Mormons Seek Historic Designation for Massacre Site

Mormon Church Historian Marlin K. Jensen has informed descendants of the massacre that left 120 people dead a century and a half ago that his church will seek National Historic Landmark designation of its holdings at the Mountain Meadows site in southern Utah.

"A National Historic Landmark designation, along with the continued efforts of the church and descendants groups, will ensure that those who died at Mountain Meadows will always be remembered as part of our nation’s history," said Jensen, the historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at a Friday meeting with descendants in Carrollton, Ark.

At a September memorial service at the grave site, marking the deaths that occurred 150 years ago on Sept. 11, 1857, church leader Henry B. Eyring said: "What was done here long ago by members of our church represents a terrible and inexcusable departure from Christian teaching and conduct."

In addition to seeking a greater historical designation, the church recently bought 600 acres of land at the site to prevent it from being developed into a residential subdivision.

New Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director Named

The interim director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir didn't stay in that position long. Less than four weeks after stepping into that post after director Craig Jessop resigned, Mack Wilberg was officially named Friday as the new music director of the famous singing group. Wilberg previously was associate music director, a position he began in 1999. Jessop led the choir for more than eight years and decided to move on, saying he was "at a major crossroads of life."

It's (not) all Greek

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America wants people to know that it's not in any way affiliated with the "Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Foundation" that's suing investment bank Bear Sterns.

Lots of Bear Sterns investors lost their shirts when the bank was sold at a fire-sale price. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese was not among them, though, says a release from the GOAA.

"The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America would like to clarify that
the 'Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Foundation' is not associated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America or any of its Parishes and affiliated Endowments or Institutions. At present the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has no information on who or what this Foundation represents."

Vatican for Mumia Abu-Jamal

After an appeals court refused to reinstate the death sentence of convicted murderer Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano reported the news on the front page of its Saturday edition (released late Friday), accompanied by a photo of pro-Abu-Jamal demonstrators and the headline: "Every sentence of death not carried out is a victory for man."

Interview with head of UCC Part II

Here' s Part II of my interview with the Rev. John Thomas, who heads the United Church of Christ, a denomination that's been deeply involved (willingly or not, for good or ill) in the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.

Q: I read that UCC Trinity (Obama's and Wright's congregation) had sent something like 50 or 60 members to seminary on scholarship. Is Trinity known for producing ministers?
A: Yes, that's one of our congregations that takes most seriously the development of potential leaders and recruiting towards leadership in the church.

Q: How did Trinity come to be a UCC church? Is it a plant?
A: It's always been a UCC church. It was started about 45 years ago. It had kinda a modest size membership for a number of years. Then when Rev. Wright arrived he shaped it around evangelical outreach and a vibrant worship life and it grew more and more rapidly.

Q: I read where the United Church of Christ is 91 percent white. How many predominantly black churches like Trinity are in the UCC?
A: I don't know the exact number but it's certainly well over a hundred, and even that is probably low.

Q: One of the things this controversy has exposed, it seems, is a lack of understanding on behalf of white Americans about what happens in black churches. Does that lack exist within your church as well?
A: I think this did reveal the fact that even in our denomination there is continued segregation at the worship hour. Many of our congregations have never had the experience of being in an African American congregation and so this would all kind of be foreign to them. The tone and style of worship would be sort of alien. It reminds us that we need to redouble our efforts in that area. The interesting thing is, that's what Trinity does, it's been a leader in hosting other, predominantly white, UCC churches. I don't think there's been a Sunday at Trinity where they don't have guests from predominantly white churches.

Q: Did you talk to Sen. Obama before his speech last summer to ensure it wouldn't get the UCC in hot water?
A: We had numerous conversations about that. The invitation was very clear that he was to talk about how his personal faith informs his public life. Obviously that means hearing about important issues of the day, such as poverty, health care, the war in Iraq. He really only referenced his campaign once in the entire speech. That may or may not have been appropriate but it was certainly not the dominant theme. As far as I'm concerned, he honored our invitation very well.

Q: What was your immediate reaction when he did reference his campaign?
A: My first reaction was: I hope he doesn't go further with this. And he didn't. There was a moment of anxiety, that this is not really what we wanted. But he quickly moved on and focused on other things.

Q: The church meeting at which Obama spoke was called "Synod in the City," and there seemed to be a political tone to the entire meeting, not in the sense of Republican or Democrat, but definitely in the sense that people should get involved in politics. Did you and the other organizers find it hard to draw a sharp line between appropriate and inappropriate political activity?
A: Obviously politics deals with negotiations and national conversations about important public issues, and it's probably impossible to draw a sharp line between politics and public advocacy. It's easy to draw a sharp line between partisan politics and public advocacy on issues, and that's what we did. That's why I don't feel like we're in any jeopardy with the IRS investigation.

Q: I read where UCC pastor said excitement over the Obama campaign had drawn people to his pews. Has there been a discernible uptick in interest or membership nationally with the success of Obama electorally?
A: No, I don't think so. There is sort of the natural excitement about having one of your members in such a prominent place, and the fact that there is media attention and the opportunity to tell your story is a very positive thing. People view Senator Obama as a good representative of the UCC legacy of being engaged in the great issues of the day and there's a sense of pride in seeing someone carry that out. But I don't think having a member run for president has been a motivating factor for anyone joining the church.

Q: The UCC has draw a lot of heat over the years for its progressive stance on slavery, women's rights, and gay rights, to name a few issues. Do you think that will hurt Sen. Obama's campaign?
A: I think there will be people who will try to hurt him with that, who will try to use the UCC stance on gay marriage or rights in that way. We're probably not the safest church to belong to if you want to run a political campaign.

Q: I read where the UCC, at least the Congregationalist branch, used to be the church of the established class in America. Now the church seems to enjoy provoking the establishment.
A: We were the established church, that's right. But we were also a strong dissenting church within English Protestantism. We've been a strong counter voice, a critical voice on abolition, women's wrights, peace advocacy. That voice has always been a part of our life, and has become more dominant as the church increasingly becomes distant from the cultural establishment.

Obama's a Christian (We Think)

Several pundits have said perhaps the only upshot of all the attention on Barack Obama's fire-breathing Chicago pastor is that now everyone should know that he's a Christian, not the closet Muslim many seem to think he is.

A new poll shows some success on that front, but 1 in 10 Americans still think he's a Muslim.

Fourteen percent of Republicans, 10 percent of Democrats and 8 percent of independents mistakenly think he is Muslim, according to a survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Just over half of each group correctly identified him as Christian, while about a third said they don't know his religion.

Eye of the Tiger

I don't really follow golf, but I know who Tiger Woods is, and I know he's good. I thought his perspective on Buddhist meditation, then, was worth mentioning.

Says the Times of London:

Woods does not talk much about the fact that he meditates, something he learnt from Kultida, his mother, who is a Buddhist. “In the Buddhist religion you have to work for it yourself, internally, in order to achieve anything in life and set up the next life,” he said. “It is all about what you do, and you get out of life what you put into it. So you are going to have to work your butt off in every aspect of your life. That is one of the things that people see in what I do on the course.”

Read the whole thing here.

Why the Dalai Lama Matters

Robert Thurman, an expert on and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, personal friend of the Dalai Lama, and father of Uma, weighs in on why China needs the Dalai Lama.

"We are at a moment of great significance for humanity, " Thurman says here, "at the beginning of this new century, which could be either a horrendous time of natural and man-made mega-disasters or the greatest century yet of environmental restoration and peaceful global community. Of all world leaders at this time, the Dalai Lama most convincingly provides spiritual, intellectual, and ethical leadership, exemplifying and elucidating the most reasonable path to peace and happiness. This is the secret of his worldwide popularity. His person and teaching really do matter, to the Tibetans, to the Chinese, and to all of us and our future generations."

Did He or Didn't He?

