c. 2003 Religion News Service
Conservatives Hail Senate Vote to Ban `Partial-birth’ Abortions
WASHINGTON (RNS) Conservative religious groups praised a vote by the Senate on Thursday (March 13) to ban so-called “partial-birth” abortions.
The Republican-led Senate voted 64-33 to prohibit the rare but but controversial late-term procedure. Abortion rights supporters said Republicans are using the procedure to erode women’s reproductive rights.
“Partial-birth abortion is an abhorrent procedure that offends human dignity,” President Bush said in a prepared statement after the Senate vote.
The bill imposes fines and possible jail time for doctors who commit an “overt act” to kill a “partially delivered fetus.” During the procedure, doctors deliver most of the fetus through the birth canal and then collapse its head before it exits the womb.
The Senate bill contains an exception for cases when the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother. The Supreme Court struck down a similar Nebraska law in 2000 because it did not include that provision.
Congress passed similar bills twice before, but both were vetoed by then President Bill Clinton. The House is expected to approve the Senate bill, and President Bush has promised to sign it into law.
“Today’s vote is the beginning of the end for this cruel and dangerous procedure,” said Cathy Cleaver, head of pro-life activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which vigorously opposed the procedures.
Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said the ban is “yet one more encouraging sign that the pro-life movement is winning the long-term struggle for hearts and minds on the issue of life in the womb.”
But Hadassah, a Jewish women’s group, said the bill puts women in jeopardy. “It weakens our First Amendment rights to make health, ethical and moral decisions within the context of our own religious beliefs, free from government interference,” said Hadassah president Bonnie Lipton.
Opponents said they will fight the measure in court if it becomes law. Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, a law firm founded by broadcaster Pat Robertson, vowed to “work aggressively to defend this law in court _ a law that is not only necessary, but eminently constitutional as well.”
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Muslims, Catholics Find Common Ground on Need to Forgive
(RNS) A joint Muslim-Catholic dialogue in California said the two faiths have much in common, and promised to respect differences except when “there is a violation of integrity of faith in God” on either side.
The group’s fourth meeting, held Feb. 25-27 in Orange County, Calif., focused on issues of peace, justice and forgiveness. The West coast group is one of three regional dialogues sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The nine Muslims and 10 Catholics who attended the meeting said they experienced a “profound and moving connection” when exploring each other’s faiths. They conceded that joint efforts to work together “are often wanting.”
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed that “forgiveness is an important step to moving beyond our past history if we are to preserve human dignity, to affect justice and to work for peace.”
“We may disagree on certain points of doctrine, even as we respect the others’ rights to believe in the fundamental integrity of their teachings and affirm all their human and religious rights,” the groups said.
“With love and in the pursuit of truth, we will offer our criticisms of one another when we believe there is a violation of integrity of faith in God.”
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Baptist World Alliance Cuts Budget, Citing Economy, Proposed Lost Funding
(RNS) The Baptist World Alliance has pared back its budget in light of a tough economy and anticipation of decreased funding from the Southern Baptist Convention.
At their recent Executive Committee meeting, alliance leaders discussed how to deal with a $650,000 deficit and an investment income loss of $305,898, or 13 percent.
“The BWA cannot continue to function in a deficit situation continually using the reserves,” said the Rev. Denton Lotz, general secretary of the alliance, in a statement. “Drastic situations therefore require drastic measures.”
The financial difficulties increased when the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee unveiled plans in February to start a new global initiative that would redirect 30 percent of the funding it has traditionally given the alliance.
The funding change, which will be considered at the denomination’s annual meeting in June, would redirect $125,000 from the $425,000 the Southern Baptists have allocated to the alliance in recent years. That recommendation is prompted in part by the alliance’s consideration of a request for membership from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a moderate group that formed to counter the conservative direction of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The BWA Executive Committee, meeting March 3-5 at alliance headquarters in Falls Church, Va., reduced its previously approved budget by 20 percent. It factors in the proposed loss of funds from the Southern Baptist Convention.
The alliance expects to make a decision about the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at its General Council meeting in July in Seoul, Korea.
Alliance officials apologized for hurt felt by Southern Baptists concerning the potential alliance member.
“We did not anticipate the cost of our action would end up being an embarrassment and causing hurt,” said Ian Hawley, chair of the alliance’s membership committee.
BWA President Billy Kim said he cares about the Southern Baptist Convention but hopes the fellowship can join if qualified.
“We have not succeeded in bringing both groups together,” he said, “but I still have hope.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Volunteers for Billy Graham San Diego Mission Reach Record Numbers
(RNS) Volunteers for the upcoming Billy Graham mission in San Diego have reached record numbers.
