ALABAMA
Is 'Christian Yoga' a Stretch?
Religion News Service
MOBILE -- A few years ago, Susan Bordenkircher wasn't comfortable doing yoga. It wasn't that she got bent out of shape by any of the asanas -- downward facing dog, half lotus forward fold or the scorpion -- to name but three yoga positions.

CONNECTICUT
Cromwell group has a beef with Harry Potter, others
The Associated Press
CROMWELL -- A Christian group pressing for a school ban on "Harry Potter" books and others that include tales of witchcraft isn't likely to succeed but will have its petition discussed at the next curriculum committee meeting, according to the town's top school official.

GEORGIA
Lawsuit: Restaurant hurt by ad saying it doesn't serve Muslim food
The Associated Press
NORCROSS -- The owner of a Pakistani restaurant claims a newspaper advertisement scared off many of his customers because it said his food doesn't meet Muslim dietary requirements.

MASSACHUSETTS
Parole revocation hearing held for supremacist leader
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
STERLING -- A preliminary parole revocation hearing was held yesterday for the state leader of a white supremacist group, and a decision on the case is expected by Tuesday.

NEW YORK
New York Lutheran leader suspended
The Washington Post
A high-ranking Lutheran pastor has been suspended from his duties and ordered to apologize to all Christians for participating with Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and Hindus in an interfaith prayer service in New York's Yankee Stadium after Sept. 11.

OKLAHOMA
Student loses lawsuit citing Wicca religion
The Associated Press
TULSA -- A high school student has lost her lawsuit that claimed she was suspended because of her interest in the Wicca religion.

PENNSYLVANIA
Court Rejects Philly Homes Suit
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- A federal appeals court has rejected a bid to reopen a lawsuit accusing the city of trying to intimidate families into leaving homes rebuilt following a deadly 1985 police operation against the sect MOVE.

TEXAS
9/11 event ruptures faiths in Woodlands
The Houston Chronicle
THE WOODLANDS -- An effort by evangelical Christians to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11 in The Woodlands has split the religious community and led to accusations of intolerance in this suburban area north of Houston.

UTAH
Court OKs '7 Aphorisms'
Deseret News
The "Seven Aphorisms" can be displayed next to the "Ten Commandments," the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The aphorisms are principles of a Utah-based religion known as Summum, founded in 1975 by Corky Ra. Summum, which claims 250,000 members worldwide, filed suit in 1999 against the city of Ogden.

Polygamist Patriarch Ogden Kraut Dies
The Salt Lake Tribune
After being diagnosed with liver cancer in March, Ogden Kraut spent his last days writing his obituary and planning his funeral.

AUSTRALIA
Witchcraft soaring in popularity
The Advertiser
Witchcraft is just one of the faiths South Australians are embracing as an increasing number of people move away from mainstream religion.

EGYPT
Pope Shenouda warns Copts that marriage with Jehovah's Witnesses is ground for excommunication, divorce
zawya
CAIRO -- The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church criticized the Jehovah's Witness faith and said a Copt's conversion to the sect was a ground for divorce, Egypt's Middle East News Agency reported on Friday.

HONG KONG
Falun Gong Followers Protest Crackdown
The Associated Press
HONG KONG -- Dozens of followers of the Falun Gong spiritual group protested Saturday to mark the third anniversary of Beijing's crackdown on the sect in mainland China, where it is banned.

INDIA
Three held near Mumbai in case of human sacrifice
Rediff.com
A tantrik was arrested on Thursday for instigating human sacrifice in Ambernath on the outskirts of Mumbai.

MALAYSIA
Stay away from extremists, Muslims told
The Star
KUALA PILAH -- Muslims should refrain from being influenced and getting involved with extremist groups or those who put forth their struggle in the name of religion, said Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

MEXICO
In 1700, two Zapotecs were killed for defending Catholicism; next month, the pope will beatify them
Copley News Service
FRANCISCO CAJONOS - In the cloud-shrouded mountains of Oaxaca state, at a time 300 years ago when Catholicism was still struggling to take hold, angry villagers murdered two Zapotec Indians for defending the Christian faith against pagan rituals.

SCOTLAND
Wicker man organisers deny pagan undertones
The Scotsman
It was 30 years ago when police sergeant Howie met a sticky end, becoming a human sacrifice in the cult horror movie The Wicker Man. But locals could be forgiven for thinking paganism was alive and well in Galloway last night as hundreds gathered to re-enact the terrifying burning scene as part of a festival in the film’s honour.

ZIMBABWE
Sect Follower On $1 000 Bail for Assault
The Herald
HARARE -- A follower of the Johanne WeChishanu Apostolic Church appeared at the Chitungwiza magistrate courts on Tuesday this week for allegedly assaulting the husband of a woman claiming to have been raped by the church's spiritual healer, Godfrey Nzira.

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