There have been mixed reports out of Italy and Russia that former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has either a) converted to Christianity; b) was a closet Christian all along; or c) was not, is not and will not be a Christian.

Gorbachev visited the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi and supposedly spent 30 minutes in silence or prayer or maybe both. "It was through St. Francis that I arrived at the Church, so it was important that I came to visit his tomb," he apparently said.

Now others are reporting that's not what he actually meant, and remains an avowed atheist. From AsiaNews, which is affiliated with the Vatican:

“Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies—I can't use any other word—about my secret Catholicism, citing my visit to the Sacro Convento friary, where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi lie,” Gorbachev said. Instead he insisted that he undertook the trip, not as a pilgrim, but as “tourist.”

Interview with head of United Church of Christ

It's been a tumultuous last six weeks or so for the Rev. John Thomas, who heads the United Church of Christ, and his 1.2-million member denomination.

There's the IRS looking into the church's possibly improper politicking on behalf of UCC-member Sen. Barack Obama, the brouhaha surrounding controversial sermon bits from UCC-pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. All this on top of a denomination that's still facing internal squabbles over its support for gay rights.

I spoke to Thomas recently. Here's part one of a transcript of our conversation.

Q: What are people around the UCC saying about the controversy surrounding Wright?

A: Some people are quite upset and outraged at what they heard on these brief little clips on the news. Others are angry because they feel Rev. Wright's views have been taken out of context -- it doesn't reflect the man who's so well known in the UCC. By and large, there's a lot of pain for what he's going through and anger that he's not being treated fairly.

Q: Have you talked to Rev. Wright since the situation erupted?
A: I have not. He's been away and not available for comment.

Q: You've written that people are asking for your resignation over the Wright controversy. Is that something you'd consider?
A: It's never pleasant to here that kind of angry criticism. I understand people are upset, after eight years in office I'm quite used to people getting critical, some of it is honest criticism based on facts, some folks are not aware of context. I try not to simply take it in stride but to listen and to adjust.

Q: How does this compare to the outcry when the UCC came out in support of gay marriage?
A: It's quite similar, actually.

Q: Do you think there are legitimate reasons to be concerned over some of his remarks and the fact that he's been a longtime spiritual leader to a major presidential candidate?
A: You have to assess the whole body of his preaching and not phrases here and there, like what you've heard on the television. You want to listen to the entire sermon and also look at the congregation he's shaped over the years. It's not shaped around hatred, it's been very supportive of a predominantly white denomination. It's fair game to assess the background of a candidate's spiritual life, but it needs to be a fair assessment.

Q: Do you agree with Rev. Wright's remarks about AIDS -- that it was invented by the U.S. government to oppress minorities?
A: While I'm reluctant to comment on any one sentence in a sermon lifted from its context, and particularly reluctant in light of the clear intent of many in recent days to attack the integrity of Dr. Wright using this kind of citation, if the question posed is "Do I think the U.S. government invented AIDS to oppress minorities?" my response would be "no."

Q: You've said that sermons you've heard at Trinity UCC have been "prophetically challenging." What do you mean by that?
A: Jeremiah Wright has always been prepared to offer a strong, biblically based critique of American society, whether it's persistent racism, indifference to poverty or reliance on weapons to solve our problems. He uses provocative language and he's very blunt in his criticism, much as the biblical prophets were. He challenges us to be a better church and a better nation. He also uses humor, it's not like every sermon is a diatribe. Each sermon has moments of gentleness, challenging times, times of humor.

Q: How many times have you heard Rev. Wright preach?
A: I've heard him probably half a dozen times in various settings. I heard him preach at his congregation one Sunday three different sermons at three different services. I've heard him at national UCC gatherings. He's widely respected and highly regarded as a preacher in our church.

Q: Had you ever heard him say things as controversial as those now circulating in sermon blips, such as the AIDS reference?
A: No, I never heard that kind of language firsthand.

Q: What was your first reaction when you heard it on the news?
A: My first reaction was: This does not reflect Jeremiah Wright or his preaching. It's so clearly taken out of context. It's a very unfair and distorted view. I'm more shocked by the attempts to discredit Rev. Wright than I am shocked by the language (he) used. I know Rev. Wright well enough to know that context is all.

Q: You've said it's not the UCC's place to censure its pastors. But are there occasions when you would step in and say something to a pastor who was using anti-gay language, for instance?
A: There are certain givens: We are not going to tolerate racist language from the pulpit. There are certainly diverse perspectives on human sexuality in our denomination, but we are not going to tolerate rhetoric about gays and lesbians that's demeaning or will incite prejudice and violence. If I heard a sermon from someone that was racist that would not be tolerated within the denomination. Clearly, that's not the case with Rev. Wright.

Q: Have you ever confronted a pastor over something like that?
A: No. I've never had occasion to do that. I've had lots of disagreements with pastors who disagree with me. It's not that we all have to have common agreement but there are certain boundaries that language or theology that's demeaning or racists is not to be tolerated.

Jim Martin's Checking His Watch

Jim Martin over at America magazine asks the question that's on every Catholic's mind but no one is willing to voice. As somone who's sat through the Vigil myself, I think he might be on to something:

Last year I asked one of my relatives if she was going to the Vigil Mass. "Are you kidding?" she said. No matter how much I encouraged her to go, and no matter how much I touted the dramatic lighting of the Paschal Candle, the beautiful readings, the amazing spectacle of seeing adult baptisms, she was turned off by what she called (and I remember this word vividly) its
"ridiculous" length. Is it time to start thinking about shortening the Easter Vigil?

Packing Heat in Packed Churches

An update on an earlier story we brought you about the rising use of armed guards inside megachurches, prompted by last year's shooting deaths at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and a missionary training center.

The pastor of New Life, Brady Boyd, says all churches should have armed guards -- just in case. You may remember that it was a church security who was packing heat who finally took out the shooter last December (she was actually Boyd's body guard). "We just don't want this to happen anywhere else," Boyd said.

Lieberman Questions IRS Probe into Obama Speech

Sen. Joe Lieberman has joined the chorus of people questioning the IRS probe into a speech given by Barack Obama at the United Church of Christ convention last summer. Obama, you'll recall, is a UCC member, but the IRS thinks his speech may have been improper church politicking.

Why Lieberman? Two possible reasons: One, he's been an ardent supporter of the place of religion in the public square. Two, the UCC speech was held in Hartford, Conn., his home state. More than anything, Lieberman's a smart guy, and thinks the IRS is barking up the wrong tree on this one.

"Throughout my career in the Senate, I have supported the strong and fair enforcement of our nation's tax laws, including laws applicable to religious institutions. But I am concerned about the chilling effect on legitimate activity by religious organizations that results from initiating a church tax inquiry without first satisfying the reasonableness standard, and I am further concerned by the lack of clear guidance in this area."

Clinton: I would Have Walked Out

Hillary Clinton says that if she had been sitting in the pew when Barack Obama's pastor made his now-legendary remarks, she would have gotten up and walked out.

Some have criticized Clinton -- who has largely stayed out of the Obama/Wright flap -- of going negative with her answer. But in all fairness, she was responding to a reporter's question and didn't bring up the issue herself.

Does the Pope keep kosher?

The Catholic Church has come a long way since members could fall afoul of the Spanish Inquisition by showing an aversion to pork, arousing suspicions that they were "judaizers" or "crypto-Jews."

An Italian Catholic website reports that Pope Benedict's favorite pastries come from a kosher bakery in Rome's historic Jewish Ghetto. According to the chef, Vilma Limentani, Benedict is especially fond of her cinnamon and almond cookies.

"According to the precepts of our religion we cannot employ saturated animal fats," Limentani explained to the Petrus website. "So we are talking about delicacies that might be a bit caloric but not unhealthy, and in particular, don't raise your cholesterol."

Controversial convert

The latest episode in Pope Benedict's tumultuous relationship with the Muslim world is controversy over the conversion to Catholicism of Egyptian-born journalist Magdi Allam, an outspoken critic of his former faith whom Benedict personally baptized at the Vatican on the day before Easter.

