c. 2000 Religion News Service
Several States Look to Copy Vermont’s Civil Unions Law
(RNS) At least seven states are exploring laws that would create civil union benefits for gay and lesbian couples after Vermont became the first state to offer marriage-like rights to homosexual partners.
Vermont’s law, which went into effect July 1, grants same-sex couples rights similar to marriage, such as property and inheritance benefits. Couples who receive a “civil union” license, however, do not receive any federal benefits, and the arrangement is not recognized in other states.
Thirty-two states have passed laws banning same-sex unions. The federal Defense of Marriage Act allows states not to recognize same-sex unions that may be authorized in other states.
But according to the Associated Press, several states _ including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, California, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey _ are looking to Vermont’s law as a model for similar proposals.
“Using Vermont as a model, other legislatures wishing to enact equal benefits, equal status for gay and lesbian people will look at this,” David Smith of the Human Rights Campaign told the Associated Press. “There are several progressive legislatures around the country that would look to this.”
Two openly gay state legislators are crafting proposals to create same-sex benefits in New York and Rhode Island. State Rep. Tom Duane, a Democrat from Manhattan, said he is considering a bill that would mirror Vermont’s. Rhode Island State Rep. Michael Pisaturo’s bill would go further and expand marriage to gays and lesbians.
Vermont’s law has drawn the ire of conservative religious groups who say granting marriage-like rights to gays and lesbians threatens the traditional institution of marriage. Gay rights advocates, however, say Vermont’s program shows that gays and lesbians deserve _ and can receive _ the same rights as others.
“The whole movement in Vermont has created a tremendous amount of education and discussion about lesbian and gay relationships and the kind of discrimination we face,” said Tim Sweeney, deputy executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda in New York. “It’s been extremely positive discussion and very helpful to humanize lesbian and gay relationships and our families.”
Southern Baptist Journalist Shackleford Dies
(RNS) Veteran Southern Baptist journalist Al Shackleford has died from injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 68.
Shackleford died Sunday (July 23) after an afternoon head-on collision not far from his home in Franklin, Tenn. He was the lone fatality in a three-car accident, reported Associated Baptist Press, an independent Baptist news service.
Shackleford, a Baptist journalist for more than 40 years, was best known for being fired 10 years ago as director of Baptist Press, the official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Armed guards stood outside the closed-door meeting at which the SBC Executive Committee voted to fire Shackleford, then the vice president in charge of Baptist Press, and Dan Martin, the news service’s editor.
Those agreeing with the firings said the journalists were biased against conservatives, but others said they lost their jobs in an effort to censor the denomination’s news.
The firings led to the creation of Associated Baptist Press; Shackleford was a founding member of its board of directors.
Greg Warner, executive editor of the 10-year-old news service, said of Shackleford: “He was one of the gentlest and truest of souls who became the undeserving target of denominational zeal and vitriol.”
Shackleford later was hired by LifeWay Christian Resources, a publishing division of the SBC, as editor in chief of Mature Living, a monthly magazine for senior adults.
“I loved and appreciated Al for many reasons, including his strong belief system and commitment to the truth of God’s word,” said Jimmy Draper, president of the LifeWay division.
Before working at Baptist Press, Shackleford was editor of the Tennessee Baptist news journal Baptist and Reflector and the Indiana Baptist.
Pope Urges Virginia Government to Grant Clemency
(RNS) Pope John Paul II, a strong opponent of capital punishment, has urged Gov. James Gilmore of Virginia to commute the death sentence of Rocco Derek Barnabei “in the spirit of the Jubilee,” the Vatican said Tuesday (July 25).
It was the second appeal the Roman Catholic pontiff has made on behalf of Barnabei, 33, an Italian-American scheduled to be executed Sept. 14 for the rape and murder of his girlfriend.
Noting that the pope sent his first appeal to the Virginia government last December through the apostolic nuncio in Washington, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said, “Now, in the spirit of the Jubilee, John Paul II has again urged through the nunciature that Mr. Barnabei be granted clemency.”
In a message he issued last month to mark Holy Year celebrations in prisons throughout the world, the pontiff called for wholesale reductions in sentences in keeping with a Jubilee tradition dating to the time of the Old Testament.
