BIBLICAL EPISCOPALIANS REBEL VS. NEW NON-BELIEVING FEMALE BISHOP
By Grant Swank on Dec 12, 06
Newly installed Episcopal Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is not taken to by seven American dioceses. Therefore, they are adhering to another authority, a “primatial vicar,” to oversee those in rebellion. The vicar has yet to be named, per Religion News Service Adelle M. Banks and Kevin Eckstrom.
Schori was installed on November 4. Already there is opposition to her being the unbelieving leader of the American segment of the worldwide Anglican Church.
She is theologically liberal in the extreme, even discarding some of the teachings of Jesus. With that goes her societal liberal positions on issues such as endorsing practicing homosexuality as a God-blessed lifestyle. All this does not set well with biblically aligned Episcopalians left within the theologically liberal Protestant denomination.
Many biblical Episcopalians have exited that denomination some time ago to form their own denominations or become parts of other denominations than those of the Episcopalian tradition.
Schori “crafted” this ingenious position of the “primatial vicar.” Whether it will fly or not is yet to be seen.
Biblical Episcopalians regard Schori as representative of the current apostasy throughout theologically liberal denominations, the latter including the United Church of Christ (Congregational), Unitarian-Universalist Society, Evangelical (that term is a misnomer in this context) Lutheran Church of America and segments of the United Methodist, American Baptist and Presbyterian Churches.
Those denominations clearly preaching and teaching salvation only through Jesus Christ, the Bible as divine revelation, the truths of eternal existence consisting of heaven or hell, and personal accountability at the Judgment Seat of Christ upon death are the churches not endangered by the apostasy craze. These congregations adhere to biblical authority alone and therefore sideline the theologically liberal yen to manufacture one’s own religion.
Where salvation via Jesus Christ only is not clearly adhered to, denominations gather to form their own morality codes, doctrines apart from biblical data, and social issue conclusions formed more by the politically liberal than biblical guidelines.
“Jefferts Schori said she would appoint a ‘primatial vicar’ to perform her duties--such as consecrating new bishops--in dioceses hostile to her leadership. The vicar has not yet been named.
“Some conservatives, however, said the idea was dead on arrival because they had no say in who Jefferts Schori would send them.
“The ‘provisional’ approach to healing the rift in the Episcopal Church--and the wider Anglican Communion--was crafted by Jefferts Schori and a group of bishops that began looking for a solution at a September meeting. Several leading conservative bishops who attended the September summit, however, did not return for a follow-up meeting in November when the plan was put together.”
It is expected that more fallout will occur in future months due to Schori representing the apostate rebellion within this particular denomination. It has already spread throughout the worldwide Anglican church with African Anglicans in particular stating their firm convictions upon biblical data.
Content is Copyright ©2005-2006 the individual authors.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
LifeWay Stores point to Jesus amid Christmas season bustle
LifeWay Stores point to Jesus amid Christmas season bustle
Dec 12, 2006
By Jenny Rice
Baptist Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn (BP)--With tight budgets, overwhelming schedules, frustrating traffic and politically correct retailers replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays," LifeWay Christian Stores is aiming to put the focus of Christ back into Christmas shopping.
"Our gifts this year are based on the theme ‘Jesus, Blessed Be the Name,’" Alison Stacey, a buyer for LifeWay Christian Stores, said. "We want there to be no doubt when someone walks into our stores that Christ is the main focus."
Whether ministering to customers in the store or helping shoppers select gifts with a spiritual emphasis, LifeWay employees see the potential for eternal impact in Christmas shopping and giving in addition to increased opportunities to witness and encourage customers.
"This is the most important time for us to make an impact," said Richard Mencer, manager of a LifeWay Christian Store in Amarillo, Texas. "So many come into the store during this time who are not Christians or who are dealing with things such as losing loved ones. This is our opportunity to share Christ and minister to those who are hurting."
Prayer boxes are located in all 134 LifeWay Christian Stores in 23 states for customers to submit prayer requests lifted up by store employees each morning during staff devotional time.
"The church does a great job of ministering to people during this season," Mencer said. "We are open many times when the church is not, so we can minister to people as well."
Mencer encourages shoppers to focus on Christ while shopping this Christmas season, noting that the potential for spiritual impact does not reside within the four walls of a LifeWay Christian Store.
"As in everything, pray before you shop," Mencer suggested. "Ask God for direction on what to buy and for guidance in your shopping."
Customers are not the only ones praying. Before each Christmas season, LifeWay Christian Store gift buyers pray for God’s guidance in selecting themes for gifts offered to customers.
"As we prayed about this year’s themes, we decided that we wanted to focus on His name," Stacey said. "You can see ‘inspirational’ products in the mass market, but we wanted to make sure our gifts have Christ’s name or are based on Scripture."
Three themes emerged from the overriding "Jesus, Blessed Be the Name" premise, Stacey said: a traditional nativity theme based on Matthew 1:23; the “Believe” collection based on 1 John 3:23; and a whimsical gift line based on the song, "Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know." Many of the gifts are exclusive to LifeWay.
"The messages on the products can encourage other Christians or provide an opportunity to share your faith with non-Christians," Stacey said.
LifeWay Christian Store gift cards also open the door for gifts of greater spiritual significance, Scott Chancey, a director with LifeWay Christian Stores, said.
"It is a great opportunity for Christian family and friends to select their own gift that will encourage them in their spiritual walk, or for a nonbeliever, whether it’s your neighbor or family member, to come into the store and learn about Christ," Chancey said.
"As God works through us, He has given us biblical solutions to provide to our customers," Mencer said. "Our heart’s desire is for people to know Christ and be spiritually transformed."
--30--
To find a LifeWay Christian Store location or order online, visit www.lifewaystores.com .
Dec 12, 2006
By Jenny Rice
Baptist Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn (BP)--With tight budgets, overwhelming schedules, frustrating traffic and politically correct retailers replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays," LifeWay Christian Stores is aiming to put the focus of Christ back into Christmas shopping.
"Our gifts this year are based on the theme ‘Jesus, Blessed Be the Name,’" Alison Stacey, a buyer for LifeWay Christian Stores, said. "We want there to be no doubt when someone walks into our stores that Christ is the main focus."
Whether ministering to customers in the store or helping shoppers select gifts with a spiritual emphasis, LifeWay employees see the potential for eternal impact in Christmas shopping and giving in addition to increased opportunities to witness and encourage customers.
"This is the most important time for us to make an impact," said Richard Mencer, manager of a LifeWay Christian Store in Amarillo, Texas. "So many come into the store during this time who are not Christians or who are dealing with things such as losing loved ones. This is our opportunity to share Christ and minister to those who are hurting."
Prayer boxes are located in all 134 LifeWay Christian Stores in 23 states for customers to submit prayer requests lifted up by store employees each morning during staff devotional time.
"The church does a great job of ministering to people during this season," Mencer said. "We are open many times when the church is not, so we can minister to people as well."
Mencer encourages shoppers to focus on Christ while shopping this Christmas season, noting that the potential for spiritual impact does not reside within the four walls of a LifeWay Christian Store.
"As in everything, pray before you shop," Mencer suggested. "Ask God for direction on what to buy and for guidance in your shopping."
Customers are not the only ones praying. Before each Christmas season, LifeWay Christian Store gift buyers pray for God’s guidance in selecting themes for gifts offered to customers.
"As we prayed about this year’s themes, we decided that we wanted to focus on His name," Stacey said. "You can see ‘inspirational’ products in the mass market, but we wanted to make sure our gifts have Christ’s name or are based on Scripture."
Three themes emerged from the overriding "Jesus, Blessed Be the Name" premise, Stacey said: a traditional nativity theme based on Matthew 1:23; the “Believe” collection based on 1 John 3:23; and a whimsical gift line based on the song, "Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know." Many of the gifts are exclusive to LifeWay.
"The messages on the products can encourage other Christians or provide an opportunity to share your faith with non-Christians," Stacey said.
LifeWay Christian Store gift cards also open the door for gifts of greater spiritual significance, Scott Chancey, a director with LifeWay Christian Stores, said.
"It is a great opportunity for Christian family and friends to select their own gift that will encourage them in their spiritual walk, or for a nonbeliever, whether it’s your neighbor or family member, to come into the store and learn about Christ," Chancey said.
"As God works through us, He has given us biblical solutions to provide to our customers," Mencer said. "Our heart’s desire is for people to know Christ and be spiritually transformed."
--30--
To find a LifeWay Christian Store location or order online, visit www.lifewaystores.com .
Video game encourages missions education
Video game encourages missions education
Dec 12, 2006
By Julie Walters
Baptist Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--Woman’s Missionary Union has announced a partnership with Third Day Games Inc. to merge multimedia technology with missions education.
The first step is the introduction of “Bible Champions in Action,” a new PC/video game series encompassing 12 monthly Bible story adventures that reinforce biblical learning and missions awareness.
“As we actively seek to engage a greater number of children in missions education, the interactive component to video games and other multimedia options provide a fun way for children to learn missions applications from Bible lessons,” said Carol Causey, WMU missions resource center director.
Mitzi Eaker, WMU children’s ministry consultant, agreed: “These games will help children grow spiritually as well as give them a global perspective in missions.”
The Bible Champions in Action video game series encourages children to learn about Bible stories and missions as they see and hear a recreated Bible story and then complete story-related tasks and acts of service throughout the game. Each game also teaches children facts about missions.
The Bible Champions in Action video game series automatically unlocks a new story each month, encouraging children to play each story repetitively while they anticipate the next month’s story. Each game coordinates with Girls in Action (GA) and Children in Action (CiA) curriculum and promotes education about missions pioneers such as Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong and missions opportunities like WMU’s Pure Water, Pure Love ministry.
The series offers three skill levels for grades K–6. The interaction creates faith formation opportunities as children play and ask parents questions, Eaker said, and it gives children a new tool for outreach to their unchurched peers.
Multiple copies can be made from the purchase of one Bible Champions in Action video game CD. Churches can place a link to the game on their website for families to download on their home computer or make copies of the CD for each child in their church and community. Some churches also may want to make copies available for checkout from their church library.
The Bible Champions in Action video game CD may be ordered directly from Third Day Games for $125 at www.BibleChampionsInAction.com or toll-free 1-866-663-5590.
Purchases also generate support of the mission of WMU. For each Bible Champions in Action CD sold, Third Day Games will donate $25 to WMU’s Joy Fund, which supports WMU’s ongoing operations and is managed by the WMU Foundation. For more information on the Joy Fund, visit www.wmufoundation.com .
Dec 12, 2006
By Julie Walters
Baptist Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--Woman’s Missionary Union has announced a partnership with Third Day Games Inc. to merge multimedia technology with missions education.
The first step is the introduction of “Bible Champions in Action,” a new PC/video game series encompassing 12 monthly Bible story adventures that reinforce biblical learning and missions awareness.
“As we actively seek to engage a greater number of children in missions education, the interactive component to video games and other multimedia options provide a fun way for children to learn missions applications from Bible lessons,” said Carol Causey, WMU missions resource center director.
Mitzi Eaker, WMU children’s ministry consultant, agreed: “These games will help children grow spiritually as well as give them a global perspective in missions.”
The Bible Champions in Action video game series encourages children to learn about Bible stories and missions as they see and hear a recreated Bible story and then complete story-related tasks and acts of service throughout the game. Each game also teaches children facts about missions.
The Bible Champions in Action video game series automatically unlocks a new story each month, encouraging children to play each story repetitively while they anticipate the next month’s story. Each game coordinates with Girls in Action (GA) and Children in Action (CiA) curriculum and promotes education about missions pioneers such as Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong and missions opportunities like WMU’s Pure Water, Pure Love ministry.
The series offers three skill levels for grades K–6. The interaction creates faith formation opportunities as children play and ask parents questions, Eaker said, and it gives children a new tool for outreach to their unchurched peers.
Multiple copies can be made from the purchase of one Bible Champions in Action video game CD. Churches can place a link to the game on their website for families to download on their home computer or make copies of the CD for each child in their church and community. Some churches also may want to make copies available for checkout from their church library.
The Bible Champions in Action video game CD may be ordered directly from Third Day Games for $125 at www.BibleChampionsInAction.com or toll-free 1-866-663-5590.
Purchases also generate support of the mission of WMU. For each Bible Champions in Action CD sold, Third Day Games will donate $25 to WMU’s Joy Fund, which supports WMU’s ongoing operations and is managed by the WMU Foundation. For more information on the Joy Fund, visit www.wmufoundation.com .
Foreign Baptist forced out for "illegal" bible discussion
KAZAKHSTAN: Foreign Baptist forced out for "illegal" bible discussion
By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service
After seven law-enforcement officials secretly filmed a foreign church member taking part in a bible discussion at a state-registered Baptist church, he was forced to leave the country Forum 18 News Service has learnt. Dan Ballast, an American who belonged for 11 years to the Spring of Water Church, was fined the equivalent of three months average salary and given a deportation order. This is the latest in a series of expulsions known to Forum 18. "This violates both freedom of religion and freedom of speech," a friend of Ballast's said. Kazakh law professor Roman Podoprigora told Forum 18 that "there are no provisions in law which prohibit foreigners from participating in religious ceremonies in different roles," and that "under the existing Religion Law, service in a registered religious organisation is not recognised as missionary activity." Asked by Forum 18 how officials knew to attend the service and film it, one church member responded: "Someone rang them. These things happen here." Ironically, officials had earlier praised Ballast for his educational work.
Some seven law-enforcement officials secretly attended a youth service at the Spring of Water Baptist church in Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk) in East Kazakhstan Region in August, church members have told Forum 18 News Service. The officials filmed a veteran congregation member, Dan Ballast, participating in a Bible discussion. Ballast – a US citizen - was later given a massive fine, together with a deportation order. Although the deportation order was later rescinded, Ballast left Kazakhstan on 22 November. "Dan was a member of our church for eleven years, but they said that as a foreign citizen he was not allowed to teach or even speak in the church," one congregation member told Forum 18 from the town on 6 December. "Officials questioned us for an hour and a half after the service, and we told them we didn't want to violate the law."
On 23 October, Judge Y. Kuderbayev of the town administrative court found Ballast guilty of violating Article 394 part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which punishes "failure of the goals of entry to accord with the goals indicated in the visa". In addition to the deportation order, Ballast was fined 41,200 tenge (1,967 Norwegian Kroner, 242 Euros or 320 US Dollars), about three months' average salary in Kazakhstan. The East Kazakhstan Regional court annulled Ballast's deportation order on 14 November, as he was already due to leave the country when his contract at Oskemen's Kazakh-American Free University ended, and he was able to show the court his departure ticket. He left Kazakhstan after paying the fine.
