c. 1998 Religion News Service
Supreme Court allows Wisconsin voucher plan
(RNS) The Supreme Court, in one of the most closely watched church-state cases of its new term, Monday (Nov. 9) said it would not review Wisconsin’s controversial school voucher program that provides taxpayer money to parents sending their children to private schools, including religious ones.
By deciding not to review a lower court ruling, the justices left intact the state’s voucher program which is good for up to $5,000 a year per child. It is directed at poor families.
Monday’s action, by an 8-1 vote and without any explanatory comment, is not a decision on the Wisconsin plan and sets no national precedent.
But supporters of vouchers, which has become a hot button issue in education policy debate, were pleased with the ruling while opponents expressed disappointment.
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson praised the court action.”This historic decision clears the way for impoverished families who want a better life for their children to choose schools that make the most sense to them,”Thompson said in a statement.
Pete Hutchison, general counsel of the Landmark Legal Foundation, a supporter of the program, also welcomed the court action, saying”The court’s decision today removes the last hurdle for Milwaukee’s most disadvantaged children to reach the lifeline of a quality education.” But the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the court decision was”disappointing but not that surprising.”This action by the court means only that Milwaukee’s program may proceed,”he added.”It does not amount to a high court blessing of tax aid to religious schools.” The American Jewish Congress also expressed regret at the court decision, calling the Wisconsin program”in clear violation of the First Amendment separation of church and state.” Both Lynn and AJC officials Jack Rosen and Phil Baum noted that court cases over voucher programs are underway in several other states and that the Supreme Court”will soon have to render a decision once and for all on the constitutionality of vouchers.”
Bishops’ anti-poverty program raises record $14 million
(RNS) U.S. Catholic Conference officials, readying for the church’s 1998 collection for the Campaign for Human Development, have announced the 1997 collection raised a record $14 million.”I am delighted that our fellow Catholics have responded so generously to this appeal,”said Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, N.M., chairman of the campaign. Ramirez said the theme for this year’s collection, which will take place Nov. 21-22 in most dioceses, is”Helping People Help Themselves.” The campaign, established by the nation’s Catholic bishops in 1970, funds self-help anti-poverty projects throughout the country to give poor people living in society the tools they need to overcome poverty.
Since its inception, it has distributed nearly $250 million in grants to more than 3,500 initiatives across the nation.
The $14 million raised in 1997 includes some $3.5 million retained by dioceses for their local anti-poverty programs.
British Jewish leaders seek to overcome differences
(RNS) Leaders of the different denominations within British Judaism have signed a historic declaration aimed at bringing to an end a dispute that erupted following the death in August 1996 of the widely respected and much loved Reform Rabbi Hugo Gryn.
Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, head of the United Hebrew Congregations, the major grouping of Orthodox synagogues, but who has traditionally been regarded as a spokesman for all of British Jewry, refused to attend Gryn’s funeral because it would have meant recognizing Reform Judaism.
Sacks’ action irritated Reform and other non-Orthodox Jews, but then, in March 1997, the text of a private and confidential letter from Sacks to the leader of an ultra-Orthodox group was leaked. In the letter, Sacks called Reform Judaism a”false grouping”which should not be given recognition and described Gryn as”amongst those who destroy the faith.” But on Friday (Nov. 6), the leaders of the United Hebrew Congregations and the Reform, Liberal, and Masorti movements pledged themselves”unreservedly”to pursue communal peace and cooperation. They also agreed to set up a permanent consultative committee drawn from each of the groupings within British Judaism which will begin meeting in January.
In their joint declaration the Jewish leaders referred to the divisions that had become more apparent”since the death of Rabbi Hugo Gryn, of blessed memory.” They said the infighting had damaged communal morale and compromised unity on such issues as welfare, Israel, and communal defense.
60th anniversary of Kristallnacht marked
(RNS) As ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of Kristallnacht _ the night when more than 1,000 German synagogues were destroyed _ were held over the weekend, speakers urged continued vigilance against racism and warned of a resurgence of anti-Semitism.
The anniversary of the”Night of Broken Glass”recalled the burning and ransacking of Jewish shops and synagogues by Nazi storm troopers. The event is viewed as a harbinger of the Holocaust.”The night of November 9 and 10, 1938 is one of the most horrible and shameful moments in German history,”said President Roman Herzog, who attended a ceremony at a restored synagogue with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to mark the occasion.”It was only a precursor of what was to come. But its events were also in themselves such a slap in the face of humanity and civilization that we must be reminded of this date again and again.” At least 91 Jews were killed during that violent night. Officials have said 200 synagogues were destroyed but Jewish leaders in Germany said more than 1,000 were damaged if the smaller, unofficial places of worship are included in the count, Reuters reported.
Ignatz Bubis, the leader of Germany’s small Jewish community, urged that attention to the Holocaust should not be permitted to subside.”One cannot only look to the glorious sides of history and suppress the unpleasant ones,”Bubis said.”Those who are not prepared to address this aspect of history and try to look away or to forget, must accept the fact that history can be repeated.” Kristallnacht escalated Jewish persecution by the Nazis, which started with Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933. It also prompted an exodus of many Jews from Germany.
Jewish synagogues, cemeteries, homes and shops were targeted and on the same night, 26,000 Jewish men were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.
Theme chosen for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity jubilee observance
(RNS) Churches from the region where Christianity began have chosen a text from the biblical book of Ephesians as the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that will be celebrated in the jubilee year 2000.
The text _”Blessed be God … who has blessed us in Christ”_ was chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches, which includes the Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Reformed (Protestant) churches.
Materials for the observance will be made available through the World Council of Churches, the Geneva-based international ecumenical organization, in February and will include prayers from the Middle East and an account of the local ecumenical situation.
The Week of Prayer has evolved from several Anglican, Protestant and Roman Catholic initiatives in the first half of this century. An international group, made up of representatives from the WCC’s Commission on Faith and Order and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is working with representatives from a specific region of the world in preparing the prayers and other material for the eight-day observance.
The traditional date for the observance is Jan. 18-25.
Quote of the day: Former President George Bush
(RNS)”I can tell the American people and the people of the world that the devastation is appalling.” _ Former President George Bush, quoted by the Associated Press on Monday (Nov. 9) after viewing the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras.
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