Among those criticizing the high-profile baptismal ceremony was one of the 138 Muslim scholars and clerics who last year signed an open letter seeking better relations with the Christian world. In response to that letter, Benedict invited a group of signatories to meet with him at the Vatican, a meeting for which preparations are now in the works.

Another Award for the Dalai Lama's Mantel ...

The Dalai Lama may be at odds with the Chinese troops currently stationed in his homeland, but the good folks at Hofstra University think he deserves the inaugural $50,000 prize for fostering interfaith harmony.

Hofstra gave the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhism the Guru Nanak Prize on Monday, and His Holiness will accept it in November in India.

More on the award:

The prize, to be awarded every other year, was established in 2006 through an endowment from the family of Ishar Singh Bindra to be given by Hofstra University to individuals or organizations that have worked to facilitate the religious dialogue that is indispensable to reducing religious conflict. The prize was named for the founder of the Sikh religion and was meant to encourage understanding of various religions and to build bridges between faith
communities. Guru Nanak believed that all humans were born equal regardless of skin color, ethnicity, nationality and gender.

Easter at the Lincoln Memorial

In case you (like most of us) were still sleeping when the sun crept over the U.S. Capitol on Easter morning, Lee Love has some smart pics of the Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington ...

Martin Marty's Picks for Mt. Preachmore

Martin Marty, the unparalleled scholar of American religious history at the University of Chicago, lists his top preacher picks to replace Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt on Mt. Rushmore:

Walter Rauschenbush, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Reinhold Niebuhr, Martin Luther King, Jr., and William Sloane Coffin. They all preached to many classes of people, including those powerful enough to get their names in print. Some hearers were alienated and walked away to receive sweeter messages (as some blacks now do, too, with the non-biblical "Prosperity Gospel"). Some did not.

Conan the Buddhist dog

Those who believe in reincarnation may take a special look at a Zen Buddhist temple in southern Japan, where a young Chihuahua named Conan prays with the monks.

The 18-month-old black-and-white pup joins in the daily prayers at the temple, sitting up on his hind legs and putting his front paws together before the altar.

It took him only a few days to learn the motions, and now he is the talk of the town.
"Word has spread, and we are getting a lot more tourists," a Zen priest said Monday.

Conan generally goes through his prayer routine at the temple without prompting before his morning and evening meals.

The priest is now trying to teach him how to meditate.

"Basically, I am just trying to get him to sit still while I meditate," he explained. "It's not like we can make him cross his legs."

See a picture of Conan the Buddhist dog here.

In the grand scheme of things, being reincarnated as a temple dog is not a bad proposition. It beats hell.

Clinton's Jeremiah Wright Problem

Seems Barack Obama isn't the only candidate with a Jeremiah Wright problem.

The Politico (and the NY Times) is reporting that Obama's fire-breathing pastor had a meet-and-greet with Bill Clinton at the White House back in 1998. It's the date people would probably remember more for Clinton's mea culpa for the Monica Lewinsky scandal: "I don't think there is a fancy way to say that I have sinned."

I doubt this will cause a problem for Hillary the way it has for Clinton, but it's interesting to see that no one in this fight has a totally clean set of hands.

Jerusalem Turf Battles and Straight Shuls

Couple of good stories this week from The Forward, the New York-based Jewish newspaper:

Straight Shuls: When Gayanne Geurin Weiss and her husband went looking for an Atlanta synagogue to join, they soon found one that had everything they wanted; it was warm, friendly and spiritual. There was just one catch: It was for gay men and lesbians, and Weiss and her husband are straight.

Turf Battles: With big egos competing for sacred space and urgent claims that a miracle is imminent, Jerusalem’s latest religious conflict has all the makings of a classic Holy City conflagration. All, that is, except for the cast of characters: There is not a single Jew or Muslim involved.

Pope U.S. Visit Special Package from RNS

Religion News Service has already started covering Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States next month, with a package of nine advance stories ready today, with 5-8 more to be published before his visit, and daily coverage throughout the trip April 15-20. In addition we offer new and file photos to accompany stories.

RNS is making its entire Pope U.S. Visit Package available to non-subscribers for just $300. This allows you to publish all articles related to Benedict’s visit, and four photos. Additional photos are $80 each.

Following are summaries of the articles already available for publication. When you purchase the Pope U.S. Visit Package you will receive the full text of these stories, as well as continuing coverage, via email. You will also receive a user name and password that will allow you to download images from our online archives.To purchase the Pope U.S. Visit Package, please contact Claudia Sans Werner at 202-383-7870 or csans@religionnews.com.

STORIES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION NOW

For a papal Mass, no detail is too small
WASHINGTON -- After some discussion, it was decided: The pope would play centerfield. Pope Benedict XVI had originally been positioned in the infield for upcoming Mass at the Washington Nationals' new ballpark here, but organizers figured they would have room for about 5,000 more pilgrims should the pontiff move. The Mass, expected to draw 45,000 people, will provide the pope with a grand stage -- in this case, a 50-foot custom-made sanctuary -- on which to address the nation. And every detail, from the tiniest medallion on the Communion chalice to the last note of the processional hymn, has been painstakingly planned. By Daniel Burke. About 850 words.

Pope, at U.N., to address issues that cross boundaries
VATICAN CITY -- On April 18, Pope Benedict XVI will become the third leader of the Catholic Church to address the United Nations General Assembly. Vatican officials have not indicated what Benedict might say at the U.N., but if his past statements are any guide, he will address some of the organization's most prominent agenda items, such as arms control and the fight against global poverty and disease, along with areas of particular interest to the Holy See, such as religious freedom and abortion. Whatever the precise content of Benedict's U.N. speech, it is bound to be drawn from Catholic social teaching, in which priorities cut across the international community's usual geopolitical and ideological boundaries. By Francis X. Rocca. About 800 words.

Pope carves out a quieter, more deliberate style
VATICAN CITY -- For more than two decades before taking the helm of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI served as one of the closest and most influential subordinates to his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. The two men had a strong rapport based on common priorities, affection and respect. Yet for all his admiration for the man who came before him, Benedict has displayed his own markedly different style of leading and communicating. The two pontiffs represent two distinct personality types. “John Paul had all the traits of an extrovert,” including gregariousness and a flair for spectacle and symbolic gestures, said the Rev. Keith F. Pecklers, an American who teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Whereas the private, deliberative and self-restrained Benedict is, according to Pecklers, “very much of an introvert.” By Francis X. Rocca. About 850 words.

Pope to preside in country's beloved shrine to baseball
(UNDATED) Baseball is often rhapsodized as a religion in America. It makes sense then that Yankee Stadium is a stomping ground for popes. The only two who have set foot on U.S. soil have celebrated Mass in the Bronx, in the most famous sports arena this side of the Colosseum. On April 20, Pope Benedict XVI will be the third, and is expected to pack the place with at least 80,000 people. And if Benedict's stadium visit is like those of his predecessors, it will be remembered less for the homily than for the spectacle of the Successor to Peter presiding where Joe DiMaggio once chased down fly balls. By Jeff Diamant. About 900 words.

Pope's ambassador to host the boss on a grand stage
WASHINGTON -- Archbishop Pietro Sambi jokes that he needed a new pair of glasses when he was assigned a diplomatic post in the United States after eight years in Jerusalem. “In the Holy Land, everything is small and every small thing can become a big problem,” Sambi said. “In the United States, everything is huge: the country, the people, the possibility, the opportunity and the responsibility.” If the archbishop's perspective has widened, he's also caused some U.S. Catholics to adjust their sights, bringing a boost of energy and openness to the Vatican embassy and the U.S. church. Officially known as the Apostolic Nuncio, the energetic 69-year-old Italian is the Vatican's top official in this country. From his post on Massachusetts Avenue, across the street from the vice president's residence, the gregarious archbishop has a hand in everything from helping appoint new bishops to lobbying state department officials. He will step onto a brighter stage, perhaps, with the arrival of his boss, Benedict, next month. By Daniel Burke. About 850 words. With photos.

