c. 2004 Religion News Service
Catholic Bishops Call for `Bottom-Up’ Trade Policies
WASHINGTON (RNS) An annual Labor Day statement from the nation’s Catholic bishops calls for trade policies that examine the needs of workers “from the bottom up.”
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington called on governments to pursue trade agreements that encourage growth on both sides, reduce poverty, respect workers’ rights and protect the environment.
“On this Labor Day, we urge our leaders to look at trade policies from the bottom up _ how they touch the lives of the poorest families and most vulnerable workers in our own country and around the world,” he said.
McCarrick, chairman of the bishops’ domestic policy committee, said shipping jobs overseas to cheap labor markets can lead to “resentment” among U.S. workers and foster “protectionist” attitudes that ultimately harm those same overseas workers.
He also discounted the view that low-paying jobs are better than no jobs, or that pollution is a necessary byproduct of economic growth. “We respond that one failing does not justify another,” he said.
McCarrick said bottom-line profits and trade deficits or surpluses are not the true scale that should be used to measure trade agreements.
“The moral measure of trade policy is not simply the trade increased, the growth produced or the money made,” he said. “Rather, it is the lives lifted up, the decent jobs created and the families leaving poverty behind.”
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Poverty, Uninsured Numbers Rise for Third Consecutive Year
WASHINGTON (RNS) The number of Americans living in poverty rose by 1.3 million last year, a problem that an ecumenical anti-hunger group says has been lost in election-year politics.
Figures released Thursday (Aug. 26) by the Census Bureau showed 35.8 million Americans living below the poverty line, up from 34.5 million in 2002. Those figures reflect an increase from 12.1 percent of the population to 12.5 percent.
A more pronounced increase was noted in the 12.9 million children living in poverty _ 17.6 percent of all Americans under the age of 18, up from 16.7 percent the year before.
The number of uninsured Americans also rose, up 1.4 million to 45 million, or 15.6 percent of the population. It was the third straight year of increases in the poverty and uninsured numbers.
Census officials noted, however, that both increases are still “below the average of the 1980s and 1990s.” The poverty threshold for a family of four was set at $18,810.
The Rev. David Beckmann, president of the ecumenical group Bread for the World, called the numbers “troubling,” but said he was more concerned that the campaigns of George Bush and John Kerry seem preoccupied with Kerry’s war record in Vietnam.
“This is not a red or blue issue. Ending the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger is a red, white and blue issue,” Beckmann said. “President Bush and Sen. Kerry need to move beyond events of 35 years ago and focus on issues currently facing the families in our nation.”
Census officials rejected the claim by some Democrats that Republicans ordered the release of the numbers earlier than their normal publication dates in late September because they might negatively impact Bush’s re-election bid.
“There has been no influence or pressure from the (Bush) campaign,” Census director Louis Kincannon told the Associated Press.
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Survey: Most Protestant Ministers Not Very Familiar With Other Faiths
(RNS) Most Protestant ministers expressed little familiarity with the key beliefs of a number of non-Protestant religious groups, a survey has found.
The faith perspectives most likely to be “extremely familiar” to Protestant clergy were Roman Catholicism (41 percent), Judaism (33 percent), Mormonism (21 percent), Jehovah’s Witnesses (21 percent) and Islam (21 percent).
The findings by Ellison Research, a marketing research company in Phoenix, were first reported in the September/October edition of Facts & Trends, a magazine published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
When researchers combined the top two levels of familiarity stated by Protestant clergy, 85 percent said they were relatively familiar with the core tenets of the Roman Catholic Church and 80 percent expressed similar knowledge of Judaism. That level of familiarity was 61 percent for Mormonism and 60 percent for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Otherwise, a minority of Protestant ministers expressed relative familiarity with non-Protestant groups: 47 percent with Islam, 43 percent with New Age beliefs, 31 percent with Satanism, 28 percent with Buddhism, 27 percent with Hinduism, 15 percent with Scientology, 13 percent with Wicca, 13 percent with Baha’ism and 5 percent with Sikhism.
The survey is based on a sample of 700 Protestant ministers in 50 states and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
Information suitable for a graphic below:
Relative Familiarity of Protestant Clergy with Non-Protestant Groups
Roman Catholicism: 85 percent
Judaism: 80 percent
Mormonism: 61 percent
Jehovah’s Witnesses: 60 percent
Islam: 47 percent
New Age: 43 percent
Satanism: 31 percent
Buddhism: 28 percent
Hinduism: 27 percent
Scientology: 15 percent
Wicca: 13 percent
Baha’ism: 13 percent
Sikhism: 5 percent
Source: Ellison Research
_ Adelle M. Banks
New Political Organization of Black Clergy Supports Bush
(RNS) A fledging political organization of African-American clergy has announced its endorsement of President Bush for re-election.
