of abuse victims and their advocates.

ARTS AND MEDIA
Young filmmakers put lives of Muslims in focus
Jason Millman/USA Today (02/21/2008)
Muslim Americans say they often feel like strangers in their own country, and the struggle to overcome stereotypes became more complicated after 9/11. So when given the chance to tell their stories, more than 100 young Muslim American filmmakers poured their creative energies into producing four- to five-minute films about Islam and its followers for an online competition. Winners are being announced today.