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Amnesiac pastor's story like a movie … a fictional movie
Last month, newspapers and other media were fascinated with the story of James Simmons, formerly known as Wesley Barrett "Barre" Cox (see early pieces in the Associated Press and San Antonio Express-News). His story sounds like a bad TV movie: the married youth minister from San Antonio was one day found beaten in the trunk of a car in Memphis. When he awoke from a coma two weeks later, he had amnesia and no recollection of whom he was. But 16 years later, one of his old friends from Bible camp discovered him—preaching at another Texas church. And now he's senior pastor of White Rock Community Church, a predominantly gay congregation in Dallas. Sunday's Houston Chronicle takes another look at his story, and decides it's "fraught with contradictions. They begin with Simmons' claim of amnesia and his varying, unverified account of a beating that he says robbed him of his memory. They continue to his use of another man's name, Social Security number and birth date and his strange explanation of how he obtained them. They extend to his puzzling embellishments to others over the years and his strangely accurate bursts of memory. And adding to the mystery is an expert's opinion that, despite inconsistencies, ambiguities and outright untruths in his story, Simmons may well have no memory of being Barre Cox." But other neuropsychiatrists say it sounds like Simmons "had a life he didn't like and ran out on it." Beth Cox, whose marriage to Simmons was dissolved during his absence, initially told the Associated Press, "It doesn't really matter now [what really happened]. But I know God has been with him and with us. He brought Barre back to the ministry, and he watched over him." Meanwhile, Simmons' first sermon at White Rock Community Church—which he preached only days after his discovery—was on Lazarus's resurrection.

Persecution:

• U.S. rights report faults China for harassing religious groups (The New York Times)
• Indian missionary murder trial opens (The Scotsman)
• Staines murder accused Dara's trial deferred (The Times of India)
• Indonesian Christians forced into Islamic faith (The Daily Telegraph, London)
• Missionaries decry Sudan war (Panafrican News Agency)
• U.S. seeks news of missing missionaries (Associated Press/Los Angeles Times)
• Sacked Karnataka minister unrepentant | Politician who said India earthquake was God's judgment faces possible arrest (The Times of India)
• Catholic union condemns Karnataka minister's statement (The Times of India)
• Earlier: Politician who saw God's hand in Gujarat quake forced to resign (CT/ENI)

Life ethics:

• Fox repeats backing for abortion ban | Tory health spokesman again clarifies his views (The Independent, London)
• Earlier: Tory spokesman retreats from demand for abortion ban | U.K. shadow health secretary Liam Fox says he wants to restrict, not abolish, abortion (The Guardian, London)
• Earlier: The abortion debate skips across the pond (second item)
• Bush policy ignites both sides of abortion issue | Clinic protests and vandalism are up, as are donations and volunteerism from rights supporters. (Los Angeles Times)
• Infanticide rate on the increase in Zambia (Panafrican News Agency)
• The Pope's confusing message on abortion | While abortion is still a burning issue here, Catholic counseling centers in Germany have been banned by the Vatican from issuing 'abortion certificates.' One bishop changed the Pope's mind—but only for his diocese. (The Irish Times)

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February (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45