c. 2007 Religion News Service

Government of El Salvador Supports Beatification of Murdered Archbishop

(RNS) The government of El Salvador said it will ask the Vatican to beatify Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero, but that it’s not responsible for his assassination.

David Morales, a Salvadoran church representative, said the government’s support is a “smoke screen” intended to obscure its decision not to overturn a 1993 amnesty that released the man convicted of Romero’s murder, according to The Associated Press.

Beatification is an official recognition by the church that a person has ascended into heaven and is capable of interceding on behalf of the faithful who pray in his or her name. It is also often a first step toward sainthood.

The government’s failure to take responsibility showed it was neglecting “to fulfill international obligations” under a hemispheric convention on human rights, the Salvadoran archdiocese said Saturday (July 21).

At a meeting of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights in Washington last week, Astor Escalante, El Salvador’s security and justice vice minister, met with Romero supporters and said the Salvadoran government could not “accept responsibility because there was a clear person responsible for the killing, and that person was tried,” the AP reported.

The man convicted in the case, Alvaro Saravia, was a member of one of the Salvadoran death squads that terrorized the Central American nation during the 1970s and 1980s during a civil war that cause some 70,000 casualties.

Romero was assassinated in 1980, while celebrating Mass at a hospital chapel in the capital of San Salvador, after he publicly decried the death squads. In 1993, a United Nations truth commission concluded that Maj. Roberto D’Aubuisson, a death squad leader who had died the year before ordered the killing.

_ Chris Herlinger

Church of England Guilty of Discrimination, Employment Tribunal Rules LONDON (RNS) A gay Christian has won his case for unlawful discrimination against the Church of England and a bishop who he claimed refused his job application because of his sexuality.

An employment tribunal ruled (Thursday, July 19) that John Reaney, 42, was discriminated against “on grounds of sexual orientation” when Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis stepped in to block his appointment after questioning him about his gay relationship.

Reaney told the tribunal that he was “very embarrassed and extremely upset” after his job interview by the Hereford diocesan board of finance, which he claimed had given him top marks as a candidate only to be overruled by the bishop.

Priddis told the tribunal he had made it clear to Reaney, who is single, that anyone committed to a sexual relationship outside marriage would be turned down for the job regardless of sexual orientation.

“Such sexuality in itself was not an issue,” the bishop said, “but Mr. Reaney’s lifestyle had the potential to impact on the spiritual, moral and ethical leadership within the diocese.”

Priddis said he was “naturally disappointed” by the employment tribunal’s decision, adding that “I still think the decision I made was the right one.”

In an official statement, the Diocese of Hereford said that “in the light of the tribunal decision, the board of finance will be taking further legal advice with a view to appeal.”

Reaney said he was “delighted” at the tribunal’s judgment that the Church, the board and the bishop had “discriminated against the claimant on the grounds of sexual orientation,” in violation of British law.

His case “demonstrated to many lesbian and gay Christians working for God within the Church of England that they are entitled to fair and respectful treatment,” Reaney said.

_ Al Webb

New Jersey Man’s Grows Tomatoes To Help Tibet

BRIDGETON, N.J. (RNS) Belford Blackman, of Bridgeton, N.J., is growing and selling tomatoes for a cause: helping Buddhists in Tibet.

A practicing Tibetan Buddhist since 1981, Blackman plans to send all of the proceeds of his operation to the Dalai Lama, with a note recommending that the money be put towards helping Tibetan refugee women and children.

“It’s very important people know what’s going on in the world,” said Blackman. “I’m doing something to help people who I see are suffering.”

China invaded Tibet in 1959, claiming that the Himalayan land is historically part of China, and has since suppressed Buddhist practice there.

Now a refugee population of Tibetans _ including the Dalai Lama _ live in northern India and Nepal.

To organize relief for them, Blackman started Nepal Tomato, named after the Tibetan refugees who flee to Nepal. He has planted 1,350 tomato plants in his yard, and has made arrangements with local markets in the Bridgeton area to sell his tomatoes.

All of the proceeds will go directly to the Dali Lama and the Tibetan refugees. Blackman plans to make the project a seasonal, yearly endeavor, citing the importance of the cause.

“They need help over there,” said Blackman. “Hopefully this will provide some of the relief they need.”

_ Jason Laday

Quote of the Day: Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating

(RNS) “I see now why Christ would have chosen Judas as an apostle. … Jesus was making a statement that the leaders of his church would be frail men, sometimes foolish and sometimes evil. It was a very helpful revelation.”

_ Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who was a member of the U.S. Catholic church’s National Review Board, which was created to help the church recover from the sexual abuse scandal. He was quoted by cbsnews.com (July 20).

DSB/CM END RNS