c. 2006 Religion News Service
Orthodox Bishops Agree to Only Limited Financial Audits
(RNS) Top leaders of the Orthodox Church in America have ignored calls for a special audit to determine if millions of church dollars were misspent in the 1990s, but agreed to look over the books for the last two years.
The church’s 10-member Holy Synod of Bishops met in “extraordinary session” Wednesday (March 1) to discuss allegations of financial impropriety and parishioners’ calls for an outside financial audit.
The bishops agreed to adopt “best practices” for accounting in nonprofit organizations, but limited across-the-board audits to 2004 and 2005. The bishops also asked for advice on how to make church finances “more transparent, disciplined and accountable.”
And, in an apparent reference to a lay-led revolt over financial practices, the bishops Wednesday urged the church to “live as Christians in mutual repentance and forgiveness.”
The 400,000-member church traces its roots to the Russian Orthodox Church but has been independent of Moscow since 1970.
Former treasurer Eric Wheeler _ first in a confidential letter last October, and then recently on the Internet _ alleged that church leaders misspent millions of dollars in donations, including money from military chaplains to buy Bibles that were never purchased.
Wheeler said the funds were used to pay personal credit cards and blackmail, for lavish dinners and entertainment and was given to friends and family members of church leaders _ most of it “off the books.”
“During my years at the central church, I experienced a total abuse of power with no concern for accounting practice nor aspiration for accountability both internal and external,” Wheeler wrote last October.
Church officials were unavailable to discuss the bishops’ actions, but acting treasurer Paul Kucynda told The Washington Post the bishops “left the door open” for a more extensive investigation.
“Doing the independent audit will give them a sense of direction without being judgmental prematurely,” Kucynda told The Post. “It really isn’t some kind of stone-walling.”
_ Kevin Eckstrom
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Catholic Groups Launch Web Site to Refute `The Da Vinci Code’
(RNS) A Catholic coalition has created a Web site to promote a book that refutes claims in “The Da Vinci Code,” the best-selling novel and soon-to-be-released film that questions bedrock claims of the church.
The coalition includes Ascension Press, Catholic Outreach and the Catholic League. The Web site (http://www.DaVinciOutreach.com) promotes “The Da Vinci Deception,” selling it for $6.95, with discounts for group orders.
It suggests the book, published by Ascension Press, could become a resource for homilies during Mass and “Da Vinci Discussion Nights” sponsored by parishes.
“`The Da Vinci Code’ is a frontal assault on Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church,” said Matthew Pinto, president of Ascension Press. He called the Web site a “much-needed antidote to the spiritual and intellectual poison that permeates Dan Brown’s novel and that will undoubtedly be depicted in the forthcoming film.”
The movie will hit American theaters May 19. It is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks as Harvard professor Robert Langdon. The plot follows Langdon’s race to what he believes is the Holy Grail, and features the Catholic group Opus Dei, which has publicly disputed the accuracy of its portrayal in the novel. The book also contends Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and the two had children.
Anticipating a spirited response from the Christian community, Sony Pictures Entertainment had already launched its own Web site (http://www.thedavincichallenge.com) to provide a forum for religious scholars to discuss theological questions raised by the film. Sony says the site will feature essays from prominent Christian leaders and scholars, as well as quizzes on early Christian history and a discussion forum.
Christine Schicker, a spokeswoman for the Catholic coalition, said the group “wanted to have our own Web site and not jump on the bandwagon of the organization producing the film” because it might “give them more credibility.”
_ Nathan Herpich
Pope Praises Role of Women in Church, But Repeats They Can’t Be Priests
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Speaking to priests, Pope Benedict XVI praised the role of women in the church but reiterated that the Catholic priesthood is reserved for men only.
In a traditional Lenten celebration with parish priests Thursday (March 2), the pope fielded a young priest’s question on whether or not it was time for women to have greater institutional recognition in the church.
“It is right,” Benedict said, “to ask ourselves if in the ministry, women could have more space and positions of responsibility.”
The pope lauded women’s special gift of charisma, or grace, and mentioned St. Hildegard, who corresponded regularly with the popes of her day in the Middle Ages; St. Catherine of Siena, who was involved in Pope Gregory XI’s return to Rome from Avignon; and Mother Teresa, who started an international order of nuns in Calcutta, India, in 1950 and received the Nobel Prize in 1979 for humanitarian work.
“How could one imagine the government of the church without this contribution? It is a determining factor without which the church could not survive,” said Benedict.
But the priestly ministry is “reserved for men,” the pope said, explaining that priests manifest the teachings of Christ, who chose men as his disciples.
While some Catholics believe that women should be allowed to become priests, especially given the shortage of priests in the West, church officials have made no motion in that direction. And the pope’s latest message should be interpreted only as a sign of respect for religious women, said Maria Immacolata Macioti, professor of sociology of religion at the University of Rome La Sapienza.
