As Haitians continue to dig out from the destruction of Tuesday’s earthquake, which could claim tens of thousands of lives, U.S. religious groups are checking on their missionaries and ministries in Haiti, marshaling funds and material to send there, and praying that the death toll will somehow be mercifully low.
As you all probably know by now, Pat Robertson did his blame-natural-disasters-on-human-sinfulness thing, in this case asserting that Haitians made a pact with the devil to defeat French occupiers. One writer says that’s a well-worn but erroneous myth that Haiti’s rebellion was ignited by a Voodoo ceremony. Some Christians are defending Robertson, saying it’s Good Ole Fashioned Old Testament theology (“A simple reading of the Bible shows how God uses natural disasters to further his purposes.”). Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said Robertson’s assertion is “theological arrogance matched to ignorance.” (Thanks to the AP’s Rachel Zoll for tweeting that.) Interestingly, a Haitian writes in a NYT Op-ed that “If God exists, he’s really got it in for Haiti. Haitians think so, too.”
In other news, USA Today reports that the Great Recession has pummeled U.S. churches, driving down contributions and curtailing budgets. As MLK Day approaches, immigration reform activists are tying their efforts to his legacy.
The Supreme Court blocked broadcasts from the gay marriage trial in California, arguing that “witness testimony may be chilled” because witnesses may be harassed. A federal judge determined that Tony Alamo’s multi-million-dollar ministry must pay $500,000 to each of his five child “wives.” The 9th Circuit said the University of California can refuse to accept certain high school courses on religion and ethics that are limited to one denomination’s viewpoint.
Honolulu’s Catholic bishop says its OK to discriminate against gays, San Francisco’s says House Speaker Pelosi’s pro-abortion-rights arguments contain “fundamental misconceptions about Catholic teaching on human freedom.” (The whole column is worth a read.)
An Ecuadorean pastor in New York will probably be jailed for scamming more than 100 immigrants by promising bogus visas; a California pastor has been indicted on charges of helping foreigners fraudulently obtain student visas.
Religious groups in Alabama are gearing up to fight the expansion of gambling. The AP finds that disabled people are often prevented from attending worship services for lack of ramps, etc.
Prominent Catholic bishops on a tour of the Holy Land criticized Israel’s policies toward Palestinians. Jordan wants its Dead Sea Scrolls back. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus are bathing in the Ganges’ icy waters as part of a month-long religious festival. A Hong Kong megastar says his movie about Confucius will beat “Avatar” at the box office. It’s not in 3-D, though; as Confucius might say “Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.”
Finally, in some good news, Catholic University found a Rembrandt etching (maybe) in a bathroom cabinet as its president was searching for paper towels.
Washington Post photo at top left is of a body found by rescue workers in Port-au-Prince.
