c. 2007 Religion News Service

Poll Suggests U.S. Must Respect Victories for Religious Parties Abroad

WASHINGTON (RNS) A new Gallup Poll of Muslim nations indicates the best way to minimize anti-Western sentiment would be for the United States to recognize electoral victories by religious parties in democratic elections.

The 2006 World Poll of countries in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia also noted that nearly 80 percent of Muslims surveyed were in favor of having a democratic regime, as long as it is rooted in Islamic principles, or Shariah.

“The (U.S.) government should support any party committed to the rules and norms of the democratic process,” Dalia Mogahed, executive director of The Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, said at a news conference Tuesday (Jan. 23).

“Free elections are likely to keep producing religion-based parties, especially in the Arab world,” Mogahed said. “Islam clearly will have to play a role in society as it moves forward.”

In some cases, she said, a vote for religious parties _ such as Hamas’ win in the Palestinian territories a year ago _ may mean a vote against corruption or tyranny rather than a vote for theocracy.

Although Muslims said the U.S. is the country that gives its citizens the most liberty, the Muslim world still views America as politically domineering, culturally disrespectful and as a promoter of acute conflicts, such as Iraq.

“The U.S. is seen as a beacon of liberty and democracy, but at the same time it is most often seen as hypocritical,” said Mogahed.

The quality Muslims most admired in their own countries was religiosity. Most said they believe Islam is the key to progress for their countries.

Many Muslims also said the U.S. will have to respect Islam and stop viewing Muslims as inferior if relations between the East and the West are to improve.

But they also indicated that countries with large Muslim populations must work to be more flexible, reduce extremism and portray Islam more positively in order to promote understanding between the two regions.

Mogahed said the desire for Shariah to play a role in government was so widespread in the Muslim world that it did not constitute extremism.

“A vote for Shariah is not a vote against liberal values,” she added. “The danger (for the West) is in not supporting democracy.”

The Gallup Poll was conducted in Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Together these areas represent more than 80 percent of the global Muslim population.

_ Katherine Boyle

African Church Leader Warns of `Disease’ of Pentecostalism

(RNS) The president of the All Africa Council of Churches, a fellowship of mainline Protestant, Orthodox and indigenous Christians, said Pentecostalism is a “disease” spreading across Africa, according to an AACC news release.

Speaking at the Ecumenical Platform of the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, the Rev. Nyansako-ni-Nku seemed to direct his remarks at a type of Pentecostal prosperity preacher who “gets richer and the congregation gets poorer.”

The AACC news release also said that Nyansako, who is moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, exhorted “mainline churches (to) wake up to the challenge and provide direction; otherwise many people will follow these Pentecostal churches.”

Pentecostalism has become an increasingly prominent force in African life, according to a recent study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The movement’s growth has been dramatic since decolonization in the 1950s and 1960s, according to Pew, rising from 5 percent of the population in 1970 to 12 percent in 2005.

Pentecostals play a large role in politics, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria, and control numerous radio and television stations, according to Pew.

Nyansako said mainline pastors at the pulpit are “becoming bashful and instead of naming the demon which harasses people by name, they are willing to socialize with the mighty and the powerful to the detriment of the people who have placed their trust in them.”

The AACC is a fellowship of 169 churches and Christian councils in 39 African nations.

_ Daniel Burke

Court Dismisses Suit by Jehovah’s Witnesses Who Were Expelled

(RNS) A state appeals court in Tennessee has dismissed a $20 million lawsuit brought by two former Jehovah’s Witnesses who charged the religious body with wrongful expulsion after one of them questioned Jehovah’s Witnesses’ handling of child sexual abuse claims.

Barbara Anderson, a former employee at the international headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn, N.Y., and her husband, A. Joseph Anderson, a former elder of the religious group, were members of the Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Manchester, Tenn., before they were “disfellowshipped.”

Barbara Anderson appeared on the NBC program “Dateline” in 2002 to voice her concerns about how the religious body dealt with abuse claims. She and her husband were soon expelled from the church.

Denominational leaders have said they abide by state rules that require them to report abuse claims. Calls to the group’s headquarters in New York were not returned.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York sought a dismissal of the case but a lower court allowed the suit to go forward. On Friday (Jan. 19), the Court of Appeals of Tennessee at Nashville reversed that decision.

Jehovah’s Witnesses officials argued that the complaint related to an “intrachurch dispute” and the secular court should not interfere with it. The appeals court agreed.

“Decisions by the governing bodies of religious organizations on matters related to doctrine, faith, or church governance and discipline are not reviewable by civil courts,” the ruling reads.

The Andersons had asked the court to determine if their dismissal on religious grounds was really a pretext for secular reasons. But the court said making such a determination would result in “excessive inquiry into ecclesiastical matters” in violation of the First Amendment.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Quote of the Day: Retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa

(RNS) “I am deeply disturbed that in the face of some of the most horrendous problems facing Africa, we concentrate on `what I do in bed with whom.”’

_ Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, speaking about the divisions within the Anglican Communion over homosexuality. He was quoted by the Reuters news agency.

KRE/PH END RNS