Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-telecast25apr25,0,4713174.story?coll=la-home-nation

On April 25, 2005 the Los Angeles Times reported, "partisan battles over the courts moved Sunday from the halls of Congress to the pews and pulpits of the nation's churches � with evangelical leaders portraying opponents of conservative judges as enemies of faith and liberals decrying a...

Source: Newsday

Wire Service: AP

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--pope-muslims0425apr25,0,5412066.story

On April 25, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Muslims in the U.S. hailed Pope Benedict XVI's meeting with Islamic leaders at the Vatican on Monday, saying they are increasingly confident the new pontiff wants better ties between the world's two largest religions...

Source: The Toledo Blade

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050424/NEWS10/504240360/-1/NEWS

On April 24, 2005 The Toledo Blade reported, "As much as he is now the spiritual leader of the world's 1 billion Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI also has become an overnight global political leader, causing both consternation and hope for the former cardinal's new role as a bridge builder. Even though he rules over the smallest state...

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-airforce24apr24,0,5635267.story?coll=la-home-nation

On April 24, 2005 the Los Angeles Times reported, "the Air Force Academy, Chaplain Melinda Morton [is] teaching an RSVP — Respecting the Spiritual Values of all People — class, a 50-minute exercise in trying to stop what critics called a culture of intolerance on campus. Over the last four...

Source: Christian Today

http://www.christiantoday.com/news/africa/interfaith.peace.summit.gathers.africa.religious.leaders/195.htm

On April 23, 2005 Christian Today reported, "An African Inter-faith peace summit is in session in Johannesburg until 25 April where over 200 representatives of various religions are gathered to discuss and propose solutions for problems the continent is facing. The delegates from more...

Source: Hindustan Times

Wire Service: PTI

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1333826,00110001.htm

On April 23, 2005 the Press Trust of India reported, "Notwithstanding his hardline views, newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI will strike a balance between traditional church doctrine and the growing phenomenon of 'Asian Theology' that interprets Christian teachings in the light of other religions, theologians feel. 'I am optimistic...

Source: Chicago Tribune

...

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/04/21/from_new_pontiff_a_vow_of_openness/

On April 21, 2005 The Boston Globe reported, "Pope Benedict XVI, outlining an agenda for his pontificate less than 24 hours after it began, pledged his openness yesterday to communicate with young people and with adherents of other faiths and praised the late John Paul II for leaving behind a Catholic Church...

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: AP

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/165/story_16576_1.html?rnd=17

On April 21, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "In another sign that he intends to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI invited the chief rabbi of Rome to his installation, a spokesman for Rome's Jewish community said Thursday. The spokesman, Riccardo Pacifici, said Rabbi Riccardo di Segni received the...

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0421/p01s03-woeu.html

On April 21, 2005 The Christian Science Monitor reported, "Moving rapidly to assuage fears that he would turn the Roman Catholic Church inward, Joseph Ratzinger pledged in his first sermon as Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday to reach out to believers of all faiths and none, promising to 'continue ... sincere dialogue with them.' His 'primary task' would be to 'reconstitute the full and...

Source: The Washington Times

Wire Service: AP

http://www.washtimes.com/world/20050420-094011-8316r.htm

On April 21, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Winding its way across Africa is an invisible fault line between a mainly Muslim north and a majority Christian south. Across this front, somewhere in the scrubland south of the Sahara Desert, tensions flare between increasingly strident Christian movements aggressively working to...

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: AP

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/165/story_16548_1.html

On April 20, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "Charting a papacy in the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI pledged Wednesday to work for unity among Christians and to seek 'an open and sincere dialogue' with other faiths. In his first Mass as pontiff, Benedict invoked the words of John Paul II - 'Be not afraid' - a message designed...

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2005/religion/0504/20/A08-156365.htm

On April 20, 2005 The Detroit News reported, "Like many people of faith, Muslims in Metro Detroit expressed joy and hope over the selection of Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday, describing the moment as a universal expression of faith in God and spirituality. Although the new pope had previously expressed views that were less accepting of Islam than the dramatic gestures of Pope John...

Source: Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0504190122apr19,1,4411559.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

On April 19, 2005 the Chicago Tribune reported, "Protesting the absence of women in the conclave by using a puff of pink smoke, a group of Roman Catholic nuns and lay women Monday called on church leaders to select a new pope who supports ordaining women as priests. About 50...

Source: Navya Shastra

http://www.shastras.org/PressRelease11.html

On April 19, 2005 a Navya Shastra press release reported, "Navya Shastra, a global Hindu organization of scholars, practitioners and priests with members in over ten countries, has congratulated the Catholic Church for selecting Joseph Ratzinger--now Benedict XVI--as its new Pope. However, the organization expressed concern over Ratzinger's stance towards Hinduism. 'Ratzinger has described Hindu meditative...