Senate Democrats held what they billed as the first-ever congressional hearing on the civil rights of American Muslims. The hearing was notably different in tone and substance from the one held by House Republicans earlier this month, which explored homegrown Islamic radicalism.

In an interesting exchange, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who convened the hearing, asked one of his witnesses, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, to defend the right of Muslims to build a mosque near Ground Zero in NYC. McCarrick demurred, saying it was a local real estate issue. The point may be moot, though, since two co-founders of the project say they may build an interfaith center instead.

Religious leaders in France are protesting plans by President Sarkozy to hold a debate next week on Islam’s role in the country, saying they fear it could stigmatize Muslims.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has invited Coptic Christians to join their new political party. Police arrested 14 people in India on charges that they illegally converted to Christianity, according to the Hindustan Times. A new book that hints that Gandhi had a homosexual relationship has been banned in his home state of Gujarat.

President Obama’s nominee for religious freedom ambassador was back on the Hill yesterday for her second go-round at a confirmation hearing. We covered it, but I can’t find any links out there yet, which may speak volumes. UPDATE: CT, God bless ’em, posted the story .

The Supreme Court said it will hear the case of a teacher at a religious school who was fired after she went on medical leave for narcolepsy. The school argues that the teacher is a “commissioned minister” whose case lies within the “ministerial exception” clause of disability laws.

Native American tribes not recognized by the federal government can’t use bald and golden eagle feathers in their religious ceremonies, a circuit court ruled.

Pope Benedict XVI is sending a top Vatican official to Ivory Coast to encourage a peaceful solution to political violence that has killed hundreds and displaced a million people, according to the AP.

NPR investigates how, exactly, 37 priests accused of sexual abuse fell through the cracks in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

A coalition of religious and civil liberties groups wants the EEOC to stop employers from segregating “visibly religious” employees from customers.

Gov. Brewer signed a bill into law that makes Arizona the first state to outlaw abortions based on the race or gender of the fetus. Planned Parenthood doesn’t like the idea of requiring women to state the reason for choosing to terminate a pregnancy.

Pope Benedict is the star of a new manga cartoon (pic at top left).