DENVER (AP) – As clergy involvement in politics stirs debate, Roman Catholic priests and deacons in the Denver Archdiocese are being instructed not to endorse or donate money to political candidates.

The directive came from Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, one of the nation’s most outspoken Catholic bishops in expressing the need for Catholics to follow their faith in making political decisions.

Published in the archdiocesan newspaper, the directive states that clerics “may not publicly participate or endorse political campaigns or initiatives, or publicly affiliate themselves with groups whose primary purpose is to do so.”

NYC Sikhs protest attack on girl

NEW YORK (AP) – The Sikh community is protesting an attack on a 12-year-old girl who had her long hair cut off by a fellow student.

The June 9 incident at Public School 219 in Flushing is the third incident in two months targeting a Sikh student in Queens. The hair cutting violates Sikh religious beliefs. School officials say the accused student was immediately suspended.

Sikhs and elected officials planned a march through Richmond Hill, Queens, on Monday, followed by a rally.

On June 3, a student tried to remove a Sikh’s turban and punched him in the face at Richmond Hill High School. In May, a student at another Queens school had his turban removed and his hair cut off.

Schools Chancellor Joe Klein has previously met with the Sikh community and said new bias regulations were being implemented.

Judge rejects Va. Christian group’s cross request

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) – A federal judge has denied a Christian group’s request to display a 12-foot-cross at a Fourth of July celebration at a city park in Chesapeake.

U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar denied the application of Christian Rights Ministries. The ministries said it was told last year to remove the religious symbol after the group said city workers called the cross “too blatantly Christian.”

At the court hearing in Norfolk, however, the workers said they had the cross removed for safety reasons.

Ministries founder Steve Taylor filed the civil rights suit against Chesapeake and asked for an injunction to force the city to allow the cross at this year’s celebration.

Chesapeake’s city attorney, Jeffrey Salb, said other Christian groups have participated in the celebration without incident.

Noise complaints prompt church to leave Ohio city

MASSILLON, Ohio (AP) – The pastor of a northeast Ohio church that’s been the subject of neighborhood complaints because of loud worship services said he’ll move the small Pentecostal church outside of town.

During the annual revival in May at Worshippers of Christ the Warrior King in Massillon, services with loud music go late into the night.

After services on May 3, officers walked into the church and wrote senior pastor Troy Sowell a ticket for violating the city’s noise ordinance.

Sowell said the controversy has caused the church to lose worshippers. The 49-year-old said he’s also lost friends and ministry opportunities.

One of the world’s fastest growing religious traditions, Pentecostal Christianity is distinguished by its exuberant worship and emphasis on “spiritual gifts” described in the Bible, like speaking in tongues.

The Ohio church has held services elsewhere for the last several weeks, Sowell said. A new permanent location should be determined soon.