c. 2008 Religion News ServiceNew report says global hunger crisis worseningWASHINGTON (RNS) The number of people living in extreme poverty has grown by 100 million, and the number of hungry people has increased by 75 million in the last two years, according to a report issued Monday (Nov. 24) by the Bread for the World Institute.The report by the Christian anti-hunger group calls on Congress and President-elect Barack Obama to strengthen U.S. foreign assistance programs, making them more effective in fighting global hunger and poverty.“As we grapple with the economic crisis, we need to pay attention to the damage it’s doing to the world’s poorest people,” said the Rev. David Beckmann, president of the institute.The organization’s 19th annual report examines progress that has been made in reducing hunger and poverty worldwide and risks to the poor posed by rising food and fuel prices. It also analyzes successes and failures of U.S. foreign assistance policies and programs across the government _ from 12 departments, 25 agencies and close to 60 different government offices.“It’s imperative that the U.S. government provide, even in these tough times, adequate funding for immediate hunger needs,” said Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services.Hackett said the government’s foreign assistance goals tended to focus too much on the short-term. Instead, he said, the root causes of poverty must be addressed with reforms.“The interests of the poor and vulnerable must lie at the door of foreign assistance,” Hackett said.The report calls for a series of reforms, including elevating global development as a specific goal of U.S. foreign policy, strengthening civilian leadership in U.S. development assistance and partnering with recipient countries to meet their long-term development goals.It also suggests increasing agricultural productivity and raising the earning potential of poor people to gain long-term food security._ Brittney BainBob Jones University apologizes for racist policies(RNS) Bob Jones University, the conservative Christian school in Greenville, S.C., that did not admit African-American students until 1971 and banned interracial dating until 2000, has apologized for its past racial policies.The school posted a “Statement about Race at Bob Jones University” on its Web site on Thursday (Nov. 20), saying the school’s past policies were shaped “for far too long” by “the segregationist ethos of American culture” rather than by biblical principles.“In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves,” the statement reads. “For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.”Five university alumni launched a Web site, Please-Reconcile.org, to collect signatures for an open letter to Bob Jones leaders saying they were “troubled” by the school’s racist reputation. They collected more than 500 signatures seeking a university statement that past positions on racial discrimination were “mistaken, and God has granted a better perspective.”The leaders of the effort said 92 percent of the signatories identified themselves as alumni or former students.The statement by the university, the first of its kind to be posted online, was released before the group sent its letter and signatures to the administration.“We believe that in undertaking this project, we did what we were trained to do at BJU: to lovingly confront wrong doctrine or practice wherever it exists, and to remove every impediment to our gospel witness in the world,” the alumni group said in thanking Bob Jones leaders. “We are thankful that Bob Jones University has responded to the concerns of its alumni.”Lonnie Randolph, the president of the South Carolina NAACP, also welcomed the university’s statement, the Associated Press reported.“It’s unfortunate it took them this long _ particularly a religious, faith-based institution _ to realize that we all are human beings and the rights of all people should be respected and honored,” Randolph said._ Adelle M. BanksDalai Lama says he will lead until deathCHENNAI, India (RNS) The Dalai Lama tried to end speculation that he is on the verge of retirement, telling a gathering of Tibetan spiritual leaders that he has a “moral responsibility” to lead until his death.Speaking on Sunday (Nov. 23) in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, the 73-year-old Dalai Lama said “there is no point or question of retirement.”“It is my moral responsibility to lead the Tibetans till my death,” he said at the conclusion of a six-day summit to chart the future of Tibetan relations with China. “My whole body and flesh is Tibetan.”The meeting, which attracted some 600 spiritual and political leaders from Tibet, reaffirmed the leaders’ confidence in the Dalai Lama’s “middle way” approach of seeking meaningful autonomy for Tibet rather than outright independence from China.The Dalai Lama also hinted at the possibility of choosing his successor while he was still alive, instead of a reincarnation being selected after his passing. He spoke about the merits of a “young girl” possibly being chosen as the next Dalai Lama, commenting that women have “more or less” achieved equality with men but are frequently more compassionate.While the Dalai Lama did not personally attend the Dharamsala meeting, he addressed the leaders at length after its formal conclusion. He urged fellow Tibetan exiles in India to improve contacts with ordinary Chinese people. By contrast, he said, the Chinese government remained repressive in Tibet.Leaders of the Tibetan exile government had indicated Saturday that there was no reason to pursue further autonomy talks with China. The Dalai Lama, however, says it is too soon to declare such a decision. “Wait another month. Then we’ll decide,” he said.Beijing, in remarks before last week’s meeting of the Tibetan exiles, called the conclave irrelevant, and accused the Dalai Lama and his followers of trying to grab one-fourth of China’s territory._ Achal NarayananPope may change sign of peace in the Mass VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI may change the sequence of the Catholic Mass, including the sign of peace exchanged between worshippers, in order “to create a more meditative climate” of worship, a senior Vatican official said.Cardinal Francis Arinze said the pope had asked all bishops for their views on whether the sign of peace, which is currently shared before Communion, should be moved to an earlier point in the Mass.Arinze, who heads the Vatican body in charge of liturgy and sacraments, made the announcement in the Saturday (Nov. 22) edition of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.“The meaning of this gesture is often not fully understood,” Arinze told an interviewer. “It is thought to be a chance to shake hands with friends. Instead it is a way to tell those nearby that the peace of Christ, really present on the altar, is also with all men.”Under the contemplated change, Arinze said, the sign of peace would instead take place at the “offering of the gifts” when the Eucharistic bread and wine is brought forward.Pope Benedict has more than once expressed concern about the disruptive potential of the sign of peace when performed in an inappropriate fashion.In a 2007 document, he called for “greater restraint in this gesture which can become exaggerated and cause a certain distraction in the assembly before the reception of Communion.”Arinze gave no indication of when Benedict might decide on the possible change._ Francis X. RoccaQuote of the Day: David Neff(RNS) “It’s like someone who has announced he’s an alcoholic and they’ve got that under control and are dry now. You don’t want to chance putting them back in the situation where it could happen again.”_ David Neff, editor in chief of Christianity Today magazine and a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Evangelicals, quoted by the Associated Press about how former NAE president Ted Haggard should not return to ministry too soon, if ever. Haggard, a former megachurch pastor who was involved in a sex and drug scandal two years ago, reappeared in a pulpit on Nov. 2. KRE/CSW END RNS1,375 words