Fla. pastor on fringe of US Christian life
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Florida pastor who plans to burn the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11 is rooted in Pentecostal tradition that believes Christians are engaged in a modern-day spiritual battle with evil....
Pessimistic about peace, Israelis greet new year
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israelis usher in the Jewish new year, or Rosh Hashana, at sundown Wednesday with a widespread sense of pessimism that a new round of U.S.-sponsored Mideast talks can achieve peace....
Muslim mason immortalized at French cathedral
PARIS (AP) -- A Muslim stonemason who spent nearly four decades helping to restore a Roman Catholic cathedral in France has been immortalized as a winged gargoyle peering out from its facade - with the inscription "God is great" written in French and Arabic....
Religion news in brief
BOSTON (AP) -- In a move that stunned parishioners, the Boston Archdiocese shut down a Quincy church last weekend, five years after it was allowed to remain open as a chapel....
Vatican: Burning Quran is outrageous, grave move
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The Vatican on Wednesday denounced as "outrageous and grave" plans by a Christian minister in Florida to burn copies of the Quran to mark the Sept. 11 anniversary....
Abstinent Mormon farmers grow barley for beer
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo might seem like an unlikely person to be pushing a bill to cut federal taxes on small beer-makers: A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he abstains from alcohol....
DOJ investigating at least 5 anti-Muslim acts
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department is investigating a handful of apparently anti-Muslim incidents in four states, including the stabbing of a Muslim cab driver in New York City....
Malaysia Muslim TV ad scrapped amid Christmas link
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- A Malaysian television station scrapped a commercial tied to the biggest Muslim holiday after viewers complained it appeared influenced by Christmas and Santa Claus....
Vatican: stoning in Iran adultery case 'brutal'
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The Vatican raised the possibility Sunday of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery....
For US Muslims, a 9/11 anniversary like no other
NEW YORK (AP) -- American Muslims are boosting security at mosques, seeking help from leaders of other faiths and airing ads underscoring their loyalty to the United States - all ahead of a 9/11 anniversary they fear could bring more trouble for their communities....