More than 20,000 people have attended training classes across the San Diego area, marking only the fourth time numbers have reached that level in the history of Graham’s crusade and mission ministry.
Officials previously had estimated that about 10,000 would attend the “Christian Life and Witness” classes for the mission scheduled for May 8-11.
“The sign-ups for the Christian Life classes is a barometer for the excitement of the community,” said Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa, Calif., in a statement. “This response tells us San Diego is eager to hear Billy Graham on May 8-11.”
Other cities that have gathered as large a crowd for the classes are Portland, Ore.; Anaheim, Calif. and Cleveland, mission officials said. The classes are a prerequisite for people interested in serving as counselors during the mission.
In addition to the San Diego mission, Graham is scheduled to preach at a mission Jun 12-15 in Oklahoma City.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Noffsinger Named Top Executive at Church of the Brethren
(RNS) The Church of the Brethren has named the head of its humanitarian offices to become the church’s first layman to serve as top executive.
Stanley J. Noffsinger, head of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., was named general secretary of the denomination’s General Board on Tuesday (March 11). The General Board oversees most of the church’s ministries and programs.
Noffsinger, 48, succeeds the Rev. Judy Mills Reimer, who will retire in July after leading the 136,000-member denomination for the past five years.
“I’d love to take my jacket off and my tie off and roll up my sleeves, because we have a lot of difficult work to do,” Noffsinger said, including addressing a $700,000 deficit from last year and expected cuts of $384,000 in 2003.
Noffsinger previously managed three medical clinics in Wichita, Kan., and operated his own leasing company. He will divide his time between the Maryland offices and the church’s headquarters in Elgin, Ill.
_ Kevin Eckstrom
CeCe Winans, Steven Curtis Chapman to Host Dove Awards
(RNS) Christian artists CeCe Winans and Steven Curtis Chapman will host the upcoming 34th Annual Dove Awards on April 10, the Gospel Music Association announced.
The ceremony will take place at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn., and will air on two TV networks in the following weeks. PAX TV will air the show from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/PT on April 19. The Trinity Broadcasting Network will air the show at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on April 25 and at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on April 26.
The awards show also will be presented live through a pay-per-view Webcast produced by StarOne Networks and sponsored by LifeWay Christian Stores. That five-hour presentation, available at http://www.doveawardslive.com, will include “pre-awards” coverage and costs $7.95 to $19.95.
“The GMA wanted this year’s Dove Award to focus on the distinctiveness of Christian music and who better to help us than CeCe and Steven,” said John Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association, in a statement. “These two artists represent the best in Christian music, for both their commercial success and their artistic integrity, and will make terrific hosts for an evening of entertainment and inspiration.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Report: Halal-Labelled Chickens Imported to Britain Contain Pork
LONDON (RNS) British Muslims have been disturbed to learn that chicken products imported into this country from the Netherlands and labeled halal _ prepared in conformity with Muslim dietary requirements _ have been contaminated with pork.
Of 25 samples tested by the Food Standards Agency, 12 were found to contain DNA from animals other than chicken. Eleven of them showed the presence of pork and one both pork and beef. All but one of these 12 were labeled halal.
The tests were a follow-up to an earlier survey conducted in December 2001 which found chicken for the catering trade being bulked up with added protein, including pork, and water so as to increase the weight.
The president of Britain’s Halal Food Authority, Massoud Khawaja, told RNS that since then they have been lobbying the FSA to tighten standards. After the December 2001 survey the firms responsible apologized and ceased supplying the British market with this non-halal chicken.
Then the companies involved tried importing the meat via Ireland, but the Irish authorities put a stop to that.
“At first we thought they were doing this (adding pork) inadvertently,” said Khawaja. “Now we think they are doing it deliberately.”
One of the problems is that it is the Dutch authorities who have to take action to put a stop to the practice. Khawaja and his colleagues are urging the FSA to approach the European Union to make sure food products are properly and accurately labeled and to bring prosecutions against firms flouting the regulations.
Meanwhile they have advised British Muslims to use fresh chicken until the matter is sorted out.
_ Robert Nowell
Quote of the Day: David Smart, an uncle of Elizabeth Smart.
(RNS) “Do miracles exist? The answer is yes.”
_ David Smart, an uncle of Elizabeth Smart, remarking on the recovery of his 15-year-old niece in suburban Salt Lake City after she disappeared on June 5, 2002. He was quoted by USA Today.
DEA END RNS
