c. 2006 Religion News Service

Puerto Rican Branch of UCC Severs Ties Over Gay Issue

(RNS) The Puerto Rican branch of the United Church of Christ has voted to break from the American church because of “discomfort” over the denomination’s liberal stance on sexuality issues, according to a UCC news release.

The Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Rico voted during its annual assembly June 10 to formally dissolve the union between the two churches, which stretched back to 1961. According to the news release, 75 percent of those assembled voted in favor of the split.

“The news … is deeply and profoundly disappointing,” the Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president of the UCC, said in a statement. “The action will draw to a close the formal partnership between the United Church of Christ and the IEUPR.”

Formed in 1931, the Puerto Rican church was recognized by the Congregational Christian Churches, a forebear of the UCC, as a regional branch of the denomination. The Puerto Rican church allied with the United Church of Christ itself in 1961.

According to Thomas’ statement, UCC leaders have “known for several years that actions by UCC’s General Synod regarding the membership and ministry of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians have been troubling to many in the Puerto Rico Conference.”

The UCC is one of the most progressive denominations in American Christianity, especially in its treatment of sexuality. The church voted last July to support civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples, which angered the church’s small conservative minority.

It is also a “covenantal” church, which means there is no central authority to impose doctrine on any of its 1.3 million members or almost 6,000 churches.

The break with the IEUPR comes despite attempts to open formal dialogue and conversation with Puerto Rican church leaders, Thomas said. “I regret this very much,” he added.

Untangling the financial ties between the churches _ including pensions, loans and health insurance programs _ will take time, according to the UCC.

_ Daniel Burke

Catholic Bishops Say Immigration a Moral Issue

(RNS) A panel of Roman Catholic bishops, calling the current immigration system “morally unacceptable,” have urged Congress to pass comprehensive reforms that will address the root causes of immigration and provide a path to citizenship for undocumented workers.

“While the immigration debate to date has focused on the economic, legal, and social/cultural aspects of the issue, it is ultimately a humanitarian, and moral issue,” said Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles.

Mahony made his comments Wednesday (June 14) at a news conference during a national meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Los Angeles.

Mahony said current immigration law is “morally unacceptable because it accepts the labor and taxes of millions of workers without offering them the protection of the law.

“At the same time, we scapegoat these newcomers for our social ills and use them as rhetorical targets for political purposes,” he added.

Mahony said it is “incumbent on our elected officials, including Catholics, to carefully scrutinize” immigration law so that they “serve basic human dignity and protect human life.

“Laws and policies which infringe upon dignity and harm human life are wrong and, as a moral matter, should be rebuffed and repealed.”

The House and Senate have passed widely differing versions of immigration legislation. The House proposal focuses almost exclusively on border security issues, while the Senate measure address both security and citizenship issues.

Bishop Gerald Barnes of the diocese of San Bernardino, Calif., chairman of bishops’ Committee on Migration, said the nation stands at “a critical moment” in the immigration debate.

Barnes said while the Senate bill has some harmful provisions, “we believe it contains the essential elements necessary to bring justice to immigrants, including a path to citizenship for the undocumented and changes to our employment and family-based immigration systems.”

He said any bill hammered out by the House and Senate should have citizenship provisions, a temporary worker program, family-reunification reforms that reduce backlogs as well as restoring due process protection for immigrants “and refrain from criminalizing immigrants and those who assist them with their basic needs.”

_ David E. Anderson

Israeli Rabbis Agree to Recognize American Conversions

JERUSALEM (RNS) Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has agreed to automatically recognize all past, current and future conversions approved by the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) after representatives of the two bodies met in Jerusalem in early June.

The agreement does not extend to Orthodox conversions that have not been officially registered with the RCA _ the official umbrella group of U.S. Orthodox rabbis _ even if they were performed by RCA rabbis.

Nor does it apply to Orthodox conversions performed by other rabbinic courts.

The Rabbinate’s decision, which it announced on June 7, has eased tensions between the two rabbinical councils, which had been at odds over guidelines unilaterally implemented by the Israeli rabbis.

More than a year ago, Israeli Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar quietly instructed his staff to more carefully scrutinize all Orthodox conversions performed outside Israel, when converts from overseas wanted to marry in Israel.

Since then, only conversions performed by rabbis appearing on a short list compiled by previous chief rabbis have been automatically approved. In other cases, converts have had to provide additional proof that they were Jewish, sometimes mere days before their weddings.

Most Orthodox rabbis in the diaspora were reportedly unaware of the policy change, and therefore did not warn their converts of potential difficulties.