A friend of Ballast in Kazakhstan insisted to Forum 18 that, as a church member, Ballast should have every right to take part in the religious life of his chosen religious community regardless of his nationality. "Apparently someone forgot to explain to the Kazakhstan government that residents and citizens are guaranteed their rights to religion regardless of profession," the friend noted. "This violates both freedom of religion and freedom of speech."
Forum 18 was unable to reach A. Islyamov, head of the town Migration Police, or any officials of the Internal Affairs Department or the Prosecutor's Office, who were prepared to explain why the Spring of Water church was being spied on during a service, and why Ballast was punished for speaking to a religious congregation he had belonged to for eleven years.
Rules restricting "missionary activity" by foreign citizens without specific authorisation were introduced in 2003 with amendments to the decree governing the entry, exit and presence in Kazakhstan of foreign citizens. Amendments to Kazakhstan's religion law in July 2005 banned both foreigners and local people from conducting "missionary activity" without specific state approval (see F18News 8 December 2005 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=701 ). Officials interpret this as banning foreigners from doing anything more than merely attending meetings. The Kazakhstan Migration Police claimed that, by speaking in his local church, Ballast had violated the terms of his business visa, which allowed him only to work at the university.
However, Almaty-based law professor Roman Podoprigora, who specialises in laws on religion, believes such interpretations of the law to be illegal. "There are no provisions in law which prohibit foreigners from participating in religious ceremonies in different roles," he told Forum 18 from Almaty on 8 December. "Under Kazakh law there is no special type of missionary visa, while under the existing Religion Law, service in a registered religious organisation is not recognised as missionary activity."
Congregation members stressed to Forum 18 that the church – which is outside the framework of the Kazakhstan Baptist Union – has state registration and has not otherwise encountered problems. "There shouldn't be any consequences for the church over what happened to Dan."
The youth service on Sunday 20 August was attended by some 60 people, and it was during a discussion of various Bible passages that Ballast came up to speak. "Dan didn't preach but merely gave his personal view of a Bible passage," church members told Forum 18. "He spoke for about thirty minutes." Asked how the law-enforcement officials knew to attend the service and film it, one church member responded: "Someone rang them. These things happen here."
After the service, police officers present, who had filmed Ballast speaking, questioned the pastor and congregation members for an hour and a half. They forced witnesses to sign statements that Ballast had been preaching. The following day, he was summoned to the town prosecutor's office and was questioned for three hours. Prosecutors initially intended to prosecute Ballast for working as a "missionary" without being registered with the town authorities, sources told Forum 18. But a few days later, the prosecutors dropped the case and sent the papers to the Migration Police, to see if they could find a way to punish him.
Ballast was ordered to report to the Migration Police on five separate occasions over the following six weeks. Eventually, they opened a formal case against him, stating that he had violated the terms of his visa. They stated that the law requires that a person must engage only in activities related to their visa.
Ironically, officials had earlier praised Ballast for his educational work in Kazakhstan and administration of scholarships for local students to the United States. Ballast received awards from the East Kazakhstan Regional administration and the Ministry of Education. Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev personally presented Ballast with his Master's Degree in Kazakh Language and Literature, that he earned from East Kazakhstan State University.
The Kazakh authorities have been treating foreigners who are active in local religious communities with growing suspicion. South Korean pastor Kim U Sob, who led the Love Presbyterian Church in the southern Kazakh town of Kyzyl-Orda [Qyzylorda] for eight years – and had been invited to an event as an official speaker by the authorities - was punished for conducting religious activity in a town near Kyzyl-Orda, while having permission to conduct "missionary activity" only in the town itself. His accreditation was revoked and the Migration Police then refused to extend his visa once it expired (see F18News 15 November 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=871 ). Pastor Kim was forced to leave Kazakhstan on 14 November.
One source, who wished to remain unnamed, told Forum 18 that the judge in Pastor Kim's case told his lawyer, Timur Kupeshev, that he had been given 10,000 US Dollars to prosecute him. If Kim offered the judge 15,000 US Dollars the case could be dropped, the source stated. Forum 18 has been unable to confirm this independently.
Members of the Tabligh Jama'at international Islamic missionary organisation – both Kazakh citizens and foreigners – have been fined this year for preaching in mosques without accreditation. A number of the foreigners have been expelled (see F18News 14 November 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=868 ).
Choosing not to try to extend his visa in November was Hare Krishna devotee Govinda Swami, an American member of the embattled Sri Vrindavan Dham commune (named after the "beautiful forest of Vrindavan" in India where Krishna spent his youth) in Karasai district near Almaty. Govinda Swami told Forum 18 on 7 December that after the government commission formed allegedly to resolve the conflict had begun its work, local religious affairs official Ryskul Zhunisbayeva complained that he was working as a "missionary without a missionary visa" and threatened that his visa would not be renewed.
On 21 November, the day after Govinda Swami left Kazakhstan, the authorities began bulldozing Hare Krishna-owned homes at the commune. The authorities seem determined to complete the demolition and confiscation despite an international outcry (see F18News 8 December 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=885 ).
In recent years other foreign citizens leading local religious communities have seen their visas revoked or not renewed, while other foreign citizens invited to Kazakhstan for religious events have faced denials of visas (see F18News 8 June 2005 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=578 ).
Meanwhile, two local Baptists in East Kazakhstan Region, given heavy fines in June for continuing to lead their unregistered congregation, are still refusing to pay the fines. This is despite the imminent confiscation of property from one, and the deduction of the amount from the pension of the other (see F18News 1 December 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=881 ).
"We refuse absolutely to pay as we're not guilty before God or the state of any crime," Pyotr Shevel told Forum 18 from Zyryanovsk on 7 December. "Our Constitution allows us freedom of worship, so why do they our church as if it is a terrorist group just because we worship without registration?" Shevel said his refrigerator and other property designated for confiscation, if he does not pay the fine, have not yet been seized. Nor has the fine yet been deducted, as threatened, from the pension of his fellow-Baptist Yegor Prokopenko. However, Shevel fears this could happen at any time.
"Fines on our people are happening almost everywhere in Kazakhstan because we won't register with the authorities," Shevel reported. Other Baptists of the Council of Churches – who refuse on principle to register their congregations as they believe this leads to unacceptable state control over their internal affairs – have told Forum 18 that fines have recently been handed down in the capital Astana, as well as in towns as far apart as Kokshetau [Koshetau] in the north and Shymkent in the south.
Information demanded for state registration in Kazakhstan often greatly exceeds any information reasonably necessary just to obtain legal status. Both Baptists (see F18News 9 June 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=797 ) and Hare Krishna devotees (see F18News 8 December 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=885 ) have complained to Forum 18 about the highly intrusive and unreasonable demands the state makes for information, under the guise of registration applications.
Legal restrictions on religious freedom have been increased by the authorities, with the 2005 passage of "extremism" and "national security" amendments, which (amongst other things) ban unregistered religious activity, greatly curtail missionary activity, enhance state control over religious education, and permit suspension of registration of a religious organisation, with a ban on speaking to the media by members of the organisation (see the F18News Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=701 ).
Some fear that more legal restrictions being planned by the KNB secret police will ban sharing beliefs and all missionary activity (see F18News 24 October 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=859 )(END)
For a personal commentary on how attacking religious freedom damages national security in Kazakhstan, see F18News www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=564
For more background, see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=701.
A survey of the religious freedom decline in the eastern part of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area is at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=806 and a survey of religious intolerance in Central Asia is at www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=815.
By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service
After seven law-enforcement officials secretly filmed a foreign church member taking part in a bible discussion at a state-registered Baptist church, he was forced to leave the country Forum 18 News Service has learnt. Dan Ballast, an American who belonged for 11 years to the Spring of Water Church, was fined the equivalent of three months average salary and given a deportation order. This is the latest in a series of expulsions known to Forum 18. "This violates both freedom of religion and freedom of speech," a friend of Ballast's said. Kazakh law professor Roman Podoprigora told Forum 18 that "there are no provisions in law which prohibit foreigners from participating in religious ceremonies in different roles," and that "under the existing Religion Law, service in a registered religious organisation is not recognised as missionary activity." Asked by Forum 18 how officials knew to attend the service and film it, one church member responded: "Someone rang them. These things happen here." Ironically, officials had earlier praised Ballast for his educational work.
Some seven law-enforcement officials secretly attended a youth service at the Spring of Water Baptist church in Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk) in East Kazakhstan Region in August, church members have told Forum 18 News Service. The officials filmed a veteran congregation member, Dan Ballast, participating in a Bible discussion. Ballast – a US citizen - was later given a massive fine, together with a deportation order. Although the deportation order was later rescinded, Ballast left Kazakhstan on 22 November. "Dan was a member of our church for eleven years, but they said that as a foreign citizen he was not allowed to teach or even speak in the church," one congregation member told Forum 18 from the town on 6 December. "Officials questioned us for an hour and a half after the service, and we told them we didn't want to violate the law."
On 23 October, Judge Y. Kuderbayev of the town administrative court found Ballast guilty of violating Article 394 part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which punishes "failure of the goals of entry to accord with the goals indicated in the visa". In addition to the deportation order, Ballast was fined 41,200 tenge (1,967 Norwegian Kroner, 242 Euros or 320 US Dollars), about three months' average salary in Kazakhstan. The East Kazakhstan Regional court annulled Ballast's deportation order on 14 November, as he was already due to leave the country when his contract at Oskemen's Kazakh-American Free University ended, and he was able to show the court his departure ticket. He left Kazakhstan after paying the fine.
A friend of Ballast in Kazakhstan insisted to Forum 18 that, as a church member, Ballast should have every right to take part in the religious life of his chosen religious community regardless of his nationality. "Apparently someone forgot to explain to the Kazakhstan government that residents and citizens are guaranteed their rights to religion regardless of profession," the friend noted. "This violates both freedom of religion and freedom of speech."
Forum 18 was unable to reach A. Islyamov, head of the town Migration Police, or any officials of the Internal Affairs Department or the Prosecutor's Office, who were prepared to explain why the Spring of Water church was being spied on during a service, and why Ballast was punished for speaking to a religious congregation he had belonged to for eleven years.
Rules restricting "missionary activity" by foreign citizens without specific authorisation were introduced in 2003 with amendments to the decree governing the entry, exit and presence in Kazakhstan of foreign citizens. Amendments to Kazakhstan's religion law in July 2005 banned both foreigners and local people from conducting "missionary activity" without specific state approval (see F18News 8 December 2005 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=701 ). Officials interpret this as banning foreigners from doing anything more than merely attending meetings. The Kazakhstan Migration Police claimed that, by speaking in his local church, Ballast had violated the terms of his business visa, which allowed him only to work at the university.
However, Almaty-based law professor Roman Podoprigora, who specialises in laws on religion, believes such interpretations of the law to be illegal. "There are no provisions in law which prohibit foreigners from participating in religious ceremonies in different roles," he told Forum 18 from Almaty on 8 December. "Under Kazakh law there is no special type of missionary visa, while under the existing Religion Law, service in a registered religious organisation is not recognised as missionary activity."
Congregation members stressed to Forum 18 that the church – which is outside the framework of the Kazakhstan Baptist Union – has state registration and has not otherwise encountered problems. "There shouldn't be any consequences for the church over what happened to Dan."
The youth service on Sunday 20 August was attended by some 60 people, and it was during a discussion of various Bible passages that Ballast came up to speak. "Dan didn't preach but merely gave his personal view of a Bible passage," church members told Forum 18. "He spoke for about thirty minutes." Asked how the law-enforcement officials knew to attend the service and film it, one church member responded: "Someone rang them. These things happen here."
After the service, police officers present, who had filmed Ballast speaking, questioned the pastor and congregation members for an hour and a half. They forced witnesses to sign statements that Ballast had been preaching. The following day, he was summoned to the town prosecutor's office and was questioned for three hours. Prosecutors initially intended to prosecute Ballast for working as a "missionary" without being registered with the town authorities, sources told Forum 18. But a few days later, the prosecutors dropped the case and sent the papers to the Migration Police, to see if they could find a way to punish him.
Ballast was ordered to report to the Migration Police on five separate occasions over the following six weeks. Eventually, they opened a formal case against him, stating that he had violated the terms of his visa. They stated that the law requires that a person must engage only in activities related to their visa.
Ironically, officials had earlier praised Ballast for his educational work in Kazakhstan and administration of scholarships for local students to the United States. Ballast received awards from the East Kazakhstan Regional administration and the Ministry of Education. Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev personally presented Ballast with his Master's Degree in Kazakh Language and Literature, that he earned from East Kazakhstan State University.
The Kazakh authorities have been treating foreigners who are active in local religious communities with growing suspicion. South Korean pastor Kim U Sob, who led the Love Presbyterian Church in the southern Kazakh town of Kyzyl-Orda [Qyzylorda] for eight years – and had been invited to an event as an official speaker by the authorities - was punished for conducting religious activity in a town near Kyzyl-Orda, while having permission to conduct "missionary activity" only in the town itself. His accreditation was revoked and the Migration Police then refused to extend his visa once it expired (see F18News 15 November 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=871 ). Pastor Kim was forced to leave Kazakhstan on 14 November.
One source, who wished to remain unnamed, told Forum 18 that the judge in Pastor Kim's case told his lawyer, Timur Kupeshev, that he had been given 10,000 US Dollars to prosecute him. If Kim offered the judge 15,000 US Dollars the case could be dropped, the source stated. Forum 18 has been unable to confirm this independently.
Members of the Tabligh Jama'at international Islamic missionary organisation – both Kazakh citizens and foreigners – have been fined this year for preaching in mosques without accreditation. A number of the foreigners have been expelled (see F18News 14 November 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=868 ).
Choosing not to try to extend his visa in November was Hare Krishna devotee Govinda Swami, an American member of the embattled Sri Vrindavan Dham commune (named after the "beautiful forest of Vrindavan" in India where Krishna spent his youth) in Karasai district near Almaty. Govinda Swami told Forum 18 on 7 December that after the government commission formed allegedly to resolve the conflict had begun its work, local religious affairs official Ryskul Zhunisbayeva complained that he was working as a "missionary without a missionary visa" and threatened that his visa would not be renewed.
On 21 November, the day after Govinda Swami left Kazakhstan, the authorities began bulldozing Hare Krishna-owned homes at the commune. The authorities seem determined to complete the demolition and confiscation despite an international outcry (see F18News 8 December 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=885 ).
