c. 1997 Religion News Service
Sri Lankan priest disciplined by Vatican for controversial beliefs
(RNS) A controversial Sri Lankan theologian has been disciplined by the Vatican because of his opposition to papal infallibility, the virginity of Mary, the dogma of original sin and the necessity of baptism.
The Vatican, in a statement released Saturday (Jan. 4), said the Rev. Tissa Balasuriya, a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate,”cannot be considered a Catholic theologian.” There was no immediate comment from Balasuriya. However, last month Balasuriya responded to reports that he would be disciplined, saying he was”perturbed”the Vatican was taking”such unilateral and unjust action,”the Associated Press reported.
In December, more than 80 Third World Christian theologians _ Catholics and non-Catholics alike _ meeting in the Philippines said they supported Balasuriya. The theologians, who were attending the international assembly of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians, said they would regard Balasuriya as a priest even if the Vatican did not.
Balasuriya’s problems with Rome stem from his 1990 book,”Mary and Human Liberation,”which he says has been misinterpreted by Vatican officials.
The Vatican claims that in the book, Balasuriya said baptism, which marks formal entry into the church, was not necessary, and that he questioned the doctrine of papal infallibility and the dogma of original sin, which decrees that everyone is born with the stain of the sin of Adam and Eve.
He was also said to have rejected Mary’s virginity and the church belief that she was assumed bodily into heaven.
When summoned to the Vatican’s embassy in Sri Lanka, Balasuriya appealed directly to Pope John Paul II for support. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said it informed Balasuriya that the pope had agreed to the discipline.
High Court upholds Alcoholics Anonymous prison ruling
(RNS) The U.S. Supreme Court Monday (Jan. 6) rejected an attempt by New York State prison officials to force inmates seeking special privileges to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, where participants are urged to trust a”higher power.” Acting without comment, the High Court rejected the argument of prison officials that forcing participants to take A.A. classes did not constitute an illegal endorsement of religion. The Court’s action supported an earlier ruling by the New York Court of Appeals.
The case stems from an attempt by prison officials to force inmate David Griffin, an atheist who has a history of drug abuse, to attend A.A. programs at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County, N.Y., in return for expanded family visitation rights.
Griffin objected, saying that forcing him to attend A.A. violated constitutional guidelines on the separation of church and state because A.A.’s 12-Step program includes belief in a”higher power”and calls for trust in a”power greater than ourselves.” The New York Court ruled in June that even though the”higher power”may be thought of as a force other than God, the A.A. program had an”overwhelmingly religious tone.”Consequently, the New York court said, an inmate could not be deprived of extended family visitation privileges for not wanting to attend a program that amounted to government endorsement of religion.”A fair reading of the fundamental A.A. doctrinal writings discloses that their dominant theme is unequivocally religious,”the New York court said.”Adherence to the A.A. fellowship entails engagement in religious activity and religious proselytization.” A.A. has declined to comment on the case
WCC report critical of Nigeria and Shell Oil
(RNS) The World Council of Churches (WCC) has accused Nigeria’s military leaders and Shell Oil of widespread oppression and environmental devastation in the African nation’s oil-rich Ogoniland region.
In a 196-page report released Monday (Jan. 6), the Geneva-based WCC said”a quiet state of siege prevails even today in Ogoniland. Intimidation, rape, arrests, torture, shooting and looting by (the Nigerian military’s) soldiers continues to occur.” The report said Dutch-owned Shell _ which operated in the Ogoniland region until 1993 when it ceased operations because of what it called pressure from Ogoni activists _ had a”distasteful”environmental record. The report urged Shell to clean up the numerous oil spills it allegedly caused and to use its influence to get the military junta to restore democracy in Nigeria.
The WCC report was prepared by senior WCC official Deborah Robinson, who went to Nigeria after nine Ogoni leaders were executed by the military in December 1995. Among the dead was Ogoni writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who had campaigned for restitution payments from Shell to repair the environmental destruction allegedly caused by the oil company.
In London, a Shell spokesman said the company would not comment until it has read the report closely, the Reuters news agency reported.
In the past Shell said it was working for the greater good of all Nigeria. The WCC rejected that claim. In an introduction to the report, WCC Executive Director Samuel Kobia said”many Nigerians, especially in the churches, are desirous that the truth about the situation in their country be made known to the outside world.” There was no comment from Nigeria’s military regime, which has received wide international condemnation for its heavy-handed approach toward Ogoniland and the complaints of the indigenous Ogoni population.
Update: Pope to visit Cuba in January 1998
(RNS) Pope John Paul II’s planned visit to Cuba has been set for late January 1998, the Vatican said Saturday (Jan. 4).
The visit _ which will be the pontiff’s first to the Caribbean island-nation ruled by communist dictator Fidel Castro _ has long been in the works.
The Vatican hopes to use the visit to gain greater freedom for the Cuban Catholic Church, which faced severe repression during most of Castro’s 37 years in power. Castro, meanwhile, is seeking greater Vatican support in his fight against U.S. economic sanctions designed to isolate Cuba and weaken Castro’s rule.
The final details for the pope’s trip were firmed up late last week during a visit to Cuba by Vatican envoy Cardinal Camillo Ruini and announced by Cardinal Jaime Ortega of Havana.
Second Australian commits legal euthanasia
(RNS) A woman suffering from a rare and painful skin cancer has become the second Australian to commit legal euthanasia under the Northern Territory’s controversial doctor-assisted suicide law.
Janet Mills, 52, died Thursday (Jan. 2) in the coastal city of Darwin, her physician, Dr. Philip Nitsche, confirmed Monday (Jan. 6), according to the Associated Press. Nitsche also helped cancer patient Bob Dent become the first Australian to die under the law last September.
In 1995, the Northern Territory legislature became the first in the world to approve doctor-assisted suicide. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday (Jan. 8) on New York and Washington state laws banning assisted-suicide laws found unconstitutional by courts in both states.
The Northern Territory law is being challenged by Australia’s national parliament, which is considering a bill to overturn the state legislation. Church groups have been among those leading the opposition to the Northern Territory law.
Quote of the day: Roman Catholic Cardinal John O’Connor of New York
(RNS) In a recent New York Times interview, Cardinal John O’Connor, archbishop of New York, acknowledged his regrets about responding to media questions about subjects he admittedly knew little about:”I said some dumb things. The press could have asked me about satellites to Mars and I would have given them an answer.”
MJP END RNS
