c. 2008 Religion News Service
Anglican bishops march to end global poverty
LONDON (RNS) Pausing from their internal debates over homosexuality and women in their ranks, hundreds of Anglican bishops on Thursday (July 24) marched across London to demand an end to global poverty.
At the head of the parade, which also included diplomats, politicians and interfaith leaders, was Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who walked silently behind a banner urging governments to “Keep the Promise _ Halve Poverty By 2015.”
The reference was to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, which were issued in 2000 with the aim of cutting global poverty in half by 2015.
Most of the 670 Anglican bishops left their once-every-decade Lambeth Conference in Canterbury to journey to the British capital and carry placards on the “Walk Of Witness” protest.
Williams suggested the campaign remains a “genuine opportunity” to end extreme poverty, yet he appeared dubious that such a result could be obtained by 2015.
At Thursday’s protest, Williams handed over a letter to a fellow marcher, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in which Williams warned that without a much bigger effort, poverty-stricken people around the world will be doomed to continue dying by the millions.
“If governments fail,” the archbishop said, “it will lead to further starvation, disease and death.”
In all, some 1,500 marchers made the hike, including Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Muslim Council of Britain General Secretary Iqbal Sacranie and Sikh leader Indarjit Singh.
_ Al Webb
Reid proposes federal anti-polygamy task force
WASHINGTON (RNS) Law enforcement officials from three Western states urged the creation of a federal task force to combat polygamy on Thursday (July 24) as members of a polygamous sect called it an attack on religious freedom.
The task force proposal is included as part of The Victims of Polygamy Assistance Act of 2008, which was introduced Wednesday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., a Mormon and outspoken critic of polygamous groups.
The bill, currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee, aims to strengthen federal-state partnerships through sharing information and tracking criminal behavior of polygamist groups. The bill would also provide $2 million grants to both victims of polygamy and state investigation teams.
The proposal comes after a highly publicized raid at a polygamous compound in Texas in which more than 400 children were seized by state officials amid allegations of abuse. Most children have since been returned to their parents.
On Wednesday, Warren Jeffs, the imprisoned leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), and four followers were indicted in Texas on charges of sexual assault of a child.
Reid and others have accused the insular polygamous groups of “organized crime” involving child abuse, welfare fraud and tax evasion. Reid said states _ which typically handle such cases _ do not have adequate resources to fully address the issue.
“The lawless conduct of polygamous communities in the United States deserves national attention and federal action,” Reid told the Judiciary Committee, later comparing polygamous leaders to mob bosses.
The proposal has support from the attorneys general of Texas and Arizona, as well as U.S. Attorney Gregory Brower of Nevada. U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman of Salt Lake City testified that a federal task force might be “too blunt an instrument” and suggested “subtler, more convert methods.”
FLDS representatives attended the hearing but were not permitted to speak despite prior requests, their lawyer said.
“If they were to create a task force for any other group _ Catholics, Jews _ there would be outrage,” said Jim Bradshaw, a Salt Lake City attorney and FLDS spokesman. “Do you demonize an entire group for the allegations of a few?”
Former sect member Daniel Fischer told the panel that women are held like prisoners at FLDS compounds, while his sister, Miryam Holm, told reporters outside the hearing that “I am not a prisonerâÂ?¦ I am not there under duress.”
FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop dismissed much of the testimony, saying, “This is one side of a story with people here set to sell books and sensationalism.”_ Ashly McGlone
Catholic university withdraws invite to feminist theologian
(RNS) The University of San Diego last week rescinded an invitation to a controversial feminist theologian who had been planning to spend a semester teaching and lecturing on the Roman Catholic campus.
Rosemary Radford Ruether, a longtime advocate for Catholic women’s ordination and for less centralized authority in the Catholic Church, had received an invitation to occupy an endowed chair at USD in the fall of 2009. But upon further review, the school revoked Ruether’s invitation on July 18 and announced plans to search for a replacement.
Ruether, 71, has for decades challenged Catholic social teachings on abortion, contraception and other issues on the grounds that they derive unjustly from male-dominated theology. She has called Pope Benedict XVI “homophobic” and “an extreme reactionary in relation to sexual issues.”
“Given what the donor has described and the intent of the donor’s gift, she would not have been the most appropriate person for that particular donor, for that particular (lecture) series or chair,” said USD spokeswoman Pamela Gray Payton.
Payton declined to say which of Ruether’s credentials may have disqualified her.
According to a USD Web site description of the position, “chairholders are to be distinguished theologians who think from within the Roman Catholic tradition while exploring and expressing the tradition in contemporary contexts.”
The revoked invitation drew swift protest from the Women’s Ordination Conference, a group committed to opening the Catholic priesthood to women. The group, which includes Ruether on its national advisory committee, on Tuesday (July 22) demanded an apology to Ruether.
“This recent action only exacerbates the mounting oppression experienced by Catholic women,” said Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, in a written statement.
Ruether did not respond to requests for comment.
_ G. Jeffrey MacDonald
Court upholds ruling against praying councilman
(RNS) In a decision hailed by supporters as a victory for the separation of church and state, a federal appeals court upheld a Fredericksburg, Va., policy that restricts praying “in Jesus’ name” before city council meetings.
City Councilman Hashmel Turner, who’s also a Baptist minister, claimed the requirement that all prayers be non-denominational violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion.
A three-judge panel for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday (July 23) upheld a lower court’s 2006 decision, saying that Turner’s prayer constituted “government speech” rather than protected private speech.
“Turner was unwilling to (pray) in the manner that the government had proscribed, but remains free to pray on his own behalf, in nongovernmental endeavors, in the manner dictated by his conscience,” retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in the court’s opinion.
Turner filed suit two years ago after the city mandated that all prayer offered before legislative sessions be non-denominational. The policy was implemented under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, which took action after Turner repeatedly invoked “Jesus Christ” in his prayers.
Representatives for Turner warned that O’Connor’s opinion could set a slippery judicial precedent.
“Can a president be sworn in on a Bible now? It’s an easy leap,” said John Whitehead, who argued Turner’s case on behalf of the conservative Rutherford Institute. “Can you say `so help me God’ in the courtroom? You’re talking about traditions that go back hundreds of years.”
Whitehead, who said he intends to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, called the city’s actions a reflection of a nationwide movement to limit private speech on government property.
Judith E. Schaeffer, legal director for the People for the American Way Foundation and co-counsel for the city, called Turner’s argument “merit-less.”
“What the court held yesterday was that the City Council has the right to determine for itself to adopt a policy of inclusion rather than exclusion,” Schaeffer said.
_ Tim Murphy
Quote of the Day: Alden Hagardorn of New Orleans
(RNS) “I don’t call that communication. The last I checked, the four evangelists weren’t Matthew, Mark, Luke and Xerox.”
_ Alden Hagardorn of New Orleans, accusing the Archdiocese of New Orleans of sending out form letters in response to parishioner complaints about church closings. He was quoted by The Times-Picayune of New Orleans.
KRE/RB END RNS