In recent years other foreign citizens leading local religious communities have seen their visas revoked or not renewed, while other foreign citizens invited to Kazakhstan for religious events have faced denials of visas (see F18News 8 June 2005 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=578 ).
Meanwhile, two local Baptists in East Kazakhstan Region, given heavy fines in June for continuing to lead their unregistered congregation, are still refusing to pay the fines. This is despite the imminent confiscation of property from one, and the deduction of the amount from the pension of the other (see F18News 1 December 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=881 ).
"We refuse absolutely to pay as we're not guilty before God or the state of any crime," Pyotr Shevel told Forum 18 from Zyryanovsk on 7 December. "Our Constitution allows us freedom of worship, so why do they our church as if it is a terrorist group just because we worship without registration?" Shevel said his refrigerator and other property designated for confiscation, if he does not pay the fine, have not yet been seized. Nor has the fine yet been deducted, as threatened, from the pension of his fellow-Baptist Yegor Prokopenko. However, Shevel fears this could happen at any time.
"Fines on our people are happening almost everywhere in Kazakhstan because we won't register with the authorities," Shevel reported. Other Baptists of the Council of Churches – who refuse on principle to register their congregations as they believe this leads to unacceptable state control over their internal affairs – have told Forum 18 that fines have recently been handed down in the capital Astana, as well as in towns as far apart as Kokshetau [Koshetau] in the north and Shymkent in the south.
Information demanded for state registration in Kazakhstan often greatly exceeds any information reasonably necessary just to obtain legal status. Both Baptists (see F18News 9 June 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=797 ) and Hare Krishna devotees (see F18News 8 December 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=885 ) have complained to Forum 18 about the highly intrusive and unreasonable demands the state makes for information, under the guise of registration applications.
Legal restrictions on religious freedom have been increased by the authorities, with the 2005 passage of "extremism" and "national security" amendments, which (amongst other things) ban unregistered religious activity, greatly curtail missionary activity, enhance state control over religious education, and permit suspension of registration of a religious organisation, with a ban on speaking to the media by members of the organisation (see the F18News Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=701 ).
Some fear that more legal restrictions being planned by the KNB secret police will ban sharing beliefs and all missionary activity (see F18News 24 October 2006 www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=859 )(END)
For a personal commentary on how attacking religious freedom damages national security in Kazakhstan, see F18News www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=564
For more background, see Forum 18's Kazakhstan religious freedom survey at www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=701.
A survey of the religious freedom decline in the eastern part of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area is at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=806 and a survey of religious intolerance in Central Asia is at www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=815.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Video Exposes Threat of New Attacks on USA!
By Stephen Little (CWN News)
CLICK HERE OR ON PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO!
CWNews.com -A new documentary getting widespread exposure demonstrates that the danger of terror attacks in the U.S. is more real than ever.
It's called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West.”
"'Obsession' is an attempt to reveal and educate the American public on what the aims, the goals and the strategies of the radical Islamists are and it's something to be afraid of," said Raphael Stone, the films producer.
"The move 'Obsession' was critical actually to come at this time because most people are unaware that radical Islam has declared war on the West,” he said. “They appreciated for a few days after 9/11 but because there have been no more attacks on mainline United States, they don't realize that the effort is still there across the globe to try to undermine the West."
While the film notes many Muslims are peaceful, it reveals a significant number of Muslims worldwide are committed to an Islamic agenda to overthrow western civilization and take over the world for their radical brand of Islam.
The film documents public statements of Muslim leaders, imams and commentators from throughout the Muslim world. Their statements are brutally clear.
The documentary includes insight from the Muslim world from those who grew up within the culture of jihad.
CLICK HERE OR ON PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO!CWNews.com -A new documentary getting widespread exposure demonstrates that the danger of terror attacks in the U.S. is more real than ever.
It's called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West.”
"'Obsession' is an attempt to reveal and educate the American public on what the aims, the goals and the strategies of the radical Islamists are and it's something to be afraid of," said Raphael Stone, the films producer.
"The move 'Obsession' was critical actually to come at this time because most people are unaware that radical Islam has declared war on the West,” he said. “They appreciated for a few days after 9/11 but because there have been no more attacks on mainline United States, they don't realize that the effort is still there across the globe to try to undermine the West."
While the film notes many Muslims are peaceful, it reveals a significant number of Muslims worldwide are committed to an Islamic agenda to overthrow western civilization and take over the world for their radical brand of Islam.
The film documents public statements of Muslim leaders, imams and commentators from throughout the Muslim world. Their statements are brutally clear.
The documentary includes insight from the Muslim world from those who grew up within the culture of jihad.
Romney's Record on Gays Questioned
Romney's Record on Gays Questioned
By David Brody
CBN News
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- BOSTON -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's presidential aspirations may have just taken a big hit.
A letter has surfaced that he wrote in 1994 when he was running for the U.S. Senate. In it, Romney thanks the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts, a gay Republican group, for its support. He also calls for equality for gays and lesbians.
Citing Kennedy's record of advocacy for gays and lesbians, Romney wrote, "For some voters, it might be enough to simply match my opponent's record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will."
In the letter, Romney also said he supported President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays serving in the armed forces, describing it as "the first in a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military."
Romney has lately been positioning himself as the candidate for family value conservatives in 2008. But President of the Family Research Council Tony Perkins called the letter quite disturbing.
Governor Romney's office, meanwhile, told CBN News today that "Governor Romney believes Americans should be respectful of all people. Over the past four years as governor, Mitt Romney has not implemented new or special rights in this area and he has not advocated or supported any change in the military's policies."
By David Brody
CBN News
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- BOSTON -- Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's presidential aspirations may have just taken a big hit.A letter has surfaced that he wrote in 1994 when he was running for the U.S. Senate. In it, Romney thanks the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts, a gay Republican group, for its support. He also calls for equality for gays and lesbians.
Citing Kennedy's record of advocacy for gays and lesbians, Romney wrote, "For some voters, it might be enough to simply match my opponent's record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will."
In the letter, Romney also said he supported President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays serving in the armed forces, describing it as "the first in a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military."
Romney has lately been positioning himself as the candidate for family value conservatives in 2008. But President of the Family Research Council Tony Perkins called the letter quite disturbing.
Governor Romney's office, meanwhile, told CBN News today that "Governor Romney believes Americans should be respectful of all people. Over the past four years as governor, Mitt Romney has not implemented new or special rights in this area and he has not advocated or supported any change in the military's policies."
Hezbollah Supporters Flood Beirut Streets
Hezbollah Supporters Flood Beirut Streets
CBN News
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com- Hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah members and their supporters have flooded the streets of Beirut, threatening to overthrow the Lebanese government.
The protestors say that their country was too weak in its response against Israel during this summer's war. And they're outraged with Lebanon's cozy relationship with the United States. They want the militant Hezbollah to be part of a coalition government.
The political unrest has split the country along sectarian lines. Most Sunni Muslims support the prime minister, while the Shiites back Hezbollah.
"We are here to topple this government. It is not a coup. We just want to participate in the government. We are not revolutionaries."
Meanwhile, the prime minister and his cabinet have been in hiding the last ten days. They say they will not bow to the pressure.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
CBN News
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com- Hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah members and their supporters have flooded the streets of Beirut, threatening to overthrow the Lebanese government.The protestors say that their country was too weak in its response against Israel during this summer's war. And they're outraged with Lebanon's cozy relationship with the United States. They want the militant Hezbollah to be part of a coalition government.
The political unrest has split the country along sectarian lines. Most Sunni Muslims support the prime minister, while the Shiites back Hezbollah.
"We are here to topple this government. It is not a coup. We just want to participate in the government. We are not revolutionaries."
Meanwhile, the prime minister and his cabinet have been in hiding the last ten days. They say they will not bow to the pressure.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
Iran Holds Holocaust Conference
Iran Holds Holocaust Conference
CBNNews.com
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- TEHRAN, Iran -- A controversial two-day Holocaust conference is underway in Iran. It is looking at whether the event happened and if genocide took place. Organizers said the event was an opportunity to discuss questions about the Holocaust away from Western taboos.
"Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision," was initiated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has described the Holocaust as a "myth." In the past, he has called for Israel to be wiped off the map.
The conference was organized by the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies. Approximately 67 researchers from 30 countries are in attendance.
In Germany, Austria and France, it is illegal to deny the Holocaust.
"This conference seeks neither to deny nor prove the Holocaust," Mousavi said. "It is just to provide an appropriate scientific atmosphere for scholars to offer their opinions in freedom about a historical issue."
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki dismissed the foreign criticism as "predictable," telling conference delegates in a speech that there was "no logical reason for opposing this conference."
"The objective for organizing this conference is to create an atmosphere to raise various opinions about a historical issue. We are not seeking to deny or prove the Holocaust," Mottaki said.
"If the official version of the Holocaust is thrown into doubt, then the identity and nature of Israel will be thrown into doubt. And if, during this review, it is proved that the Holocaust was a historical reality, then what is the reason for the Muslim people of the region and the Palestinians having to pay the cost of the Nazis' crimes?" Mottaki said.
A statement was issued from Israel condemning the conference saying it is an attempt to "paint extremist agenda with a scholarly brush. an effort to mainstream Holocaust denial."
The conference was expected to receive a message from Ahmadinejad, who has said that the killing of six million Jews by the Nazi German regime during World War II was a "myth" and "exaggerated."
The president has repeatedly questioned why the Holocaust has been used to justify the creation of Israel at the expense of the Palestinians, which is a view popular among Iranian hard-liners.
Iran has spent months preparing for the conference, even publicizing it during the September visit to Tehran of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who contradicted his hosts by saying the Holocaust was a historical fact and that an exhibition of anti-Holocaust cartoons, then on display in the city, promoted hatred.
The conference was condemned by Germany, the United States and Israel.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
CBNNews.com
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- TEHRAN, Iran -- A controversial two-day Holocaust conference is underway in Iran. It is looking at whether the event happened and if genocide took place. Organizers said the event was an opportunity to discuss questions about the Holocaust away from Western taboos."Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision," was initiated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has described the Holocaust as a "myth." In the past, he has called for Israel to be wiped off the map.
The conference was organized by the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies. Approximately 67 researchers from 30 countries are in attendance.
In Germany, Austria and France, it is illegal to deny the Holocaust.
"This conference seeks neither to deny nor prove the Holocaust," Mousavi said. "It is just to provide an appropriate scientific atmosphere for scholars to offer their opinions in freedom about a historical issue."
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki dismissed the foreign criticism as "predictable," telling conference delegates in a speech that there was "no logical reason for opposing this conference."
"The objective for organizing this conference is to create an atmosphere to raise various opinions about a historical issue. We are not seeking to deny or prove the Holocaust," Mottaki said.
"If the official version of the Holocaust is thrown into doubt, then the identity and nature of Israel will be thrown into doubt. And if, during this review, it is proved that the Holocaust was a historical reality, then what is the reason for the Muslim people of the region and the Palestinians having to pay the cost of the Nazis' crimes?" Mottaki said.
A statement was issued from Israel condemning the conference saying it is an attempt to "paint extremist agenda with a scholarly brush. an effort to mainstream Holocaust denial."
The conference was expected to receive a message from Ahmadinejad, who has said that the killing of six million Jews by the Nazi German regime during World War II was a "myth" and "exaggerated."
The president has repeatedly questioned why the Holocaust has been used to justify the creation of Israel at the expense of the Palestinians, which is a view popular among Iranian hard-liners.
Iran has spent months preparing for the conference, even publicizing it during the September visit to Tehran of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who contradicted his hosts by saying the Holocaust was a historical fact and that an exhibition of anti-Holocaust cartoons, then on display in the city, promoted hatred.
The conference was condemned by Germany, the United States and Israel.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
Gone too far? Officers Express Faith in Video
Gone too far? Officers Express Faith in Video
Associated Press
December 11, 2006
WASHINGTON - An evangelical Christian group is facing scrutiny for a promotional video that shows active-duty military officers praising the organization.
Christian Embassy says it was given permission to make the tape by the Defense Department.
A religious freedom watchdog group wants the Pentagon to look into whether the tape violated regulations or the Constitution.
Robert Varney, executive director of the Christian Embassy said the group plans to include a note to viewers telling them that the content of the tape does not represent the military or any government agency.
"We don't think we did anything in violation," Varney said. "The Pentagon gave us permission to film the video, and I don't think they'd give us permission if it were in violation of the regulations."
The 10-minute video features prominent military officers, in uniform, speaking on the group's behalf. Much of it was recorded inside the Pentagon.
Service regulations in general prohibit active-duty officers from lobbying for political causes while on duty or wearing their uniforms. The issue of religion in the military is trickier, with regulations seeking to both uphold religious freedom and protect members from proselytizing.
In letters released Monday, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation asked that the Defense Department's inspector general investigate the matter and that any documents authorizing the officers' involvement in the film be released.
Mikey Weinstein, founder of the foundation, said in a statement he hoped the footage would serve as "a testament to systemic problems of religious bias and constitutional neglect that continue to occur within the United States armed forces."
The Pentagon said it needs more time to determine whether the latest incident warrants an investigation.
"The Department of Defense does not endorse any particular religious faith, but we do provide service members with the ability to practice their religion," said spokesman Maj. Stewart Upton.
A 1988 directive, still in effect, cites department policy that says "requests for accommodation of religious practices should be approved by commanders when accommodation will not have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards or discipline."
Featured in the video are four generals and three colonels, including Maj. Gen. Jack Catton Jr., who is on active duty at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Catton was investigated by the Air Force last spring after he sent an e-mail from his work account urging Air Force Academy graduates to contribute to a Republican candidate for Congress.
Christian Embassy was established 31 years ago to promote prayer groups and Christian values among government officials.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
Click here to watch the video!
Associated Press
December 11, 2006
WASHINGTON - An evangelical Christian group is facing scrutiny for a promotional video that shows active-duty military officers praising the organization.
Christian Embassy says it was given permission to make the tape by the Defense Department.
A religious freedom watchdog group wants the Pentagon to look into whether the tape violated regulations or the Constitution.
Robert Varney, executive director of the Christian Embassy said the group plans to include a note to viewers telling them that the content of the tape does not represent the military or any government agency.
"We don't think we did anything in violation," Varney said. "The Pentagon gave us permission to film the video, and I don't think they'd give us permission if it were in violation of the regulations."
The 10-minute video features prominent military officers, in uniform, speaking on the group's behalf. Much of it was recorded inside the Pentagon.
Service regulations in general prohibit active-duty officers from lobbying for political causes while on duty or wearing their uniforms. The issue of religion in the military is trickier, with regulations seeking to both uphold religious freedom and protect members from proselytizing.
