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Secret Service Tells Sikhs No Kirpans In Meeting With Pope

By Howard Friedman

Representatives of the World Sikh Council will not join a group of interfaith leaders who will meet with Pope Benedict XVI during his U.S. visit in April. Yesterday's Contra Costa (CA) Times reports that the U.S. Secret Service demands that Sikhs remove their kirpans (ceremonial daggers) before the meeting. Kavneet Singh, managing director of United Sikhs, said: "We would all agree that the safety of the pope is paramount, but individuals of any faith shouldn't have to check their faith at the door." Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan countered: "We're trying to be flexible. We understand it's a sanctified object, but it's still a weapon."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 07, 2008 (boomark / email).