=== Aum Shinrikyo
1. Don't forget Tokyo subway gas attack: survivors and bereaved families
2. Subway staff remember victims of 1995 AUM gassing

=== Scientology
3. Tom Cruise Ends another Affair
4. Update: Cruise Still With Scientology
5. Cruise Dumps Scientology - NOT!
6. [harassment has become so commonplace that it is no longer newsworthy]
7. A Thorn in the MPAA's Side

=== Buddhism
8. 'Vietnam Buddhist burns herself to death'
9. Vietnam sect leader allowed home, status unclear

=== Islam
10. Cows slaughtered over delay in Buddha statues destruction
11. Taliban Explains Buddha Demolition
12. Muslim destroyers reach for the heart of Jewish holy sites

=== Mormonism
13. Visiting Reporters Complain Venues Tour Turned Into a Pitch for Church, State
14. Mormons under pressure on drink

=== Hate Groups
15. More teens buying white power music
16. Speakers with anti-Semitic ties coming to B.C. rally
17. Klan Highway Sign Isn't Welcome, Say Potosi, Mo., Residents

=== House of Prayer (Atlanta)
18. Church disputes claims of abuse
19. DFCS to take 10 more kids from members of Atlanta church in wake of abuse probe

=== Other News
20. French Sect Members Tried for Baby-Killing
21. Ex-dean of BU chapel on leave for illness
22. Families seek help from dangers of cults
23. 'Volatile' Prophetic Writings Set to Stir Further Controversy (Rick
Joyner)

=== Noted
24. False Prophets in Poland
25. Christian ministers to embrace Rainbow
26. The Work, the FBI and a habit of silence (Opus Dei)

=== Books
27. Religion researcher's 40-year quest to tabulate every believer on earth


=== Mormonism

13. Visiting Reporters Complain Venues Tour Turned Into a Pitch for Church, State
The Salt Lake Tribune, Mar. 18, 2001
http://www.sltrib.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
A media tour sponsored by the state last month to boost Utah's image instead inspired some unflattering portrayals of Salt Lake City and Mormon culture.

''A few reporters are coming looking for things to criticize,'' said Spencer Kinard, director of the Utah Travel Council. ''They are happy to ride in our van, eat our food, enjoy our hospitality, but then they turn around and write what a schlocky place this is.''

Some reporters who participated in the Feb. 5-8 tour by the Utah Media Center (UMC) said they were misled by a ''bait-and-switch'' agenda that touted 2002 venues but instead was laden with trips to non-Olympic resorts and Mormon story pitches by LDS Church publicity volunteers.

''You were sort of held hostage to the whole Utah experience,'' says Ron C. Judd, sports columnist for The Seattle Times. ''I've been to Utah before, so the Mormon stuff was not a surprise, but I did not want to get sucked into the spin cycle.''

Kinard acknowledges the state travel council invited LDS Church representatives to attend a reception dinner for the 17 visiting reporters. No other representatives of Utah faiths were invited.

''It's not a function of promoting this one religion, it's just recognizing it as the largest single religious institution in the state which is a major part of this culture and operates the state's largest visitor attraction, Temple Square,'' said Kinard, a former employee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(...)

Salt Lake Organizing Committee CEO Mitt Romney has gone to great lengths to counter suggestions that Utah's Mormon dominance is playing a major role in the staging of the 2002 Olympics.

''We have no Mormon church involvement in any of our tours,'' Romney said. ''I have no idea what Spence Kinard or Park City or the Mormon church are doing, but people are going to have to be able to distinguish between our functions and things which are organized by other groups.''

Yet some reporters said they were referred to the UMC tour when they called SLOC to ask for help in doing year-out stories last month. Kinard said the UMC -- funded by a $1.2 million legislative appropriation -- does not promote the Olympics.
(...)

The frustration of reporters expecting an ''Olympic venues'' tour only to be taken to non-Olympic destinations such as Sundance, Alta and a snowboard shop resulted in about half dropping out by the second day. Some complained they were ''harassed'' to rejoin, prompting them to unplug hotel room phones and not answer persistent knocks on their doors.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


14. Mormons under pressure on drink
BBC, Mar. 19, 2001
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
In just under a year the Winter Olympics start in Salt Lake City in Utah - but some in the Olympic movement are worried that spectators will stay away because of the Mormon state's strict drinking laws.

In an unprecedented political move, the mayor of Salt Lake City has launched a campaign to get the liquor laws changed in time for the Games and a heated debate is now raging across the state.

This is a risky political strategy that could backfire on him as Mormons shun alcohol and many believe the liquor laws should not be relaxed.
(...)

The campaign to change the liquor laws is deeply dividing the Mormon state of Utah and the majority of Mormons do not want the laws changed.

The congregation at the Wallsberg church near the Olympic resort of Park City agreed that the laws should stay the same and if visitors did not like the drinking rules then they should not come.
(...)

But whatever the outcome, both Mr Anderson and the rest of Utah do not want the outside world to think it is impossible to get a drink in Utah.

Alcohol is difficult to get hold of and the bars may not have the same après ski atmosphere as their Alpine counterparts in Europe, but drinking is not outlawed.
There is an old saying in Utah: ''If you can't get a drink in Utah then you are simply not thirsty enough.''
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]

Beer, wine and liquor is sold and served in many Mormon businesses.

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