BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Calls for unity and religious moderation from Muslim and Christian leaders marked the opening of Lebanon's biggest mosque in the heart of the capital.

The Oct. 18 inauguration of the Muhammad al-Amin Mosque also served to boost the Sunni community's place as a major player in the country's politics.

It came as Sunni-Shiite tensions continued to simmer in this tiny country of 18 recognized religious sects after sectarian clashes earlier in the year.

In May, Shiite Hezbollah militiamen overran neighborhoods controlled by Sunni supporters of politician Saad Hariri and then in last few months Sunni extremists have targeted Lebanese troops with two car bombings.

''We will do everything possible to close ranks,'' said Hariri, son of the slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the Sunni leader of the majority parliamentary bloc, addressing the scores of invited guests. ''We want this day to represent the force of moderation in Lebanon and a message of moderation from Lebanon to the world.''

The late Hariri led the six-year effort to build the landmark mosque. He is buried next to the mosque, a few blocks from the massive truck bombings that killed him in 2005.

The mosque, built Ottoman style with a sky blue central dome and towering minarets on its four corners, dominates downtown Beirut's skyline.

Bishop Roland Abu Jaoude, representing Lebanon's main Maronite Catholic Church, mentioned the adjacent Maronite St. George Cathedral and said the mosque will ''consolidate the coexistence and deepen it'' between Muslims and Christians.

Archaeologists find African 'spirit bundle' in ancient Annapolis gutter

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- University of Maryland archaeologists have found what they believe to be one of the earliest examples of the spiritual traditions brought to North America by African slaves. The bundle of sand and clay, packed with metal bits and a stone ax, is estimated to be 300 years old.

University of Maryland anthropologist Mark Leone, who directed the project, said the object appears to be an example of African religious practices and not a later mix of African and American practices.

Archaeologists believe the 10-inch tall bundle, which contained hundreds of pieces of lead shot, pins and nails, was used to ward off spirits. It was possibly placed in the gutter because running water was believed to carry spirits, researchers say.

The dig was conducted before a project to lay utility cables in an area that was once part of the city's early waterfront. The bundle was found four feet below street level in the city's historic district, about 1,000 feet from the Statehouse.

It went on display Tuesday at the Banneker-Douglass Museum, which is devoted to African-American history and culture.

http://www.bdmuseum.com/

Pope, Orthodox patriarch pray together in Sistine Chapel, try to bridge differences

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- The spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians prayed with Pope Benedict XVI in the Sistine Chapel and urged Roman Catholics and Orthodox to work together to combat fundamentalism and to promote religious tolerance.

Benedict praised his guest, Patriarch Bartholomew I, on the occasion of an Orthodox leader's first service in the chapel, which is famous for its frescoes painted by Michelangelo.

Bartholomew's participation in the Oct. 18 Vespers service and speech, in the chapel where popes are elected, is a ''joyous experience of unity, perhaps not perfect, but true and deep,'' Benedict said.

The two men are eager to bridge a nearly millennium-long schism between the two churches, and see moral and social issues -- including fundamentalism, religious intolerance, abortion, euthanasia and environmental degradation -- as fertile ground for common initiatives.

The split between Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches centers on the primacy of the pope.

Bartholomew was invited to address bishops from around the world attending a meeting at the Vatican this month about the importance of the Bible. Cardinals and bishops listened attentively as the patriarch spoke about the potential for common initiatives between the world's 250 million Orthodox and more than 1 billion Catholics.

The Orthodox leader called it more imperative than ever for both sides to provide a ''unique perspective -- beyond the social, political or economic -- on the need to eradicate poverty, to provide balance in a global world, to combat fundamentalism or racism and to develop religious tolerance in a world of conflict.''

Jacksonville church burns porn found at old drive-in movie theater

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- A congregation that bought an old drive-in theater discovered reels of X-rated movies in the building and held a ceremonial burning of the films.

Christ Church Anglican bought the 13-acre drive-in for $1.4 million after the 60-year-old theater closed in May. The church recently closed on the deal and discovered the porn stash when they began cleaning up.

Church members held a special service last Sunday in which they burned at least 100 reels. Firefighters watched over the ceremony

''You guys can be a part of making this land holy,'' said The Rev. Mark Eldredge, before using a brass candle-lighter to ignite a bonfire of the unrolled reels. ''To have a piece of property and take it from unholy to holy is awesome.''

Eldredge said the 300-member church plans to show family movies to the public after repairs are done.