According to the rabbinical councils’ June 7 announcement, “all conversions authorized by the RCA in the past, and as such previously accepted by the Chief Rabbinate, will continue to be recognized by the Chief Rabbinate.”

The Rabbinate and the RCA agreed to immediately establish a commission to examine, “in light of Jewish law, current standards and procedures in the realm of conversion and personal status to achieve clarity and consistency whenever possible.”

Each party will prepare a list of those it considers to be “approved” rabbis for the purposes of performing conversions, marriages and divorces.

In the future, any rabbi who wants to be involved in personal status matters that he wishes to have recognized in Israel “will need to comply with the standards thus agreed to by the Chief Rabbinate and the RCA,” the statement said.

_ Michele Chabin

Christian Reformed Church Tries to Make Amends with Catholics

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (RNS) More than 400 years after the Protestant Reformation, the Christian Reformed Church is trying to take back a historic slap against the Catholic Church. It’s not easy.

Delegates to the denomination’s synod here spent about three hours Wednesday (June 14) attempting to tone down a 1563 Protestant doctrine declaring the Catholic Mass “a condemnable idolatry.”

That section of the Heidelberg Catechism, a preaching and teaching tool for many Protestant churches, still smarts for West Michigan Catholics who work with or marry Christian Reformed members.

Two years ago, the synod declared the controversial passage no longer should apply as written. What they could not decide _ and still could not Wednesday _ was what to put in its place.

In classic Christian Reformed fashion, delegates debated a complicated compromise. A study committee proposed keeping the passage but putting it in brackets, accompanied by a footnote explaining members are not required to recognize it.

The aim is to preserve the integrity of a historic text but also “function as a warning” against any idolatrous teachings that deny Christ’s final sacrifice.

Advocates said the catechism got the Catholic Mass wrong in the midst of the Reformation’s theology war. Christian Reformed leaders consulted with Catholic bishops and their findings were reviewed by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then headed by the future Pope Benedict XVI.

“It demonstrates the maturing of the Christian Reformed Church to the point where we can look at our own mistakes of the past and own up to them,” said the Rev. Lyle Bierma, a Calvin Theological Seminary professor who chaired the committee.

The condemnation muddies good working relationships with Catholics and is unlike any other catechism passage, said the Rev. Harry Winters Jr. of Akron, Ohio.

“It’s the only one that instead of expressing what we believe, turns on someone else, expresses what they believe and condemns it,” Winters said.

Bishop Walter Hurley, leader of West Michigan’s 163,000 Catholics, gave the synod high marks for tackling “a complex issue rooted in historically conditioned documents.”

“I respect whatever decision they make,” Hurley said. “It’s something I find encouraging and that can only bring us closer together.”

_ Charles Honey

Group Proposes Splitting Civil, Religious Rites for Marriage

LONDON (RNS) A religious think-tank has suggested that legal marriage in Britain be scrapped and replaced with a range of civil partnerships, to make clear the distinction between a religious marriage and one defined under law.

The progressive Christian group Ekklesia said the arrangement it proposes would still allow couples to marry if they wished, but the legal aspect would be removed from the ceremony. Instead, they would register their partnership under law in a separate process.

Under existing law in Britain, a couple marrying in the Church of England are simultaneously legally and religiously wed because of its status as the state church. Couples marrying in another denomination or faith are required to have the union legally registered under a separate act of state.

In Britain, a civil ceremony by a registrar allows no religious content.

Ekklesia said it believes its proposal would remove the “anomalous status” of the Church of England. At the same time, it added, it would clarify the situation created by civil partnerships, which grant gay and lesbian couples rights similar to those in traditional marriages but does not grant comparable status.

The problem, Ekklesia director Jonathan Bartley told journalists, is marriage itself. “Legal marriage clearly isn’t working,” he said. “A divorce rate of around 40 percent is surely evidence enough of this.”

“At the moment,” Bartley said, “there is only one form of marriage defined under law, which everyone has to take or leave. It does not reflect Christian ideas of marriage, which are based on a covenant before God, rather than a legal contract and agreement between individuals.”

Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams already is on record as arguing that granting legal rights to couples who cohabit undermines marriage.

“If the Church wants to argue that Christian marriage, rooted in the grace of God, is preferable to civil cohabitation, it is free to do so,” said the Ekklesia director, who argues that there should be a clear separation of church and state when it comes to getting hitched.

“But there must surely be something wrong when the church’s defense of holy matrimony involves perpetuating what many will see as an unholy injustice against established live-in couples.”