“He is progressive enough to understand the problematic of women,” Macioti said. “But the church’s approach remains one of closure and conservation.
“It’s the same thing as not allowing priests to marry. Every once in a while someone brings it up, but basically things stay the same.”
_ Kristine M. Crane
Greek Catholic Community Appoints Israeli Archbishop in Israel
JERUSALEM (RNS) For the first time in centuries, the Greek Catholic community in the Holy Land is being led by an Israeli.
Elias Shakur, a Palestinian/Arab Israeli, was sworn in Feb. 25 as archbishop of the Galilee for the Greek Catholic-Melkite Church. Shakur, 67, was born in the Galilee. His appointment marks the first time in 200 years that the local Greek Church will be led by a local cleric born and raised in what is now the state of Israel.
Traditionally, the post has been filled by residents of other Arab countries, most notably Lebanon, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
“I plan to work for reconciliation and dialogue among the three religions of the Holy Land,” Shakur told The Jerusalem Post prior to the inauguration. “I hope to be a moderating voice in the conflict that has spilled too much blood.”
The Greek Catholic, or Melkite Church, dates back to the 17th century, and is governed by its own synod of bishops. It is the largest Christian community in the Holy Land, with some 55,000 members.
Shakur’s inauguration was attended by representatives of every church in the Holy Land, and bishops from Lebanon and Jordan, representing the Catholic patriarch in Syria. Muslim and Druze officials were also in attendance, as were Jews on an unofficial basis. Israel’s rabbinic leadership did not come because the ceremony was held on a Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.
The new archbishop has a reputation as a doer. He has helped anchor the dwindling Christian population in the Holy Land by building churches and housing, and establishing schools and youth centers.
Unlike the vast majority of Christian leaders in the Holy Land, Shakur is fluent in both Arabic and Hebrew, and has spent time with both Muslims and Jews. His ongoing work for co-existence between Arabs and Jews has earned him Nobel Peace Prize nominations on three separate occasions.
In his inaugural address, Shakur asked the Israeli government to work on behalf of peace, and to grant Arab citizens the same rights it affords Jewish citizens. Although Israeli law bans discrimination against minorities, in reality Christian and Muslim Arabs have fewer job opportunities, and their municipalities receive less money from the Israeli government than their Jewish counterparts.
_ Michele Chabin
Study Finds Nearly Eight Acts of Violence Per Hour on Children’s TV
WASHINGTON (RNS) With cartoons leading the way, children’s television programs may be more violent than prime-time programming, according to a study by the Washington-based Parents Television Council.
The report, released Thursday (March 2), found 3,488 instances of violence _ an average of 7.86 violent instances per hour _ in the 443 hours of children’s programming analyzed. There were also 858 incidents of verbal aggression; 662 incidents of disruptive, disrespectful behavior; and 275 instances of sexual content.
L. Brent Bozell, president of the Parents Television Council, said a 2002 study by the council found “the six broadcast networks combined averaged only 4.71 instances of violence per hour of prime-time programming.”
“There is more violence aimed at young children than at adults on television today,” Bozell said. “Too often we dismiss violence in children’s programming as inconsequential.”
He continued, “Studies have shown exposure to television violence to be positively associated to aggressive behavior in some children, and exposure to sexual content increases the likelihood that children will become sexually active earlier in life.”
The study focused on before and after school and Saturday morning programming for children ages 5 to 10, looking at eight networks: ABC Family, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, ABC, Fox, NBC and WB.
The Cartoon Network ranked highest for the total number of violent incidents, although the ABC Family Channel had the largest number of violent incidents per episode with an average of 10.96 instances. The WB had the highest levels of offensive language, verbal abuse, sexual content, and offensive or excretory references.
Jim Babcock, representative for the Cartoon Network, said he had not thoroughly reviewed the report.
“We are confident that our standards and practices policies ensure that the programming on our air is age-appropriate.” Babcock said. “All of our shows undergo several reviews throughout the production process to make sure that they are suitable for their intended viewers.”
He said Cartoon Network has voluntarily labeled all of its programming with the industry-standard ratings to inform parents of the content of each show.
_ Enette Ngoei
Quote of the Day: Dan Brown, author of “The Da Vinci Code”
(RNS) “Suggesting a married Jesus is one thing, but questioning the Resurrection undermines the very heart of Christian belief. … The Resurrection is perhaps the sole controversial Christian topic about which I would not desire to write.”
_ “The Da Vinci Code” author Dan Brown, who is being sued for allegedly copying from “Holy Blood, Holy Grail,” which theorized that Christ did not die on the cross. He was quoted in The Washington Post.
MO/PH END RNS
