Religion Today Summaries a glimpse at news articles from around the world http://news.crosswalk.com

Thursday, April 25, 2002

In Today's Edition:

** European Law Could Ban Distribution Of Old Testament **

According to CNS News, a British legislator said Wednesday that a proposed European Union law against racism could ban some children's stories and even the Old Testament.

Lord Richard Scott says that a "suggested harmonization of European anti-racism laws" would "almost certainly" ban children's stories such as a set of British adventure novels whose main characters are referred to as "natives," "coons" and "half-breeds." The books also use slurs such as "Huns" and "Japs." But the EU proposal could also censor religious texts, Lord Scott said. "It would probably cover the distribution of the Old Testament as well."

Conservatives, civil liberties groups and several legal scholars have criticized the measure as "ill-thought out," CNS added.