c. 1997 Religion News Service
Swiss-American Christian imprisoned in Iran since mid-January
(RNS) American Christian groups are calling for an international lobbying campaign on behalf of a Swiss-American Christian worker who has been imprisoned in Iran without charge since Jan. 12.
Daniel Baumann, 33, and his South African colleague, Stuart Timm, 27, were first detained on Jan. 10 at the border between Iran and Turkmenistan. The two had entered Iran from Turkmenistan on Dec. 28, 1996. Baumann, who has dual-citizenship, was traveling on his Swiss passport.
Iranian border officials confiscated the two men’s passports and instructed them to travel to Tehran and meet with authorities there.
On Jan. 12, the two were arrested in Tehran and imprisoned at the Evin prison. Iranian authorities did not officially notify either the Swiss or South African embassies about the arrests as required under international law.
Timm was released on Feb. 17 after diplomatic intervention by the South African government. However, Baumann remains in prison. “Despite the countless attempts for the release of Baumann so far, we have not been able to do much,”said Swiss Embassy spokesman E. Hofstetter in a report by Compass Direct, a California-based news service that covers religious persecution.
The United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran, and the Swiss Embassy often represents American interests there.
Baumann’s family had initially hoped the situation could be resolved through quiet diplomacy. However, now they have sought the aid of Christian organizations.
The Colorado-based Iranian Christians International is urging U.S. churches and Christian groups to send faxes, telegrams and letters to the Iranian government calling for Baumann’s release.”It is feared that Baumann could be charged and tried under (a) new espionage law,”said an Iranian Christians International statement.”The Iranian government often uses espionage charges as a cover-up for religious or political persecution.”
Eleven employees leave Operation Blessing
(RNS) Eleven employees have left Operation Blessing International, founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, after disagreeing with its management about the medical mission’s focus on the use of its wide-body jet.
Dr. Paul R. Williams, the chief medical officer, and 10 other members of the staff, concluded their work with the organization Feb. 14.”Dr. Williams and his staff had a love and a desire to focus on medical missions that involved more remote, more isolated areas of the world where the L-1011 flying hospital could not function,”said Gene Kapp, Robertson’s spokesman.
In January, Williams and other Operation Blessing employees traveled in boats on the Amazon River in South America to treat people in small villages.
Kapp said Operation Blessing management decided to focus on areas where its jet could land. Since the ministry began using the plane last May, it has treated 18,000 people during its three mission trips to El Salvador, Panama and Ukraine.”It became clear once we began those missions that the flying hospital was indeed going to be the focal point of our medical outreach,”Kapp said in an interview with RNS.
He said the plane transports people to locations where medical help is needed and serves as a self-contained surgical hospital while it is on the ground.
Robert Fanning, Operation Blessing’s chief operating officer, is determining the best way to replace the former employees. There are 37 remaining staff members.”Most of the medical personnel who have gone on trips in the past are volunteers,”said Kapp.”That is an important backbone of our outreach, so that’s going to continue.” Between 100 and 200 volunteers have traveled on the mission trips involving the airplane.
Future trips are being considered, possibly in Africa, Asia or India.
Operation Blessing, based in Virginia Beach, Va., was founded by Robertson in 1978 and is now an affiliate of the religious broadcaster’s Christian Broadcasting Network.
Pat Boone continues to find favor among some Christians
(RNS) Pat Boone, who has been under fire in some Christian circles for appearing on television in biker gear, has been selected to host the Christian Film and Television Commission’s annual awards presentation.
The Fifth Annual MovieGuide Awards, which honor feature films and TV shows from 1996 for their social and spiritual values, will be held on March 19 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Boone, who was the master of ceremonies at last year’s awards ceremony, was chosen again this year before the recent hubbub over his promotion of his new CD,”Pat Boone in a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy.””It was unrelated, but we’re not going to jump ship or something because of this particular little furor,”said Bob Munger, executive vice president in charge of development for the commission.
The Trinity Broadcasting Network recently pulled Boone’s gospel music show,”Gospel America,”after receiving hundreds of calls complaining about his new recording and his Jan. 27 appearance on the American Music Awards, where he wore black leather, a studded dog collar, and fake tattoos.
But Munger, a friend of Boone’s for more than 20 years, views the Christian singer’s recent work as a form of outreach.”I think basically that Pat is trying to build bridges,”said Munger.”I guarantee you, he’s the same guy.” In comparing Boone to Jesus, Munger said,”Just as Jesus went to be with the tax collectors, prostitutes and others … I don’t think it behooves us to castigate him (Boone) for reaching out.” Boone, 62, will host the annual event honoring what the commission calls the”10 Best Films for Families”and the”10 Best Films for Mature Audiences.”