Barnabei’s mother, Jane, met July 19 with Archbishop Giovanbattista Re, who as undersecretary of state was the highest church official present in Rome at the time, and with Italian government officials to seek their help in winning clemency for her son.
John Paul, who opposes capital punishment in all but rare and exceptional cases, has often intervened on behalf of prisoners on death row in the United States. Italy outlawed the death penalty in its post-World War II constitution and is campaigning along with other European Union members for a United Nations-sponsored moratorium on executions.
Barnabei has been held on death row since 1994.
House Encourages Public Posting of `In God We Trust’
(RNS) The House passed a bill Monday (July 24) encouraging display of “In God We Trust,” the national motto, in public buildings.
Rep. Bob Schaffer, R-Colo., the bill’s sponsor, said the motto “unites us as a people and has made us the greatest country on the planet. We should not run from it. We should endorse it and embrace it.”
The non-binding measure passed by voice vote, with only one lawmaker speaking against it, the Associated Press reported.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the move by the House is an effort to “appear pious in the eyes of voters,” but members of Congress have “simultaneously trivialized, politicized and manipulated religion.”
Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., said matters of church and state should remain in the hands of the courts and noted that the Supreme Court has sent mixed signals regarding school prayers and Christmas displays.
“We are inviting localities and states into this quagmire without any guidance at all,” he said.
But Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., welcomed the resolution.
“This inclusive, nonsectarian statement of belief in a common God should be seen as uniting, never dividing, a diverse nation,” he said in a statement. “In America we have the right to worship as we believe, but as a nation, we believe in God.”
The move by the House is the latest in a series of actions that give religion a more visible presence in public life. Last year the House approved a bill encouraging the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and offices.
“In God We Trust” was made the official national motto in 1956 by President Eisenhower. The phrase appears above the speaker’s dais in the House and over the entrance to the Senate chamber.
British Parliament Blocks Effort to Ease Anti-Gay Law
(RNS) The British government has accepted defeat over its efforts to repeal Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act, which bars local authorities, especially schools, from promoting homosexuality.
On Monday (July 24), the House of Lords voted 270-228 to keep the clause in the government’s Local Government Bill.
The ban is expected to remain in force in England and Wales until after the next general election when, if the Labor government is returned to power, it may again be challenged.
The Scottish parliament, defying the pleas of church leaders, has voted to repeal the ban.
The defeat came despite the House of Lords’ acceptance last week of a compromise proposal by Bishop Alan Chesters of Blackburn, which said children should “learn the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and the bringing up of children” that could have led to repeal of the anti-gay statute.
B’nai B’rith Names New Executive Vice President
(RNS) One of the world’s largest Jewish organizations has a new leader who hopes to move the group into the 21st century.
B’nai B’rith, a 157-year-old organization with extensive ties to Israel and known for its youth programs, announced recently that Daniel S. Mariaschin has been appointed executive vice president, the group’s top executive officer.
Mariaschin had been serving as acting executive vice president since November and was confirmed to the post earlier this month.
“Dan’s transition from `acting’ to executive vice president was smooth because it was clear to the search committee and the Board of Governors that in Dan we already had the ideal candidate for the job,” said Richard D. Heideman, B’nai B’rith’s president, in a press release.
Mariaschin will oversee several campaigns to boost financial contributions and new members. He has worked to re-establish B’nai B’rith in several Eastern and Central European countries following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Mariaschin will also lead the B’nai B’rith Center for Public Policy, a post he has held since 1988. Prior to working at B’nai B’rith, Mariaschin worked for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
B’nai B’rith is dedicated to preserving Jewish culture and identity through a number of initiatives, including youth programs, education, community facilities, care for the elderly and advocacy for Israel. The organization has chapters in more than 50 countries.
Quote of the Day: Tammy Faye Bakker Messner
(RNS) “They (gays and lesbians) cared about me more than the Christians cared about me, and that says something to me right there.”
_ Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, former wife of disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker, on the strong ties between her and the gay community. She was quoted in the July 18 issue of The Advocate, a gay and lesbian magazine.
DEA END RNS