In letters released Monday, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation asked that the Defense Department's inspector general investigate the matter and that any documents authorizing the officers' involvement in the film be released.
Mikey Weinstein, founder of the foundation, said in a statement he hoped the footage would serve as "a testament to systemic problems of religious bias and constitutional neglect that continue to occur within the United States armed forces."
The Pentagon said it needs more time to determine whether the latest incident warrants an investigation.
"The Department of Defense does not endorse any particular religious faith, but we do provide service members with the ability to practice their religion," said spokesman Maj. Stewart Upton.
A 1988 directive, still in effect, cites department policy that says "requests for accommodation of religious practices should be approved by commanders when accommodation will not have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards or discipline."
Featured in the video are four generals and three colonels, including Maj. Gen. Jack Catton Jr., who is on active duty at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Catton was investigated by the Air Force last spring after he sent an e-mail from his work account urging Air Force Academy graduates to contribute to a Republican candidate for Congress.
Christian Embassy was established 31 years ago to promote prayer groups and Christian values among government officials.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
Click here to watch the video!
Schoolchildren Shot in Gaza
Schoolchildren Shot in Gaza
CBN News
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com - GAZA - Gunmen in Gaza killed three schoolchildren today.
The boys, ages three, six and nine, were on their way to school in a car when gunmen riddled the vehicle with some 60 bullets.
Security officials believe the attackers were trying to kill the boys' father, Baha Balousheh -- a leading member of the Fatah party loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
At midday, thousands of Fatah supporters protested by marching in a mass funeral procession.
Fatah leaders blame the radical Palestinian group Hamas for the attack.
The boys' father helped crack down on Hamas a decade ago.
Hamas denies any involvement.
Sources: CBN News, Associated Press
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006 Sources: CBN News, Associated Press
CBN News
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com - GAZA - Gunmen in Gaza killed three schoolchildren today.
The boys, ages three, six and nine, were on their way to school in a car when gunmen riddled the vehicle with some 60 bullets.
Security officials believe the attackers were trying to kill the boys' father, Baha Balousheh -- a leading member of the Fatah party loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
At midday, thousands of Fatah supporters protested by marching in a mass funeral procession.
Fatah leaders blame the radical Palestinian group Hamas for the attack.
The boys' father helped crack down on Hamas a decade ago.
Hamas denies any involvement.
Sources: CBN News, Associated Press
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006 Sources: CBN News, Associated Press
New Law Targets Nigeria's Gay Community
New Law Targets Nigeria's Gay Community
Associated Press
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- LAGOS, Nigeria -- Lawmakers in Nigeria are debating a bill that would ban same-sex marriage and any form of association among gays, even sharing a meal at a restaurant.
Few in Nigeria's deeply closeted gay community have publicly opposed the legislation, which proposes penalties of up to five years in prison and is widely expected to pass.
Engaging in homosexual acts is already illegal in Nigeria, with those convicted facing jail terms in the mainly Christian south and execution in the mainly Muslim north.
"This meeting, right here, would be illegal," said activist Bisi Alimi, stabbing the air with a French fry for emphasis as he sat at a table with three gay friends and a reporter.
Other activities prohibited under the proposed law include belonging to gay clubs or reading books, watching films or accessing Internet sites that "promote" homosexuality.
Alimi has been trying to drum up opposition to the legislation, but says Nigeria's gay community is too far underground and the subject too taboo.
The 27-year-old activist is one of few openly gay Nigerians, having been "outed" by a university newspaper three years ago. None of his companions has told their families of their sexual orientation. They asked to be identified only by their first names, citing the risk of arrest, beatings or even death.
"A few of my best friends know, but I don't have the courage to tell my parents," said Ipadeola, a 23-year-old medical student.
"I don't tell people because it is none of their business," said Mukajuloa, a 21-year-old beautician. "Do heterosexual men go around telling the world they are attracted to women?"
Haruna Yerima, a member of Nigeria's House of Representatives, said he supported the proposed ban. Social contact between gays should be limited, he said, because it might encourage behavior that was "against our culture. against our religion."
Attitudes toward gays in Nigeria are typical of those across the continent. In neighboring Cameroon, Amnesty International says accusations of homosexuality and anti-gay laws have been used as a weapon against political opponents.
South Africa legalized gay marriages last month in fiercely debated legislation, making it the only country on the continent to do so. But the impetus was more a desire to stamp out all forms of discrimination in a reaction to apartheid than tolerance of gays, who are subject to prejudice and violence in South Africa.
The hostility in Nigeria means that there are very few gay or lesbian organizations. Oludare "Erelu" Odumuye - the nickname means "queen mother" in Yoruba - heads one, Alliance Rights.
"That bill would criminalize me if it was passed into law. It would criminalize my organization, it would criminalize my friends," he said.
Thousands of people use Alliance Rights for health services, to gather information or to meet, Odumuye says. To avoid harassment, the group has no membership list and its buildings are not in town centers or identified by signs.
Visitors find them through word-of-mouth, Odumuye said. To give an idea of their size, he says the group received more than 1,500 responses to a recent health survey among gay Nigerians.
Odumuye said the bill is aimed at pleasing the ruling party's political base - which includes powerful religious groups - ahead of April elections.
Akin Marinho, a Nigerian human rights lawyer, argued the bill's prohibitions are illegal under Nigeria's constitution and international treaty obligations. Not only does the legislation affect freedoms of speech and expression, but foreign companies could face lawsuits if gay or lesbian staff are unable to take up positions in Nigeria, he said.
Even some conservative religious leaders say the bill goes too far. Though Bishop Joseph Ojo, who presides over the congregation at the evangelical Calvary Kingdom Church, contends gay relationships are "foreign to Africans" and should be outlawed, he adds that gays should "have freedom of speech and expression."
Nigerians have been publicly flogged or beaten severely in prison after being charged with homosexuality.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
Associated Press
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- LAGOS, Nigeria -- Lawmakers in Nigeria are debating a bill that would ban same-sex marriage and any form of association among gays, even sharing a meal at a restaurant.
Few in Nigeria's deeply closeted gay community have publicly opposed the legislation, which proposes penalties of up to five years in prison and is widely expected to pass.
Engaging in homosexual acts is already illegal in Nigeria, with those convicted facing jail terms in the mainly Christian south and execution in the mainly Muslim north.
"This meeting, right here, would be illegal," said activist Bisi Alimi, stabbing the air with a French fry for emphasis as he sat at a table with three gay friends and a reporter.
Other activities prohibited under the proposed law include belonging to gay clubs or reading books, watching films or accessing Internet sites that "promote" homosexuality.
Alimi has been trying to drum up opposition to the legislation, but says Nigeria's gay community is too far underground and the subject too taboo.
The 27-year-old activist is one of few openly gay Nigerians, having been "outed" by a university newspaper three years ago. None of his companions has told their families of their sexual orientation. They asked to be identified only by their first names, citing the risk of arrest, beatings or even death.
"A few of my best friends know, but I don't have the courage to tell my parents," said Ipadeola, a 23-year-old medical student.
"I don't tell people because it is none of their business," said Mukajuloa, a 21-year-old beautician. "Do heterosexual men go around telling the world they are attracted to women?"
Haruna Yerima, a member of Nigeria's House of Representatives, said he supported the proposed ban. Social contact between gays should be limited, he said, because it might encourage behavior that was "against our culture. against our religion."
Attitudes toward gays in Nigeria are typical of those across the continent. In neighboring Cameroon, Amnesty International says accusations of homosexuality and anti-gay laws have been used as a weapon against political opponents.
South Africa legalized gay marriages last month in fiercely debated legislation, making it the only country on the continent to do so. But the impetus was more a desire to stamp out all forms of discrimination in a reaction to apartheid than tolerance of gays, who are subject to prejudice and violence in South Africa.
The hostility in Nigeria means that there are very few gay or lesbian organizations. Oludare "Erelu" Odumuye - the nickname means "queen mother" in Yoruba - heads one, Alliance Rights.
"That bill would criminalize me if it was passed into law. It would criminalize my organization, it would criminalize my friends," he said.
Thousands of people use Alliance Rights for health services, to gather information or to meet, Odumuye says. To avoid harassment, the group has no membership list and its buildings are not in town centers or identified by signs.
Visitors find them through word-of-mouth, Odumuye said. To give an idea of their size, he says the group received more than 1,500 responses to a recent health survey among gay Nigerians.
Odumuye said the bill is aimed at pleasing the ruling party's political base - which includes powerful religious groups - ahead of April elections.
Akin Marinho, a Nigerian human rights lawyer, argued the bill's prohibitions are illegal under Nigeria's constitution and international treaty obligations. Not only does the legislation affect freedoms of speech and expression, but foreign companies could face lawsuits if gay or lesbian staff are unable to take up positions in Nigeria, he said.
Even some conservative religious leaders say the bill goes too far. Though Bishop Joseph Ojo, who presides over the congregation at the evangelical Calvary Kingdom Church, contends gay relationships are "foreign to Africans" and should be outlawed, he adds that gays should "have freedom of speech and expression."
Nigerians have been publicly flogged or beaten severely in prison after being charged with homosexuality.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. © 2006
Chuck Norris pounds ACLU over Christmas
ACLU: The Abolishing Christian Legacy Union
Posted: December 11, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
The combat called Christmas
Last year, in John Gibson's book, ''The War on Christmas,'' he discussed a growing cross-country counter culture (represented in every stratum of our society) that is on a mission to bring down the Christian-version of Christmas.
Notable evidence included the following:
In Rhode Island, local officials barred Christians from joining others in decorating the City Hall's lawn.
Arizona school officials declared it unconstitutional for a student to cite any references to the Christian history of Christmas in a class project.
A New Jersey school banned traditional Christmas carols, even instrumental renditions.
In Illinois, state government workers were prohibited from exclaiming ''Merry Christmas'' at work.
WND reported on this warfare as far back as 2002.
This year we see even more confirmation of this Christmas-culture war, particularly being led by its strongest advocate, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
Same ol' ACLU song and dance
The ACLU has been true to form this December in opposing any and all Christian practices and symbols in public arenas and elsewhere.
So far this season it has already muscled the city council in Berkley, Mich. to move a Christmas nativity off public property.
The ACLU also sued the Wilson County School System outside of Nashville, Tenn., because its Christmas program included ''Christian themes and songs'' – what the ACLU calls ''unconstitutional and illegal'' acts through which its plaintiffs have ''suffered irreparable damage.''
Alongside its crusade to suppress Christmas, the ACLU of Tennessee also found time to write Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill to assure the removal from the courthouse sidewalk of a wooden carved statue depicting Moses holding the Ten Commandments.
Just this past week, the ACLU opposed the Winston-Salem City Council's practice of opening its meetings with a prayer referencing Jesus or Christ.
Thankfully, along with the majority of veterans and patriots, I was very pleased to read of the ruling against the ACLU's mission to bring down the cross at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial near San Diego.
Religious paralysis was not the Framers' intent
The ACLU tries to justify and hide behind these anti-Christian crusades by saying its motivation is to preserve First Amendment and minority rights.
The first problem is that its not equally protecting the rights of Christians, when they are in the minority. If the ACLU wants to fight for the underdogs, then why not battle for the Christian voice that is being progressively suppressed every Christmas?
The second problem is that they are not preserving First Amendment rights but are perverting the subordinate Establishment Clause (which prevents government from establishing a national religion, like there was in England) and the Free Exercise Clause (which preserves our rights to worship as we want).
Both clauses were intended to safeguard religious liberty, not separate church and state. Nor was their objective to keep religious symbols away from public places! As is often noted, the Framers were seeking to guarantee a freedom of religion, not a freedom from religion.
As Judge Roy Moore concluded in another WND article:
''The issue was addressed 150 years ago when the Senate Judiciary Committee, while considering the Congressional chaplaincy, said, '[The Founders] had no fear or jealousy of religion itself, nor did they wish to see us an irreligious people; they did not intend to prohibit a just expression of religious devotion by the legislators of the nation, even in their public character as legislators; they did not intend to spread over all the public authorities and the whole public action of the nation the dead and revolting spectacle of atheistical apathy.'''
Time to stop ACLU tyranny
The ACLU is not anti-religion, just anti-Christian. By definition, it's the American Civil Liberties Union. By action, it has become the Abolishing Christian Legacy Union.
The ACLU will assure Muslim clerics and imams the right to pray on planes, fight for an atheist's rights to remove a cross, stand beside pro-abortionists, help illegal aliens cross our borders, and establish rights for the sexual deviant by forming the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project, but what is it doing for Christians and Christmas censorship?
While allegedly fighting against the tyranny of the majority, the ACLU itself rules religiously by litigation, lobbying, and supporting counter-culture Christian movements.
So who died and appointed the ACLU as America's religious constitutional watchdog?
Membership for the ACLU is only 500,000. America's population is 300 million. I think it's time that we helped them feel their size!
I suggest the rest of us follow the passion of Thomas Jefferson, who spoke these words that are etched on the very wall of his memorial in Washington, D.C.: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
ACLU: Out of touch — out of their minds
The fact is the ACLU is simply out of touch with mainstream America, as demonstrated recently by a group of Texas University students' placement of an ''ACLU Nativity Scene,'' complete with Gary and Joseph (instead of Mary and Joseph) and the three wise men: Lenin, Marx, and Stalin — a ''tribute'' to ACLU founder Roger Baldwin's support of communism.
(Is this display an extreme Texan reaction or a symptom of an underlying wave of a pro-Christmas culture that is tired of being bullied around? I wholeheartedly believe the latter!)
The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) noted that ''an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose censoring Christmas,'' citing the following national polls:
95 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 2005).
90 percent of Americans recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ (Gallup, 2000).
88 percent of Americans say it is okay for people to wish others "Merry Christmas" and the majority of Americans are more likely to wish someone they just met "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays" (CNN/USA Today/Gallup, 2004).
87 percent of Americans believe nativity scenes should be allowed on public property (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 2003).
The ADF also has 930 pro-Christmas attorneys waiting to help any community in need.
''J'' to the rescue!
Thank God for organizations which are fighting against the censoring of Christianity and Christmas, like the ADF, The Thomas More Law Center and The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
The ACLJ has a great ''Christmas Resource Center'' where one can find information sheets on what is permissible in public displays of Christmas and how students can properly express their religious beliefs in school during this Christmas season.
I don't know if it was intentional, but I find it interesting that the only letter distinguishing the acronym of the ACLU and the ACLJ is the letter ''J,'' which stands for ''Justice.''
To me, it also stands for ''Jesus,'' without whom there would be no Christmas at all.
