Iowa Public Television

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

Congressional Vote (#137)

Congressional Vote - Freedom from Religious Persecution Bill Congress votes this week on the Freedom from Religious Persecution bill sponsored by Frank Wolf of Virginia and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. The legislation calls for the formation of a White House office for reporting of religious persecution. "Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly" reports on the renewed focus of religious persecution around the world specifically in Pakistan where there are Oblasphemy lawsO, which states that any non-Muslim can be put to death for OinsultingO Islam or Muhammad. Cover Story: The Dalai Lama's Visit to the United States - The Dalai Lama has just wrapped up a 15-day visit to the US that took him from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia. During his stop in Atlanta, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama told OReligion & Ethics NewsWeeklyO that he?s faces a dilemma of how to hold the Tibet people together and keep them on the spiritual path as well as effectively campaigning for Tibet?s freedom. RENW contributing correspondent and religious writer for U.S. News & World Report Jeff Sheler reports on the conflicting worlds of the Dalai Lama. Perspectives: Religious Persecution - "Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly" continues our look at the worldwide problem of religious persecution with a roundtable discussion. This week?s panel includes Nina Shea, director of The Center for Religious Freedom at Freedom House in Washington, DC, an advocate of sanctions designed to fight religious persecution and Rev., Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, general secretary of National Council of Churches who believes sanctions are ineffective. Feature: Israel at 50 - "Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly" concludes its look at Israel at Fifty with a report on the country?s non-Jewish population. RENW correspondent Paul Miller reports on the Muslim and Christian citizens of the Jewish State. Are they treated the same as other Jewish citizens? What does Israel?s 50th year celebration mean to them? [26 minutes]

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