PBS NewsHour: Religion Archive | 2009

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RELIGION


	2009 DECEMBER Dec. 25, 2009 Around the World, Celebrations of Christmas This Christmas day brought all the traditional festivities and religious observances, but it was also marked by questions about the pope's safety and a harsh winter storm in the Midwest. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Dec. 25, 2009 GlobalPost: Christmastime Dispatches From Around the World During this holiday season, our partners over at GlobalPost have filed a number of holiday reports from around the world, including one on Santa's humble roots on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast and another on how a lack of tourists spells financial trouble for vendors in and around Bethlehem.

	Dec. 25, 2009 Taliban Releases Video of U.S. Soldier; Vatican Reviews Security for Pope On Christmas morning, the Taliban released a video that appears to show a soldier captured almost six months ago in Afghanistan.

	Dec. 10, 2009 Patchwork Nation: In One Boom Town, 'Simple Supper' Offers Community Relief As the recession has dragged on in Eagle, Colo., a church dinner has provided relief to dozens of local residents hard hit by the economy's slide.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 12, 2009 Connections Between Radical Cleric, Hasan Closely Examined Since the shootings at Fort Hood, authorities have focused not only on the accused gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, but also on Anwar Al-Awlaki, a Muslim cleric Hasan knew. Margaret Warner reports.

	Nov. 11, 2009 Exclusive \| Ray Suarez: My Post-9/11 Interview With Anwar al-Awlaki Editor's note: After the shooting at Fort Hood, suspected gunman Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's relationship with Imam Anwar al-Awlaki-- believed to now be in Yemen -- has been the focus of much attention. Ray Suarez recalls a 2001 interview with him.

	Nov. 4, 2009 Maine Gay Marriage Repeal Draws Mixed Reaction Voters in Maine on Tuesday dealt another defeat to gay-rights advocates after voting to repeal a new state law allowing same-sex marriage.



	OCTOBER Oct. 22, 2009 Indonesia Remains Secular Despite Islamic Revival Despite a resurgence of Islam in the predominately Muslim country, Indonesia has remained politically secular. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.

	Oct. 12, 2009 6 Uighurs Sentenced to Death Over Xinjiang Riots A Chinese court sentenced six Uighur men to death and a seventh to life in prison on Monday for murder and other violent crimes committed this summer during ethnic rioting in Xinjiang, China's western region.

	Oct. 9, 2009 Leaders React to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Friday's surprise announcement that President Barack Obama would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize drew both praise from backers of the president and criticism from some of his harshest critics.

	Oct. 7, 2009 Supreme Court to Hear Case Concerning Cross on Public Land A long-running legal battle over a 75-year-old cross on public land in California culminates today in oral arguments before the Supreme Court, in what legal analysts say could be an important case on the separation of church and state.

	Oct. 5, 2009 New Court Term Puts Spotlight on Gun Rights, Free Speech, Business The Supreme Court opened a new term on Monday with a docket full of cases concerning corporations, compensation, and the financial markets. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal previews the term with Gwen Ifill.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 22, 2009 Obama Urges Abbas, Netanyahu to Advance Talks Undertaking a foreign policy challenge that that has vexed world leaders for years, President Barack Obama pressed Israeli and Palestinians leaders Tuesday to do more to reach an elusive Mideast peace deal.

	Sept. 11, 2009 Call to Service Resonates in Muslim Community When President Barack Obama called on the nation to serve in remembrance of the 2001 terrorist attacks, many Muslim-Americans were mobilized to act and some have managed to shape new roles in their communities as a result.



	AUGUST Aug. 21, 2009 Controversial Afghan Law Leaves Shiite Women's Rights in Question Afghan President Hamid Karzai faces continued international and domestic pressure to further overhaul a controversial law affecting Shiite women that critics say he passed to secure votes from conservatives in this week's election.

	Aug. 17, 2009 Truck Bomb Kills at Least 20 in Russian Province An explosives-laden truck driven by a suicide bomber detonated at a police station Monday morning in Russia's North Caucasus, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 100 others, officials said.



	JULY July 29, 2009 Gates: U.S. Could Quicken Iraq Troop Withdrawal The U.S. military could accelerate its withdrawal from the Iraq war thanks to a sustained drop in violence, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday after talks with his top commanders.

	July 27, 2009 Elections Mark Possible Turning Point for Kurds Over the weekend, Kurds across the three northern regions of Iraq went to the polls to elect new leaders. The two parties that have controlled the autonomous region for 20 years faced a powerful challenge from a new opposition party.

	July 7, 2009 China Imposes Curfew to Fight Ethnic Unrest The Chinese government declared a curfew Tuesday in northwestern China to combat the continued ethnic violence erupting between Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs.



	JUNE June 19, 2009 Iran's Supreme Leader Sides With Ahmadinejad in Disputed Election Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday defended President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the rightful winner in the country's June 12 elections and disputed any possibility that the vote was rigged, as other candidates have contended.

	June 5, 2009 Full Extent of Nazi Prison Camp System Still Emerging Scholars are still discovering the full scale of the Nazi prison camp system during WWII as President Obama visited remembrances and anniversary celebrations in Europe this week. Ray Suarez reports.

	June 4, 2009 Obama's Speech Could Mark Shift in U.S.-Muslim Relations As reaction to President Obama's address in Cairo continues to filter in, analysts consider what the lasting effect Thursday's speech may have on U.S. policy and global attitudes.

	June 4, 2009 Obama's Cairo Speech Elicits Varying Reactions From American Muslims Many American Muslims watched Thursday's address by President Obama with keen interest, seeing it as both a major moment for U.S. policy as well as a call for Muslims to reflect on their beliefs and the governments of the Middle East.

