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  • A Place of Protest or Peace0

    Illustrations by David Klein Should the Roman Catholic Church be forced to allow hecklers or protesters in the plaza of St. Peter's Cathedral? Is it reasonable to expect a cloister to open its gardens to sunbathers? Cemeteries, courtyards, and gardens at religious sites are designed as oases of peace and reflection in a turbulent world.

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  • The Establishment Clause…That's the Issue0

    Illustrations by Ricardo Stamatori First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" . . . and President Bush's plans to fund "faith-based" social programs. Has it all been said? Probably. But I haven't heard this reality set forth: Once religion is established, it will likely never be disestablished. Why be concerned?

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  • Religion in the Public Square0

    Illustrations by David Klein In the Northeast, where I live, we have a saying: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." The same holds true in an interesting case involving the Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its legal briefs have more twists and turns than a Grisham thriller. The issues

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  • The Quest for Power and Influence0

    Illustrations by Laura Stutzman Last fall the House of Representatives defeated a bill that would have allowed religious institutions and their clergy to endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status. Proponents, though, vowed to resurrect the bill during the 108th Congress, which convened in January this year. Representative Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) proclaimed in

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  • The Hedge And The Garden0

    Illustrations by Ralph Butler Today James Madison gets most of the credit for ratification of the First Amendment. His role was undoubtedly pivotal, but his involvement represents only part of the story. Thousands of others also worked for ratification, many of them members of the fastest-growing denomination in America during the late 1700s, the Baptists.

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  • Tax Credits0

    Illustrations by Paul Vismara Many Canadian parents believe that the worldview permeating the country's public education system conflicts with their religious, personal, and moral convictions. So when the Ontario government introduced controversial legislation in mid-2001–legislation that called for private school tax credits–supporters of independent schools applauded the move. But critics decried the decision and argued,

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