Supporters of the National Faith Based Initiative Coalition met in Washington Aug. 20 to announce the formation of their group and their support for the president.
“For way too long, the Democratic Party has taken the African-American vote for granted, and while a majority of black Americans do support the Democrats’ ticket, there are many, many of us who are aligned with conservative platforms,” said Oliver N.E. Kellman Jr., executive director of the coalition, in a statement.
The group’s statement endorsing Bush cited his affirmation of faith-based organizations.
“The president has advocated on behalf of our interests by establishing centers of faith-based and community initiatives which address the problems of homelessness, substance abuse, welfare-to-work families, ex-offenders and at-risk youth,” it said.
“We believe that the president’s initiatives represent a new approach to the government’s role in helping those in need.”
Bishop Clarence McClendon of West Los Angeles, Calif. and nine other clergy from several other states have signed on as members of the group.
“The time has come when the conservative black Americans can step forward and speak up, speak out, and speak the truth about how they think this country should be governed,” said McClendon, of the Full Harvest International Church, in a statement.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Former Christian Coalition Head Accepts Fees From Casino Lobbyists
(RNS) Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition and now a Republican strategist, admitted that he accepted $1.23 million in consulting fees tied to Indian-run gambling casinos, The Washington Post reported.
Reed, who also serves as Southeast regional chairman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, received the fees from two lobbyists whose ties to the Indian tribes are now the subject of a federal investigation.
Sources told The Post that Reed’s Atlanta-based Century Strategies was paid $1.23 million by public relations executive Michael Scanlon, whose clients included a Louisiana Indian tribe that was trying to prevent other tribes from opening competitive casinos. Part of Reed’s job was to mobilize Christian ministers and activists against the new casinos.
Century Strategies also received an unspecified payment from another gaming lobbyist, Jack Abramoff. Abramoff’s former firm, Greenberg Traurig LLP, said in March that Abramoff was no longer part of the firm because his “personal transactions” were “unacceptable to the firm.”
In a statement to The Post, Reed said he never advocated in favor of gambling, a vice that most Christian leaders consider immoral.
“I have worked for decades to oppose the expansion of casino gambling, and as a result of that, Century Strategies has worked with broad coalitions to oppose casino expansion. We are proud of the work we have done. It is consistent not only with my beliefs but with the beliefs of the grass-roots citizens we mobilized.
“At no time was Century Strategy ever retained by, or worked on behalf of, any casino or casino company.”
Reed said he knew that Greenberg Traurig had “certain tribal clients,” but said “we were not aware of every specific client or interest.”
The Post said Scanlon and Abramoff are part of a federal probe involving “$45 million in lobbying and public relations fees, alleged misuse of Indian tribal funds, possible illegal campaign contributions and possible tax code violations.”
Lawyers Say Abuse Claims Could Cost Calif. Dioceses $1.5 Billion
(RNS) Lawyers for victims of clergy sexual abuse said more than 500 abuse lawsuits filed against two Southern California Catholic dioceses could cost the church $1.5 billion to settle.
That amount _ by far the highest of any abuse-related settlement in the nation _ is based on an estimate of $3.1 million for each claimant drafted by victims’ lawyers, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The lawyers have asked various insurance agencies to make sure they have enough money to cover the potential settlements against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the neighboring Diocese of Orange.
Insurance executives, meanwhile, are battling with church lawyers over whether church insurance policies cover such settlements, and church leaders contend $3.1 million may be too high.
The three-way struggle is the result of a unique California law that gave alleged victims a one-year window in 2003 to file abuse claims even if the statute of limitations had expired.
The extension allowed more than 500 claims to be filed against the Los Angeles archdiocese, and 60 against the neighboring Diocese of Orange, which is part of the Los Angeles litigation.
Under the $3.1 million formula, the Orange Diocese could pay $186 million _ more than twice as much as the landmark $85 million settlement reached by the scandal-scarred Archdiocese of Boston last year.
Victims’ lawyers said their clients are eligible for more money than the Boston victims because of different state laws, and based their estimates on other large jury awards for abuse victims. Donald Woods Jr., a lawyer for Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, said $3.1 million seemed excessive.
“We are still evaluating the cases, but $1.5 billion seems way too high,” he told the Times. “As far as we know, there is not any diocese anywhere in America that comes anywhere near reaching that amount.”
Millions of Sikhs Mark Holy Anniversary in India
(RNS) More than 3.5 million Sikhs are expected to converge on the Indian city of Amritsar on Wednesday (Sept. 1) to mark the 400th anniversary of the installation of the religion’s holy book at a sacred shrine.
Sikhs _ the world’s fifth-largest religion _ will mark Parkash Utsav, the compilation and presentation of the Sikh scriptures, Granth Sahib, in the spiritual capital of Amritsar in 1604.