Copyright 1997-2006 All Rights Reserved. WorldNetDaily.com Inc.
Posted: December 11, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
The combat called Christmas
Last year, in John Gibson's book, ''The War on Christmas,'' he discussed a growing cross-country counter culture (represented in every stratum of our society) that is on a mission to bring down the Christian-version of Christmas.
Notable evidence included the following:
In Rhode Island, local officials barred Christians from joining others in decorating the City Hall's lawn.
Arizona school officials declared it unconstitutional for a student to cite any references to the Christian history of Christmas in a class project.
A New Jersey school banned traditional Christmas carols, even instrumental renditions.
In Illinois, state government workers were prohibited from exclaiming ''Merry Christmas'' at work.
WND reported on this warfare as far back as 2002.
This year we see even more confirmation of this Christmas-culture war, particularly being led by its strongest advocate, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
Same ol' ACLU song and dance
The ACLU has been true to form this December in opposing any and all Christian practices and symbols in public arenas and elsewhere.
So far this season it has already muscled the city council in Berkley, Mich. to move a Christmas nativity off public property.
The ACLU also sued the Wilson County School System outside of Nashville, Tenn., because its Christmas program included ''Christian themes and songs'' – what the ACLU calls ''unconstitutional and illegal'' acts through which its plaintiffs have ''suffered irreparable damage.''
Alongside its crusade to suppress Christmas, the ACLU of Tennessee also found time to write Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill to assure the removal from the courthouse sidewalk of a wooden carved statue depicting Moses holding the Ten Commandments.
Just this past week, the ACLU opposed the Winston-Salem City Council's practice of opening its meetings with a prayer referencing Jesus or Christ.
Thankfully, along with the majority of veterans and patriots, I was very pleased to read of the ruling against the ACLU's mission to bring down the cross at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial near San Diego.
Religious paralysis was not the Framers' intent
The ACLU tries to justify and hide behind these anti-Christian crusades by saying its motivation is to preserve First Amendment and minority rights.
The first problem is that its not equally protecting the rights of Christians, when they are in the minority. If the ACLU wants to fight for the underdogs, then why not battle for the Christian voice that is being progressively suppressed every Christmas?
The second problem is that they are not preserving First Amendment rights but are perverting the subordinate Establishment Clause (which prevents government from establishing a national religion, like there was in England) and the Free Exercise Clause (which preserves our rights to worship as we want).
Both clauses were intended to safeguard religious liberty, not separate church and state. Nor was their objective to keep religious symbols away from public places! As is often noted, the Framers were seeking to guarantee a freedom of religion, not a freedom from religion.
As Judge Roy Moore concluded in another WND article:
''The issue was addressed 150 years ago when the Senate Judiciary Committee, while considering the Congressional chaplaincy, said, '[The Founders] had no fear or jealousy of religion itself, nor did they wish to see us an irreligious people; they did not intend to prohibit a just expression of religious devotion by the legislators of the nation, even in their public character as legislators; they did not intend to spread over all the public authorities and the whole public action of the nation the dead and revolting spectacle of atheistical apathy.'''
Time to stop ACLU tyranny
The ACLU is not anti-religion, just anti-Christian. By definition, it's the American Civil Liberties Union. By action, it has become the Abolishing Christian Legacy Union.
The ACLU will assure Muslim clerics and imams the right to pray on planes, fight for an atheist's rights to remove a cross, stand beside pro-abortionists, help illegal aliens cross our borders, and establish rights for the sexual deviant by forming the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project, but what is it doing for Christians and Christmas censorship?
While allegedly fighting against the tyranny of the majority, the ACLU itself rules religiously by litigation, lobbying, and supporting counter-culture Christian movements.
So who died and appointed the ACLU as America's religious constitutional watchdog?
Membership for the ACLU is only 500,000. America's population is 300 million. I think it's time that we helped them feel their size!
I suggest the rest of us follow the passion of Thomas Jefferson, who spoke these words that are etched on the very wall of his memorial in Washington, D.C.: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
ACLU: Out of touch — out of their minds
The fact is the ACLU is simply out of touch with mainstream America, as demonstrated recently by a group of Texas University students' placement of an ''ACLU Nativity Scene,'' complete with Gary and Joseph (instead of Mary and Joseph) and the three wise men: Lenin, Marx, and Stalin — a ''tribute'' to ACLU founder Roger Baldwin's support of communism.
(Is this display an extreme Texan reaction or a symptom of an underlying wave of a pro-Christmas culture that is tired of being bullied around? I wholeheartedly believe the latter!)
The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) noted that ''an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose censoring Christmas,'' citing the following national polls:
95 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 2005).
90 percent of Americans recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ (Gallup, 2000).
88 percent of Americans say it is okay for people to wish others "Merry Christmas" and the majority of Americans are more likely to wish someone they just met "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays" (CNN/USA Today/Gallup, 2004).
87 percent of Americans believe nativity scenes should be allowed on public property (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 2003).
The ADF also has 930 pro-Christmas attorneys waiting to help any community in need.
''J'' to the rescue!
Thank God for organizations which are fighting against the censoring of Christianity and Christmas, like the ADF, The Thomas More Law Center and The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
The ACLJ has a great ''Christmas Resource Center'' where one can find information sheets on what is permissible in public displays of Christmas and how students can properly express their religious beliefs in school during this Christmas season.
I don't know if it was intentional, but I find it interesting that the only letter distinguishing the acronym of the ACLU and the ACLJ is the letter ''J,'' which stands for ''Justice.''
To me, it also stands for ''Jesus,'' without whom there would be no Christmas at all.
Copyright 1997-2006 All Rights Reserved. WorldNetDaily.com Inc.
Iraq President Lashes Out at Study Group
Iraq President Lashes Out at Study Group
By Kim Gamel
Associated Press Writer
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi president on Sunday sharply criticized the bipartisan U.S. report calling for a new approach to the war, saying it contained dangerous recommendations that would undermine his country's sovereignty and were "an insult to the people of Iraq."
President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd and one of the staunchest U.S. supporters within the Iraqi leadership, also said U.S. training of Iraq's army and police had gone "from failure to failure."
He criticized the recommendation by the Iraq Study Group calling for increasing the number of U.S. troops embedded with Iraqi units to train Iraq's forces from 3,000 to 4,000 currently to 10,000 to 20,000.
"It is not respecting the desire of the Iraqi people to control its army and to be able to rearm and train Iraqi forces under the leadership of the Iraqi government," he said during an interview with several reporters in his office in Baghdad.
Talabani was the most senior government official to take a stand against the report, which has also come under sharp criticism from American conservatives who claim it amounts to a veiled surrender in the war against terror.
Outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, in a surprise farewell visit to U.S. troops in Iraq this weekend, said the consequences of the war's failure would be "unacceptable."
"We feel great urgency to protect the American people from another 9/11 or a 9/11 times two or three. At the same time, we need to have the patience to see this task through to success. The consequences of failure are unacceptable," Rumsfeld said at al-Asad air base in western Iraq. "The enemy must be defeated."
Rumsfeld did not meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during his visit. He kept the trip low-profile, with his office declining to discuss his itinerary or schedule in detail for security reasons. He returned to Washington Sunday night, Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff said.
Talabani said the Iraqi government planned to send a letter to President Bush "expressing our views about the main issues" in the report. He would not elaborate.
"I believe that President George Bush is a brave and committed man and he is adamant to support the Iraqi government until they've reached success," Talabani said. He said setting conditions was "an insult to the people of Iraq."
Talabani's criticism of U.S. training was directed at a key part of the study group's recommendation, which called for accelerated training of Iraqi forces and the withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops by the first quarter of 2008.
Some U.S. military experts have expressed concern that Iraqi forces will not be ready to assume full responsibility for the fighting by then. However, opposition to the war is rising within the United States, increasing pressure on Bush to shift strategy.
Talabani said the 2008 date was realistic if the Iraqi government is given more responsibility for security.
"If we can agree with the U.S. government to give us the right of organizing, training, arming our armed forces, it will be possible in 2008 to start to leave Iraq and to go back home," he said.
"If you read this report, one would think that it is written for a young, small colony that they are imposing these conditions on," Talabani said. "We are a sovereign country."
He also pointed to the report's call for the approval of a law that would allow thousands of officials from Saddam Hussein's ousted Baath party to return to their jobs.
---
Associated Press writers Thomas Wagner and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Will Weissert at al-Asad and AP military writer Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By Kim Gamel
Associated Press Writer
December 11, 2006
CBNNews.com -- BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi president on Sunday sharply criticized the bipartisan U.S. report calling for a new approach to the war, saying it contained dangerous recommendations that would undermine his country's sovereignty and were "an insult to the people of Iraq."President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd and one of the staunchest U.S. supporters within the Iraqi leadership, also said U.S. training of Iraq's army and police had gone "from failure to failure."
He criticized the recommendation by the Iraq Study Group calling for increasing the number of U.S. troops embedded with Iraqi units to train Iraq's forces from 3,000 to 4,000 currently to 10,000 to 20,000.
"It is not respecting the desire of the Iraqi people to control its army and to be able to rearm and train Iraqi forces under the leadership of the Iraqi government," he said during an interview with several reporters in his office in Baghdad.
Talabani was the most senior government official to take a stand against the report, which has also come under sharp criticism from American conservatives who claim it amounts to a veiled surrender in the war against terror.
Outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, in a surprise farewell visit to U.S. troops in Iraq this weekend, said the consequences of the war's failure would be "unacceptable."
"We feel great urgency to protect the American people from another 9/11 or a 9/11 times two or three. At the same time, we need to have the patience to see this task through to success. The consequences of failure are unacceptable," Rumsfeld said at al-Asad air base in western Iraq. "The enemy must be defeated."
Rumsfeld did not meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during his visit. He kept the trip low-profile, with his office declining to discuss his itinerary or schedule in detail for security reasons. He returned to Washington Sunday night, Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff said.
Talabani said the Iraqi government planned to send a letter to President Bush "expressing our views about the main issues" in the report. He would not elaborate.
"I believe that President George Bush is a brave and committed man and he is adamant to support the Iraqi government until they've reached success," Talabani said. He said setting conditions was "an insult to the people of Iraq."
Talabani's criticism of U.S. training was directed at a key part of the study group's recommendation, which called for accelerated training of Iraqi forces and the withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops by the first quarter of 2008.
Some U.S. military experts have expressed concern that Iraqi forces will not be ready to assume full responsibility for the fighting by then. However, opposition to the war is rising within the United States, increasing pressure on Bush to shift strategy.
Talabani said the 2008 date was realistic if the Iraqi government is given more responsibility for security.
"If we can agree with the U.S. government to give us the right of organizing, training, arming our armed forces, it will be possible in 2008 to start to leave Iraq and to go back home," he said.
"If you read this report, one would think that it is written for a young, small colony that they are imposing these conditions on," Talabani said. "We are a sovereign country."
He also pointed to the report's call for the approval of a law that would allow thousands of officials from Saddam Hussein's ousted Baath party to return to their jobs.
---
Associated Press writers Thomas Wagner and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Will Weissert at al-Asad and AP military writer Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Christmas Trees Back on Some Airline Counters at Seattle Airport
Christmas Trees Back on Some Airline Counters at Seattle Airport
Monday , December 11, 2006
SEATAC, Wash. — The official Christmas trees may still be missing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but a few individual airline employees have decided to try to put some spirit back into the holiday.
Employees at both Delta and Frontier airlines took up a collection on Monday and bought a few foot-tall decorated trees for the check-in counter.
The airlines employees' move came after airport officials removed all nine Christmas trees in the building in response to a rabbi's request to add an 8-foot menorah to the holiday decorations.
Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky made the request weeks ago, when he demanded officials add a menorah next to the trees and threatened to file a lawsuit if his request wasn't honored.
Instead, officials decided to remove holiday decorations as a whole. Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.
"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."
Bogomilsky said he was appalled by the decision.
"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works at Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation headquartered in Seattle's University District.
After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.
Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.
"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said his lawyer, Harvey Grad.
"There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2006 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
Monday , December 11, 2006
SEATAC, Wash. — The official Christmas trees may still be missing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but a few individual airline employees have decided to try to put some spirit back into the holiday.
Employees at both Delta and Frontier airlines took up a collection on Monday and bought a few foot-tall decorated trees for the check-in counter.
The airlines employees' move came after airport officials removed all nine Christmas trees in the building in response to a rabbi's request to add an 8-foot menorah to the holiday decorations.
Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky made the request weeks ago, when he demanded officials add a menorah next to the trees and threatened to file a lawsuit if his request wasn't honored.
Instead, officials decided to remove holiday decorations as a whole. Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.
"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."
Bogomilsky said he was appalled by the decision.
"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works at Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation headquartered in Seattle's University District.
After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.
Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.
"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said his lawyer, Harvey Grad.
"There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2006 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
'Holiday trees' removed from airport after complaint
Christmas trees come down at Sea-Tac, controversy risesSome want airport decorations put back up
By AMY ROLPHP-I REPORTER
Christmas still might have a chance at Sea-Tac Airport.
Amid the growing controversy over the Port of Seattle's decision to remove Christmas trees from the airport, many agree on one thing: Packing away the trees could have been an overreaction.
The port's staff took down the trees Thursday after commissioners learned a lawsuit could be filed the next day if they didn't allow an 8-foot menorah to be displayed beside the largest of 15 Christmas trees throughout the airport.
"In hindsight, we probably should have handled this in a more deliberate and thoughtful manner, but at the time we were given a very short timeline," Commissioner John Creighton said Sunday evening.
The five port commissioners will meet Tuesday evening, and though they have a crowded agenda, Creighton said he wouldn't be surprised if the issue is revisited.
"I can think of at least three out of five commissioners who would like to see the trees back up," he said, adding that how the commissioners deal with being more inclusive at the meeting remains to be seen.
Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of Chabad Lubavitch organization in the University District threatened a lawsuit after his request for a menorah display at the airport didn't move forward as quickly as he anticipated.
Bogomilsky said his organization wants to diversify the airport's display, but removing the trees was not its intention.
Chabad Lubavitch provided menorahs for public display in more than 20 locations statewide, including at the Seattle Center.
The organization's request is usually met with enthusiasm, Bogomilsky said.
"This whole thing is just beyond me -- I'm so appalled and disappointed," he said. "By no means did we want to remove these (trees)."
A representative from Chabad Lubavitch started talking with airport officials in October, and a lawyer informed them of a possible lawsuit at least a week ago, Bogomilsky said.
But airport officials said the threat of litigation was much more sudden.
