Churches lending a hand in the wake of disaster

People are coming together in America's heartland in the wake of killer tornadoes that ravaged several communities only 10 days ago. At the First Baptist Church in Clanton, Alabama, parishioner Gordon Smelley and his "chainsaw gang" of 11 load up in a trailer and simply go out to help people.

Throughout the "Bible Belt," churches are spearheading efforts at community clean-ups and assisting people after more than 300 people were killed.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Gays are openly discriminated upon by Aussie churches

In Australia, churches are permitted to openly discriminate against homosexual, lesbian and transgender people despite the fact these churches receive millions of dollars in state support each year. In addition, gays can even be denied social services and employment opportunities by churches.

In both the United States and Great Britain, there are anti-discrimination laws that disallow such behaviors by organizations which receive money from the government. Reportedly, Anglicare Sydney received more than 55 million Australian dollars.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

A Special Message from NYTS President Dr. Dale Irvin

Dr. Dale Irvin

The death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of an elite U.S. military team this past week has been the occasion for an outpouring of national pride. Given the continuing pain so many experience regarding the attacks of 9/11, it is understandable.

Osama Bin Laden became the face of evil and terrorism in the United States. Unfortunately he also became the face of Islam for many as well. “Muslim” and “terrorist” became synonymous in the minds of far too many people. The fact that Muslims have made up the majority of those who have died around the world over the past decade in the violence that al-Qaeda has unleashed ought not to be lost in all of the celebration. The fact that vast majority of Muslims living around the world do not support terrorism and violence, and that the overwhelming majority of Muslims living in the United States support their nation in its war against terrorism needs now to be lifted up like never before.

The death of Bin Laden provides us with the opportunity to say more clearly than even that, in the words of President Obama, the United States is not at war with Islam. People of all faiths, and even those of no faith need to come together anew to assure that Muslims are not singled out for discrimination, and that we respect the rights of all people to practice their religious faith freely in the United States. More than our national pride is at stake. It is our very soul as a nation that we need now to protect.

French Muslim rector: Islam is not a faith of violence

In the wake of the death of international terrorist Osama bin Laden, Muslims consider the world without the notorious figure. According to Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, it was bin Laden who popularized the link between Islam and violence.

France is home to about five million Muslims, the largest Muslim minority in Europe, and Islamic leaders there have issued many denunciations against the violence bin Laden advocated and conducted.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Pope John Paul II beatified at Vatican City

In Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI has beatified the late Pope John Paul II, as witnessed by about 1.5 million Catholics in St. Peter's Square and the surrounding area on Sunday. Consequently, this moves Pope John Paul one step closer to sainthood during one of the most-attended events in Vatican history.

The landmark crowd erupted in cheers during the proceedings, and the choir at St. Peter's Basilica offered a hymn associated with the first-ever Polish born pope.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.