c. 1996 Religion News Service

Arab-Americans protest Disney’s portrayal of Arabs

(RNS) Arab-American leaders protested Thursday (Aug. 22) outside Walt Disney Pictures in Burbank, Calif., accusing the entertainment giant of stereotyping Arabs in two films and breaking a 1993 promise to consult with them about the portrayal of Arabs in their films.

The protesters stopped short of calling for a U.S. boycott of Disney, The Los Angeles Times reported.

However, Don Bustany, spokesman for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said that some Muslim groups have asked other countries with large Muslim populations to boycott Disney products until the studio”stops doing what it is doing to Arabs.” The group objects to an assortment of villainous, Arab-like characters in this summer’s hit film”Kazaam,”starring Shaquille O’Neal, and to a nasty character named Habib in last year’s”Father of the Bride, Part II.” But the committee was particularly offended by what it regarded as a breach by Disney executives of an oral promise made in June 1993 to consult with them about any projects involving portrayal of Arabs, Bustany said. That agreement came after Arab-American leaders successfully pressured Disney into changing some lyrics in the animated musical”Aladdin.””I don’t think there is a deliberate attempt to harm Arab-Americans,”said Bustany.”But I believe there are people who harbor less than positive feelings about Arabs in general, and if they get a chance to slam Arabs, they will do that _ just as it happened for decades against black Americans, Asian Americans and American Indians.” Disney officials declined to comment Thursday.”I’ve seen so many films that have denigrated Arab people gratuitously,”said the Rev. Darrel Meyers, a protester and pastor of Van Nuys Presbyterian Church and chairman of the Mideast Fellowship of Southern California.”It has to stop. When you defame people you can dispossess them and you can destroy them.” Two Protestant denominations already have called on their members to boycott Disney products and theme parks on other grounds.

At its annual meeting in June, the Southern Baptist Convention accused Disney of promoting”anti-Christian and anti-family”values by extending health-care benefits to partners of gay employees.

Earlier this month, at their annual meeting, the Assemblies of God expressed”deep disappointment”in Disney for publishing books for teens with gay themes and for hosting”Gay and Lesbian Day”festivities at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Illegal immigrants, who sought refuge in Paris church, arrested

(RNS) About 300 illegal African immigrants, who had taken refuge in a Catholic church in Paris since June 28, were arrested Friday (Aug. 23), after police used tear gas and clubs to disperse protesters outside and stormed the barricaded church, the Associated Press reported.

Several protesters, who began keeping round-the-clock vigils in anticipation of the raid, fell to the ground bleeding as they grappled with riot police. No serious injuries were reported, and about 60 protesters were arrested.

The immigrants, mostly from the West African nations of Mali and Senegal, sought refuge in St. Bernard Catholic Church 50 days ago in defiance of deportation orders from the French government. They had previously been expelled from another church and a railroad warehouse.

Ten of the refugees have been on a hunger strike since taking asylum in the 18th-century Gothic church in the shadow of Paris’ famed Sacre Couer. Those on hunger strikes were removed from the church and taken by ambulance to a hospital just outside Paris. A spokesman for the immigrants said they would continue their fast. At least two have refused to be examined by doctors, the AP reported.

The French have been embroiled in a national debate over what to do with thousands of immigrants living illegally in France, which has a high unemployment rate.

Interior Minister Jean-Louis Debre said most of the immigrants will be deported but 70 to 90 will be granted temporary residency papers.

As police arrived at the church, the Rev. Henri Coinde, St. Bernard’s parish priest, hastily began to say Mass in an attempt to hold them off, the AP reported.”I am ashamed for France,”said Coinde.”It’s a disaster for human rights.”

Church of England appoints first pub chaplain

(RNS) A 57-year-old layman in the Church of England was inducted Aug. 15 as the church’s first pub chaplain.

Colin Shaw, who retired early from his job at The Guardian newspaper to study pastoral theology at Cambridge University, was officially inducted by Suffragan Bishop Gordon Roe to become chaplain of the Cambridge Blue, one of many pubs in the university town. The post is unpaid.

Shaw had been a regular at the pub for the past seven years and acted unofficially as its chaplain since last November.

During his frequent visits to the Cambridge Blue _ usually three times a week for an hour or so, enough time for three half-pints of beer _ Shaw lends an ear to the pub’s unchurched patrons seeking counsel for life’s difficulties.

After his induction, the same day as the Feast of the Assumption, Shaw and Roe celebrated with a beer _ bitter for the bishop, mild for the chaplain.

New York Times religion correspondent wins Baptist press award

(RNS) Gustav Niebuhr, a national correspondent covering religion at The New York Times, has won the Associated Baptist Press 1996 Religious Freedom Award.

The award, established in 1994, is given to individuals whose”achievements advance the principle and practice of religious freedom, particularly in the field of journalism,”according to ABP.

Before joining the Times in 1994, Niebuhr covered religion for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”Gus Niebuhr has redefined the religion beat for America’s daily newspapers,”said Greg Warner, executive editor of the independent Baptist news service.”He has made religion front-page news by demonstrating the influence of faith on society, and vice versa. And he has done so with consummate fairness and uncanny insight.” He is scheduled to accept the award at a banquet in Washington next month.

Quote of the day: Bumper-sticker confession

A bumper sticker sighted on a car with District of Columbia tags parked at a Northern Virginia office complex:”Oh God, please forgive me for working in the `burbs.”

END RNS