"It was either, 'put up the menorah,' or they would go to federal court and sue us 18 hours later," Port of Seattle Commission President Pat Davis said. "They wouldn't wait."
No matter what happens, Chabad Lubavitch has no intention of filing a lawsuit anymore, Bogomilsky said.
Commissioner Bob Edwards said he hopes that after Tuesday's meeting, the trees will go back up along with decorations that represent other holiday celebrations.
"It's an international gateway -- why not celebrate other cultures?" he asked.
If the trees do stay down, maybe airport officials will consider a different kind of decoration, Edwards joked.
"Imagine if we had a blow-up of the Grinch to greet travelers," he said.
"The airport that stole Christmas."
©1996-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
By AMY ROLPHP-I REPORTER
Christmas still might have a chance at Sea-Tac Airport.
Amid the growing controversy over the Port of Seattle's decision to remove Christmas trees from the airport, many agree on one thing: Packing away the trees could have been an overreaction.
The port's staff took down the trees Thursday after commissioners learned a lawsuit could be filed the next day if they didn't allow an 8-foot menorah to be displayed beside the largest of 15 Christmas trees throughout the airport.
"In hindsight, we probably should have handled this in a more deliberate and thoughtful manner, but at the time we were given a very short timeline," Commissioner John Creighton said Sunday evening.
The five port commissioners will meet Tuesday evening, and though they have a crowded agenda, Creighton said he wouldn't be surprised if the issue is revisited.
"I can think of at least three out of five commissioners who would like to see the trees back up," he said, adding that how the commissioners deal with being more inclusive at the meeting remains to be seen.
Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of Chabad Lubavitch organization in the University District threatened a lawsuit after his request for a menorah display at the airport didn't move forward as quickly as he anticipated.
Bogomilsky said his organization wants to diversify the airport's display, but removing the trees was not its intention.
Chabad Lubavitch provided menorahs for public display in more than 20 locations statewide, including at the Seattle Center.
The organization's request is usually met with enthusiasm, Bogomilsky said.
"This whole thing is just beyond me -- I'm so appalled and disappointed," he said. "By no means did we want to remove these (trees)."
A representative from Chabad Lubavitch started talking with airport officials in October, and a lawyer informed them of a possible lawsuit at least a week ago, Bogomilsky said.
But airport officials said the threat of litigation was much more sudden.
"It was either, 'put up the menorah,' or they would go to federal court and sue us 18 hours later," Port of Seattle Commission President Pat Davis said. "They wouldn't wait."
No matter what happens, Chabad Lubavitch has no intention of filing a lawsuit anymore, Bogomilsky said.
Commissioner Bob Edwards said he hopes that after Tuesday's meeting, the trees will go back up along with decorations that represent other holiday celebrations.
"It's an international gateway -- why not celebrate other cultures?" he asked.
If the trees do stay down, maybe airport officials will consider a different kind of decoration, Edwards joked.
"Imagine if we had a blow-up of the Grinch to greet travelers," he said.
"The airport that stole Christmas."
©1996-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Dollar Falls After Greenspan Says He Expects Further Decline
Dollar Falls After Greenspan Says He Expects Further Decline
By Min Zeng
Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar fell the most in a week against the euro after former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the U.S. currency will probably keep dropping until the nation's current-account deficit shrinks.
The U.S. currency fell in three of the past four years. It has lost 10.5 percent this year versus the euro as investors bet the European Central Bank would lift interest rates more than the Fed. It's ``imprudent'' for investors to keep their holdings in one currency, Greenspan said.
``The dollar is heading where the current account deficit goes,'' said Tim Mazanec, a senior currency strategist at Investors Bank & Trust Co. in Boston. ``A widening deficit will cause the U.S. more pain.''
The U.S. currency weakened to $1.3239 per euro at 4:07 p.m. in New York from $1.3203 on Dec. 8. The dollar fell to a 20- month low of $1.3367 per euro this month. The U.S. currency pared some of an earlier gain, trading at 116.97 yen from 116.33 on Dec. 8.
The yen dropped to a record low of 154.87 per euro earlier today after a Bank of Japan official told Jiji Press the central bank probably wouldn't raise interest rates next week.
``I expect that the dollar will continue to drift downward until there is a change in the U.S. current account balance,'' Greenspan said, speaking from Washington by satellite to a business conference in Tel Aviv. ``It's imprudent to hold everything in one currency.''
Trade Shortfall
A bigger shortfall in the U.S. current account, the broadest measure of trade, means more dollars need to be converted into other currencies to pay for imports. The U.S. current-account deficit was $218.4 billion in the second quarter, the second-biggest on record.
``You have a former Fed chairman talking about dollar weakness,'' said Michael Malpede, a senior currency analyst in Chicago at Man Global Research. ``The market is still trapped in a negative dollar sentiment, especially against the euro.''
Losses in the dollar were limited as investors speculated the Fed will keep rates unchanged at a meeting tomorrow and suggest inflation remains a risk. Traders pared bets the Fed will cut rates next quarter following a U.S. Labor Department report on Dec. 8 showing job growth accelerated in November.
The Fed will keep the benchmark overnight lending rate between banks at 5.25 percent for a fourth straight meeting, according to the median estimate in a survey by Bloomberg News. The Bank of Japan's rate is 0.25 percent while the European Central Bank's benchmark is 3.5 percent.
`Inflation Risks'
``Some inflation risks remain,'' the Fed said in a statement after its previous rate decision, on Oct. 25. ``We cannot let up our guard on inflation,'' Fed Bank of Chicago President Michael Moskow said last week in an interview broadcast on CNBC.com.
The personal consumption expenditures price index, minus food and energy, rose 2.4 percent for the year ending October, the 31st month at or above the top of the ``comfort'' range of 1 percent to 2 percent indicated by Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke.
Fed funds futures indicate traders see about a 28 percent probability the central bank will reduce rates to 5 percent before April, down from about 100 percent before the labor report.
``I wouldn't go against the Fed right now,'' said Greg Schwake, head of foreign exchange trading at Fortis Financial Services LLC in New York. ``The Fed has been transparent that they are still worried about upside risks in inflation. The sentiment favors the dollar.''
66 Percent
The dollar gained the most in two months against the yen and rebounded from near a 20-month low versus the euro on Dec. 8 as the Labor Department data showed the U.S. added 132,000 new jobs in November after a revised gain of 79,000 a month earlier. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey was for 100,000 jobs.
The dollar accounted for about 66 percent of central banks' currency reserves by March, according to the Bank for International Settlements, down from around 70 percent in 2001.
Russia and other oil-producing countries shifted assets away from the dollar and into the euro and yen in the second quarter, the BIS said in its quarterly review.
Russia and members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries reduced dollar holdings to a two-year low of 65 percent of the total, from 67 percent in the first quarter, the Basel, Switzerland-based bank said in a report on its Web site.
``People are concerned about diversification away from the dollar, especially people at central banks who make long-term decisions about foreign-exchange reserves,'' said Lu Xinyi, chief strategist in Tokyo at Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. ``The whole concept implies dollar selling'' against the euro.
By Min Zeng
Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar fell the most in a week against the euro after former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the U.S. currency will probably keep dropping until the nation's current-account deficit shrinks.The U.S. currency fell in three of the past four years. It has lost 10.5 percent this year versus the euro as investors bet the European Central Bank would lift interest rates more than the Fed. It's ``imprudent'' for investors to keep their holdings in one currency, Greenspan said.
``The dollar is heading where the current account deficit goes,'' said Tim Mazanec, a senior currency strategist at Investors Bank & Trust Co. in Boston. ``A widening deficit will cause the U.S. more pain.''
The U.S. currency weakened to $1.3239 per euro at 4:07 p.m. in New York from $1.3203 on Dec. 8. The dollar fell to a 20- month low of $1.3367 per euro this month. The U.S. currency pared some of an earlier gain, trading at 116.97 yen from 116.33 on Dec. 8.
The yen dropped to a record low of 154.87 per euro earlier today after a Bank of Japan official told Jiji Press the central bank probably wouldn't raise interest rates next week.
``I expect that the dollar will continue to drift downward until there is a change in the U.S. current account balance,'' Greenspan said, speaking from Washington by satellite to a business conference in Tel Aviv. ``It's imprudent to hold everything in one currency.''
Trade Shortfall
A bigger shortfall in the U.S. current account, the broadest measure of trade, means more dollars need to be converted into other currencies to pay for imports. The U.S. current-account deficit was $218.4 billion in the second quarter, the second-biggest on record.
``You have a former Fed chairman talking about dollar weakness,'' said Michael Malpede, a senior currency analyst in Chicago at Man Global Research. ``The market is still trapped in a negative dollar sentiment, especially against the euro.''
Losses in the dollar were limited as investors speculated the Fed will keep rates unchanged at a meeting tomorrow and suggest inflation remains a risk. Traders pared bets the Fed will cut rates next quarter following a U.S. Labor Department report on Dec. 8 showing job growth accelerated in November.
The Fed will keep the benchmark overnight lending rate between banks at 5.25 percent for a fourth straight meeting, according to the median estimate in a survey by Bloomberg News. The Bank of Japan's rate is 0.25 percent while the European Central Bank's benchmark is 3.5 percent.
`Inflation Risks'
``Some inflation risks remain,'' the Fed said in a statement after its previous rate decision, on Oct. 25. ``We cannot let up our guard on inflation,'' Fed Bank of Chicago President Michael Moskow said last week in an interview broadcast on CNBC.com.
The personal consumption expenditures price index, minus food and energy, rose 2.4 percent for the year ending October, the 31st month at or above the top of the ``comfort'' range of 1 percent to 2 percent indicated by Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke.
Fed funds futures indicate traders see about a 28 percent probability the central bank will reduce rates to 5 percent before April, down from about 100 percent before the labor report.
``I wouldn't go against the Fed right now,'' said Greg Schwake, head of foreign exchange trading at Fortis Financial Services LLC in New York. ``The Fed has been transparent that they are still worried about upside risks in inflation. The sentiment favors the dollar.''
66 Percent
The dollar gained the most in two months against the yen and rebounded from near a 20-month low versus the euro on Dec. 8 as the Labor Department data showed the U.S. added 132,000 new jobs in November after a revised gain of 79,000 a month earlier. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey was for 100,000 jobs.
The dollar accounted for about 66 percent of central banks' currency reserves by March, according to the Bank for International Settlements, down from around 70 percent in 2001.
Russia and other oil-producing countries shifted assets away from the dollar and into the euro and yen in the second quarter, the BIS said in its quarterly review.
Russia and members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries reduced dollar holdings to a two-year low of 65 percent of the total, from 67 percent in the first quarter, the Basel, Switzerland-based bank said in a report on its Web site.
``People are concerned about diversification away from the dollar, especially people at central banks who make long-term decisions about foreign-exchange reserves,'' said Lu Xinyi, chief strategist in Tokyo at Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. ``The whole concept implies dollar selling'' against the euro.
CHRISTIAN WORLD NEWS "Religion Roundup" Articles...
CHRISTIAN WORLD NEWS
Religion Roundup
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Removes Christmas Trees to Avert Lawsuit
SEATAC, Washington (AP) - All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.
Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during a weekend graveyard shift, when airport officials believed few people would notice.
Airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt says, "We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive."
Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who had threatened to sue unless a menorah was placed along with the trees, said he was appalled by the removal of the Christmas trees. He said, "For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season."
Congressman Fears U.S. is Rejecting God
CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Congressman Walter Jones says America won't remain great if it "turns its back on God" -- but that's what he fears is happening.
The North Carolina Republican spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference defending Nativity scenes in public places, which once were common but have largely vanished amid court challenges.
Jones said, "For those of us who are Christians, this is a very special time of year." He asked, "Why should we be penalized because we believe Christ came as our savior?"
The congressman said prohibiting religious expression during the Christmas season is part of what he views as a broad attack on Christianity.
County Rules against Church Bells
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - The bells of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston, Virginia, must ring more softly, or not at all.
That's the mandate from Fairfax County's Department of Planning and Zoning, which says the Washington suburb cannot make an exception for the church.
The church bells have been softened for almost a year because of the dispute, although they've still been louder than the maximum 55-decibel level allowed in residential areas. St. John's pastor says they can't be softened further without silencing them altogether.
The church got complaints from neighbors after it installed the 50-thousand dollar electronic bell system in 2004. One local resident says, "No one here is anti-church or anything. People just want some peace and quiet."
Christmas in Bethlehem to Get Hamas Funding
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) - Islamic militants may be in charge but that doesn't mean there won't be Christmas this year in Bethlehem.
The cash-strapped Hamas government is promising to spend $50,000 to dress up Jesus' birthplace for the holiday. The extra cash, however, may not be enough to bring Christmas cheer to Bethlehem.
The biblical town is now walled in by Israel's West Bank separation barrier, poverty is deepening and Christians are leaving Bethlehem in droves.
Bethlehem's mayor says he won't start decorating until he sees the money. Only about 2,500 foreigners visited Bethlehem last Christmas. Before the Palestinian uprising began in 2000, the town attracted more than 90,000 visitors a month.
'The Nativity Story' Slips to Number Eight
UNDATED (AP) - "The Nativity Story" has slipped to number eight at the weekend box office.
The respectful portrayal of events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ debuted last week at number four, selling about eight (m) million dollars worth of tickets.
In its second weekend, the film's box office is estimated at five-point-six (m) million dollars.
The weekend's top film was "Apocalypto" by Mel Gibson, whose blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ" aroused hopes that Christians would flock to "The Nativity Story" as well.
Bushes Join in Christmas Carol at Washington Concert
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush and first lady Laura Bush have joined performers onstage at a "Christmas in Washington" concert to sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."
The Sunday evening event benefited the Children's National Medical Center.
The president said, "The story of Christmas tells of the humble birth of a child whose life brought hope into the world. And at this time of year, we're especially grateful to those whose work brings hope and health to children."
The event will be broadcast Wednesday night on Turner Network Television.
Earlier Sunday, the Bushes attended services at St. John's Episcopal Church, a block away from the White House.
Faith-Based Programs Credited with Reducing Prison Violence
ANGOLA, La. (AP) - The Louisiana State Penitentiary where Senator Sam Brownback stayed overnight this past weekend houses more than 5,000 inmates, half of them convicted murderers.
But the prison also has six interfaith chapels, nightly prayer services, four part-time chaplains and a Bible college that has trained dozens of inmates to be ministers.
One such inmate says the prison, which "used to be one of the bloodiest in the country," is safer now because it's "covered with the blood of Jesus Christ."
Warden Burl Cain credits moral rehabilitation programs with reducing violence in the prison.
