c. 2004 Religion News Service
Pope Urges Youth to Resist Seduction of Success and Power
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope John Paul II urged young people Thursday (Aug. 26) to resist the temptation of New Age idolatry and reject the “facile myths of wealth and power.”
The 84-year-old Roman Catholic pontiff addressed young people in a message issued to prepare for the church’s 22nd World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany, next August.
John Paul called on youth to “be worshippers of the only true God” and make Christ “the rock on which to build your future and a world of greater justice and solidarity.”
“Idolatry is an ever-present temptation,” he said in a clear reference to New Age cults. “Sadly, there are those who seek the solution to their problems in religious practices that are incompatible with the Christian faith.”
Acknowledging that young people may feel “a strong urge to believe in the facile myths of success and power,” the pope warned that “it is dangerous to accept the fleeting ideas of the sacred, which present God in the form of cosmic energy, or in any other manner that is inconsistent with Catholic teaching.”
“My dear young people,” John Paul said, “do not yield to false illusions and passing fads which so frequently leave behind a tragic spiritual vacuum! Reject the seduction of wealth, consumerism and the subtle violence sometimes used by the mass media.”
The theme of the 2005 World Youth Day is “We have come to worship him,” from Matthew’s gospel. They are the words spoken by the Magi on their journey seeking the infant Jesus.
John Paul said that the World Youth Day participants must prepare themselves “spiritually, in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the Word of God” before they make their own journey to Cologne.
_ Peggy Polk
Liberal Nuns Denounce Gay Marriage Amendment
(RNS) A group of liberal Catholic nuns said it is “politically and morally wrong” to deny gay couples the right to marry, and said church teachings against homosexuality are “unjust.”
The 500-member National Coalition of American Nuns approved the statement during its Aug. 18-21 convention in Denver. The sisters also approved resolutions against war, nuclear weapons and sexual abuse by nuns.
“`Liberty and justice for all’ means that the political definition of marriage must not be discriminatory,” the nuns said. “If heterosexual unions or marriages are recognized by the state, not recognizing same-sex unions or marriages is unfair. Such unfairness is politically and morally wrong.”
The nuns said all people have a right to “choose how they fulfill the divine command to love one another,” and said a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is “nothing more than an attack on gay and lesbian people and their families.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has endorsed the proposed amendment banning gay marriage.
“The bishops are very clear on the position that it is important to uphold the sanctity of marriage as defined as the union of a man and a woman,” said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the bishops.
In other business, the nuns called for a top Vatican cardinal to “step aside” and be replaced with “a feminist woman” after a recent document was critical of the “lethal effects” of feminism.
The nuns said the letter by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was written by men about women without consulting women, and makes the church appear “ludicrous and out of touch.”
“Where is the document that speaks of men’s lack of fidelity to women, men’s unwillingness to participate in the raising of children, men’s workaholic and alcoholic behaviors, men’s attitudes toward marriage relationships that do not honor the God-given talents of women?” the nuns said.
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Poverty, Uninsured Numbers Rise for Third Consecutive Year
WASHINGTON (RNS) The number of Americans living in poverty rose by 1.3 million last year, a problem that an ecumenical anti-hunger group says has been lost in election-year politics.
Figures released Thursday (Aug. 26) by the Census Bureau showed 35.8 million Americans living below the poverty line, up from 34.5 million in 2002. Those figures reflect an increase from 12.1 percent of the population to 12.5 percent.
A more pronounced increase was noted in the 12.9 million children living in poverty _ 17.6 percent of all Americans under the age of 18, up from 16.7 percent the year before.
The number of uninsured Americans also rose, up 1.4 million to 45 million, or 15.6 percent of the population. It was the third straight year of increases in the poverty and uninsured numbers.
Census officials noted, however, that both increases are still “below the average of the 1980s and 1990s.” The poverty threshold for a family of four was set at $18,810.
The Rev. David Beckmann, president of the ecumenical group Bread for the World, called the numbers “troubling,” but said he was more concerned that the campaigns of George Bush and John Kerry seem preoccupied with Kerry’s war record in Vietnam.
