September 11

The "Freedom Tower" at the World Trade Center complex in New York City officially topped the Empire State Building's height Monday, making it the tallest building in city and eventually, once the post 9/11 structure is completed, the tallest building in the U.S.

The "Freedom Tower," also known as One World Trade Center (One WTC), surpassed the Empire State Building's height of 1,250 feet when workers put steel columns in place on the structure, located in downtown Manhattan, the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Patrick Foye, executive director of NYC's Port Authority, said at a press conference Monday afternoon that One WTC shows the "hope and rebirth" of the U.S., and its ability to bounce back from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center's towers, both of which were toppled. more >>

With the U.S. Muslim population steadily rising, experts in evangelism are asserting both Christians and Muslims should first shed fear, and then work to form mutually respectful relationships as a foundation for sharing the American experience. While it is incumbent on Christians to cast fear aside and follow Jesus' call to "Love your neighbor as yourself," Muslims also have a responsibility, according to academics interviewed for this series, to take a "courageous stand" against radicals overshadowing their faith with violence.

"We're not trying to build a relationship based on theological agreement. We're building a relationship based on the need of a civil society," Bob Roberts, senior pastor of Northwood Church, located in Keller, Texas, told The Christian Post. Northwood Church has had an extensive outreach to the Muslim community for the last eight years.

Roberts' church seeks to connect with local Muslims by forming relationships around common interests, such as cooking, hunting and camping. Recently, Roberts and six other pastors partook on a hunting and camping trip with seven imams, or Islamic religious leaders. more >>

The opening of the 9/11 memorial museum, scheduled for September 2012, will most likely be delayed over development disputes between the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The museum board, associated with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was reportedly accused by PANYNJ, which is under the jurisdiction of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as WSJ pointed out, of owing the transportation agency $156 million.

The foundation reportedly denies owing the money, and claims that it is owed more than $100 million by the Port Authority on account of delays. more >>

St. Nicholas Church, destroyed 10 years ago in the Sept. 11 attacks, will be rebuilt near the original site in Manhattan, according to an agreement signed Friday.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed to have the church rebuilt at 130 Liberty Street. The construction will also include a nondenominational bereavement center.

"We lost St. Nicholas Church in the destruction of September 11 and for too long its future has been uncertain," said N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a statement Friday. more >>

An Arizona college student passing out American flags with friends Friday for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 was forced to move after campus officials accused her of hindering foot traffic and lacking the proper permit. Despite the university's denials, the event organizer said officials violated her right to free speech.

Northern Arizona University student Stephanee Freer was confronted by four university officials and one police officer the week of Sept. 11 and told she could not pass out U.S. flags inside the university building. Freer told the Arizona Daily Sun that she and other students were initially passing out the flags and other patriotic material outside, but fled indoors when it began to rain.

University officials, however, told the students they were violating event rules listed in the student handbook and would need to either move the event outside or move to another section of the building. The section they were told to move to is less visible to the public, Freer said. more >>

The name of a victim killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks appears misspelled in the newly opened memorial at the former site of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City.

Jeffrey Schreier's sister, Janice Hart, visited the memorial Sunday only to discover her brother's name misspelled, and told NBC New York that she could not believe it.

The inscription reads "Jeffery" instead of "Jeffrey." more >>