Faith Digest

German Muslims more numerous than suspected. Germany has nearly a million more Muslims than previous estimates, a new study showed. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Germany concluded up to 4.3 million people—5 percent of Germany’s 82 million people—are Muslims. More than half have German nationality and have integrated into German society more than had been expected, according to the study.

Israeli company launches kosher search engine. A new Internet search engine is making it possible for ultra-Orthodox Jews who use computers to obtain information online—but not on the Sabbath, when the site shuts down. Dubbed Koogle—a cross between Google and kugel, the name of a Jewish noodle pudding—the Hebrew-language search engine is being touted as a kosher portal for devout Jews who almost universally shun the Internet because many online sites are inappropriate. It includes news, business directories and links to real estate agents, kosher restaurants, hotels as well as mohels, or ritual circumcisers, and rehab centers.

Liberty changes rules for student political clubs. Liberty University has decided to detach itself from all campus political clubs that it believes misrepresent the school’s Christian mission, stripping them of funding, but compromising on regulations. Classifying them as “unofficial clubs,” the Fundamentalist Baptist school founded by the late Jerry Falwell adopted new policies to regulate school groups that “are not aligned with Liberty’s core values—mainly pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.” These clubs still can use the school’s name, but only if they publicize that the school does not endorse them. They also can assemble on school grounds and use campus resources if their purposes are not in conflict with the religious doctrines of the university. The new regulations, which will take effect in the 2009-2010 academic year, were developed after the university withdrew recognition of the College Democrats because of the candidates and issues the group supported. The school reinstated recognition, but only if the club complies with the revamped rules.

Evangelicals name new chief lobbyist. The nation’s largest evangelical umbrella group has tapped a veteran expert on refugee settlement and international relief efforts as its new top lobbyist in the nation’s capital. Galen Carey was named director of government affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, effect Aug. 1. Carey, 53, has worked more than 25 years with World Relief, the NAE’s humanitarian relief agency. During his time with World Relief, he lived in six countries, addressing floods in Mozambique, working to prevent HIV/AIDS in Burundi and overseeing relief efforts after the 2004 tsunami hit Indonesia. Carey succeeds Richard Cizik, who resigned last December under pressure after angering some evangelicals with his outspoken work on the environment and by seeming to signal support for same-sex civil unions in a National Public Radio interview.