Christians win Grammy gospel awards, Song of the Year
(RNS) Gospel music was recognized in its usual six categories at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards Wednesday (Feb. 26), but three Nashville songwriters well known in Christian circles also walked away with the honor of Song of the Year.
Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims co-wrote”Change the World,”the song that was featured in the movie”Phenomenon.”The Grammy-winning version was sung by Eric Clapton.
Kennedy, one half of the Christian pop group Dogs of Peace, has written songs for such Christian artists as Susan Ashton, Kim Hill, Wes King and PFR.
Kirkpatrick has written songs and produced albums for such Christian artists as Ashton, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.
Sims, along with Kennedy, is a former member of White Heart, a Christian rock band, and also has written songs for Grant and Hill.
During the televised portion of the Grammy Awards, contemporary gospel singer CeCe Winans performed”Count on Me”from the film”Waiting to Exhale”with Whitney Houston in a finale that also featured Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and Brandy.
Winners in gospel categories included dc Talk’s”Jesus Freak,”honored as the Best Rock Gospel Album.”A Grammy Award is like `the shot heard `round the world’ when it comes to musical recognition,”said Toby McKeehan, a member of the Christian rock trio.”We are elated, yet, in a strange way, humbled.” Other winners in gospel categories are:
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album:”Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch,”performed by various artists.
Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album:”I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns,”by Andy Griffith.
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album:”Face to Face,”by Cissy Houston.
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album:”Whatcha Lookin’ 4,”by Kirk Franklin and the Family.
Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus:”Just a Word,”by Shirley Caesar’s Outreach Convention Choir.
Update: Congressman apologizes for `Schindler’s List’ criticism
(RNS) Rep. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has issued an apology for offending people with his criticism of NBC for broadcasting the movie”Schindler’s List”during family viewing hours.
In a controversial statement released Tuesday (Feb. 25), Coburn said the film exposed viewers to”the violence of multiple gunshot head wounds, vile language, full frontal nudity and irresponsible sexual activity.” Coburn’s comments drew fire from many quarters, including from fellow Republicans and Jewish groups.
Phil Baum, executive director of the American Jewish Congress, said Coburn showed a”perverse notion of what is offensive”in his criticism.”The only obscenity here lies not in the depicted nudity and violence but in the underlying historical event. The use of graphic material was inescapable if the film was to convey anything even approaching the horror of those days,”said Baum.
B’nai B’rith, the world’s largest Jewish organization, also blasted Coburn. In a letter to Coburn, B’nai B’rith Vice president Sidney Clearfield said”it is impossible to turn the Holocaust into a G-rated film and still show what happened to millions of innocent men, women and children of all races and religions.” On Wednesday, Coburn, a Southern Baptist, apologized for causing offense. “I feel terrible that my criticism of NBC for airing this movie was misinterpreted,”he said.”I offer an apology to all whom I have offended and personally apologize for appearing insensitive to the worst atrocities known to man.”
Poland’s Solidarity chief proposes religious constitution
(RNS) Poland’s Solidarity union chief proposed Tuesday (Feb. 25) that his country’s new constitution should be based on Christian values and rejected the left-dominated parliament’s suggestions for the charter.
In an address to parliament, Solidarity’s Marian Krzaklewski urged that his union’s constitutional proposal be placed before the voters in a referendum with the secular draft approved by the four parliamentary parties of the center and left, the Reuter news agency reported.”Poland has always founded its system of values and its constitutional law on Christian values,”he told the two houses of parliament, which were meeting for a second reading of the new constitution bill.
Poland has used a temporary interim constitution since shortly after the Solidarity movement, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, overthrew Communist rule in 1989. The national charter of the Stalinist era became obsolete at that time.
The draft proposed by the parliament is influenced by a legislature, elected in 1993, that is dominated by the secular-minded ex-communists. The right, which has wide popular support, has less representation in that body.
Parliament has said it might consider some amendments from Solidarity to its draft but only wants one version to be in a referendum.
Solidarity argues that Poland has been an overwhelmingly Catholic country for centuries and thus its constitution should begin with a invocation about God and should reflect the precedence of Christian principles over human laws.
Quote of the day: Ethicist Daniel J. Kevles
(RNS) Daniel J. Kevles, director of the Program in Science, Ethics and Public Policy at the California Institute of Technology, writing in The New York Times (Feb. 26) on the announcement that a sheep had successfully been cloned:”As with so many previous advances in biology, today’s afront to the gods may be tomorrow’s highly regarded _ and highly demanded _ agent of self-gratification or health.”
MJP END RNS
