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Note: Registration or subscription to the host news sites may be required to read some of the stories linked here.
Stories about same-sex marriage and anti-gay protests:
Blacks vote largely in favour of banning same-sex marriage in California
A bitterly ironic battle has erupted in California in the days since Obama was elected the first black president in American history, a victory many African-Americans are hoping signals an end to generations of repression. Proposition 8, banning the right of same-sex couples to wed, passed by more than three percentage points in the reliably Democratic state. Much of that margin came from a flood of as many as 500,000 new black voters turning out to cast their ballots for Obama. According to various polls, African-American voters supported the ban by 70-30 per cent, while whites were slightly opposed and Hispanics evenly split.
Canadian Press, November 10
Anti-gay group not welcome
Local theatre company wants U.S. church members banned from entering Canada
Vancouver Sun, November 11
Vancouver set to rally against anti-gay pastor
News that U.S. anti-gay campaigner Fred Phelps is encouraging followers from his Westboro Baptist Church to travel to Vancouver to protest against a production of The Laramie Project, has met with outrage. In response, a cast member of Fighting Chance Productions set up a Facebook page on the weekend calling for support, and within 36 hours had 1,200 members interested in a counter-rally.
Globe and Mail, November 11
Earlier: Stories about same-sex couples and human rights claims
Stories about the allegations against Rev. Tysick:
Second woman comes forward with sexual abuse allegations against reverend
A Carleton University instructor is the second woman to come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Rev. Allen Tysick, whom Time magazine once described as a Canadian hero.
CanWest News Service, November 12
Minister continues work at drop-in centre despite allegations of sexual abuse
A high-profile United Church minister says he's continuing to work at a drop-in centre in Victoria but has been told by his lawyer not to comment on a second allegation of sexual abuse in Ontario. Al Tysick, 63, known to street people and politicians in British Columbia's capital as Reverend Al, works at Our Place, a multimillion-dollar facility that provides housing, training and food for the homeless and disadvantaged.
Canadian Press, November 13
Stories about the American and Canadian elections:
We need to bring End-Times beliefs out of their closet
Strongly held views about the Last Judgment have been shaping political attitudes
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, November 8
Obama backers bucked religious leaders
Media attention before the American election focused on how the choice of Pentecostal Sarah Palin as vice-presidential candidate solidified the white evangelical vote for the Republicans. It turns out the more newsworthy story is that many other American religious people chose not to listen to their high-profile spiritual leaders and opted to vote for Barack Obama's Democrats.
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, November 10
Earlier: US election has religious implications
Stories about Islam and the West:
Toronto Life, Aqsa Parvez, and the unspoken epidemic of domestic abuse in Pakistani-Canadian households
In recent days, activists have begun an attack campaign against Toronto Life magazine in response to its cover-story on the death of Aqsa Parvez. The activists claim: "While featuring Aqsa's story is recognition of a young woman's life cut tragically short, the Toronto Life article perpetuates common stereotypes about Muslim and immigrant communities, diverting attention from the urgent issue of violence against women across Canada."
Jonathan Kay and Sarah Jafri, Full Comment, National Post, November 11
Mosque fights for human rights as it smears West, Jews online
A mosque asking that Canadian workplaces respect a strict Muslim dress code is at the same time disseminating slurs against Jews and Western societies, and warning members against social integration. The Khalid Bin Al-Walid Mosque near Kipling Ave. and Rexdale Blvd. serves as the religious authority for eight Somali women complaining to the Canadian Human Rights Commission that UPS Canada Ltd. violated their religious rights at a sorting plant. The mosque, founded in 1990 and serving upwards of 10,000 people, preaches strict adherence to sharia, or Islamic law, and no compromise with the West.
Toronto Star, November 12
Aga Khan to make jubilee visit to B.C.
The Aga Khan will visit Vancouver on Nov. 25 for a Golden Jubilee anniversary meeting with members of B.C.'s Shia Ismaili Muslim community. "The community is very excited about having His Highness visit," said Farid Damji, a volunteer with the Ismaili Council of B.C.
The Province, November 12
Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West
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Stories about Sikhs and Hindus:
Sikh terrorist still here despite order to leave
A Sikh terrorist living in Surrey despite an eight-year-old deportation order claims he has survived all this time on payments from people at the Guru Nanak Sikh temple, according to documents obtained by the The Vancouver Sun.
