ARIZONA
Polygamist Towns Close Ranks, Mourn Loss of 4 in Plane Crash
The Salt Lake Tribune
COLORADO CITY -- Three weeks ago, Gregory Holm drove across Short Creek in this polygamous enclave to meet with his estranged older brother, Milton. The Holm siblings had not spoken in two years -- since religious leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) called on followers to sever ties with "apostates" and the community at large began withdrawing children from public schools.

CALIFORNIA
'Signs' Stirs Debate Over Religious Beliefs
The Hartford Courant
Halfway through the new movie "Signs," Graham Hess, a former Episcopalian priest played by Mel Gibson, tells his brother there are two kinds of people in the world...

COLORADO
Non-Indians win ruling on feathers
The Associated Press
DENVER - Utah residents Raymond Hardman and Samuel Ray Wilgus Jr. may yet use eagle feathers in their religion even though they are not American Indians, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week.

MASSACHUSETTS
Unitarian Church looks for a few fresh faces
MetroWest Daily News
HUDSON - It's a different kind of religion - people who place a higher value on tolerance, social activism and conscience than on doctrine.

NEW YORK
‘Transformation’ in a Weekend? EST Is Back
ABCNews.com
Seven months ago, Chmela attended the Landmark Forum, an educational seminar that has drawn rave reviews from many participants, as well as unease from some observers.

NORTH CAROLINA
Two teens charged with sacrificing a live cat
The Associated Press
WENTWORTH -- Two teenagers accused of sacrificing a live cat during a satanic ritual have been indicted by a Rockingham County grand jury.

Quran provision included in House budget bill
The Associated Press
RALEIGH -- Lawmakers' efforts to prevent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from requiring incoming freshmen to read a book on Islam moved a step closer to becoming reality Tuesday.

Son of Evangelist Billy Graham: Muslim Leaders Not Helping New York Rebuild
The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE -— Muslim leaders haven't done enough to show their sorrow over Sept. 11, says the son of evangelist Billy Graham, adding to his harsh criticism of Islam.

TEXAS
Minister denies he is 'extremist'
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING -- The Rev. Franklin Graham, who has been in the news recently for his comments about Islam, says he's still bothered that top Islamic leaders haven't denounced the Sept. 11 attack on America.

UTAH
White supremacist crime is on the rise, police say
Deseret News
Police officers representing a dozen agencies from Weber to Utah counties met Tuesday to discuss the growing problem of crimes committed by Aryan Nation gang members.

CHINA
Falun Gong Followers Convicted
The Associated Press
HONG KONG -- Sixteen Falun Gong followers were convicted Thursday of causing an obstruction during a protest outside the Chinese government's liaison office here - a case that rights activists called a threat to Hong Kong's freedoms.

ENGLAND
Atheists Want Time On BBC Religious Program
CNSNews.com
London -- More than 100 British politicians, academics and artists have sent a letter of protest to the BBC, alleging discrimination because of the broadcaster's decision to keep atheists out of its "Thought for the Day" radio slot.
Related articles:
Atheist makes history with Thought for the Day, The Herald

NIGERIA
Duke Signs Anti-Secret Cult Bill to Law
Vanguard
Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State has signed the anti-secret cult bill into law, promising to fight cultism with every weapon available to the state government.
Related articles:
Teenage Students Expelled for Secret Cult Activities, Vanguard
Cultism: NANS Decries Resurgence of Violence, Daily Trust

SOUTH AFRICA
'Witch animal' on the rampage
News24.com
BLANTYRE -- An unidentified wild animal, possibly a lion, leopard or hyena, has killed one person and injured 19 in Malawi's central district of Dowa, police and health authorities said on Tuesday.

ZIMBABWE
Rumour Plunges Lives of Elderly Women in Danger
The Herald
Lives of elderly women are in danger following the attack of four elderly women by a mob of people in Chitungwiza, Mabvuku, Glen View and Machipisa. This follows a rumour making rounds in Harare that there were some elderly women drawing blood from children who eventually died...Stories doing the rounds are that there are four elderly women wreaking terror in high-density suburbs and allegedly using witchcraft to kill young children.

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