c. 2004 Religion News Service
Vatican Accuses World of Dismissing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican has accused world leaders of dismissing the continuing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians with “a lot of peacemaking rhetoric.”
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s permanent observer at the United Nations, leveled the charge Monday (Nov. 1) during a debate on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The Vatican issued his text Tuesday.
Migliore deplored the “unending cycle of violence and terrorism, military action and reaction, in effect a series of retaliations which begets more violence” between Israelis and Palestinians.
But, he said, the international community is virtually ignoring the crisis.
“A realistic analysis of the situation finds that there is a lot of peacemaking rhetoric but very little political will shown in the resolution of differences,” the prelate said.
Migliore said that a share of blame for the lack of progress on the so-called road map to peace must go to “the reluctance of the international community to challenge the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to negotiate in good faith.”
The plan, drawn up by the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia in 2003, seeks a two-state solution to the conflict. It calls for negotiations on an independent Palestinian state to be set up in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel.
Without negotiations, the prelate said, “there are no opportunities for reconciliation, forgiveness, compromise or collaboration, all prerequisites for a lasting peace in the region.”
“There is no way in which a policy of continued separation will bring about peace,” he said.
Reiterating the Vatican’s stand on Jerusalem, Migliore backed “internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the Holy Places by the faithful of all religions and nationalities.”
The prelate underlined the role of Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the peace process, saying that peace in the region “depends greatly on the courageous readiness of those responsible to move to new attitudes of compromise which comply with the demands of justice.”
_ Peggy Polk
Episcopal Bishop Investigating Clergy on Charges of Paganism
(RNS) The Episcopal bishop of Philadelphia is examining whether a husband and wife clergy couple violated their ordination vows by living as druid priests and promoting paganism.
Bishop Charles Bennison said he is “extremely concerned” at allegations that the Revs. Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk and William Melnyk are promoting pagan worship, but warned against a “witch hunt of any sort.”
Conservatives were outraged when Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk, rector of St. Francis-in-the-Fields Church in Sugartown, Pa., sent a “women’s Eucharist” that praised “Mother God” with prayers that “may we honor our breasts as symbols of your abundance” to the Women’s Ministries office at Episcopal Church headquarters.
When the liturgy was posted on the Web site for the Women’s Ministries office, critics said the rites echo pagan worship of the goddess Asherah, the female counterpart to Baal. Church leaders removed the liturgy, citing copyright errors.
“Episcopal Church leaders want you to … defy God. Worship pagan deities,” warned Ted Olsen, online managing editor for Christianity Today, in a weblog. “There is no other possible reading of this `Eucharistic’ text.”
William Melnyk, the rector of St. James’ Church in Downingtown, Pa., is known on druid Web sites as “OakWyse” and “Druis,” while his wife is known as “Raven,” according to media reports.
David Virtue, who runs the conservative VirtueOnline listserve, found a February posting from Melnyk that said he and his wife “are both priests in the Episcopal (Anglican) Church. Between us, we lead two groves (some call them `congregations’) of Christians learning about druidry numbering about 1,200.”
Bennison said the couple has “contributed very positively to their parishes and this diocese for four years” and have assured him they do not use the pagan rituals at their churches or in personal prayer. “I will not allow this situation to turn into a witch hunt of any sort,” he said.
National church leaders called it a “non-starter of a non-story.” The Women’s Ministries office said it solicited sample liturgies used by women and said the rites “were sent to us in good faith” and were meant to spark discussion.
“There is quite a difference in presenting resources for people’s interest and enlightenment and promoting resources as official claims of the Episcopal Church,” the office said.
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Player Who Left Team Over Islamic Dress Returns to Christianity
(RNS) Andrea Armstrong, a college basketball player whose desire to compete covered in Muslim clothing caused a national controversy, says she has returned to the Christian faith in which she was raised.
In a recent letter to the editor of The Oregonian newspaper, Armstrong wrote that loneliness and distance from her family led to her conversion to Islam. Armstrong, who attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, is from Lakeside, Ore.
“I know that my actions caused great controversy over the past few weeks,” Armstrong wrote. “I had no idea that a decision that I thought I was making for myself would reach out so far beyond myself and affect so many.”
Armstrong converted to Islam last June, according to a Sept. 11 story in the St. Petersburg Times. She began wearing a head scarf, long pants and long-sleeved shirts in keeping with the religion’s traditions.
Armstrong and USF basketball coach Jose Fernandez agreed that she would not wear traditional Muslim clothing in games, according to the Times. Yet when Armstrong, 22, returned to school in August, she told the coach she wanted to adhere to her faith. She showed up for team photos Aug. 30 fully covered.
What happened next is in dispute.
Fernandez told The Oracle newspaper of USF that Armstrong quit the team that day to pursue her faith. Armstrong told the Times that Fernandez said wearing long clothing would make her teammates uncomfortable and that Islam oppressed women. She told the Times that she left over the dispute about her clothing.
School officials said they would seek a waiver from NCAA guidelines to accommodate her dress, and Armstrong quickly returned to the team. Yet on Sept. 15, four days after news broke of the alleged dispute about her clothing, Armstrong issued a statement saying she had quit the team because she did not want the issue “to cause further distraction.”
South Florida officials said they would allow Armstrong to keep her basketball scholarship even after she left the team. But Armstrong withdrew from school Sept. 23, according to the registrar’s office.
_ Rachel Bachman
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Moves Triennial Meeting Location
(RNS) InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has announced plans to move its triennial student conference from its longtime location in Illinois to downtown St. Louis.
The 21st Urbana Student Mission Convention will convene in December 2006 during its usual time between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It will be held at Edward Jones Dome, with additional programming at the adjacent America’s Center.
Since 1948, the meeting has been held on the campus of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Ministry leaders said St. Louis was chosen as the new location after a lengthy evaluation. It was picked over dozens of other cities because of its central location and convenient facilities.
“I believe a new location gives Urbana a different lens through which to see God’s heart for the world,” said Jim Tebbe, InterVarsity vice president and director of missions, in a statement released Oct. 20.
“A new venue helps us explore new possibilities and redesign the event with fresh vision and energy.”
The evangelical Christian ministry based in Madison, Wis., has 880 field staffers working with chapters on more than 550 campuses across the country.
According to ministry statistics, more than 19,000 people participated in the gathering held in 2003. Its first convention was held in Toronto in 1946, drawing 575 students from across North America.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Quote of the Day: Seminary President Paige Patterson
(RNS) “Whatever the lugubrious prognostications of the pundits may be on Nov. 3, and however much pressure evangelical Christians may experience, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats can save us. Neither can they destroy us. Our future resides wholly in the hands of a sovereign, transcendent God.”
_ Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, writing in a commentary for Baptist Press.
MO/PH END RNS
