Briefly noted

Christian Century, Dec 20, 2000

* An appellate ruling striking down an Ohio school voucher program could lead to U.S. Supreme Court consideration of the matter, legal experts predict. The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down on December 11 the Cleveland taxpayer-funded program, stating in a 2-1 ruling that it is unconstitutional. Supporters and opponents of the program agreed that the nation's highest court could be the final arbiter of the program's constitutionality. "This is a great Christmas present for America's public schools and our constitutional principles," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which helped bring the lawsuit challenging the program.

* Earning praise from U.S. Islamic groups, the U.S. Postal Service has unveiled a stamp commemorating two Muslim holidays, including Eid al-Fitr, a feast that marks the end of daytime fasting for the month of Ramadan. The stamp also commemorates Eid al-Adha, the day that marks the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. The holidays, along with Thanksgiving and Christmas, are the only ones honored with commemorative stamps for the year 2001. The stamp will not be available until October 2001, just before the start of Ramadan for that year. The feast this year will occur on or about December 27.