40 years later, contraception colors U.S.-Vatican ties
(UNDATED) Asked about her church's ban on artificial birth control, Emily Kunkel inhales deeply and pauses. “It's hard because the church has had this stance for so many years, there's so much tradition behind it,” says the 20-year-old from Dayton, Ohio. “But I think in certain circumstances condoms should be used.” When Pope Benedict XVI touches down in the United States next month, he'll find a church where Kunkel's ambivalence toward Catholic sexual ethics is widely shared, particularly among the youth. Forty years after Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae, the encyclical that officially banned artificial birth control, debate rages on. Among the consequences, according to whom you ask, are declining participation in the sacraments, the clergy sex abuse scandal, a callousness towards sin, and polarized pews full of “liberals” and “conservatives.” Others say Paul VI opened a Pandora's box, ignored the sense of the faithful, misread the signs of the times and unwittingly created a culture of dissent in the church. By Daniel Burke. 1,200 words with optional trims to 800. With file photos.

NEWS ANALYSIS: U.S. trip introduces unknown church to an unknown pope
(UNDATED) Central to the anticipation surrounding Pope Benedict XVI's April visit to the United States is a widespread curiosity about a pontiff who most Catholics only know through headlines and video clips. What is he like in person? What he will say to his large, influential and often independent-minded flock in the U.S.? Such questions might seem odd, given that the pope spent much of his career as the Vatican lightning rod on the most explosive doctrinal controversies. No one in Rome -- except John Paul II -- garnered more media attention, and no one got so much negative press. Yet Benedict has relatively little direct experience of U.S. Catholicism, and speaks Latin with greater fluency than he does English. Now he finds himself about to visit Washington and New York as pope, and it could be a learning experience for both sides. By David Gibson. About 1,000 words.

Papal visit gives center much-needed attention
WASHINGTON -- When Pope Benedict XVI visits the John Paul II Cultural Center here next month, it will be broadcast into the homes of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. It's the type of publicity the center desperately needs, and could mark a clean break from its financially troubled past. The pope will meet some 200 religious leaders -- of the Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities -- at the center on April 17. The interfaith leaders will hear a papal address on world peace, provide greetings of their own and present symbolic gifts to the pope. All the attention could also help the center reinvent itself. By Greg Trotter. About 500 words.

10 minutes on ... the pope's visit
WASHINGTON -- Matthew Streib talks with five Catholic leaders about what the pope should -- or shouldn't -- say during his upcoming trip to New York and Washington. About 750 words. With photos.

Easter Sunday: Your Chance to See Stryper, Twisted Sister

We blogged a while back about an unusual benefit concert featuring both Christian music’s Stryper and Kevin Max, formerly of dc Talk, and performers Twisted Sister and Tesla. They came together Feb. 25 in Providence, R.I., for a fifth-anniversary fundraiser for survivors of The Station nightclub tragedy in nearby West Warwick. On Easter at 10 p.m. ET/PT, VH1 Classic and VH1 will air a one-hour special, “Aftermath: The Station Fire Five Years. Later,” the networks announced.

How to crucify yourself

Health officials in the Philippines, where self-flagellation and crucifixion are popular practices among Catholics during Holy Week, have issued some guidelines for those going up on the cross this week.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque says:

1) get shots of gamma globulin or anti-tetanus
2) the six-inch nails used for crucifixion must be thoroughly sterilised
3) the crucified and flagellated must take antibiotics while their wounds heal.
3) whips used by the flagellants must be clean and well-maintained

"This advice is important to make sure that no one will land in the hospital due to tetanus or other infections penitents might get in the process," said Duque. "We are not trying to go against the Lenten tradition here because whipping has somewhat become some form of 'atonement for sins' for some of us."

You can see one such crucifiction here, but be warned that it's pretty graphic.

The Secret Behind the Mormons' Famous `Funeral Potatoes'

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has apparently been replaced by, um, potatoes.

Conservatives question Episcopal ouster

Conservatives here and across the pond are questioning the ouster of former Episcopal bishop of San Joaquin John-David Schofield. They've scoured the Episcopal Church's canons and found that a "majority of the whole number bishops entitled to vote" must give consent to depose a bishop.

Conservatives say only 68 were present at the vote to depose Schofield-- out of 294 eligible voters.

You can read more here.

Question: Since Schofield himself says he's gladly not a part of the Episcopal Church anymore, does this even matter?

Map of Tibetan protest sites

Photographer Mikel Dunham has created a map of all the protests taking place in Tibet since the Chinese crackdown. There are at least twenty sites, and it's a helpful indication of how disperse the protests are.

See the map here.

Happy Crossmas

The ever-resourceful Jim Martin over at America magazine has a great piece on Slate on why Easter has been able to survive the onslaught of commercialism that Christmas has not:

"The Christmas story, with its friendly resonances of marriage, family, babies, animals, angels, and—thanks to the wise men—gifts, is eminently marketable to popular culture. It's a Thomas Kinkade painting come to life. On the other hand, a card bearing the image of a near-naked man being stripped, beaten, tortured, and nailed through his hands and feet onto a
wooden crucifix is a markedly less pleasant piece of mail."

40 Years of Humanae Vitae

Forty years later, contraception ban colors U.S.-Vatican ties

RNS' Daniel Burke examines the impact of the Catholic church's ban on contraception on American Catholics, in this week's full text article, linked above.

Quote:

Sixty-one percent of Catholics insist that individuals should have the final say on contraception; 75 percent say it's possible to be a good Catholic while disobeying church teachings on the matter, according to recent surveys. Forty years after Pope Paul VI issued "Humanae Vitae" and upheld the ban on artificial birth control, the encyclical continues to be a flashpoint in the church. Nearly all Catholics agree that Humanae Vitae's effects are pervasive and enduring.

Seeing the pope

There will be a few opportunities to see Pope Benedict, even for those who couldn't get tickets to the Masses at Washington Nationals Ballpark and Yankee Stadium, according to the USCCB.

The USCCB says: Details of the pope’s travel routes are still being finalized, but the general public can see the pope on Wednesday, April 16, as he departs from the White House visit with President and Mrs. Bush and travels to the Papal Nunciature on Massachusetts Avenue.

Later, the public will be able to see the pope as he travels in the popemobile to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Michigan Avenue.

April 17, following an address to the heads U.S. Catholic colleges and universities at The Catholic University of America, the pope will travel across campus to the John Paul II Cultural Center to meet with faith leaders from several religions. Access to viewing areas on Catholic University's campus to see the pope on April 16 and 17 are available only through tickets that the university has made available to local Church-sponsored Catholic organizations.

One flew over ...

Looking over Christianity Today's Best Books of 2007 , I was somewhat surprised that "There is a God: How the World's Most Famous Atheist Changed His Mind" made it on the list.

Let me first confess: I have not read the book. But this New York Times story from November of last year raises significant questions about whether Antony Flew, the "famous atheist" in question, is of sound mind.

Writer Mark Oppenheimer visits the 84-year-old Flew and reports: "he seemed generally uninterested in the content of his book — he spent far more time talking about the dangers of unchecked Muslim immigration and his embrace of the anti-E.U. United Kingdom Independence Party.

As he himself conceded, he had not written his book.

`This is really Roy’s doing,' he said, before I had even figured out a polite way to ask. `He showed it to me, and I said O.K. I’m too old for this kind of work!'"

Oppenheimer add that "When I asked Varghese, he freely admitted that the book was his idea and that he had done all the original writing for it. But he made the book sound like more of a joint effort — slightly more, anyway. `There was stuff he had written before, and some of that was adapted to this,' Varghese said.

