For the week of October 14, 2004
North Korean measure
The U.S. Congress has passed the North Korean Human Rights Act, providing final
congressional approval for legislation to aid people living under one of the
worlds most repressive regimes. The bill was approved by the House and
Senate without opposition – and President George Bush is expected to sign
it into law. North Korea is one of eight governments labeled by the State Department
as a severe violator of religious freedom. The new legislation establishes the
position of special envoy for North Korean human rights and calls for U.S. negotiations
with the regime to be tied to human rights progress. It also authorizes the
president to provide funds for nonprofit groups in order to advance human rights
and democracy in the country and seeks to assure increased protection for North
Korean refugees. A Southern Baptist spokesperson applauded the bill as a victory
for “millions of suffering North Koreans.”
Missions worker attack
Southern Baptist worker Patsy Dietz is in good condition after being shot during
a robbery in Honduras. Dietz and her husband, Raymond, have served as North
Carolina Baptists on-site partnership coordinators for southern Honduras
since relief efforts began there in 1998. On Sept. 23, the Dietzes were driving
two vehicles as they transported a group of volunteers from the airport in Tegucigalpa.
About halfway through the journey, the vehicles became separated by traffic.
A truck carrying three armed bandits forced Raymond Dietzs truck off the
road. The bandits then robbed Dietz and the three male volunteers at gunpoint.
Patsy Dietz slowly approached the scene in the van and then sped up when she
realized what was happening. One of the bandits fired a shot through the rear
window. The bullet struck Dietz on the back of her head. The bullet traveled
beneath the skin and exited through her jaw without breaking any bones. Dietz
remained conscious and managed to stop the van safely. As other vehicles approached,
the robbers fled without robbing any of the vans passengers. Dietz was
taken to a hospital in Tegucigalpa, where she was treated and released several
days later.
Southern Baptist death
A Southern Baptist layperson who played a leading role in birthing the Religious
Right movement died Oct. 5 in Memphis, Tenn. Ed McAteer, who was 78, aided preacher
Jerry Falwell in founding the Moral Majority in the 1970s, played a key role
in introducing evangelicals to former President Ronald Reagan in 1980 and remained
a leading figure in the Religious Right through the years. McAteer had been
improving after treatment for cancer but died unexpectedly at home. He was a
member at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn.
Abortion reversal
As many as 30 states could make abortion illegal within a year should the U.S.
Supreme Court reverse its Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized the procedure in
1973, a new report indicates. The Center for Reproductive Rights said a review
of states shows that some of the states still have abortion laws on the books
that would be triggered by the overturning of the Roe decision. Other states
have language in their constitutions or strong pro-life legislatures that likely
would enable quick action against abortion. The remaining 20 states likely would
retain abortion rights, the report adds. It is generally held that the nations
high court is narrowly divided on abortion, with five justices in favor of retaining
the procedure and four willing to overturn it. Thus, the 2004 presidential election
could be crucial, since many observers predict the next president could have
a chance to name one – or more – persons to the court.
Objecting to quote
The Anti-Defamation League has asked that a quote by Theodore Roosevelt displayed
on the wall of a California courthouse be covered up because it could be interpreted
as a direct endorsement of Christian faith. Roosevelts statement that
“the true Christian is the true citizen” was part of a longer address
he gave more than 100 years ago. The words have been engraved on a wall inside
a Riverside County courtroom, along with several other quotes by the former
president, for 70 years. However, an Anti-Defamation League spokesperson said
that Roosevelts quote could be perceived as equating Christianity and
good citizenship. Officials have decided to cover the quote with a wood panel
when the court is in session but will leave it on display during historical
tours.
Statement of faith
Bethany Hamilton, the 14-year-old surfer who lost her left arm when she was
attacked by a shark nearly a year ago, has written a book in which she credits
her relationship with Christ for providing the strength necessary to recover.
In “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back
on the Board,” Hamilton tells how she spent many hours pouring her heart
out to Rick Bundschuh, pastor at Kauai Christian Fellowship Church in Koloa,
Hawaii. “My strength came from my relationship with Christ and from the
love and encouragement of my family and friends,” she writes. Hamilton
even offers an answer for those who wonder why God would allow such a tragedy
to happen to a young surfer who showed promise as a pro competitor. “I
dont pretend to have all the answers to why bad things happen to good
people,” she writes. “But I do know God knows all those answers, and
sometimes, he lets you know in this life, and sometimes, he asks you to wait
so that you can have a face-to-face talk about it. What I do know is that I
want to use what happened to me as an opportunity to tell people that God is
worthy of our trust, and to show them that you can go on and do wonderful things
in spite of terrible events.”
Crying foul
Some religious groups are crying foul over a liberal advocacy groups
attempt to make an issue about the faith of pollster George Gallup Jr. MoveOn.org
went after Gallup in a full-page advertisement in the New York Times on Sept.
28 in which it criticized the pollsters methodology in surveys that showed
President George Bush leading challenger John Kerry. The ad noted: “Gallup,
who is a devout evangelical Christian, has been quoted as calling his polling
a kind of ministry. And a few months ago, he said the most
profound purpose of polls is to see how people are responding to God.
We thought the purpose is to faithfully and factually report public opinion.”
Several religious leaders decried the ad, including the Anti-Defamation League
and Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights. Former Boston Mayor Raymond
Flynn said he sees the ad as part of a dangerous trend. “Theres really
a growing, blatant, anti-religious sentiment in the United States,” he
said. “I think it makes it dangerous because then we can dismiss somebody
on the basis of their religion for having a narrow, uneducated point of view.”
Gallup shrugged off the criticism, dismissing the idea that he would skew a
poll.
Views on Muslims
A new survey offers both good and bad news for American Muslims. Among other
things, the nationwide poll of 1,000 persons shows that nearly one fourth of
those surveyed held a negative stereotype of Muslims. Also, from 26 percent
to 29 percent of people agreed with one or more of a set of negative assertions
about Muslims, such as “Muslims teach their children to hate.” Overall,
when asked what comes to mind when they hear the word “Muslim,” 32
percent of persons responded with a negative image. Only two percent responded
with a positive image. The remaining 67 percent were neutral. However, the poll
by the Council on American-Islamic Relations poll also found that 67 percent
of Americans believe Islamic terrorists are abusing the faiths teachings
and that 47 percent believe American Muslims were cooperating in the war against
terrorism. Nonetheless, a small majority of respondents – 50 percent –
said Muslims were not doing enough to condemn terrorism.
Seeking church help
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley wants the help of local houses of worship in his
effort to end homelessness in the city. Daley is asking churches, synagogues
and mosques to support homeless families by committing to pay their rent for
at least a year. In January 2003, the mayor kicked off a 10-year plan to wipe
out homelessness, but the number of those without homes has not changed since
that time and still stands at 10,000. Daleys latest initiative calls for
the city to screen and assess potential candidates for rent sponsorship before
passing the needs along to people of faith. A Daley spokesperson suggested churches
would be better able than a city agency to personalize aid for individuals and
to provide a community structure in which to work.