Senator Brownback joined hundreds of inmates at a prayer service before prison officials took him to his cell. The next morning, he toured the penitentiary and took a walk down death row.
The Kansas Republican has formed an exploratory committee for a possible presidential race.
Former Methodist Congregation Evicted from Church Building
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - Members of Lane Boulevard Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, say they've been pushed out of their long-time home by the United Methodist Church.
The Methodists say the denomination and not the congregation owns the building.
Lane Boulevard's 120 members voted this year to remove "Methodist" from their name in a dispute over their effort to keep their minister.
The congregation also disagreed with the denomination's more liberal positions on ordaining women and accepting gays.
Last month, a Kalamazoo County judge issued a preliminary injunction giving the United Methodist Church control of the early 20th century building. Methodist officials then changed the locks.
The Lane Boulevard congregation now holds Sunday services at another church in Kalamazoo.
Head of Presbyterian Church USA Preaches in Cuba
HAVANA (AP) - The executive officer of the Presbyterian Church U-S-A has helped Cubans mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of Havana's first Protestant temple.
In his sermon Sunday, the Reverend Clifton Kirkpatrick urged all Christians to do more to eliminate global inequality.
Kirkpatrick spoke in English and Spanish to hundreds of followers and diplomats at the ceremony in central Havana. Delegations from Florida and Washington D-C also were present.
A Cuban choir sang Christmas songs, bathed in light from the church's stained-glass windows.
Protestants are a minority in Cuba, where Catholics and followers of the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion dominate.
Excommunicated Archbishop Installs More Married Bishops
WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (AP) - An excommunicated Catholic archbishop continues to defy the Vatican.
At a ceremony in New Jersey Sunday, former Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo installed two more married men as bishops.
The wives of both men helped their husbands on with their vestments.
The 76-year-old Milingo was excommunicated after anointing four married men as bishops in September.
Pope Benedict then convened a Vatican summit that reaffirmed mandatory celibacy for priests.
Milingo was married in 2001 to a Korean woman chosen for him by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon in a mass wedding performed by Moon's Unification Church.
Pope Distressed over Lebanon’s Religious Divisions
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict says he's distressed over recent developments in the Middle East, and he's calling on the international community to urgently seek solutions.
Speaking Sunday from his window overlooking St. Peter's square, the pope made special mention of Lebanon, where he said people of different religions need to find ways to talk and live together.
Lebanese have split along sectarian lines, with most Sunni Muslims supporting the Sunni prime minister and Shiites backing Hezbollah. Christian factions are split between the two camps.
Hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah-led protesters gathered in Beirut Sunday, demanding that the prime minister cede some power to the opposition or step down.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Religion Roundup
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Removes Christmas Trees to Avert Lawsuit
SEATAC, Washington (AP) - All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.
Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during a weekend graveyard shift, when airport officials believed few people would notice.
Airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt says, "We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive."
Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who had threatened to sue unless a menorah was placed along with the trees, said he was appalled by the removal of the Christmas trees. He said, "For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season."
Congressman Fears U.S. is Rejecting God
CAPITOL HILL (AP) - Congressman Walter Jones says America won't remain great if it "turns its back on God" -- but that's what he fears is happening.
The North Carolina Republican spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference defending Nativity scenes in public places, which once were common but have largely vanished amid court challenges.
Jones said, "For those of us who are Christians, this is a very special time of year." He asked, "Why should we be penalized because we believe Christ came as our savior?"
The congressman said prohibiting religious expression during the Christmas season is part of what he views as a broad attack on Christianity.
County Rules against Church Bells
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - The bells of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston, Virginia, must ring more softly, or not at all.
That's the mandate from Fairfax County's Department of Planning and Zoning, which says the Washington suburb cannot make an exception for the church.
The church bells have been softened for almost a year because of the dispute, although they've still been louder than the maximum 55-decibel level allowed in residential areas. St. John's pastor says they can't be softened further without silencing them altogether.
The church got complaints from neighbors after it installed the 50-thousand dollar electronic bell system in 2004. One local resident says, "No one here is anti-church or anything. People just want some peace and quiet."
Christmas in Bethlehem to Get Hamas Funding
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) - Islamic militants may be in charge but that doesn't mean there won't be Christmas this year in Bethlehem.
The cash-strapped Hamas government is promising to spend $50,000 to dress up Jesus' birthplace for the holiday. The extra cash, however, may not be enough to bring Christmas cheer to Bethlehem.
The biblical town is now walled in by Israel's West Bank separation barrier, poverty is deepening and Christians are leaving Bethlehem in droves.
Bethlehem's mayor says he won't start decorating until he sees the money. Only about 2,500 foreigners visited Bethlehem last Christmas. Before the Palestinian uprising began in 2000, the town attracted more than 90,000 visitors a month.
'The Nativity Story' Slips to Number Eight
UNDATED (AP) - "The Nativity Story" has slipped to number eight at the weekend box office.
The respectful portrayal of events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ debuted last week at number four, selling about eight (m) million dollars worth of tickets.
In its second weekend, the film's box office is estimated at five-point-six (m) million dollars.
The weekend's top film was "Apocalypto" by Mel Gibson, whose blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ" aroused hopes that Christians would flock to "The Nativity Story" as well.
Bushes Join in Christmas Carol at Washington Concert
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush and first lady Laura Bush have joined performers onstage at a "Christmas in Washington" concert to sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."
The Sunday evening event benefited the Children's National Medical Center.
The president said, "The story of Christmas tells of the humble birth of a child whose life brought hope into the world. And at this time of year, we're especially grateful to those whose work brings hope and health to children."
The event will be broadcast Wednesday night on Turner Network Television.
Earlier Sunday, the Bushes attended services at St. John's Episcopal Church, a block away from the White House.
Faith-Based Programs Credited with Reducing Prison Violence
ANGOLA, La. (AP) - The Louisiana State Penitentiary where Senator Sam Brownback stayed overnight this past weekend houses more than 5,000 inmates, half of them convicted murderers.
But the prison also has six interfaith chapels, nightly prayer services, four part-time chaplains and a Bible college that has trained dozens of inmates to be ministers.
One such inmate says the prison, which "used to be one of the bloodiest in the country," is safer now because it's "covered with the blood of Jesus Christ."
Warden Burl Cain credits moral rehabilitation programs with reducing violence in the prison.
Senator Brownback joined hundreds of inmates at a prayer service before prison officials took him to his cell. The next morning, he toured the penitentiary and took a walk down death row.
The Kansas Republican has formed an exploratory committee for a possible presidential race.
Former Methodist Congregation Evicted from Church Building
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - Members of Lane Boulevard Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, say they've been pushed out of their long-time home by the United Methodist Church.
The Methodists say the denomination and not the congregation owns the building.
Lane Boulevard's 120 members voted this year to remove "Methodist" from their name in a dispute over their effort to keep their minister.
The congregation also disagreed with the denomination's more liberal positions on ordaining women and accepting gays.
Last month, a Kalamazoo County judge issued a preliminary injunction giving the United Methodist Church control of the early 20th century building. Methodist officials then changed the locks.
The Lane Boulevard congregation now holds Sunday services at another church in Kalamazoo.
Head of Presbyterian Church USA Preaches in Cuba
HAVANA (AP) - The executive officer of the Presbyterian Church U-S-A has helped Cubans mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of Havana's first Protestant temple.
In his sermon Sunday, the Reverend Clifton Kirkpatrick urged all Christians to do more to eliminate global inequality.
Kirkpatrick spoke in English and Spanish to hundreds of followers and diplomats at the ceremony in central Havana. Delegations from Florida and Washington D-C also were present.
A Cuban choir sang Christmas songs, bathed in light from the church's stained-glass windows.
Protestants are a minority in Cuba, where Catholics and followers of the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion dominate.
Excommunicated Archbishop Installs More Married Bishops
WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (AP) - An excommunicated Catholic archbishop continues to defy the Vatican.
At a ceremony in New Jersey Sunday, former Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo installed two more married men as bishops.
The wives of both men helped their husbands on with their vestments.
The 76-year-old Milingo was excommunicated after anointing four married men as bishops in September.
Pope Benedict then convened a Vatican summit that reaffirmed mandatory celibacy for priests.
Milingo was married in 2001 to a Korean woman chosen for him by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon in a mass wedding performed by Moon's Unification Church.
Pope Distressed over Lebanon’s Religious Divisions
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict says he's distressed over recent developments in the Middle East, and he's calling on the international community to urgently seek solutions.
Speaking Sunday from his window overlooking St. Peter's square, the pope made special mention of Lebanon, where he said people of different religions need to find ways to talk and live together.
Lebanese have split along sectarian lines, with most Sunni Muslims supporting the Sunni prime minister and Shiites backing Hezbollah. Christian factions are split between the two camps.
Hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah-led protesters gathered in Beirut Sunday, demanding that the prime minister cede some power to the opposition or step down.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Syria moves missiles closer to Israel
Syria moves missiles closer to Israel
By HERB KEINON AND JPOST STAFF
The cabinet at its weekly meeting heard a dismal assessment of the regional situation, as Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz informed the government that Syria, concerned by the possibility of an Israeli attack, has stepped up its production of long-range missiles and moved anti-aircraft missiles to the front with Israel.
"Everywhere you look, the extremists are on the rise, while those who want to bring about a new order in the Middle East are on the decline," Baidatz said, proceeding to paint a situation in the Gaza Strip in which Hamas was taking advantage of the cease-fire to strengthen itself and its military capabilities.
While for the most part, Baidatz said, the cease-fire has held, there have been 17 rocket attacks on southern Israel from Gaza.
In addition, he reported, Hamas was the main beneficiary of the current calm, shoring up its political position by moving into the area of the former Gush Katif hothouses and placing security guards at schools, a move which will likely bolter the group's popular support.
Turning to the West Bank, Baidatz reported that the security situation there had not changed.
Attempts were still being made to launch terror attacks, he said, mainly from northern Samaria.
Meanwhile, he said, Hamas was showing it can stand firm against all attempts to weaken it. The group won't flinch in the face of the growing financial crisis, he said, adding that there was a sense of relief within Hamas, which lessened their motivation to reach an agreement on a unity government with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin pointed out that thus far, between 40 and 50 percent of the PA government salaries have been paid since Hamas rose to power. Diskin agreed with Baidatz's assessment that Hamas was taking the opportunity presented by the cease-fire to consolidate money and build strength. The tension between Hamas and Fatah was still escalating, Diskin, cautioned, with each side preparing to face off with the other, as well as with Israel.
Hamas, Diskin said, would not make any effort to stop the Kassam rocket attacks on Israel, despite the cease-fire.
Diskin also addressed the problem of an identity shift among Israeli Arabs, who are increasingly defining themselves as an "oppressed local minority," challenging the Jewish democratic nature of the State of Israel, and adopting the Palestinian narrative [of displacement].
Turning to Lebanon, Baidatz said that Hizbullah was taking a three-stage approach to toppling Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government: first, mass protests; second, a tent city; and third, discussing nonviolent means of bringing about Saniora's downfall. Baidatz said Hizbullah appeared to be at the third stage, and was looking to win a third of the seats in Lebanon's cabinet in order to be a blocking faction.
Baidatz said that despite reports to the contrary, Hizbullah was having difficulty establishing a presence in the villages.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke at the meeting in praise of former US ambassador to the UN Jeane Kirkpatrick, who died Thursday, calling her a close personal friend and a "good friend to Israel."
Olmert advised government to avoid commenting on the Baker-Hamilton report released last week, saying that Israel should refrain from interfering in "internal" US policy issues.
The prime minister said that US President George W. Bush had told him that the US does not intend to alter its policy on Iran and Syria.
By HERB KEINON AND JPOST STAFF
The cabinet at its weekly meeting heard a dismal assessment of the regional situation, as Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz informed the government that Syria, concerned by the possibility of an Israeli attack, has stepped up its production of long-range missiles and moved anti-aircraft missiles to the front with Israel.
"Everywhere you look, the extremists are on the rise, while those who want to bring about a new order in the Middle East are on the decline," Baidatz said, proceeding to paint a situation in the Gaza Strip in which Hamas was taking advantage of the cease-fire to strengthen itself and its military capabilities.
While for the most part, Baidatz said, the cease-fire has held, there have been 17 rocket attacks on southern Israel from Gaza.
In addition, he reported, Hamas was the main beneficiary of the current calm, shoring up its political position by moving into the area of the former Gush Katif hothouses and placing security guards at schools, a move which will likely bolter the group's popular support.
Turning to the West Bank, Baidatz reported that the security situation there had not changed.
Attempts were still being made to launch terror attacks, he said, mainly from northern Samaria.
Meanwhile, he said, Hamas was showing it can stand firm against all attempts to weaken it. The group won't flinch in the face of the growing financial crisis, he said, adding that there was a sense of relief within Hamas, which lessened their motivation to reach an agreement on a unity government with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin pointed out that thus far, between 40 and 50 percent of the PA government salaries have been paid since Hamas rose to power. Diskin agreed with Baidatz's assessment that Hamas was taking the opportunity presented by the cease-fire to consolidate money and build strength. The tension between Hamas and Fatah was still escalating, Diskin, cautioned, with each side preparing to face off with the other, as well as with Israel.
Hamas, Diskin said, would not make any effort to stop the Kassam rocket attacks on Israel, despite the cease-fire.
Diskin also addressed the problem of an identity shift among Israeli Arabs, who are increasingly defining themselves as an "oppressed local minority," challenging the Jewish democratic nature of the State of Israel, and adopting the Palestinian narrative [of displacement].
Turning to Lebanon, Baidatz said that Hizbullah was taking a three-stage approach to toppling Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government: first, mass protests; second, a tent city; and third, discussing nonviolent means of bringing about Saniora's downfall. Baidatz said Hizbullah appeared to be at the third stage, and was looking to win a third of the seats in Lebanon's cabinet in order to be a blocking faction.
Baidatz said that despite reports to the contrary, Hizbullah was having difficulty establishing a presence in the villages.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke at the meeting in praise of former US ambassador to the UN Jeane Kirkpatrick, who died Thursday, calling her a close personal friend and a "good friend to Israel."
Olmert advised government to avoid commenting on the Baker-Hamilton report released last week, saying that Israel should refrain from interfering in "internal" US policy issues.
The prime minister said that US President George W. Bush had told him that the US does not intend to alter its policy on Iran and Syria.
Israel Prepares to Fight Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran
Israel Prepares to Fight Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran
Early Warning: Israel is preparing for war against its implacable, Iranian-backed, Islamist foes, Hamas and Hezbollah, and their secular ally, Syria.