`There is stuff he’d written to me in correspondence, and I organized a lot of it. And I had interviews with him. So those three elements went into it. Oh, and I exposed him to certain authors and got his views on them. We pulled it together. And then to make it more reader-friendly, HarperCollins had a more popular author go through it.'"

The book is listed as by "Antony Flew with Roy Abraham Varghese."

Flew says he didn't write the book. The article goes through pains to explain that the 84-year-old can neither recollect his own past writings, nor the work of others with whom he has collaborated. This is pretty fraught territory: turning a famous atheist into a believer would be considered a major coup for some Christians. Imagine, for instance, if Flew was on the other foot and walking away from the cross.

All the more reason, I think, to examine closely how the book was written and by whom. Of course, all this doesn't mean it's not a good book, it just raises a lot of questions.

Superhighway threatens Episcopal retreat

Episcopalians are protesting plans to build a superhighway near Camp Allen, their retreat center in Navasota, Texas. They say the proposed route for the 8-lane highway would "destroy the peace and tranquility" of their 87-year-old center. The $50-million facility is one of a kind, Episcopal leaders say. More than 42,000 people use it each year.
Read more here.

Final Thought of ...Robert Bruce

Robert Bruce, king of Scotland (depicted as less-than-heroic in the movie "Braveheart," the more to contrast with William Wallace and Mel Gibson's martyr's complex?) wanted to go on a crusade to the Holy Land before he died in 1329.

On his deathbed he instructed his knights to embalm his heart and carry it to the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was buried.

"I shall now die in peace," Bruce said "sine I know that the most valiant and accomplished knight of my kingdom will perform for me that which I am unable to do myself."

For your ears only

NPR ran a great piece yesterday on composer Gregorio Allegri's "Miserere," a piece of choral music so powerful that a 17th-century pope decreed it could be played only during the week leading to Easter — and then only in the Sistine Chapel, under pain of excommunication.

It was smuggled out by Mozart.

Hear the story and the wonderful music here.

The Final Thoughts Of ...

Joan Crawford: "Don't you dare pray for me."

Obama Says Wright is Wrong

Barack Obama finally speaks about his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and the incendiary things he's been saying. I guess that qualifies as a "reject and denounce" that Hillary Clinton might even approve of.

Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at
issue.

Vatican Ambassador Part III

Here's the third and final part of the transcript of my interview with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio.

Q: One of the most important parts of your job is recommending good candidates for bishop to Pope Benedict. What do you look for in a bishop?

A: I look for a man of faith, who not only believes but also is capable of communicating in a convincing way, his faith. I look for a man who has a spirit of service, service to the community; and who is convinced, like Jesus, that we come not to be served but to serve. I look for a person who every day makes an effort to be holy, so as to be an example for his flock.

Q: How important is a candidate's pastoral experience, as opposed to, for example, experience in the Vatican's curia?

A: Let us not forget that Pope Benedict before coming to Rome has been many years a professor, for a number of years a bishop. It's extremely important, pastoral experience, but what is more important is a pastoral heart a pastoral spirit and a conception of life like a gift received to be given.

Q: I read where you said the pope would address the clergy sexual abuse crisis in this country. Why do you think that, and what do you think he will say?

A: Yes, I think that.

Q: Why do you think that?

A: Why do I think the sun is shining, or that it's a nice day, there are some things you just know.

Q: It's been suggested that you think the U.S. church has become too hidebound, too timid, too concerned with money after the sex abuse crisis. Is that so?

A: The sexual abuse of minors is something horrible that should be condemned without any hesitation, especially by those who should be guides. In this affair there has been some strange attitudes: a small minority of Catholic priests have been abusers ... The impression has been more than a moral problem, it has been a money problem.

Q: A money problem as in people trying to get money from the church?
To get money from the church. Personally I am of this idea: the church, in response to what has happened with the sexual abuse, must stand up and walk in a more pure and a more faithful way to her mission toward the faithful of the United States.

I can tell you what I've seen. In a parish where you have a parish priest who is dedicated to the service of his faithful, that scandal had no impact. In a diocese where you had a bishop fully dedicated to the service of his diocese, the scandal had no impact. It is through higher quality of faith in Jesus Christ and service to the faithful that the scandal will be overcome.

Q: Ok. Another topic. What's it like to have the pope stay in your house?

A: For me it's not the first time.The pope (John Paul II) stayed at apostolic nunciature in Jerusalem six days, John Paul stayed (with me) in Burundi. Then, first of all it's not my house!It's his house.

Q: I heard you have the piano tuned up for him.

A: I have the piano, but I do not have the time.

Q: Last question, I promise. I'm interested in your impression of the church in this country?

A: I have been impressed by mainly positive elements of the Catholic Church in the United States. We are in the period of Lent. At the beginning of Lent, many adult persons went to the bishop of their diocese asking to be prepared to receive the sacraments of initiation at Easter. This means that these adults look to the church as the place where the people meet Jesus Christ, and a response to the basic question of life and a way to find happiness.

I have seen that the Catholics in the United States, mainly go to church every Sunday. One would like that they should be more. But compared to the Catholic Church in Europe, much more go to the church every Sunday.

I have found happy families solid in their unity and being in the faith. I have found a sign of the charity of the Catholics of the United States almost all over the world. I think that is the Catholic Church of the United States.

There are great possibilities for a new spring, for a new Pentecost, especially among the young people. One thing that deeply impressed me, has been the March for Life of the 22nd of January of every year. Usually it is a very cold day. I have seen two years ago with snow and 20,000 people at the Verizon Center ready to suffer cold weather and an uncomfortable night but confirmed in their faith in life and the giver of life, God himself.

A governor's downfall

New Yorkers were shell-shocked this week about the sudden political downfall (and planned resignation) of our governor, Eliot Spitzer, from his involvement in a prostitution ring scandal.

There's probably not much to add to a story about a public figure whose fall from power was so startling because it was so sudden and so unexpected. However, it will be interesting to see if those preaching from the pulpits in New York's churches and synagogues this weekend deal explicitly with the week's news.

My bet: at least one minister or rabbi will evoke the theme of hubris and quote the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. Though Niebuhr's warnings of pride were often more directed at collective sin than individual failings, at least one of the famous quotes attributed to Niebuhr seems appropriate here:

"All human sin seems so much worse in its consequences than in its intentions."

Templeton winner laments 'theological error'

Interviewing the annual winner of the Templeton Prize -- the prize for advances in science and religion awarded annually by the John Templeton Foundation -- is always something of a yearly assignment highlight for an RNS reporter: the prize winners are invariably interesting and stimulating interview subjects.

They're also often a little shell-shocked at winning what is touted as the largest yearly monetary award given to a single individual -- in this case, $1.6 million, an amount that exceeds the prize money for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But the 2008 winner, Michael (Michal) Heller, a Polish Roman Catholic priest and cosmologist, seemed to be taking the prospect of winning such a large monetary prize in stride when I interviewed him this week.

He told me his only real needs are books, and said his only shopping while in New York (for the Wednesday June 12 announcement at the Church Center for the United Nations) would be for a digital book reader. (Heller said he will donate the Templeton Prize money to help create a planned Copernicus Center that, in concert with Jagiellonian University and the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow, will promote the burgeoning study of science and theology as an academic discipline.)


Heller, a warm if shy man, sounded a bit exasperated at intellectuals who continue to separate scientific and religious worldviews. But he was equally frustrated at the advocates of intelligent design ideology, who he said "commit a grave theological error."

In his prepared remarks for Wednesday's announcement, Heller said that such advocates claim "that scientific theories, that ascribe the great role to chance and random events in the evolutionary processes, should be replaced, or supplemented, by theories acknowledging the thread of intelligent design in the universe."

But he called such theories "theologically erroneous" as they revive an old argument: "postulating the existence of two forces acting against each other: God and an inert matter; in this case, chance and intelligent design," he said.