_ Al Webb

Jeb Bush Signs Tax-Exempt Law for Bible Theme Park

(RNS) Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has signed into law a bill that would grant theme parks that display, exhibit, illustrate and interpret biblical manuscripts the same tax-exempt status as museums.

The law is the product of a four-year legal battle involving the Holy Land Experience, a live-action biblical museum in Orlando, developed by Zion’s Hope, a nonprofit Christian ministry that oversaw it for its first four years.

Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan wanted the park to pay almost $1 million in back taxes since 2001, when it opened. Donegan refused to give it full tax exemption because he questioned the purpose of the museum.

“I think Holy Land itself is religious, but I’m not convinced that it serves a religious purpose like a church. I guess we’re going to have to find out the definition of a church. When you charge $30 for admission, is that a church?” Bill Donegan told the Associated Press.

Last year an Orange County Circuit Court ruled that the entire park couldn’t be taxed because it is used predominantly for religious purposes, but Donegan appealed the decision.

Bush signed the bill, sponsored by State Sen. Daniel Webster, on Friday (June 16). Donegan then backed off from the legal fight.

“We’re delighted for that, we don’t want to dwell on the past. I hope that we can develop a good relationship with (Mr.) Donegan,” said Dan Hayden, interim president for the Holy Land Experience.

Guests of the Holy Land Experience walk through a 15-acre walled city that depicts Israel during the life of Jesus. There are geographical replicas of historical sites and theatrical renditions of biblical events. Most notably, the park is home to a scriptorium where the oldest artifact is an approximately 4,350-year-old votive nail on which ancient Babylonian worshippers scribbled prayers to their gods.

The new law was a victory for Liberty Counsel, a national religious law firm that offered free legal assistance to the Holy Land Experience.

“Orange County sought to impose its own view of religious activities,” said Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “And had it won, every religious ministry would be subject to the changing views of county officials searching for more tax revenue.”

_ J. Edward Mendez

German Court Prohibits Driving in Restrictive Muslim Garb

BERLIN (RNS) German officials have no problem if drivers exceed 100 mph on the autobahn, but the German Federal Traffic Court has said it has a problem if drivers attempt to drive _ at any speed _ in certain traditional Muslim garb.

Garments such as burqas and chadors, which might inhibit a driver’s ability to see and hear properly, are not allowed while operating a vehicle, the court ruled Wednesday (June 14), according to the Berliner Zeitung (Berlin Newspaper).

“When one wears a burqa, one’s ability to drive is affected,” said a court spokeswoman. The court added that the ban had been the “de facto” policy before the ruling.

Both traditional garments cover the woman’s entire body. The burqa includes a gauze screen or veil that obscures the face.

The court was forced to make the statement after a German citizen in the state of North Rhein Westphalia specifically demanded a ban on people driving with burqas or chadors. The request worked its way through the government before ending up in front of the traffic court.

The ruling means that police throughout Germany will now be able to stop and pull over any person they see operating a vehicle while wearing garb considered to be dangerous to driving.

_ Niels Sorrells

Catholic Group Urges Indian Law Against Blasphemy

CHENNAI, India (RNS) A lay Catholic group has urged the Indian government to introduce “blasphemy legislation” to combat perceived threats from art works, books and films that repeatedly hurt the religious sentiments of various people.

The Mumbai-based Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) asked the Indian president and prime minister to help in enacting a law against blasphemy, “regardless of any religion.”

The request comes on the heels of widespread religious opposition, including from Hindu and Muslim organizations, to “The Da Vinci Code,” which questioned the basic tenets of Christianity.

“Since artists and filmmakers don’t know where to draw the line, blasphemy laws should be passed in the country,” said CSF general secretary Joseph Dias in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) on June 4.

Dias said legislation was needed because art, books and films have hurt the religious sentiments of different factions. Dias gave as an example the recent Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Although a section of the Indian Penal Code already contains provisions to punish those who offend religious feelings, Dias said the law is ineffective because a government sanction must be issued before the case can be prosecuted.

_ Achal Narayanan

Quote of the Week: Former President Bill Clinton

(RNS) “For people in America who are a part of my political tradition, our great sin has often been ignoring religion or denying its power or refusing to engage it because it seemed hostile to us. For … the so-called Christian right and its allies, their great sin has been believing they were in full possession of the truth.”

_ Former President Bill Clinton, speaking as he accepted an award from the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding on Thursday (June 15) in New York. He was quoted by the Associated Press.

KRE/PH END RNS