c. 2007 Religion News Service

Analysis says clergy turning dollars toward Democrats

WASHINGTON (RNS) Clergy and staffers of religious organizations are giving more to Democratic campaigns this year, marking a shift from four years ago when Republicans had the advantage.

Contributions to candidates, parties and committees from clergy and other individuals affiliated with religious groups has totaled $655,250, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign donations.

Fifty-six percent of that money went to Democrats, based on the center’s analysis of Federal Election Commission data on giving in the first three quarters of 2007.

By contrast, at the same point in 2003, clergy and religious staffers had given a total of $461,600 in contributions to candidates, parties and committees, with 59 percent going to Republicans.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the top recipient of these funds among all presidential candidates at the end of the third quarter of 2007, with $109,850.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was the top Republican recipient, with $39,350. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received the third highest Republican contributions from this category of donors, with $22,900, behind Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who has dropped out of the race.

Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the nonpartisan research center, said there has been a shift in giving among contributors from a range of categories, with more Democratic donations.

“That’s just the trend that you see all over,” he said. “They’ve at least become more Democratic in their giving … since the last election. The Democratic presidential candidates have raised far more money than the Republican candidates.”

_ Adelle M. Banks

N.J. mandates HIV testing for moms, babies

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) New Jersey on Wednesday (Dec. 26) became the first state to require both expectant mothers and babies to be tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Acting Gov. Richard Codey, standing in for vacationing Gov. Jon Corzine, signed the law at University Hospital in Newark. The new law takes effect in six months and requires doctors to provide the tests automatically as part of routine prenatal care.

“We’re saving lives. One infant infection is one too many,” said Codey.

If mothers are diagnosed with HIV, steps can be taken to prevent the virus from passing on to the child. Mothers who test positive will receive anti-viral drugs and perhaps a Caesarean section if the medication isn’t effective, said Arlene Bardeguez, director of HIV services in OB/GYN at University Hospital.

Mothers who test positive also are counseled against breast feeding.

Before Wednesday, only New York, Connecticut, Illinois and Indiana required testing of newborns, according to state officials.

Arkansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas require mothers to be tested, according to 2006 figures released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit group that conduct research on health issues.

Before the new law was passed, New Jersey doctors were required only to offer the tests.

Under the new bill, the screenings will be paid for by Medicaid or the insurance carrier, state officials said. The law does give an expectant mother a way to opt out of the test, but only if she raises the issue with the doctor. Even then, the infant must be screened.

_ Sharon Adarlo

Religious leaders urge peace between US, Iran

(RNS) More than 60 Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders have issued a call for the U.S. and Iran to make peace.

The petition, titled “A Pax on Both Our Houses,” asked the U.S. government to build peace with Iran, and demanded that Tehran end threats against Israel and stop denials of the Holocaust and the country’s alleged nuclear weapons program.

Citing both the Bible and Quran, the writers argued: “It is shameful in the eyes of God for Christians, Jews and Muslims to incite hatred against each other. This hatred leads to war, and then war becomes a justification for more hatred.”

The petition, which ran in a full-page ad in The Des Moines Register, was sponsored by the Shalom Center, along with the Iowa Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action.

The content of the petition changed after recent U.S. intelligence reports suggested that Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program.

“Until then, (the petition) had been focused on what the moral, ethical, practical and human life consequences of a war would be. After that came out, it seemed clear to us that even this administration was not likely going to go to war,” said Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom Center. “The real question then became: Are we going to move forward to make peace?”

_ Kat Glass

Quote of the Day: Center for Inquiry spokesman Nathan Bupp

(RNS) “We’re peeling back the burqa on unbelief.”

_ Nathan Bupp, spokesman for the Amherst, N.Y.-based Center for Inquiry, on the growth of atheism and his group’s increasing readership and “inquiry centers,” which serve as an alternative to church buildings. He was quoted by The Washington Times.

KRE/PH END RNS