For the week of July 31, 2003
Roe vs. Wade case
The key player in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion is appealing
the dismissal of her effort to reopen the case. Norma McCorvey was “Jane
Roe” in the case. However, she has who became a Christian and a pro-life
advocate about two decades after the Roe ruling. Recently, she filed a motion
to have her famous 1973 case reopened. A federal judge denied the motion, saying
30 years after a case does not represent a “reasonable time” for moving
to reopen it. McCorvey has appealed that decision. “How could the judge
have read the affidavits from over 1,000 post-abortive women in two days?”
she said. “I deeply regret the damage my original case caused women. I
want the Supreme Court to examine the evidence and have a spirit of justice
for women and children.” McCorvey presented more than 5,400 pages of evidence
in her recent petition, seeking to demonstrate abortion harms women and destroys
the life of a human being. The evidence also attempts to show that safe haven
laws are better alternative than abortion. Those laws provide legal protection
for mothers who leave their babies in a secure location.
Work and worship
Campers on Mission has scheduled their annual Work and Worship week at Louisiana
College in Pineville for Aug. 3-8. Each year, the group invites volunteers to
the campus to help prepare the school for the upcoming semester. In addition to
engaging in various repair, painting and maintenance projects during the day,
participants engage in worship activities in the evenings. Meals and lodging are
provided by the college. The week begins Aug. 3 with supper at 6 p.m. and concludes
Aug. 8 with breakfast. For more information call Jim Elder at the college school
at (318) 487-7137 or 487-7318. Persons also may register online at www.lacollege.edu.
Plea for Liberia
Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Denton Lotz
has sent a letter to President George Bush on behalf
of Baptists in Liberia, urgently requesting the
president to send military forces to protect the
lives of innocent people. “Hundreds are dying,
thousands are wounded, and thousands of others are
left homeless as refugees without food, without
support, without encouragement, …” Lotz wrote.
“Please, Mr. President, now is the time to support
our friends in Liberia. Any delay would bring
further bloodshed, destruction and misery to the
Liberian people.” Liberia considers its connection
to the United States strong because the West African
nation was founded by freed slaves from America in
1847 and the country’s government structure shares
many similarities with the United States. Fighting
is underway in the country as two rebel forces
strive to topple President Charles Taylor, a former
rebel leader accused of crimes against humanity in
connection with strife in Sierra Leone. United
Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and others also
have called upon the United States to send
peacekeepers. Bush has ordered ships to move closer
to Liberia – but no action on committing troops has
been taken. Liberia and China were the first two
mission fields opened by Southern Baptists, both in
1846.
Drill contestants
A pair of Louisiana Baptists recently competed in
the first Southern Baptist National Youth Bible
Drill and Speakers Tournament Invitational. The two
earned their way to the tournament by winning their
state competition earlier this year. The national
event culminated long months of church,
associational, regional and state competitions. The
day-long national event was held in Atlanta.
Students in the seventh through ninth grade from 13
states participated in the Bible drill competition.
These included Jeremy Grow, a member at Oak Park
Baptist Church in New Orleans. Bible drill
competitors must be able to quote dozens of Bible
verses from memory, recite the books of the Bible in
order and locate verses and books of the Bible in
less than eight seconds. In addition to those drill
competitors, 13 students also participated in the
national speakers tournament. These includes Sarah
Ortega, a member at First Baptist Church of Ville
Platte. The competitors in the speakers tournament
are required to write and deliver a four-to-six
minute speech without notes. Speakers are able to
choose from several titles and develop their
speeches using the Bible and other sources.
Anti-drug partnership
Officials of the President George Bush administration and clergy from a variety
of faiths recently announced a new partnership to urge houses of worship and other
faith-based organizations to be more involved in preventing substance abuse among
youths. “This is a very important step because of the influence of faith
in many young people’s lives,” White House drug czar John White said. As
part of the plan, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has produced several
new resources, including a prevention guide for youth leaders in faith communities
and a smaller brochure offering suggestions for how faith leaders can increase
their involvement on preventing drug and alcohol abuse. The 91-page prevention
guide urges clergy to address substance abuse in sermons and includes tips for
group interaction. The resources are available online at www.TheAntiDrug.com/Faith/Resources.html.
By and large, religious leaders welcomed the partnership, including Christian,
Muslim and Jewish representatives. However, officials with American United for
the Separation of Church and State voiced concern about the tying of government
and religious organizations.