Preparations are also underway for possible preemptive strikes against Iran itself in order to end its nuclear weapons program.
Israeli military commanders and intelligence analysts are increasingly convinced that Iran is masterminding a plan for a multifront assault on the Jewish state, which could commence early next year.
A sense of deadly encirclement grows stronger by the day in Israel, following its failure to defeat Hezbollah in the summer war and deepening ties between Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and Shiite non-Arab Iran. Formidable military buildups by the Sunni Palestinian movement, which now boasts a 10,000-man army in Gaza, and Shiite Lebanese Hezbollah, which is steadily receiving Iranian arms through Syria, are considered clear indications of a coming conflict. Both groups are expected to hide behind civilian human shields and to use civilian homes and apartment buildings, and mosques, schools, and hospitals as operational bases and to increase the chances of civilian casualties for purposes of stimulating support and sympathy abroad.
Amid attempts to seize control of war-torn Lebanon, Iran’s proxy is likely to trigger hostilities by firing antiaircraft missiles–under United Nations cover–at overflying Israeli military planes.
Hostilities could escalate quickly and sharply once the shooting starts.
There is a growing consensus in Israel that the international community is ignoring the seriousness of the Iranian threat–to Israel and the West. The report by the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by a notoriously anti-Israel former United States Secretary of State, James Baker, reinforces the impression. The bipartisan, Congressionally funded panel recommended direct talks with Iran and Syria to defuse the Arab/Palestinian-Israeli conflict and stabilize the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iraq. This is codespeak, say Israelis, for appeasing Iran and Syria by ramming a comprehensive land-for-peace pact down Israel’s throat. Israelis fear appeasement of Iran will lead not to peace, but, at best, to the piece-by-piece dismantling of their country, and, at worst, to falling victim to a surprise attack resulting in a catastrophic defeat.
We agree with the Israeli assessment. In fact, Western denial of the Iranian threat dates to the months preceding the overthrow of the pro-US Shah, when the Carter administration dumped America’s ally and old friend in a craven attempt to curry favor with his emboldened enemy, an Islamist-Left alliance led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Weeks before the January 1979 revolution, this reporter repeatedly predicted–on the front page of an influential American weekly publication–that the Ayatollah would establish a terribly repressive and fanatically anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel regime resembling a kind of clerical fascism.
Which, unfortunately, is exactly what happened.
But the nuclear issue–Iran’s development of nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian energy research–raises the Islamist threat to a new and terrifying level. Whereas the mullahocracy has from its inception used the Palestinian issue as a rallying flag and tool for spreading Iranian influence in the region, it now regards the liberation of Palestine–meaning, the annihilation of Israel–as a strategic objective. This is why the regime’s embrace of neo-Nazi Holocaust denial is so significant: Iran is preparing the ground, ideologically and philosophically, for Israel’s extinction.
Not to say that Iran necessarily intends to fire nuclear-tipped missiles at Tel Aviv. Tehran’s plot to wipe Israel off the map, in the words of Iranian monster-in-chief Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could involve coordinated Hamas and Hezbollah assaults, augmented by Syrian conventional and chemical attacks and conventional long-range Iranian missile strikes. Use of nuclear weapons could be deemed too risky by Iran, inviting sure-fire retaliatory strikes from the Jewish state, which is assumed to have 200 or more nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them accurately to distant targets.
While direct Iranian nuclear attacks against Israel cannot be ruled out, it is quite possible that Tehran’s present nuclear program is aimed (a) at executing an indirect nuclear attack against the Jewish state, perhaps by using Palestinian terrorists to detonate a small nuclear device or so-called radioactive dirty bomb in the heart of the country’s main population center, and/or (b) at intimidating and neutralizing Europe through the threat of nuclear war.
The French understand this threat; hence, the unusually blunt warnings by French leaders that they will not hesitate to use their nuclear weapons if France is hit by a mega-terror strike.
The Iranians may even be instigating a new round of fighting in the Middle East in order to buy time for further nuclear development, as their standoff with the West is approaching the sanctions stage (though China and Russia will almost certainly prevent the imposition of truly tough sanctions involving possible use of force under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter).
Iran wants nuclear weapons for another reason: to deter the US from attacking and to drive the “Great Satan” out of the region for once and all. Iranian foreign policy is imperialist to the core in that it aims to alter the international status quo and permanently change the power relations among nations.
Iran could also be preparing for possible covert nuclear strikes against the US, as we have noted in the past, using cleverly concealed, nuclear-armed missiles atop seemingly civilian, foreign-flagged cargo ships. The US has no practical defense against an attack of this kind, which could be simultaneously launched against its coastal cities.
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 10th, 2006 at 8:36 p12 and is filed under Islam, Iran, Israel, hamas, Islamic Propaganda, Hezbollah, islam fundamentalist, Islamic lies, islamic recruiting, democrat muslim, Iranian threat, Israel Defense Forces, Islam unrest, Islam sympathizers, islam violating treaties, Islamic Imperialism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Early Warning: Israel is preparing for war against its implacable, Iranian-backed, Islamist foes, Hamas and Hezbollah, and their secular ally, Syria.
Preparations are also underway for possible preemptive strikes against Iran itself in order to end its nuclear weapons program.
Israeli military commanders and intelligence analysts are increasingly convinced that Iran is masterminding a plan for a multifront assault on the Jewish state, which could commence early next year.
A sense of deadly encirclement grows stronger by the day in Israel, following its failure to defeat Hezbollah in the summer war and deepening ties between Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and Shiite non-Arab Iran. Formidable military buildups by the Sunni Palestinian movement, which now boasts a 10,000-man army in Gaza, and Shiite Lebanese Hezbollah, which is steadily receiving Iranian arms through Syria, are considered clear indications of a coming conflict. Both groups are expected to hide behind civilian human shields and to use civilian homes and apartment buildings, and mosques, schools, and hospitals as operational bases and to increase the chances of civilian casualties for purposes of stimulating support and sympathy abroad.
Amid attempts to seize control of war-torn Lebanon, Iran’s proxy is likely to trigger hostilities by firing antiaircraft missiles–under United Nations cover–at overflying Israeli military planes.
Hostilities could escalate quickly and sharply once the shooting starts.
There is a growing consensus in Israel that the international community is ignoring the seriousness of the Iranian threat–to Israel and the West. The report by the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by a notoriously anti-Israel former United States Secretary of State, James Baker, reinforces the impression. The bipartisan, Congressionally funded panel recommended direct talks with Iran and Syria to defuse the Arab/Palestinian-Israeli conflict and stabilize the rapidly deteriorating situation in Iraq. This is codespeak, say Israelis, for appeasing Iran and Syria by ramming a comprehensive land-for-peace pact down Israel’s throat. Israelis fear appeasement of Iran will lead not to peace, but, at best, to the piece-by-piece dismantling of their country, and, at worst, to falling victim to a surprise attack resulting in a catastrophic defeat.
We agree with the Israeli assessment. In fact, Western denial of the Iranian threat dates to the months preceding the overthrow of the pro-US Shah, when the Carter administration dumped America’s ally and old friend in a craven attempt to curry favor with his emboldened enemy, an Islamist-Left alliance led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Weeks before the January 1979 revolution, this reporter repeatedly predicted–on the front page of an influential American weekly publication–that the Ayatollah would establish a terribly repressive and fanatically anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel regime resembling a kind of clerical fascism.
Which, unfortunately, is exactly what happened.
But the nuclear issue–Iran’s development of nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian energy research–raises the Islamist threat to a new and terrifying level. Whereas the mullahocracy has from its inception used the Palestinian issue as a rallying flag and tool for spreading Iranian influence in the region, it now regards the liberation of Palestine–meaning, the annihilation of Israel–as a strategic objective. This is why the regime’s embrace of neo-Nazi Holocaust denial is so significant: Iran is preparing the ground, ideologically and philosophically, for Israel’s extinction.
Not to say that Iran necessarily intends to fire nuclear-tipped missiles at Tel Aviv. Tehran’s plot to wipe Israel off the map, in the words of Iranian monster-in-chief Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could involve coordinated Hamas and Hezbollah assaults, augmented by Syrian conventional and chemical attacks and conventional long-range Iranian missile strikes. Use of nuclear weapons could be deemed too risky by Iran, inviting sure-fire retaliatory strikes from the Jewish state, which is assumed to have 200 or more nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them accurately to distant targets.
While direct Iranian nuclear attacks against Israel cannot be ruled out, it is quite possible that Tehran’s present nuclear program is aimed (a) at executing an indirect nuclear attack against the Jewish state, perhaps by using Palestinian terrorists to detonate a small nuclear device or so-called radioactive dirty bomb in the heart of the country’s main population center, and/or (b) at intimidating and neutralizing Europe through the threat of nuclear war.
The French understand this threat; hence, the unusually blunt warnings by French leaders that they will not hesitate to use their nuclear weapons if France is hit by a mega-terror strike.
The Iranians may even be instigating a new round of fighting in the Middle East in order to buy time for further nuclear development, as their standoff with the West is approaching the sanctions stage (though China and Russia will almost certainly prevent the imposition of truly tough sanctions involving possible use of force under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter).
Iran wants nuclear weapons for another reason: to deter the US from attacking and to drive the “Great Satan” out of the region for once and all. Iranian foreign policy is imperialist to the core in that it aims to alter the international status quo and permanently change the power relations among nations.
Iran could also be preparing for possible covert nuclear strikes against the US, as we have noted in the past, using cleverly concealed, nuclear-armed missiles atop seemingly civilian, foreign-flagged cargo ships. The US has no practical defense against an attack of this kind, which could be simultaneously launched against its coastal cities.
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 10th, 2006 at 8:36 p12 and is filed under Islam, Iran, Israel, hamas, Islamic Propaganda, Hezbollah, islam fundamentalist, Islamic lies, islamic recruiting, democrat muslim, Iranian threat, Israel Defense Forces, Islam unrest, Islam sympathizers, islam violating treaties, Islamic Imperialism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Defense calls for mistrial after Bible left in jury room
Defense calls for mistrial after Bible left in jury room
By Earl Descant
Dispatch Starkville Bureau
edescant@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE - Maybe it was solace she was looking for, or perhaps guidance.But whatever the reason a juror asked Oktibbeha County Circuit Court Bailiff James Austin to leave his Bible in the jury room during jury deliberations - and the request was granted - this one small act is sure to be a leading cause in Kristi Leigh Fulgham's appeal of a death penalty handed down Saturday.
Fulgham, 30, was convicted Thursday for the May 2003 capital murder of her husband Joey Fulgham. The jury began deliberations Friday on the sentencing portion of the trial. Jurors were faced with two options - life without the possibility of parole or death.
The jury of eight women and four men ultimately returned a sentence of “death,” after a little more than an hour of deliberation Friday evening and just under an hour of deliberation Saturday morning.
But before this, the defense, led by attorney Jim Lappan, immediately called for a mistrial when it was learned that Austin had left his Bible in one of the jury rooms at a juror's request Friday evening as the jury deliberated Fulgham's life or death sentence. The Bible was only in the room for about 15 minutes when Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard recessed the court until the next day. Howard learned of the incident late in the day Friday.
“Religion may not play a role in sentencing,” Lappan told the court. “Leaving a Bible in a jury room must cast a bona fide doubt on what instructions the jury is consulting other than the judge's instructions on the law.”
Lappan went on to cite more than a half-dozen cases regarding due process, and instances when legal process has been violated by outside materials such as a Bible, newspaper articles and other outside sources.
“The death penalty can only be a result from the deliberation of aggravating and mitigating evidence, and the Holy Bible cannot be cited,” added Lappan.“She (Kristi Fulgham) has no idea now what this jury is considering,” continued Lappan.
“We oppose this mistrial,” said assistant district attorney Frank Clark. “It's based on pure speculation as to what happened in that room.”
Howard, after consulting with the jury on their ability to only consider the evidence and legal instructions issued by the court, and after hearing no objections, overruled the defense's request for a mistrial and allowed the jury to consider its deliberations.
But the request for a Bible, and having the request granted, will almost without a doubt lay the groundwork for an appeals process which could stretch years.
“I know that I'm going to be revisiting these issues anyway,” said Howard.And seeing the error in his judgment, Austin, a minister, later regretted his actions.
“I'm hurting on the inside,” said Austin.
By Earl Descant
Dispatch Starkville Bureau
edescant@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE - Maybe it was solace she was looking for, or perhaps guidance.But whatever the reason a juror asked Oktibbeha County Circuit Court Bailiff James Austin to leave his Bible in the jury room during jury deliberations - and the request was granted - this one small act is sure to be a leading cause in Kristi Leigh Fulgham's appeal of a death penalty handed down Saturday.
Fulgham, 30, was convicted Thursday for the May 2003 capital murder of her husband Joey Fulgham. The jury began deliberations Friday on the sentencing portion of the trial. Jurors were faced with two options - life without the possibility of parole or death.
The jury of eight women and four men ultimately returned a sentence of “death,” after a little more than an hour of deliberation Friday evening and just under an hour of deliberation Saturday morning.
But before this, the defense, led by attorney Jim Lappan, immediately called for a mistrial when it was learned that Austin had left his Bible in one of the jury rooms at a juror's request Friday evening as the jury deliberated Fulgham's life or death sentence. The Bible was only in the room for about 15 minutes when Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard recessed the court until the next day. Howard learned of the incident late in the day Friday.
“Religion may not play a role in sentencing,” Lappan told the court. “Leaving a Bible in a jury room must cast a bona fide doubt on what instructions the jury is consulting other than the judge's instructions on the law.”
Lappan went on to cite more than a half-dozen cases regarding due process, and instances when legal process has been violated by outside materials such as a Bible, newspaper articles and other outside sources.
“The death penalty can only be a result from the deliberation of aggravating and mitigating evidence, and the Holy Bible cannot be cited,” added Lappan.“She (Kristi Fulgham) has no idea now what this jury is considering,” continued Lappan.
“We oppose this mistrial,” said assistant district attorney Frank Clark. “It's based on pure speculation as to what happened in that room.”
Howard, after consulting with the jury on their ability to only consider the evidence and legal instructions issued by the court, and after hearing no objections, overruled the defense's request for a mistrial and allowed the jury to consider its deliberations.
But the request for a Bible, and having the request granted, will almost without a doubt lay the groundwork for an appeals process which could stretch years.
“I know that I'm going to be revisiting these issues anyway,” said Howard.And seeing the error in his judgment, Austin, a minister, later regretted his actions.
“I'm hurting on the inside,” said Austin.
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