c. 2006 Religion News Service
Suit Filed Over `Shabbos House’ for Orthodox Jews
NEW YORK (RNS) The federal government has filed a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination against a small town that denied a zoning variance to a residence where Orthodox Jews stay on the Sabbath while visiting patients in the hospital.
The facility, Bikur Cholim, is located across the street from Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y., north of New York City. The facility offers food and lodging to Orthodox Jews, who are not permitted to drive, carry objects or cook on the Sabbath or religious holidays.
The government alleges that when the village denied a zoning variance to the facility, known as a “shabbos house,” it violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
“This lawsuit enforces Congress’ determination that local zoning regulations must give way when they unlawfully burden religious exercise,” U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement.
Bikur Cholim has 14 beds and does not charge for its services, said director Rabbi Aron Reiner. But Terry Rice, an attorney for the village, said it is located in an area zoned for single-family homes.
“The village of Suffern is a very diverse community with houses of worships of all types,” Rice said. “Our first point is that there are no religious issues involved here; this is a straight land-use issue.”
But an attorney for Bikur Cholim, which filed a separate lawsuit against the village earlier this year, said this case does involve religious issues.
“The only reason this house exists is because Orthodox Jews can’t drive on the Sabbath,” Attorney Paul Savad said. “By protecting the freedom to practice one religion, we’re protecting the freedom of all religions.”
The government suit asks for an order to prevent Suffern from applying its zoning regulations in a way that violates the federal law.
_ Ansley Roan
Baptist Officials Sentenced in Fraud Scheme
(RNS) Two top executives with the Baptist Foundation of Arizona were sentenced to prison Friday (Sept. 29) for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.
Former foundation president William P. Crotts, 61, was sentenced to eight years in prison, while former chief counsel Thomas D. Grabinski, 46, received a six-year term on fraud and racketeering charges, the Associated Press reported.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields also ordered both to repay $159 million in restitution. The two men were convicted in July after a 10-month trial.
When the nonprofit group _ an official agency of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention _ collapsed seven years ago, 11,000 victims lost a total of $585 million. Seventy-five fraud victims testified at the sentencing hearing.
Investors had been convinced their money would be aiding Southern Baptist causes, such as building churches. But state investigators learned the two men had created a Ponzi scheme, in which new investors’ money was used to pay off old debts.
_ Jason Kane
Update: Obama Bill Would Allow Bankrupt Worshippers to Tithe
WASHINGTON (RNS) America’s charitable but bankrupt worshippers will once again be able to tithe if Sen. Barack Obama has his way. The Illinois Democrat announced Monday (Oct. 2) that legislation to protect debtors had passed the Senate over the weekend.
“For millions of Americans, charitable giving and tithing is an essential part of their lives,” Obama said in a statement. “And in a country where 37 million citizens live in poverty, we should be encouraging charitable giving, not limiting it.”
Last month, a federal judge in New York said bankruptcy reforms passed by Congress last year bar individuals from making charitable contributions if they are also seeking bankruptcy protection.
Obama said his bill will clarify that last year’s bankruptcy bill did not change the law “to prioritize creditors over religious institutions and charities.”
Obama said he expects the legislation, which he introduced with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, on Friday (Sept. 29), to make its way through the House when Congress reconvenes in November.
In 1998, Congress passed the Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act, which allowed individuals in bankruptcy to exempt up to 15 percent of their annual income from creditors for tithing purposes.
That rule was largely undone when Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
More than 2 million Americans filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005, and hundreds of thousands are expected to do the same by the end of 2006, according to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
_ Jason Kane
Queen Allows Castle Room for Muslim Prayer
LONDON (RNS) Queen Elizabeth II has given permission for an office at Windsor Castle to be used as a prayer room during Ramadan by a Muslim employee.
Nagina Chaudhry, 19, a university student from nearby Slough who works in the castle’s gift shop on weekends, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that “it feels amazing to be the first Muslim to read namaz (prayers) at Windsor Castle.”
The superintendent of Windsor Castle found an office that Chaudhry will be able to use as a prayer room on the weekends; it will remain as an office the rest of the week.
At Buckingham Palace, the queen’s official London residence, a prayer room for Muslims has been available for a number of years.
_ Robert Nowell
Quote of the Day: Ronnie Rosenberg of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska
(RNS) “The rectory for the cathedral priest is a trailer. It’s not like we have mansions and lovely homes to sell.”
_ Ronnie Rosenberg, human resources director for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, speaking about the decision to sell church-owned property to cover settlements in sex abuse lawsuits. Rosenberg was quoted by the Anchorage Daily News.
KRE/PH END RNS
