Religious Freedom and Pluralism - South Asian Journalists

September 26- October, 8, 2005, Washington, DC, Chicago, New York
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer Doris Robinson
Telephone: 202-504-6353, Email: robinsondm@state.gov

Six journalists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka traveled to Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York to examine the nature of religious diversity in America and the Separation of Church and State principle.  In each state, the journalists met with academics, researchers, intellectuals and representatives of a cross section of faiths.

Washington highlights included a roundtable discussion on interfaith dialogue with Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, Michael Lieberman, Washington Director of the Anti-Defamation League and Rabbi Harold White, Theology Lecturer at Georgetown University.   The group also had an informative discussion about American religious affiliations at the Pew Forum for Religion and Public Life.  The journalists also met with leaders of the Adas Israel Congregation, the ADAMS Center Mosque in Virginia and a Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple.  Before leaving Washington, D.C., the reporters had a productive meeting with Christina Rocca, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs for a discussion on South Asian policy.

Chicago highlights included a meeting at the University of Chicago's Divinity School, a visit to the U.S. Baha'i House of Worship for an overview and tour of the center, and a meeting with Timothy McNulty, Foreign News Editor at the Chicago Tribune, for a conversation about how the paper covers international and religious issues.  The final stop on the reporting tour was in New York.  While there, the group met with representatives from the National Council of Churches, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The journalists also spoke with representatives at the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the New York Commission on Human Rights, where the group learned about New York's Human Right's Laws.