"There is no opposition here," Heller said. "Within the all-comprising Mind of God what we call chance and random events is well composed into the symphony of creation."

During our interview, Heller demonstrated what he meant. He took out a pen, held it upright with his finger tip and let it drop on a table -- we know scientifically, he said, the pen WILL fall, but we can't predict exactly WHERE on the table the pen will land.

"Physics leaves room for random events," he said. The Mind of God allows for "this collaboration of chance and laws."

Advocates of intelligent design, he said, are making inroads in Poland and elsewhere in Europe and Russia in what Heller said is a larger movement of biblical literalism that, as a Roman Catholic priest, he finds worrying. "It polarizes people," he said.

The Final Thoughts of ...

Cleaning my desk this morning, I happened upon Paul Thigpen's "Final Thoughts of Catholic Sinners & Saints."

As Thigpen notes, last words assume a prominent place in popular imagination, so much so that when the infamous Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa was ambushed an assassinated in 1923, he reportedly said "Don't let it end like this; tell them I said something."

It occurred to me that it might be fun to post these deathbed confessionals (in ye old sense) on the blog.

I'll present them in the same order as the book. Here's the first, from Saint Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274), who addresses the Eucharist he received on his deathbed.

"I have preached you and taught you. Never had I said anything against you. If anything was not well said, that is to be attributed to my ignorance ... I submit all to the judgement and correction of the Holy Roman Church, in whose obedience I now leave this world."

Rolling in His Grave

Michael Paulson up at the Boston Globe has an intriguing story about the fight over what will happen to the remains of Boston's late Cardinal William O'Connell.

It seems O'Connell very specifically directed to be buried on the grounds of St. John's Seminary outside Boston, even building a chapel to house his remains. But that land is now owned by Boston College (part of a deal to sell-off church land to pay sex abuse settlements) and BC officials don't want a cemetery on their campus.

So church officials want to move O'Connell to the crypt of the cathedral in Boston, but O'Connell's family -- two great-nieces and three great-nephews -- object, saying O'Connell made it very clear where he wanted to spend eternity.

Here's the most interesting part: one of the great-nephews, Edward Kirk, never met O'Connell but was conceived when his father returned from overseas for O'Connell's funeral. Says Kirk: "I have the cardinal's passing to credit for my arrival on this earth."

Sorry 'bout That Whole `Idolatrous' Bit

The Christian Reformed Church says isn't doesn't really think the Catholic Mass is idolatrous ... well, sort of.

The Grand Rapids-based CRC has been wrestling for years with what to do with the (circa 1563) Heidelberg Catechism that calls the Catholic Mass a "a condemnable idolatry."

At issue had been the Question and Answer 80 of the Heidelberg Catechism. In the answer portion, the catechism says the Catholic Mass “is basically nothing but a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ and a condemnable idolatry.”

(The idea being that Reformers thought the Catholic Mass re-sacrificied Jesus over and over again during Communion, which implied that the original sacrifice on Calvary 2,000 years ago didn't do the job once and for all.)

Three years ago, the CRC said the section didn't really apply, and then last year the CRC said it doesn't apply, but we're still going to keep it on the books -- with a footnote.

Did you follow that?

Now the CRC has published its report and made it available online. Bottom line: there are differences in how the two churches understand Christ's sacrifice, and the Mass, but the 1563 Heidelberg Catechism didn't "accurately represent the Catholic Church’s beliefs on the topic."

As for the CRC's beliefs on the topic, the CRC says the original language remains on the books, in [brackets], denoting that the troublesome language is "no longer confessionally binding on members of the CRC.”

Now that that's all cleared up ...

The Seven Deadlies

Even though we don't think the Vatican actually issued a "new list" of seven deadly sins earlier this week -- that's the press blowing things out of proportion, frankly -- Slate has a handy-dandy guide to determining a venial sin vs. a mortal sin, as well as Jewish and Islamic perspectives on sin.

Plans for a Bipartisan Forum For Candidates To Talk "Compassion"

Messiah College could be the site of a bipartisan presidential candidate "Compassion Forum," the college and Faith in Public Life announced Thursday.

"Messiah College has been selected to host the Compassion Forum, an event in which the leading presidential candidates of both political parties have been invited to discuss pressing moral issues that bridge ideological divides within our nation," said President Kim S. Phipps in an announcement sent to students and staff of the school near Harrisburg, Pa. "Invitations are being actively considered by Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, and Senator Barack Obama."

Faith in Public Life said the forum is scheduled for April 13 -- nine days before the Pennsylvania primary -- and is supported by leaders such as former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, National Baptist Convention, USA, President William J. Shaw, Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page and a range of other leaders from a variety of faiths.

The Vatican Ambassador, Part II

Here's part two of my interview with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's ambassador to the United States.

Q: How involved are you in preparing events for the papal visit?

A: Of course I am involved in preparation, at different levels. But the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Washington and the Archdiocese of New York (are the primary planners.) The occasion of the visit is to celebrate 200 years of the dioceses of New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Bardstown (Louisville) (all of which are now archdioceses), and the establishment of Baltimore as an archdiocese.

The pope, of course, comes also in fulfillment of the mission that the Lord has given to Peter, and this is (Sambi reads from the Gospel of Luke): "I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail, and when you have recovered, you in your turn might strengthen your brother."

One of the tasks Jesus has given to Peter and to his successor is to confirm in faith his brothers... We go back to the roots of the Catholic Church in the United States; spiritually, all the dioceses of the Catholic Church in the United States are participating in this preparation.

Q: I had read that your were quite involved particularly in Benedict's visit to ground zero in New York?

A: He will go to pay a visit to ground zero because of the impact ground zero has on the psychology of the American citizens but also of the entire world.

Q: I imagine that many people have contacted you about getting an opportunity to visit personally with Pope Benedict, can you give me some idea of how many requests you've received?

A: I express my gratitude to all of the people who expressed a desire to meet personally the pope. They should understand, that this is physically not possible. But it will be special grace to participate through the Mass, through the Eucharist, to greet him in the streets of Washington or New York. And to be in communion of prayer with him and receive his blessing.

Q: So, how many people have asked you to meet with him?

A: I didn't not count but there are a lot.

Q: I wanted also to ask about how you see your role in the church and in the United States. What's your primary mission?

A: My first duty is to represent the Holy Father to the Catholic Church in the United States and to be an instrument of communion between the Holy Father and the church in the United States…I insist a lot on these two words: communion and unity, because they are fundamental. I have another aspect of my mission, which is to represent the Holy See to the political authorities, but even then not as a pure politician but always as a priest, as a bishop, in a pastoral sense.

Q: How often do you meet with members of the state department, or other U.S. government officials? And what kinds of things do you advocate for in those meetings?

A: Its extremely important to see each other, to exchange information, to exchange opinion in order to create understanding and to build cooperation. To fight poverty is a priority of the Holy See and is interest also of the United States. To calm a situation of war, to look for peace is a priority for the Holy See and is an interest for every head of state, government and people. To join energies for the respect of human rights, for freedom, for the respect of life, for the defense of the defenseless, is a sector in which we can find a possibility of collaboration.

I remember a phrase of Tagore, who won the Nobel prize for literature: "If there is a brother or sister without dignity, your dignity is not full."

Q: Can you compare your duties as ambassador to the United States, versus your other posts, such as Israel?

A: I came to Washington from the Holy Land, and I've said that here in Washington, I am changing my glasses. In the Holy Land, everything is small and every small thing can become a big problem. In the United States, everything is huge, the country, the people, the possibility, the opportunity and the responsibility.

Q: I heard that you have stood outside the embassy here on Massachusetts Avenue and greeted marchers in the 9/11 Unity Walk for the last two years, something that your predecessor did not do. Why is that important to you?

A: One aspect of my job, it should not be forgotten, is ecumenical dialogue and inter-religious understanding. Don't forget that I come after eight years in the Middle East, from Jerusalem, a holy city for the Christians, the Jews and the Muslims.