“This is not a red or blue issue. Ending the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger is a red, white and blue issue,” Beckmann said. “President Bush and Sen. Kerry need to move beyond events of 35 years ago and focus on issues currently facing the families in our nation.”
Census officials rejected the claim by some Democrats that Republicans ordered the release of the numbers earlier than their normal publication dates in late September because they might negatively impact Bush’s re-election bid.
“There has been no influence or pressure from the (Bush) campaign,” Census director Louis Kincannon told the Associated Press.
_ Kevin Eckstrom
New Political Organization of Black Clergy Supports Bush
(RNS) A fledging political organization of African-American clergy has announced its endorsement of President Bush for re-election.
Supporters of the National Faith Based Initiative Coalition met in Washington Aug. 20 to announce the formation of their group and their support for the president.
“For way too long, the Democratic Party has taken the African-American vote for granted, and while a majority of black Americans do support the Democrats’ ticket, there are many, many of us who are aligned with conservative platforms,” said Oliver N.E. Kellman Jr., executive director of the coalition, in a statement.
The group’s statement endorsing Bush cited his affirmation of faith-based organizations.
“The president has advocated on behalf of our interests by establishing centers of faith-based and community initiatives which address the problems of homelessness, substance abuse, welfare-to-work families, ex-offenders and at-risk youth,” it said.
“We believe that the president’s initiatives represent a new approach to the government’s role in helping those in need.”
Bishop Clarence McClendon of West Los Angeles, Calif. and nine other clergy from several other states have signed on as members of the group.
“The time has come when the conservative black Americans can step forward and speak up, speak out, and speak the truth about how they think this country should be governed,” said McClendon, of the Full Harvest International Church, in a statement.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Pa. Couple Win Freedom to Post Anti-Abortion Sign on Their Porch
(RNS) In a move city officials call an affirmation of the First Amendment, the Borough Council of Paxtang, Pa., will allow a couple to keep a religious anti-abortion sign on their front porch after warning them to remove it or face a fine or jail time.
Several weeks ago, Colman and Frances Wessel attached a metal sign to the railing of their front porch. It included a picture of Jesus Christ and said, “This home supports the pro-life cause and is dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus.”
Now that the council says the sign can stay, Colman Wessel is relieved the controversy is over.
“Jesus was pro-life, and we are, too,” he said. “Our sign links the sacred heart of Jesus with the pro-life movement. We’re leaving the sign up.”
Last month, Brian Seneca, the borough codes enforcement officer, told the Wessels the sign violated the borough’s sign ordinance because it does not promote a charity. He ordered them to remove it or face a fine up to $500 or imprisonment for up to 60 days.
The ordinance permits “signs for public, religious and charitable institutions and uses such as parks, schools, churches and similar uses.”
The Wessels refused to move their sign, saying they were exercising their freedom of speech and religion. Neighbors and a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union agreed.
The council directed Stanley J. Laskowski, the borough’s lawyer, to review the sign ordinance and update it if necessary.
“Mr. and Mrs. Wessel have opened our eyes,” said Frank Krautheim, council vice president. “We told them they couldn’t have that sign up based on what the ordinance said. They protested. Democracy worked. They got what they wanted. It’s Civics 101, and we won’t pursue it. There’s no hard feelings.”
Paula Knudsen, a staff lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said she was pleased “that the borough of Paxtang recognized the importance of the Wessels’ right of free speech. It’s even better that (borough officials) are looking at their ordinance and perhaps revising it or getting rid of it if it’s unconstitutional.”
_ Mary Klaus
Quote of the Day: Presbyterian Church (USA) leader Clifton Kirkpatrick
(RNS) “That the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, and that the global economic system is the fundamental cause, is the context in which the church is trying to minister all over the world. This issue is at the core of the problem of trying to proclaim the gospel while the world is destroyed.”
_ The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), reflecting on concerns raised at the recent assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Kirkpatrick, the new president of the alliance, was quoted by Presbyterian News Service.
MO/PH END RNS
