Nearly two-dozen conservative Christian leaders have signed a letter to the Senate Finance Committee questioning an investigation into six large ministries that preach a gospel of prosperity.
The letter argues that the 6-month-old inquiry sets a dangerous precedent. It also suggests that the ministries were targeted for sharing "the same branch of evangelicalism" and promoting "socially conservative public policy positions such as support for the traditional definition of marriage."
Although the ministries under scrutiny are conservative theologically, they are not at the forefront of the culture wars issues championed by the leaders who are now rallying to their side.
The most prominent figures who signed the letter are Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich, American Family Association chairman Don Wildmon and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.
"The ministries have been asked to produce financial records and internal documents in what appears to be an exercise in disproving their alleged guilt," the letter states.
The group repeats an argument by some of the targeted ministries _ that the investigation falls short of the high bar the Internal Revenue Service has for justifying a church investigation.
Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, sent letters to the six ministries in November seeking answers about spending on private planes, oceanside mansions and board oversight. The committee's Democratic chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, joined Grassley in asking for answers.
The six ministries in question _ led respectively by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer and Paula and Randy White _ have denied wrongdoing. Some have pledged full cooperation and others have either refused or provided limited information.
Jill Kozeny, a spokeswoman for Grassley, said the investigation is not concerned with church doctrine but with the adequacy of tax-exempt laws that have not been substantially changed since 1968.
___
http://www.senate.gov/finance/
___
Washington archbishop: Communion call up to local bishops
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Washington Roman Catholic Archbishop Donald Wuerl, responding to questions about the pro-abortion rights Catholic politicians who accepted Holy Communion during Pope Benedict XVI's American visit, said any decision about denying the sacrament to those politicians should be made in their home dioceses.
Wuerl wrote in his archdiocesan newspaper column that he does not believe the Washington Archdiocese should intervene when such a public figure is taking Communion in the nation's capital. He suggested that doing so would supersede the authority of those politicians' bishops in their home districts.
"A decision regarding the refusal of Holy Communion to an individual is one that should be made only after clear efforts to persuade and convince the person that their actions are wrong and bear moral consequences," Wuerl wrote. "Presumably this is done in the home diocese where the bishops and priests, the pastors of souls, engage the members of their flock in this type of discussion."
Wuerl's comments came after New York Cardinal Edward Egan issued a statement saying former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another abortion rights supporter, had broken "an understanding" the two shared by accepting Communion at a papal Mass in New York. The former Republican presidential hopeful responded that he was willing to meet with Egan, but his faith "is a deeply personal matter and should remain confidential."
In Washington, a number of Catholic lawmakers who support abortion rights, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. John Kerry, the former Democratic presidential candidate, attended a papal Mass at Nationals Park. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, took Communion from a priest far from the papal altar.
___
___
Vatican orders parish records kept from Mormons
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ The Vatican has ordered Roman Catholic dioceses worldwide to withhold member registries from Mormons who perform posthumous baptisms.
The order, first reported by Catholic News Service, was issued by the Vatican Congregation for Clergy. Officials said the step was taken to prevent members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from baptizing by proxy their Catholic ancestors.
Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald said the Catholic diocese in Utah already has a policy to restrict baptismal records only to those entitled to see the records.
Posthumous baptism is a rite practiced in Mormon church temples for the purpose of offering membership in the church to the deceased. Church members are encouraged to conduct family genealogy research and forward their ancestors' names for proxy baptism.
In 1995, Jewish and Mormon leaders signed an agreement aimed at preventing the names of Holocaust victims from being added to the church genealogical index, a step toward vicarious baptisms. Since then, the names of several hundred thousand Holocaust victims had been removed from the database, church officials have said.
___
___
Evolution bills die in Fla. Legislature
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Hotly debated evolution bills that critics said would inject religious doctrine into public schools in the guise of science died on the final day of the legislative session.
House and Senate supporters, mostly Republicans, were unable to resolve their dispute over two versions of the legislation before the close of the session.
The Senate favored a bill that would have prohibited school officials from punishing teachers who used "scientific information" to challenge evolution. A House bill would have gone farther, not just allowing such challenges but requiring that schools teach "critical analysis" of evolution.
The Senate version was based on model legislation advocated by the Discovery Institute, a Seattle organization that supports research on intelligent design. That theory holds that some features of the universe and living things can be explained by an "intelligent cause."
Some advocates claim their efforts are scientific in nature but a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that intelligent design is a religious concept. The Discovery Institute says no state has yet adopted its legislation but five have included critical analysis requirements in their school science standards.
Florida Citizens for Science opposed the legislation, saying it would lead to a costly court challenge.
___
___
Diocese cites doctor's abortion views in canceling lecture
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ A University of Minnesota professor's invitation to speak at a Roman Catholic parish was rescinded because his abortion views clash with church teaching.
Dr. Steven Miles, a medical ethicist, was supposed to speak at an adult education class before this Sunday's sermon at the St. Joan of Arc Church. He was to talk about torture.
But the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis decided Miles wouldn't be allowed to speak. A statement from the diocese said it was because of his "public advocacy of abortion, which is fundamentally contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church."
Miles says he was surprised because he has made no secret of his personal views and that it's a part of his job. He said his talk had nothing to do with abortion.
Similar situations have arisen since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops four years ago adopted a statement prohibited Catholic institutions from giving "awards, honors and platforms" to those who oppose the church's fundamental positions, particularly against abortion.
___
No comments:
Post a Comment