c. 2003 Religion News Service

Heresy Charges Filed Against Chicago United Methodist Bishop

(RNS) Official charges have been filed against the liberal United Methodist bishop of Chicago, accusing him of heresy and abandoning the Christian faith.

Twenty-eight people say Bishop Joseph Sprague should renounce his views or resign his office for not believing in traditional doctrines like the virgin birth of Jesus, his bodily resurrection and his role in salvation.

Sprague has come under fire for a speech he gave last January at Iliff School of Theology in which he said the “myth of the virgin birth was not intended as historical fact” and added that “I cannot believe that (Jesus’) resurrection involved the resuscitation of his physical body.”

Sprague, a prominent liberal and social activist, further laid out his beliefs in his recent book, “Affirmations of a Dissenter.”

“He denies the physical resurrection of Christ’s body. He maintains that Jesus Christ is not the only way to salvation and appears to deny the substitutionary atonement of Christ through his sacrificial death on the cross,” the charges said, according to United Methodist News Service.

Specifically, Sprague is accused of spreading heresy and “disobedience to the order and discipline of the church.”

The charges ask that “Bishop Sprague either (publicly) renounce his contrary teaching and maintain his teaching within the doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church, or that he resign (or be removed) from his office and surrender his credentials of ordination.”

A preliminary investigation and mediation process will now be launched by Bishop Bruce Ough of western Ohio, the bishops’ regional president. If the case is not settled there, an investigative committee could lead to a trial by 13 clergy members; nine votes would be needed for conviction.

Sprague, who last year rebuffed calls for his resignation, told United Methodist News Service that “there are many things that could be said, but my understanding is that the complaint process is supposed to be confidential. So, given the disciplinary procedures requiring confidentiality, I must choose to say nothing.”

Other bishops called the charges extreme. Bishop Timothy Whitaker of Florida, who has denounced Sprague’s comments, said he does not need to resign but should further explain his beliefs. Retired Bishop Richard Wilke reviewed a manuscript of Sprague’s book and concluded that the bishop is “under the influence of Jesus.”

_ Kevin Eckstrom

Magazine Says Jesus Used Cannabis to Do Miracles

(RNS) Jesus was a drug user and his miracles were the result of cannabis-laced healing oil, according to an article in High Times magazine.

Researchers say a cannabis extract called kanehbosom was used to make sacred ritual oils used by ancient Jews _ including Jesus and his disciples _ according to the magazine.

“The medical use of cannabis during that time is supported by archaeological records,” author Chris Bennett wrote in the pro-pot magazine.

Bennett said the cannabis-olive oil mixture was used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions, including some that Jesus claimed to cure. “Interestingly, cannabis has been shown to be effective in the treatment of not only epilepsy but many of the other ailments that Jesus and the disciples healed people of, such as skin diseases, eye problems and menstrual problems.”

The magazine said Jesus provides strong biblical proof of the value of medical marijuana and that his modern-day disciples should not be persecuted for following his example.

“If cannabis was one of the main ingredients of the ancient Christian anointing oil, as history indicates, and receiving this oil is what made Jesus the Christ and his followers Christians, then persecuting those who use cannabis could be considered anti-Christ.”

Some Christians said Bennett was suffering from a bad trip. “Well, the Bible does say that St. Stephen was stoned … but perhaps not in that sense!” author John Cunyus wrote on JesusJournal.com.

_ Kevin Eckstrom

Pope Expresses `Prayerful Solidarity’ with `Suffering’ U.S. Catholics

VATICAN CITY (RNS) In a rare reference to the scandals over pedophile priests that have rocked the Catholic Church in America, Pope John Paul II on Friday (Jan. 10) expressed his “prayerful solidarity” with “suffering” U.S. Catholics.

John Paul addressed some 400 seminarians and alumni of the Pontifical North American College. They are marking the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the seminary on the Janiculum Hill overlooking Rome and inauguration of its Casa Santa Maria around the corner from the Trevi Fountain as a house of study for priests.

“At a time of difficulty and suffering for Catholics in the United States, I assure all of you of my prayerful solidarity,” the pope said at a Vatican audience.

The 82-year-old pontiff has spoken only rarely in public about the scandals that swept the U.S. church in 2002, demoralizing priests, devastating finances in some dioceses and forcing the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, America’s senior Roman Catholic prelate.

“It is my fervent hope that these days of reflection, prayer and priestly fraternity will strengthen you in your noble vocation,” John Paul told the priests. “Dear brothers, amid the challenges and hopes of the present moment, I urge you to keep your gaze fixed on Jesus, our high priest, who never ceases to inspire and perfect our faith.”

_ Peggy Polk

Boston Jesuit School Settles Clergy Abuse Suits

BOSTON (RNS) A prestigious Jesuit-run high school for boys in Boston announced Friday (Jan. 10) a series of settlements worth $5.8 million to 15 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Boston College High School settled the suits on a case-by-case basis as former students sought compensation for their alleged suffering at the hands of priests on the faculty in the 1970s and early ’80s.

Most of the plaintiffs had been students of teacher/coach the Rev. James Talbot, a Jesuit priest. Also named in the settlements was the Rev. Francis McManus. Two claims came from former students of Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine, where Talbot had worked.

“We hope that those who have been hurt, the brothers and sons of the BC High family, receive some consolation in what we have done,” said BC High President William Kemeza in a statement. “We are committed to the policies and practices that we have in place to absolutely protect our students so that they are safe here. We are firmly resolved to keep this kind of abuse from ever happening again.”