	June 4, 2009 Obama Urges Cooperation With Muslim World In a sweeping speech in Cairo, President Obama called for stronger U.S.-Muslim alliances, urging each to put suspicions aside and unite to combat violent extremism.

	June 4, 2009 Reaction to President Obama's Cairo Speech A roundup of reaction from officials and citizens across the Middle East and elsewhere to President Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo Thursday.

	June 1, 2009 Abortion Doctor's Murder Puts Debate Into Sharper Focus The murder of prominent Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller has raised new questions on where things stand among groups on both sides of the abortion debate. Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service, examines the impact of Tiller's death on the abortion issue.



	MAY May 27, 2009 In Nigeria, Christianity and Islam Combine Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the blending of Christianity and Islam in Lagos, Nigeria, as an avenue to rediscovering the West African tradition of interfaith tolerance.

	May 15, 2009 In India, School Principal Works to Changes Lives of the Poor Sister Cyril Mooney, principal of the Loreto Day School in Kolkata, India, is working to provide poor children a place to learn by day and a safe haven at night. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.

	May 11, 2009 Benedict Visits Middle East in Closely-watched Pilgrimage Pope Benedict XVI launched the second leg of a closely-watched trip to the Middle East Monday with a visit to Israel's Holocaust memorial where he said victims of the genocide "lost their lives but they will never lose their names." National Catholic reporter John Allen describes the papal voyage.

	May 11, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI Arrives in Middle East for Five-Day Visit Pope Benedict XVI launched the second leg of a closely-watched trip to the Middle East Monday with a visit to Israel's Holocaust memorial where he said victims of the genocide "lost their lives but they will never lose their names." Ray Suarez reports.

	May 11, 2009 Benedict Visits Middle East in Closely-watched Pilgrimage Pope Benedict XVI launched the second leg of a closely-watched trip to the Middle East Monday with a visit to Israel's Holocaust memorial where he said victims of the genocide "lost their lives but they will never lose their names."



	APRIL April 23, 2009 Bombings Kill at Least 78 in Iraq's Deadliest Day in More Than a Year More than 78 people were killed and dozens more were wounded Thursday in two bombings in Iraq, one in Baghdad and one north of the city. In other news, the Iraqi military said they captured a suspected leader of an al-Qaida military group.

	April 14, 2009 Swat Valley Power Struggle Led to Islamic Law Decision Analysts discuss the impact of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's move to impose Islamic law in the Swat Valley as part of a deal to end two years of fighting with pro-Taliban militants in the region.

	April 14, 2009 Pakistan Approves Use of Islamic Law in Swat Valley Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday signed a measure imposing Islamic law in the country's northwestern Swat Valley as part of a deal to end two years of fighting with pro-Taliban militants in the region.

	April 8, 2009 Iowa, Vermont Push Gay Marriage Rights Forward Vermont's legislature and the top court of Iowa delivered legal victories in recent weeks to those seeking the right of same-sex couples to marry. And as battles in other state capitals continue, Americans are weighing the issue with other pressing concerns.

	April 3, 2009 Iowa Court Decision Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage Iowa became the first non-coastal state and the third nationwide to legalize gay marriage Friday when the state Supreme Court unanimously found that the state's same-sex marriage ban violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian couples.



	MARCH March 30, 2009 Pa. Hospitals Test 'Warranty' on Patient Care The Geisinger hospital system in Pennsylvania has developed a new approach to health care management, including a 90-day "warranty" on certain procedures. Betty Ann Bowser reports.

	March 27, 2009 Mosque Bombing in Pakistan Leaves Dozens Dead A suicide bomber demolished a crowded two-story mosque Friday in a Pakistani town near the Afghan border, killing dozens of worshipers and injuring scores more, government officials said.

	March 23, 2009 Jerusalem: Center of the World In the PBS special "Jerusalem: Center of the World," Ray Suarez takes a historical look at the city where Jews, Christians and Muslims have come for centuries to look for God.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 24, 2009 High Court Rules Against Religious Group in Free Speech Case The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Wednesday that a Utah city can refuse to install a religious group's monument in a public park, even though there is a Ten Commandments display nearby.

	Feb. 13, 2009 Iraq Suicide Bombing Part of Effort to Stoke Sectarian Violence, Officials Say A suicide bomber detonated her explosives Friday among a crowd of mostly women and children on a Shiite religious pilgrimage in Iraq, killing at least 30 people and injuring scores more.

	Feb. 12, 2009 Iran Marks 30 Years Since Revolution Since its Islamic revolution 30 years ago, Iran has undergone numerous changes. Steve Inskeep, host of NPR's "Morning Edition," reported from the country on its economy, politics and social issues.

	Feb. 5, 2009 Vatican Orders Bishop to Recant Holocaust Denial After encountering international criticism, the Vatican has demanded that a bishop whose excommunication was lifted last month by Pope Benedict XVI recant his denial of the Holocaust. A National Catholic reporter gives an update.

	Feb. 5, 2009 Obama Creates Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships President Barack Obama signed an executive order Thursday to create a White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships to help nonprofits and local groups improve their communities with help from the government and other organizations.



	JANUARY Jan. 28, 2009 Pope Draws Criticism for Pardoning Bishop Pope Benedict XVI's decision to reinstate Bishop Richard Williamson, who has made comments denying the full extent of the Holocaust and the existence of gas chambers during World War II, has drawn sharp criticism. A reporter discusses the controversy.