c. 2008 Religion News Service

McCain, Obama urged to make poverty a priority

(RNS) Nine faith leaders have banded together to urge Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain to present a 10-year plan to combat poverty when speaking at their national nominating conventions.

The interfaith coalition _ led by Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and the Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA _ sent letters to the two candidates asking that they address poverty in a prime-time speech and propose a strategy to help the 37 million Americans who live below the poverty line.

“As people of faith, we believe it is immoral to ignore our nation’s most vulnerable populations. As Americans, we believe enduring poverty undermines our country’s economic strength and prosperity,” the letter states. “But our efforts to sustain our brothers and sisters living in poverty must be complemented with a serious plan from our political leaders to reduce the number of needy.”

In addition to Gutow and Snyder, the statement was signed by the Rev. David Beckmann, president, Bread for the World; the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for government affairs, National Association of Evangelicals; the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary, National Council of Churches; Dr. Eboo Patel, executive director, Interfaith Youth Core; Rabbi David Saperstein, director and counsel, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism; Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary general, Islamic Society of North America; and the Rev. Jim Wallis, chief executive officer, Sojourners.

The letter is part of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs’ new national anti-poverty initiative, “There Shall Be No Needy Among You.” The campaign urges local, state and national lawmakers to advance anti-poverty legislation and programs, including shelters, work and educational opportunities.

“JCPA is trying to get the faith community involved to engage politicians to address poverty in this country,” said Adam Muhlendorf, JCPA spokesman. “We want to have the candidates ensure that at the convention, the issue is addressed.”

Neither the McCain nor Obama campaign has responded yet, he said.

_ Nicole Neroulias

Bush asked to press China on religious freedom

WASHINGTON (RNS) A federal religious freedom watchdog panel on Wednesday (July 30) asked President Bush to use his trip to the Beijing Olympics next month to speak publicly against abuses of religious freedom and human rights in China.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, joined by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, also voiced support for a resolution pending in Congress that urges China to end all human rights violations.

“We were in the White House and I told Bush that he had made a horrible mistake to go to the Beijing Olympics,” said Wei Jingsheng, one of five Chinese freedom activists who met with Bush on Tuesday (July 29).

“I do know that the Bush administration did try to push for human rights. Unfortunately, such an effort did not make much progress. Not only is there no improvement, as a matter of fact, human rights have gone backwards.”

In addition to a televised speech, the joint appeal asks Bush to urge the Chinese government to end religious oppression, to release detained religious leaders and groups, and to urge China to use its “considerable leverage” with Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur.

“Hopes that the Olympic Games would dramatically improve human rights conditions in China have not been realized,” said Felice D. Gaer, the commission’s chairwoman. “Instead, the situation has grown increasingly dire, particularly for many of China’s religious adherents.”

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., an outspoken opponent of China’s human rights record, said granting the 2008 Olympics to China was a “terrible mistake.”

“When you see all the choreography smiling faces in opening ceremonies, know that they are the lucky ones,” he said.

_ Ashly McGlone

Mass. moves step closer to expanding same-sex marriages

BOSTON (RNS) The state House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 29) voted to abolish a 1913 law that has the effect of preventing out-of-state gay couples from being married in Massachusetts unless they agree to move here.

The law, which was dusted off by former Gov. Mitt Romney when the state’s highest court approved same-sex marriage in 2003, bans marriages in Massachusetts if those unions would be illegal in the couple’s home state.

The Senate, on a voice vote, approved the repeal earlier this month. And Gov. Deval L. Patrick, citing the racial origins of the old law, has said he will sign the bill to eliminate it.

Kristian M. Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute in Woburn, said the House vote reaffirms the need for a federal constitutional amendment that would limit marriage to the union of one man and one woman.

“We’re disappointed in the overall vote,” Mineau said. “We’re pleased with the representatives who stood tall.”

Mineau said Massachusetts will become “Las Vegas east” with the repeal of the 1913 law.

William G. Conley, a lobbyist for the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, said his organization was thrilled with the vote.

“I feel relieved,” Conley said. “This is good news for the state.”

Conley and other critics called the 1913 law a discriminatory measure that was created to block inter-racial marriages. Massachusetts in 1843 repealed its laws against inter-racial marriage, but in 1913 a total of 31 states still had such bans on mixed-race marriage.

Conley said the state may see an influx of marriages of gay couples from New York. New York’s governor in May directed state agencies to recognize gay marriages legally performed in other states.

_ Dan Ring

Methodists elect first woman bishop in Africa

(RNS) The Rev. Joaquina Filipe Nhanala is a woman of firsts in Africa _ she’s the only female United Methodist pastor in Mozambique with a master’s degree in theology, and now she is the first female United Methodist bishop in all of Africa.

Her election, during the denomination’s Africa Central Conference held July 22-24 at Africa University in Zimbabwe, is effective in September.

In addition to pastoring a large church in Matola, a suburb of the capitol Maputo, Nhanala also coordinates local women’s projects, leads the World Relief HIV/AIDS education program for southern African provinces and also participates in the Mozambique Initiative, a partnership of churches in Missouri with churches in Mozambique.

“We have had a long relationship with Rev. Joaquina Nhanala,” said Carol Kreamer, coordinator of the Mozambique Initiative. “Bishop Nhanala is capable, bright and dedicated and we look forward to collaborating in mission and ministry together.”

Nhanala is succeeding retiring Bishop Joao Somane Machado, who has seen the Mozambique United Methodist Church triple in size in the last 13 years, according to United Methodist News Service. There are reportedly more than 125,000 members some 170 churches across Mozambique.

As bishop, Nhanala will also oversee 29 schools, a theological school, agricultural programs, a hospital, two clinics, a seminary and four Bible schools.

A 1998 graduate from Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology with a master’s degree in Bible studies and theology, Nhanala later served as the school’s dean of students. She speaks five native languages in addition to Portuguese and English.

Nhanala is married to fellow United Methodist pastor, the Rev. Eugenio Tomas, and they have four adult children.

_ Ashly McGlone

Quote of the Day: Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam

(RNS) “Thank heavens we Episcopalians exist, otherwise Pope Benedict would be heading up the world’s only openly dysfunctional Christian sect.”

_ Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam, on the Anglican Communion’s Lambeth Conference, currently meeting in Canterbury, England.

KRE/RB END RNS