July 6, 2009
Megachurch Pastor Rick Warren Addresses US Muslims
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Rev. Rick Warren has told thousands of Muslims at their convention in Washington that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to solve global problems.
In a weekend speech to the Islamic Society of North America, Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy. He also urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping and to respect each other even while disagreeing.
Warren, who faced some criticism from Christians for speaking at the Muslim conference, said it's easier to be an extremist than it is to build relationships.
Rick Warren is the founder of California's 22,000-member Saddleback Community Church and the author of "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
Al Sharpton Calls For 'Love vigils' For Jackson
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Rev. Al Sharpton has delivered a sermon in Los Angeles where he called for nationwide "love vigils" for Michael Jackson Tuesday.
The civil rights activist addressed congregants Sunday at L.A.'s First African Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday.
Sharpton is urging people to gather in schools, community centers and churches to honor Jackson on Tuesday, when a public memorial service will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Church of England Bishop Says Gays Should Repent
LONDON (AP) - A senior bishop in the Church of England has angered gay rights advocates by saying homosexuals should repent.
Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that the Bible defines marriage as betweem a man and a woman, and that people who depart from Biblical teaching "don't share the same faith." He said the church welcomes gay people, but wants "them to repent and be changed."
Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell said that "goes against Christ's gospel of love and compassion."
Nazir-Ali is a leader of the conservative wing of the global Anglican Communion, which is riven by divisions over homosexuality.
His remarks appeared a day before the launch in Britain of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a coalition of conservative parishes from around the world, which Nazir-Ali supports.
Senate Weighs Impact of Hate Crimes Bill on Preaching
WASHINGTON (AP) - A hate crimes bill that includes protections for gays and lesbians awaits a vote as the U.S. Senate returns to work today.
Before the July 4 recess, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee asked Attorney General Eric Holder whether the law could be used to prosecute a minister who speaks out against homosexuality if a member of that congregation then assaults a gay person.
Holder insisted that "This is a bill to hold people accountable for conduct, not for speech."
But the Rev. Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, says he and other ministers fear that their preaching would "be scrutinized" and that a hate crimes law would violate their freedom of religion.
Group Sues Over `In God We Trust' License Plate Denial
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky group that was denied an application to sponsor an "In God We Trust" specialty license plate has filed suit against state transportation officials and two lawmakers.
Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet denied the application partially on the grounds that the group promotes a "specific faith or religious position."
An appeal by the group stalled in the legislature after the application was turned down.
Kentucky offers motorists 18 kinds of specialty plates representing different causes, ranging from breast cancer awareness to spay-neuter pet programs.
Indiana sold more than 1.6 million "In God We Trust" plates in 2007.
Churches Closed by Soviets Open Again in Russia
MOSCOW (AP) - The Russia that President Barack Obama is visiting today has reopened and restored many churches that faced persecution in the Soviet era.
Russian Orthodoxy, the state religion of the czars, has reassumed its significant social role.
In the officially atheistic Soviet Union, the few churches that remained open attracted few worshippers other than elderly women, since attendance could destroy a person's career.
In Russia today, those same churches attract young worshippers and their children.
Other churches that were closed for generations have a new coat of paint and are open again.
Orthodox Patriarchs Pray Together In Show of Unity
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - The spiritual leaders of the Orthodox Christian churches in Istanbul and Russia have led prayers together in a show of unity after years of jostling for influence.
Istanbul Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I says the two churches must overcome differences, though he stresses his church's historic status as "first among equals" in Orthodox Christianity.
Bartholomew was joined Sunday by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who was elected in January after the death in December of Patriarch Alexy II.
The two churches have been wrangling for influence in former Soviet republics Estonia and Ukraine, with the Moscow Patriarchate struggling to maintain control over all 95 million of the Orthodox believers it claims, out of the world's 250 million Orthodox.
Russian President Calls for Better Vatican Ties
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Russia's president says Moscow plans to improve its ties with the Vatican.
Tensions between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches over property disputes and other issues have so far made it impossible for any pope to visit Moscow.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Italian reporters in an interview ahead of the G-8 summit in Italy this week that relations between his country and the Vatican will "in all likelihood be developed further." He also said the possibility of diplomatic ties is under discussion.
He declined to say if Pope Benedict will travel to Russia anytime soon.
The previous pontiff, Polish-born John Paul, was frustrated in his desire to go to Russia.
Pope Urges G8 Leaders to Act on Crisis
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict is urging G-8 leaders meeting in Italy this week to rewrite global financial rules and defend the world's poor from the effects of the economic downturn.
In a letter to Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who will chair the summit, Benedict appeals to leaders to "listen to the voice of Africa and of the countries that are less developed economically."
In the letter published by the Vatican, Benedict says those issues are dealt with in his latest encyclical, which outlines ways to make globalization more attentive to the needs of the poor.
The document, the most authoritative a pope can issue, was signed last week and is expected to be published tomorrow, on the eve of the G-8 summit.
After attending the summit, President Barack Obama will meet with the pope at the Vatican Friday.
More Church Properties Face Liens To Cover Abuse Damages
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A judge has put liens on four church-owned rest homes and part of the Vermont Roman Catholic diocese's investments to cover jury awards in two priest sex-abuse cases.
The two cases resulted in $12.3-million damage awards following separate trials last year. To assure payment, liens were placed on the diocese's headquarters in Burlington, but a drop in the value of church property has led to new liens on other property.
The Burlington Free Press reports liens have been placed on the St. Joseph's Home for the Aged in Burlington, rest homes in Derby in Rutland, the now-closed Camp Holy Cross site in Colchester and $1.8 million of the diocese's financial portfolio.
The Vermont diocese is appealing both verdicts.
Muslim Minority Riots Erupt in China's West
BEIJING (AP) - Nearly 1,000 protesters from a Muslim ethnic group have rioted in China's far west, overturning barricades, attacking bystanders and clashing with police in violence that killed an unknown number of people, including a police officer.
Protesters, mostly from the Uighur (WEE'-gur) ethnic group, had gathered to demand an investigation into a fight between Uighur and Han Chinese workers at a factory in southern China last month.
Sunday's violence seems to have started when a crowd of people who had been protesting peacefully refused to disperse.
Tensions between Uighur Muslims and Chinese are never far from the surface in Xinjiang (shin-jahng) province, where militant Uighurs have waged a sporadic, violent separatist campaign.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-07-06-09 0330EDT
