Muslims
#IWillProtectYou: US service members soothe scared Muslim girl
By Mary Bowerman — December 23, 2015
Melissa Chance Yassini's 8-year-old daughter was terrified when she heard Trump call for a ban on all Muslims entering the country after the San Bernardino massacre.
African Catholics embrace Jubilee Year as time for Muslim understanding
By Fredrick Nzwili — December 21, 2015
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) African Catholics, numbering about 200 million, hope to take advantage of the Jubilee Year declared by Pope Francis to advance forgiveness and interfaith understanding, especially with Muslims.
Trump: Clinton ‘lied’ by calling him Islamic State’s ‘best recruiter’
By Reuters — December 21, 2015
"They are going to people, showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists," Hillary Clinton said at the Democrats' debate Saturday.
Top US Catholic bishop denounces anti-Islam backlash to shootings
By David Gibson — December 14, 2015
(RNS) Archbishop Joseph Kurtz also laments the Planned Parenthood attack and violence "in the name of God," and calls for stricter gun control.
Japanese Americans remember Pearl Harbor backlash and support Muslims
By Megan Sweas — December 11, 2015
LOS ANGELES (RNS) In the wake of the San Bernadino attacks and proposals to restrict Muslim immigration, some Japanese Americans are remembering the backlash against their parents and grandparents after the Pearl Harbor attack in World War II, and are expressing support for American Muslims.
Detroit archbishop denounces proposals to bar Muslims from U.S.
By David Gibson — December 11, 2015
(RNS) Archbishop Allen Vigneron's criticism is significant because Catholic leaders have been strong defenders of religious freedom in recent years but have been largely quiet in the wake of Donald Trump’s controversial pitch earlier this week to bar all Muslims from the U.S.
US religious freedom envoy blasts campaign rhetoric against Muslims
By Rosie Scammell — December 11, 2015
ROME (RNS) During a trip to Rome for a conference on Christian persecution, David Saperstein, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, did not cite Donald Trump by name but took aim at recent controversial comments by presidential candidates.
Americans fear terrorism, mass shootings — and often Muslims as well
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 10, 2015
(RNS) Fear has ratcheted up in the wake of attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, a new survey finds. And reactions to mass shootings vary by the religious identity of the killers.
The tragedy and futility of Trumped-up solutions (COMMENTARY)
By Marcia Pally — December 9, 2015
(RNS) Americans are daunted by the changing economy and the wars we don’t seem to know how to win. And people don’t like to feel daunted; they want to feel effective. That’s why enough are open to extreme solutions so as to keep Trump as the top GOP candidate.
Donald Trump urges ban on Muslims entering US
By Reuters — December 7, 2015
WASHINGTON - Republican presidential front-runner's call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States draws fierce criticism and accusations that he is playing to Americans' fears, a day after President Barack Obama called for religious tolerance.
Muslim civil rights advocates see the limitations of social media activism
By Julie Poucher Harbin — December 4, 2015
(RNS) After a string of successful social media campaigns had buttressed the fledgling Muslim activist ranks, many are now seeing the medium’s limitations.
Muslim Americans fear demonization of Islam after mass shooting
By Reuters — December 3, 2015
Some Muslims are concerned that politicians will use the mass shooting as a way to further demonize Muslims.
Donald Trump cancels event with black pastors, stands by his 9/11 Muslim remarks
By Reuters — November 29, 2015
WASHINGTON — Trump came under fire last week after saying at a rally and on television that he had seen thousands of people in Jersey City cheer the collapse of the twin towers in Manhattan.
GOP rivals call Trump’s Muslim database idea ‘wrong’ and ‘dangerous’
By Reuters — November 21, 2015
GOP rivals Gov. John Kasich and Jeb Bush objected immediately to Trump's proposal.
Unity is the best weapon against ISIS (COMMENTARY)
By Salam Al-Marayati — November 19, 2015
(RNS) The challenge to Americans is to recognize that Muslims are decisively on their side in the fight against extremism. The challenge to Muslims is to engage fully with the rest of the nation in identifying the safest and wisest paths forward.
