c. 1996 Religion News Service
Postal Service introduces stamp commemorating Hanukkah
(RNS)-The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the first of a new series of “Holiday Celebrations” postage stamps Tuesday (March 5)-a colorful stamp commemorating Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.
The new stamp, featuring a contemporary image of the menorah and nine multicolored candles, was unveiled by Postmaster General Marvin Runyon at the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington.
“The traditions of Hanukkah hold special meaning for celebrants around the world and for millions of Americans,” Runyon said in remarks prepared for the ceremony. “It’s also a tale of universal appeal. A story of triumph over adversity, strength in conviction, and belief in the possibility of miracles.
“It’s an inspiring message that reaches across cultural boundaries and touches a place deep in our heart,” Runyon added.
The eight-day celebration commemorates the liberation of Jerusalem by Judah the Maccabee and his followers from Syrian Greeks more than 2,100 years ago. When rededicating the temple, however, the triumphant Jews could find enough oil only to kindle and burn the Holy Light in the temple for one day.
Miraculously, according to the story, the light burned for eight days and nights, long enough to prepare a new supply of consecrated oil.
Hannah Smotrich, the stamp’s designer and an instructor at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, said she chose the bright colors featured in the stamp design to “emphasize the upbeat nature of a playful, joyous holiday.”
Runyon said the stamp will be a joint issue with Israel, with both countries using the same design. In the “Holiday Celebrations” series the Postal Service will issue a new stamp each year reflecting a different cultural or ethnic holiday. No other stamp designs in the series have been announced.
Cardinal Mahony slams Catholic Alliance, Democrats
(RNS)-Roman Catholic Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles has warned his flock to keep arms’ length from the Catholic Alliance, the Christian Coalition’s effort to enlist Catholics in the conservative political cause.
“I see in it (the Alliance) a great deal of danger because it sounds as if it is Catholic and a lot of people I know are confused and think somehow the church position supports it,” Mahony said in remarks reported Tuesday (March 5) by The Los Angeles Times.
The Catholic Alliance is a unit within the Christian Coalition, the conservative political organization founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson. While the Coalition has a similar position as the Catholic bishops on abortion-both oppose it-the two groups are at odds on other issues such as welfare reform and federal aid to the poor. The Coalition supports cutting spending on federal social programs, while the bishops do not.
Several bishops have expressed concern that the Alliance’s use of the word Catholic in its title suggests that its views are the same as the church’s.
The cardinal, however, was equally blunt about the Democratic Party.
“We find ourselves now very much opposed to many of the things in their (Democrat) platform,” Mahony said. “In earlier years of the Democratic Party, they were much more in touch with the people we speak for today.”
The Catholic hierarchy has long been at odds with the Democrats over the party’s support of abortion rights but has often supported Democratic positions on such social issues as welfare and health reform.
The Rev. Gregory Coiro, Mahony’s spokesman, said Mahony’s comments on the Democrats were aimed at the Democrats’ embrace of health and welfare funding cuts that the cardinal believes were “punitive” to the poor, children and the elderly.
Religious leaders urge federal study of gambling
(RNS)-A group of 16 Protestant and Muslim religious leaders has asked Congress to create a national commission to study the impact of gambling.
“Legalized gambling continues to spread with astonishing speed and scope-from electronic slot machines to new casinos on riverboats and Indian reservations,” the leaders said in a letter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., made public Monday (March 4).
“We believe a commission is vitally necessary so that a credible and factual study of the effects of gambling can be conducted,” the letter said.
“We are concerned, as religious leaders, about the potential impact of gambling on families and communities,” the letter added. “Newspapers report that gambling is leading to an escalation in crime and teen-age gambling. In addition, there are reports that compulsive gambling is now a growing problem among adults encouraged by promises of instant riches.”
The House was to begin debating a bill to establish such a commission Tuesday (March 5).
Signers included the top leaders of the American Muslim Council; the African Methodist Episcopal Church; the American Baptist Church, USA; the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); the Church of the Brethren; the Episcopal Church; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Friends United Meeting; the Moravian Church; the Presbyterian Church (USA); the Reformed Church in America; the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada; the Southern Baptist Convention; the United Church of Christ; the United Methodist Church; and the National Council of Churches.
Episcopal court hearing heresy case asks for further views on issues
(RNS)-The nine-bishop court that is considering heresy charges against retired Episcopal Bishop Walter Righter has asked lawyers for the two sides to submit another paper outlining their views on doctrine and discipline in the denomination.
Righter is accused of teaching false doctrine and violating his ordination vows because, among other things, he ordained a non-celibate gay man as a deacon in 1990.
On Feb. 27, the court, meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. John in Wilmington, Del., held a six-hour public hearing on whether the Episcopal Church has a doctrine covering the issue of ordaining non-celibate gays.
Much of the debate during the hearing centered on the difference, if any, between matters of doctrine and matters of discipline.
On Tuesday (March 5), the Episcopal News Service reported that the court has asked attorneys for the two sides to submit a memorandum addressing the question of whether violating resolutions or statements from the church’s General Convention-its highest decision-making body-are of sufficient weight to bring heresy charges.
The court also asked the lawyers to submit their views on whether the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals violates the ordaining bishop’s “Oath of Conformity.”
The court set a deadline of March 25 for the memoranda.
It is expected to be late spring or early summer before the court decides whether to go ahead with a full trial of Righter.
Tennessee evolution bill sent to committee for modification
(RNS)-The Tennessee Senate has voted to send back to committee a proposed law which, if passed, would require the firing of teachers who present evolution as fact.
By a 19-13 vote Monday night (March 4), the state lawmakers sent the proposal back to committee for study of several proposed amendments.
Tennessee is the site of the famed Scopes trial 71 years ago in which teacher John Scopes was tried and convicted for teaching evolution.
The evolution proposal is one in a series of controversial bills involving religion and social issues that have been considered by Tennessee lawmakers in recent weeks.
Earlier this year, the lawmakers went on record against same-sex marriages and in favor of displaying the Ten Commandments in schools, businesses and homes as well as churches for 10 days in May.
The evolution bill does not ban the teaching of evolution as a theory nor does it promote the teaching of biblical theories of creation. But the Associated Press reported that teachers say no one knows how the law might be interpreted and will be afraid to teach anything about the subject.
Because the bill has been sent back to committee, its passage is uncertain, the AP said.
Quote of the day: Elana Rozenman, an American-born Israeli citizen living in Jerusalem.
Rozenman, reflecting on the terrorist suicide-bombings by radical Palestinians that have claimed the lives of nearly 60 people over the last nine days:
“It’s such a horrible disaster for everyone with no end in sight. … We all feel as if the battlefield has moved to our front door and the enemy is continually disguised as one of us. … We can only hope and pray that soon God will find a way to manifest peace and security here. Certainly the politicians and generals have no way to do it.”
MJP END