Vancouver Sun, November 8
Man admits he lied about link to Babbar Khalsa group
Failed refugee Baljit Ram says he lied about being a member of the Babbar Khalsa terrorist group to persuade Canadian authorities to let him stay in the country. In fact, Ram told The Vancouver Sun Monday that he is not even a Sikh, but claimed to be one in order to have a compelling yarn for the Immigration and Refugee Board when he arrived in Canada illegally in 1998. "I am Hindu," said Ram, who had been living underground for eight years until he was stabbed near the Surrey Central SkyTrain station Sept. 30.
Vancouver Sun, November 11
Surrey teacher's beard measures 2.36 metres
Move over, India, Surrey is now home to the world's longest beard. Surrey resident Sarwan Singh, a devout Sikh, now has the world's longest beard as officially measured at 2.36 metres (seven feet, 7-1/2 inches) last night at the Akal Academy in Surrey.
The Province, November 12
Earlier: Stories about Sikhs, refugees and immigration
Other stories from the past week:
Members of churches victims of scam: police
Last summer, Ramy Beshay, a 27-year-old, smooth-talking Egyptian, volunteered to run the "Jesus Dinner," a Christian outreach event at Toronto's Hope Multicultural Church. To the members of this diverse congregation, it was another sign of his charity and trustworthiness. He had already befriended the pastor, made donations to the church and offered to share his good fortune with others through generous financial returns available by investing with him. Alas, Mr. Beshay, also known as Ramay Samir Beshay, was arrested this week by York Regional Police, accused of swindling two dozen people out of more than $3.5-million.
National Post, November 8
Faith-based funding issue re-emerges at Ontario NDP debate, along with warnings
The controversial topic of public funding for Catholic schools re-emerged Saturday at the first debate between candidates vying to become leader of Ontario's New Democrats, along with warnings about focusing on issues that could divide the third-placed party as it attempts to rebuild itself.
Canadian Press, November 8
Earlier: Stories about Catholic school boards
Jewish school marks centenary
One hundred years ago, a new Toronto school embraced the progressive notion that Jews of all denominations and walks of life should be able to study under one roof. It opted for instruction in the reemerging language of Hebrew, instead of Yiddish, and soon became a destination for young Jewish immigrants who were settling with their families in Canada.
National Post, November 8
Vancouver Sun columnist named top commentator
Vancouver Sun spirituality and ethics columnist Douglas Todd has won another award to add to the more than 50 journalism honours he's received. At the 22nd annual Jack Webster Awards this week, Todd was presented with the City Mike Award for Commentator of the Year.
Vancouver Sun, November 8
At St. Mark's, the cooking is divine
Anglican priest and his parishioners have stepped up to the stove to provide 'physical and spiritual nourishment' to those in need
Globe and Mail, November 10
Breakaway Anglicans to form own body
Dissident Anglican churches in Canada and the United States say they will form a new conservative jurisdiction in the next year, adding that the Archbishop of Canterbury has lost the moral authority to have any real say in blocking the radical move. Parishes that have left their national churches over the issue of same-sex marriage and a general trend toward liberalism want to create a single "province" that would report to a conservative North American bishop who shares their values.
National Post, November 11
Earlier: Stories about the Anglican schism
Drugs disguised as 'holy water,' police say
A Barbados man living in the United States was arrested at the Canadian border and accused of trying to import illicit drugs by disguising them as bottles of Holy Water.
National Post, November 11
Senior Chinese leaders taunt Tibetan leader, speak of his passing
After the near-total breakdown of talks between China and the Dalai Lama's representatives, Beijing has made it bluntly clear that it is looking beyond the Dalai Lama to the era that will follow his death. The 73-year-old Tibetan leader, who has suffered a bout of ill health and hospital treatment in recent months, has already given up most of his political duties. Now he faces taunting from Chinese officials, who yesterday spoke openly of his "poor health" and his "passing away."
Globe and Mail, November 11
Faith and community sustained a Polish family
My parents, both of German parentage, were born in Poland and lived on farms. Father was born near Syczow in 1901. Mother was born in Olinufski in 1904.
Wilma McPherson, Vancouver Sun, November 11
ROM's Dead Sea Scrolls: 2,000 years old, always controversial
The Royal Ontario Museum could find itself unearthing old controversies when it opens its $3-million, would-be blockbuster Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition next June. A U.S. history professor has accused an earlier, related project in San Diego of deliberate bias, scholarly incompetence and suggestions that its curator, who is also assembling the ROM exhibition, was unqualified for the job.
The Ampersand, National Post, November 12
November 13/2008
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