Because it is inter-religious march and it express what has been one of the great ideals of Pope John Paul II: Religions are and must be, instruments of peace --of peace between the individual conscience and God, peace between individuals, and peace between peoples. In the future, if religions will not set themselves as a valid instruments of peace they will be abandoned by the youth.

Part III to come.

Episcopal profile draws heat and some light

I don't think I'll ever forget the conversation I had with a Minnesota Lutheran a while back, wherein she referred to the controversy within the Anglican Communion over a gay bishop as "quite the deal." It was a very "Fargo" moment.

I'm reminded of that phrase by the reaction to Honor Moore's New Yorker profile of her father, the late Bishop Paul Moore of New York, in which she outs him as a longtime, closeted bisexual.

The profile has stirred up quite the storm.

Letters published in this week's New Yorker include a missive from Moore's siblings, who lament that "both of our parents' good legacies have been damaged."

Episcopal priest the Rev. Scott Barker writes to say that Moore's legacy as a crusader on behalf of the last and the least remains, despite questions about his sexuality.

Still another Episcopal priest, this one from Baltimore, my fair city, says the story "illustrates the necessity for our church to struggle honestly with the issue of healthy sexual behavior."

Read these letters in full, as well as others, here.

Hosting the Pope

Pope's ambassador to host the boss on a grand stage


RNS' Daniel Burke interviews Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's ambassador to the US, in advance of Pope Benedict's visit, in this week's full text article, linked above.

Quote:

"Pope Benedict is not known enough in the United States," Sambi said. "What is known is not based on his personality but is based on the position that he had before as prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith. ... As such, there are people who consider him a man of very solid principles, extremely rigid, inflexible, almost non-human.

"It's true that he's a man of principle, but it will be enough to see him and to listen to him to discover a man of great human sensibility."

Interview with Vatican ambassador

As always, when reporters interview people, a lot of good stuff gets edited out of the story. My interview with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's #1 guy in the U.S., was no different in that respect. He's a fascinating guy with lots to say, so I'm posting the whole transcript here on the blog. Rather than clog the blog with a block of text, I'm posting in three parts.

Here's Part One:

Q: What's your greatest hope for Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to the U.S.?

Sambi: The pope, Peter, has been called by Jesus himself, the stone on which the Church has been founded. So I would say that the visit of the pope should be for those who are uncertain, a guarantee that the Church is the Church of Jesus Christ… proof that spirit of God is within the Church; where there is unity the spirit of God is present.

It's evident the interest of the pope to visit the U.S., where he has been already more than once as a cardinal. This country, this people have a great influence in the world: political influence, economic influence, but also cultural influence, moral influence, religious influence.

It's almost 40 years that I am touring the five continents in the name of the Holy Father. All over the world the young people, the youth, they sing American, they eat American, they dance American, they dress American. Together with this influence is linked a great moral and cultural responsibility.

Q: Is the visit primarily pastoral in purpose, or is it more political, with the speech at the United Nations and meeting at the White House?

A: The title is pastoral visit; that is primary absolutely; and you should never forget that even when the pope goes to the United Nations or meets the president, it's always in view of his pastoral mission.

Pope Benedict is not known enough in the United States. I would say also that what is known is not based on his personality but is based on the position that he had before as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, known in the past as the Inquisition. As such, there are people who consider him a man of very solid principles, extremely rigid, inflexible, almost non-human. It's true that he's a man of principle but it will be enough to see him and to listen to him to discover a man of great human sensibility, of great attention to the other, of great capacity to feel the difficulty of another. And especially of great capacity because of his faith in Jesus Christ to give hope for a better future, a better life.

Q: You said at the U.S. bishops' meeting in November that you hoped the papal visit would start a new Pentecost in America. Why do you think this country needs a new Pentecost?

A: I said at the meeting with the bishops that we should make the presence of Peter through his successor Pope Benedict an occasion for a new springtime, for a new Pentecost. We need always the presence of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul said that without the Holy Spirit not even able to say, "abba," father. We need the presence of the Holy Spirit to guarantee that we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and we need to presence of the Holy Spirit to make this occasion of the visit of the pope a moment of renovation, a moment of renovation of witnessing to Jesus Christ and to his spirit.

Q: I've seen footage of past papal Masses in the U.S. in which people are very emotional about the presence of the pope. Why do you think they have that reaction?

A: The pope is a man of great faith. People have that reaction not only when he says Mass but also when they speak with him. And with his great faith in Jesus Christ he transmits to you love and great respect and hope.

End of Part 1.

McCain Gains Catholic Supporters

Sen. John McCain has gained the support of more than 100 prominent Catholics with the launching of the National Catholics for McCain Committee, his campaign announced Monday. The committee’s co-chairs are U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, and former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating.

Brownback, in the announcement, commended McCain for his anti-abortion stance: "John McCain has a common sense vision for America based on faith, freedom, and families."

McCain said he appreciates Catholic voters who have helped him in his race to become Republican nominee for the U.S. presidency. "I stand firmly with those Catholics who believe that human rights are natural rights for all people, in all places, and in all stages of life," he said.

Traditional Values Coalition Objects To 'Hate Group' Label

The Traditional Values Coalition has objected to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s new report on "The Year in Hate" because the center includes the Washington-based conservative organization in a list of "active U.S. hate groups."

TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon is particularly offended that his organization is lumped in with Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church, which is known for holding anti-gay protests at churches hosting military funerals.

"Because we oppose the homosexual agenda and other key elements of the liberal agenda they dodge a discussion of the issues and go right for the personal attacks and mudslinging," said Sheldon in a Tuesday statement.

The center, a civil rights law firm that was founded in Montgomery, Ala., in 1971, described the list of "anti-gay groups" as including "organizations that go beyond mere disagreement with homosexuality by subjecting gays and lesbians to campaigns of personal vilification."

Beliefnet Launches 'Founding Faith Archive'

Beliefnet, the Web site devoted to religion and spirituality, has launched "The Founding Faith Archive," an online resource with information on the writings of the nation's Founding Fathers that relate to religious freedom and the separation of church and state. The archive was developed after Beliefnet Editor-in-Chief Steven Waldman completed research for his new book, "Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America."

It includes:
-- George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
-- James Madison’s argument for abstinence of state from religion
-- Benjamin Franklin’s request for prayer at the Constitutional Convention
-- Thomas Jefferson’s letter to John Adams mocking the Virgin Birth

"Activists routinely misquote the Founding Fathers and distort their true views on this profoundly important topic," said Waldman, in a Tuesday announcement of the project. "Now you can read the documents yourself and see how Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Washington and the other Founders wrestled with these difficult topics."

"Deadly" hype

Heard about the Vatican's announcement of "new" sins—with offenses like pollution and drug dealing to replace such passé infractions as gluttony and lust?

Well, not quite. As so often in the past, reporters have taken a bit of poetic license in their coverage of Vatican news. Catholic News Service has a thorough rundown of the brouhaha here.

The British press is often especially freewheeling when it comes to Pope-related stories.

London's Telegraph in particular made the most of this one, with a headline reading "Recycle or go to Hell, warns Vatican," and an online forum that yielded such proposed sins as "wearing sports clothes with no intention of going to the gym."

Jim Martin over at America magazine has his take on why the media got it wrong, "neither of them malicious":

First, a general unfamiliarity with the contemporary Catholic tradition of social sin, even though under Pope John Paul II something like "anti-Semitism" was often referred to in those terms. And, second, the fact that a headline that reads "Seven New Deadly Sins" is undeniably sexier than a headline saying, "Vatican Official Deepens Church's Reflection on Longstanding Tradition of Social Sin."