BC High’s settlements come as the Archdiocese of Boston is negotiating its own settlements with dozens of alleged victims of a sex abuse scandal that has rocked the nation. Five bishops have been questioned as victims and prosecutors aim to identify which archdiocesan leaders enabled abusive situations to persist over at least four decades. The archdiocese is weighing the option of declaring bankruptcy.

Help in financing the settlements came from the New England Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Plaintiff attorney Roderick MacLeish was unavailable for comment Friday (Jan. 10) morning.

_ G. Jeffrey MacDonald

Slaying of Canadian Muslim Leader Raises Questions

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (RNS) Canadian Muslims are torn over whether this week’s murder of one of their leaders may have been motivated by religious hatred.

Riasat Ali Khan, who built Western Canada’s first mosque in Vancouver in 1963, was gunned down Sunday (Jan. 5) in the driveway of his home in the sprawling Vancouver suburb of Surrey.

Khan, a 69-year-old businessman and prominent supporter of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party, built bridges between people of different faiths, particularly British Columbia’s large populations of Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus.

In the wake of the attack, in which he was shot five times, it’s been revealed Khan also had his share of legal and financial problems.

While Royal Canadian Mounted Police officials say the motive for Khan’s murder remains a mystery, the head of the influential Canadian Islamic Congress said the killing might have been “racially motivated.”

“We are urgently pressing the police to find Riasat Ali Khan’s killer, or killers, as soon as possible, and bring them to justice,” said Mohammed Elmasry, the group’s national president.

With war looming against Muslim Iraq, Elmasry said the country’s nervous Muslims, who feel under suspicion by authorities, need to be assured it wasn’t a racial crime. “I want to reflect the high level of anxiety in the Muslim Canadian community,” he said from Ontario.

But leaders of British Columbia Muslim groups were upset about Elmasry’s remarks.

Sikander Khan, chair of the Muslim Canadian Federation, said Elmasry spoke out of line. There is no religious tension in Greater Vancouver, Khan said, and there is no reason to distrust the RCMP when they say it’s irresponsible to prematurely suggest Khan’s killing was a hate crime.

Court documents have revealed Khan was named in a civil suit filed by one of his employees, alleging she was raped by his son.

Haroon Khan, who ran one of his father’s insurance outlets, was recently acquitted in criminal court after he testified the sex was consensual. The civil suit, however, claims Riasat Ali Khan should have provided better protection of his employees.

_ Douglas Todd

Center City London Church Seeks to Tax Businesses to Fund Operation

LONDON (RNS) When in 1998 the Rev. Peter Mullen became vicar of one of the City of London’s historic Wren churches _ St. Michael’s, Cornhill _ he faced a problem. The parish might include the Bank of England, but it had virtually no residents: all the City, apart from the post-war development of the Barbican, is devoted to financial and commercial businesses.

While he has built his Sunday congregation up from half a dozen to 50 or 60, they all drive in from the suburbs, and even if they were all incredibly wealthy it would be difficult for them to raise the $128,000 a year needed to keep the parish going.

And, although tithes _ a tax on property to support the Anglican Church _ were abolished in 1936, under a 1956 law a parish can ask businesses within its boundaries for a voluntary “church rate.” Rates are a tax on property which traditionally provided the funding for local government in England.

Mullen and his fellow workers in the parish worked out which businesses were operating in the parish and sent them all a letter suggesting they might like to pay a voluntary church rate _ at a mere 0.2 percent of the business’ rateable, or taxable, value.

In the unlikely event of everyone paying, this could bring in between $48,000 and $64,000 a year. Mullen said he will be quite happy if they raise $32,000.

_ Robert Nowell

County Commissioners Who Lost Case to Sell Ten Commandments

(RNS) County commissioners in Chattanooga, Tenn., who unsuccessfully worked to display plaques of the Ten Commandments in local court buildings have voted to sell the plaques in order to pay their lawyers.

The Hamilton County commissioners decided Wednesday (Jan. 8) to seek bids of at least $2,000 each for the plaques after a federal judge ordered their removal, the Associated Press reported.

The proceeds will be used to pay remaining legal bills from the commission’s court fight against the American Civil Liberties Union, said Commissioner Curtis Adams, who voted in favor of the sale.

Adams said an auction to determine the highest bidder will permit commissioners to keep a pledge that no taxpayer money would be spent to pay lawyers. Private donors have provided about $70,000 for the legal fees and about $7,000 remained unpaid, he said.

Commission Chairman Richard Casavant voted against seeking bids and cast the lone vote against displaying the Ten Commandments in county court buildings in September 2001. He said the plaques are county property and selling them _ even if they can’t be displayed _ means the county would be paying the legal costs.

Casavant said it was unfortunate the commission caused a “public spectacle for what to me is a religious document.”

Adams said he did not regret the outcome of the legal battle.

“We backed up this country as far as our Christian values,” he said.

Quote of the Day: Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas

(RNS) “I am concerned about the weapons of mass destruction that are being touted and mentioned. But I’m hoping that through diplomacy some resolution may be able to be reached and that the countries that have threatening weaponry at their disposal will come to a resolution because if we continue to operate upon the philosophy of an eye for an eye, pretty soon the whole world will be blind.”

_ Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas, speaking with reporters during a Washington appearance on Jan. 3.

DEA END RNS