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The War for Narnia: A truce?
USA Todayreported yesterday on the continuing clash over reports of the "secularization" of C.S. Lewis and his Narnia series. If the article is accurate, it seems the participants are battle-weary. Phyllis Tickle of Publisher's Weekly tells the paper that Christian booksellers at CBA last week have tired of the rumors "just want to get on with the business of making the 20th century's most revered Christian apologist more available to more people." (If you voted in Christianity Today's recent online poll on the matter, you're "quoted," too.) Meanwhile, The Horn Book, an influential publication in the children's book publishing industry, editorializes less on secularizing Lewis and more on the wisdom of publishing new Narnia books at all. "It's not as if the world has been holding its breath for a new chronicle of Narnia," writes editor-in-chief Roger Sutton. "The Narnia chronicles are finished and self-contained, as Lewis intended. … The best books don't need sequels; their immortality is achieved by giving readers the desire and the resources to continue the story in their own imaginations. Here's a piece of advice that may not be in the best interest of publishers but is very much in yours: if you really enjoyed a book, read it again."

Church and State:

• Man wins Sabbath lawsuit | Jury concludes FAA failed to accommodate beliefs (The Rocky Mountain News, Denver)
• Also: Air traffic controller awarded $2M (Associated Press)
• Judge must weigh conflicting rights in play | Residents, lawmakers attempting to stop university's production of Corpus Christi (The Indianapolis Star)
• Also: Play depicting Christ-like gay figure riles Ft. Wayne (Chicago Tribune)
• Also: On stage: a drunken Christ; at issue: taxpayers' dollars (Los Angeles Times)
• N.C. Senate endorses Ten Commandments displays in schools | Bill would allow school systems to decide whether to post religious codes and other historical documents (Associated Press)
• Federal judge rules for Pennsylvania synagogue in zoning dispute | Court says Philadelphia suburb violated congregation's First Amendment rights by not allowing it to purchase former convent for worship services (Freedom Forum)
• Churches' high bids stall playground program | But some say Cincinnati's recreation department is trying to undermine pilot program (The Cincinnati Post)
• Judge lifts ban on prayer meetings | A judge's order lifting a ban on family prayer meetings at home has plunged officials into secret sessions to restore the restrictions. (The Washington Times)

Religion and politics:

• Bloomberg mentions prayer, and his opponents pounce | Jewish candidate for mayor of New York City defends Lord's Prayer (The New York Times)
• Church, state fault Mexico's Fox | Cardinal calls wedding a 'situation of sin,' as official sees irregularity (Associated Press)

Life ethics:

• Bible guides Senate on stem cell studies | Debate on controversy focuses on when an embryo becomes a life. (Los Angeles Times)
• Bush: Stem-cell issue transcends politics | Lobbying continues on both sides of debate (ABCNews.com)
• Also: Bush delays stem-cell decision (The Washington Times)
• Icon for abortion protesters is looking for a second act | Randall Terry is being ostracized by the very movement he helped create (The New York Times)
• Federal ruling clears way for anti-abortion protests | City's denial of a parade permit sought by the anti-abortion protesters violated their First Amendment rights, says judge (Associated Press)

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July (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45