After Gay Debate, Church Keeps Its Pastor

The Fort Worth, Texas, church that debated how to show gay members in their church directory – and opted not to feature any family photos – has attempted to settle another debate over whether they should keep their pastor. Broadway Baptist Church members voted 499 to 237 on Sunday that the Rev. Brett Younger should remain their senior pastor, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

"I hope we will move forward and be the church together and that others will come and share church with us," he said after the vote. "Broadway has been, for a long time, an amazing congregation that is willing to tackle difficult issues."

McCain Repudiates Anti-Catholic Comments

Sen. John McCain is continuing to explain how he doesn’t respect San Antonio pastor John Hagee’s views if they are deemed anti-Catholic.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, the GOP presidential candidate said: "We’ve had a dignified campaign, and I repudiate any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee’s, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics."

Since his endorsement of McCain, Hagee has been criticized by the Democratic National Committee and Catholic League President Bill Donohue for his views of Catholics.

First Tenn. and Mo., Now Ohio: Poll Shows Diversity of Evangelical Voters

Faith in Public Life and other groups have again commissioned a Zogby Poll to determine how evangelicals of both major political parties voted. After looking at voters in Tennessee and Missouri in February, the pollsters researched voting patterns in Ohio.

Among the key findings:

-- 43 percent of white evangelical primary voters were Democratic
-- 57 percent of white evangelical primary voters were Republican

-- 54 percent of white evangelical voters in the state affirm a broader issue agenda that includes ending poverty, fighting HIV/AIDS and protecting the environment, while 39 percent prefer a more limited agenda that opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.

-- White evangelicals voting Democratic favored Sen. Hillary Clinton over Sen. Barack Obama 57 to 35 percent
-- Sen. John McCain and former Governor Mike Huckabee ran almost even with 41 and 42 percent, respectively, from white evangelicals voting Republican.

The poll also was commissioned by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Sojourners.

Buried Thoughts

A Buddhist builder in China who was buried alive for two hours survived by meditation and conserving his breath, according to the Mirror, a British tab.

Wang Jianxin, 52, should have died within five minutes of being entombed 6ft underground but by slowing his breathing he eked out an air pocket in front of his face until rescuers dug him out, says the tab.

Yes, the story was placed next to one that declared "Man wears ear hair with pride." But tales of Buddhist monks performing herculean tasks while meditating abound. I don't know if they're true or not, one day I'd like to look into them.

Wang, the buried China man, said: "I knew the air wouldn't last, so I made myself relax and concentrated on my breathing by meditation."

Emory University Gains Civil Rights Archive

The archives of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference – the civil rights organization co-founded by the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. – are now housed at Emory University, the school announced Thursday. Among the materials, mostly dating from 1968 to 1977, now at the Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library are:

-- thousands of sympathy letters and cards received after King’s assassination
-- photographs of voter registration workshops
-- drafts of speeches by civil rights leaders like the late Rev. Ralph Abernathy.

"SCLC played a significant role in the nation's struggles over civil rights," said Emory Provost Earl Lewis. "By helping to preserve that legacy we honor the past by connecting it to the present and the future."

SCLC President Charles Steele, who is based in Atlanta, as Emory is, added:
"Placing the SCLC archive with Emory ensures that the organization's materials will enrich understanding of history, culture and non-violence for generations to come."

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director Resigns

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be under a new baton, now that its leader of more than a decade has decided to resign. Craig Jessop said he is "at a major crossroads of life" and decided to move on, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Tuesday. He was appointed music director and conductor in December 1999. During his tenure, the choir received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush, was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame and participated in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Associate music director Mack Wilberg will be the interim director of the choir.

A Different Kind of Spice Girl

Pushed to the edge, `Salt' took time for God and herself

RNS' Rebecca Cusey profiles Cheryl James, the former "Salt" in the hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa, who left the group to become a Christian, and who's now trying to repair her damaged relationship with Pepa in a VH1 reality TV series, in this week's full text article, linked above.

Quote:

"I got to that desperate place where nobody could help me but God," James said. On her knees and praying for help, she felt she received an answer from God: "I want all of you."

Weddings and Funerals: Times to Evangelize?

The Roanoke Times recently ran an interesting story about ministers who view funerals and weddings as opportune times to spread the gospel. It included the viewpoints of preaching experts from both sides of the aisle, so to speak.

The Rev. Kenneth Wright of First Baptist Church in the Gainsboro area of Roanoke, Va., advised those attending a funeral: "I want you to turn on your cell phones. Right now. Dial up someone and tell them who you are. I want you to tell them that Jesus died for them, and the preacher said he rose."

Voicing a different opinion in the story was Thomas Long, professor of preaching at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta:

"The deepest danger is that such evangelistic efforts violate the tacit nature of such services," Long said. "To change that agreement, that implicit promise, by turning these occasions into revivals, can be a form of ecclesiastical bait-and-switch."

So Long, Print Edition of CCM

CCM magazine, the prominent chronicler of the contemporary Christian music industry, will publish its last printed version with its April issue. Christianity Today.com noted the change, quoting CCM publisher Jim Cumbee: "CCM magazine readers tell us they want more information and want it faster than can be delivered in a monthly printed magazine." As CCM's online presence continues, Salem Communications has noted that the decision about CCM's printed version doesn't affect its other magazines, such as Preaching and Youthworker Journal.

Hagee Says He's No More Anti-Catholic Than Anti-Protestant

San Antonio pastor and John McCain endorser John Hagee has sent a statement to Christian Broadcasting Network’s The Brody File to say he’s not anti-Catholic, adding that his wife has Catholic roots and "millions" of his viewers are Catholic. "To call me 'anti-Catholic' makes about as much sense as calling me 'anti-Protestant,'" Hagee declared. "I am, most assuredly, neither."

After his recent endorsement of the GOP presidential candidate, critics such as the Democratic National Committee and Catholic League President Bill Donohue decried Hagee's views of Catholics.

Imperials: Part II

We blogged last Friday about the family feud occurring between Armond Morales, a co-founder of the Imperials, a Christian music group that dates to the 1960s, and his son, Jason Morales, who is part of a contemporary group of the same name.

On Monday, Armond Morales released "a letter to my son" via Nashville Publicity Group, stating his "public apology so the healing process can begin and we can be a family again."

Beyond "Unchurched": Barna Suggests New Attendance Categories

Researcher George Barna has further defined people who attend church and who do not, saying calculating the so-called "unchurched" has grown more complicated. He's decided to look at how people participate in faith communities by breaking them down into five categories:

1. "Unattached": people who haven’t attended a conventional church or something like a house church in the past year: 23 percent of U.S. adults.

2. "Intermittents," or "under-churched": people who have participated in a conventional or unconventional church in the past year but not in the past month: 15 percent of U.S. adults.

3. "Homebodies": people who have attended a house church meeting, but not a conventional church in the past month: 3 percent of U.S. adults

4. "Blenders": people who have attended both a house church and a conventional church in the past month: 3 percent of U.S. adults

5. "Conventionals": people who attend a congregational-style local church: 56 percent

Mullets Welcome at the UCC

Last time we checked Barack Obama doesnt' have a mullet, but just in case he did, the United Church of Christ wants you to know he'd feel totally at home.

As part of the UCC's ongoing God is Still Speaking ad campaign, the UCC is launching a pre-Easter ad on Sirius radio.

"Satellite radio is a new test for us. It will be the first time we've ever tried this advertising venue, so it will be interesting to see what the results will be," says the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, the UCC's director of communication. "Satellite radio allows the UCC to reach targeted audiences on a national scale and to do so in an affordable way."

Copy that: Bush's faith guy resigns

Tim Goeglein, the Bush administration's point man for outreach to religious conservatives, resigned Friday after it was revealed that he repeatedly plagiarized in columns he wrote for his hometown paper in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The WaPo says: Peter Wehner, a former Bush aide, said Goeglein was regarded as "a person of sterling character" who was Bush's "eyes and ears" in the conservative world. "It is an important job, and he really developed a bond of trust with the conservative world," Wehner said.

More here.