Sikhism has been guided by 10 gurus; the fifth, Guru Arjan Dev, compiled the book and installed it in the temple in 1604. The last guru, Goband Singh, declared before his death that Sikhs did not need a living guru and appointed the sacred scriptures as his eternal successor.
The Reuters news agency reported that first Sikh to serve as India’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh, was expected to lead the five-day celebration.
Sikhism was founded in the late 15th century by Guru Nanak as a blend of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Followers believe in one god and stress the equality of all humans.
The anniversary was marked Aug. 18 at the White House in Washington, although some Sikh leaders chose not to attend when they were told they could not wear a kirpan, or ceremonial dagger, because of security reasons.
“While we appreciate the White House arranging this event to honor the Sikh community, we cannot compromise on the principles of our faith,” Tarunjit Singh, secretary-general of the World Sikh Council _ American Region, based in Columbus, Ohio, said at the time. “The White House cannot honor our faith and at the same time deny us the practice of our faith.”
_ Kevin Eckstrom and Adelle M. Banks
Ugandan Archbishop Lays Claim to Two California Churches
(RNS) The Anglican archbishop of Uganda said the Episcopal bishop of Los Angeles has “no jurisdiction” over two parishes in Newport Beach and Long Beach that left the U.S. church and aligned themselves with Ugandan leaders.
On Aug. 17, St. James Church in Newport Beach and All Saints’ Church in Long Beach abruptly left the Episcopal Church and declared themselves under the jurisdiction of Bishop Evans Kisekka of Luweero, Uganda.
The two churches said they could no longer remain in the U.S. church after it approved an openly gay bishop last summer, and could not stay under the control of Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno after he presided at a gay union ceremony.
“It is after much deliberation that we came to this conclusion, but it is our only recourse if we are to stay true to the historic faith and teachings of the church,” said the Rev. Praveen Bunyan, pastor of St. James Church.
Bruno has since told three priests and one deacon from the breakaway churches that they may not act as priests in his diocese, and threatened to remove them from the ministry “should they not change their minds.”
He has also vowed to mount a legal challenge to maintain control of the churches’ property. St. James and All Saints’ leaders said, “The Diocese of Los Angeles has no claim against any of the property owned by these churches.”
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, the top leader of the 8 million-member Ugandan church, said the clergy now take orders from him and that Bruno “has no jurisdiction over them and we will not recognize his actions.” The Anglican Church of Uganda formally cut ties with the U.S. church last November.
Under normal rules in the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion, a bishop from outside a local diocese may not control a church, and clergy from outside the diocese need the local bishop’s approval in order to serve.
A third parish, St. David’s in North Hollywood, also left the diocese on Tuesday (Aug. 25) and sought refuge under Kisekka. Bruno imposed similar restrictions on the church’s pastor, according to the Los Angeles Times.
St. James Church is the former church of the Rev. David Anderson, the president of the American Anglican Council, who has led conservatives in the U.S. church in protesting the pro-gay policies of the denomination.
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Pope Urges Youth to Resist Seduction of Success and Power
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope John Paul II urged young people Thursday (Aug. 26) to resist the temptation of New Age idolatry and reject the “facile myths of wealth and power.”
The 84-year-old Roman Catholic pontiff addressed young people in a message issued to prepare for the church’s 22nd World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany, next August.
John Paul called on youth to “be worshippers of the only true God” and make Christ “the rock on which to build your future and a world of greater justice and solidarity.”
“Idolatry is an ever-present temptation,” he said in a clear reference to New Age cults. “Sadly, there are those who seek the solution to their problems in religious practices that are incompatible with the Christian faith.”
Acknowledging that young people may feel “a strong urge to believe in the facile myths of success and power,” the pope warned that “it is dangerous to accept the fleeting ideas of the sacred, which present God in the form of cosmic energy, or in any other manner that is inconsistent with Catholic teaching.”
“My dear young people,” John Paul said, “do not yield to false illusions and passing fads which so frequently leave behind a tragic spiritual vacuum! Reject the seduction of wealth, consumerism and the subtle violence sometimes used by the mass media.”
The theme of the 2005 World Youth Day is “We have come to worship him,” from Matthew’s gospel. They are the words spoken by the Magi on their journey seeking the infant Jesus.
John Paul said that the World Youth Day participants must prepare themselves “spiritually, in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the Word of God” before they make their own journey to Cologne.
_ Peggy Polk
Quote of the Day: Former President Bill Clinton
(RNS) “Sometimes I think our friends on the other side have become the people of the Nine Commandments. It is wrong to bear false witness.”
_ Former President Bill Clinton, chiding Republicans for attacking Sen. John Kerry’s war record in Vietnam. Clinton, speaking at a Sunday (Aug. 29) service at New York’s Riverside Church, said the attacks were false. He was quoted by The New York Times.
DEA END RNS
