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Missionary, pastor, and others attacked with swords, sticks, and crowbars after service
A dozen or so suspected Hindu radicals associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked an American missionary, an Indian pastor, and the pastor's family last night after an evangelistic meeting in Thiruvananthapuram in the southern Indian state of Kerala (audio).

Joseph Cooper, a bishop of the New Jerusalem Universal Church (a small, Marietta, Ohio-based Pentecostal denomination run by revivalist Haskel Swain), received a deep cut on his hand and wounds on his arm and body. He told the Associated Press that the attackers "first exploded a firecracker and frightened us. They detained us for a while. Someone from the group attacked me with a sword and I fell down." Others attacked with bamboo sticks and iron bars.

Though there has been a surge in attacks against India's Christian minority (they make up only about 2 percent of the nation's population), Kerala Next reports, "Police said there was no communal tension in the area till the incident took place last night. This was also confirmed by the Pastor Benson, who said that there had been no threat whatsoever to the functioning of the church in the area."

Christians make up nearly a quarter of the Kerala population. "I never had thought of this kind of an attack here," said Cooper, adding that he has traveled from his home in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Kerala 14 times. "When I am in Kerala, I feel at home."

Five other victims of the attack, including Benson Sam, pastor of the Protestant Friends of Bible Church, his wife, Sali, their two children, and a singer received minor wounds.

Two RSS activists have reportedly been arrested, but RSS leaders say the Hindu radical group, which is closely related to the Bharatiya Janata Party that heads India's federal government, had nothing to do with the attack. The RSS leaders have plenty to say about Cooper, however. "It was unlawful on the part of Cooper, who was on a visiting visa, to preach religion," said RSS leader K. Rajasekharan.

Local RSS leader R. Santhosh accused Cooper, Sam, and others of making speeches insulting to Hindus during the "Gospel Convention" they were leaving when the ambush occurred.

Cooper rejects the claims. "I am almost offended by this allegation that we are converting Hindus to Christianity," he told Reuters by telephone. "I see that people are afraid that others may steal their people—that is the last thing I want to do. It is not profitable to downgrade other people's faith."

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) likely to hold first ever Special Assembly on gay ministers
Prebyterian Church (U.S.A.) moderator Fahed Abu-Akel yesterday received a petition calling for the first special General Assembly in the denomination's 214-year history. The move, says the Presbyterian News Service, "has been talked about for months but landed like a bolt of lightning."

The 57 signatories are upset that several churches are flouting the denomination's ban on noncelibate homosexual ministers.

"The whole fabric that holds the Presbyterian church together is our constitution," Alex Metherell, who presented the petition, told the Associated Press. "What is happening right now, that fabric that holds us together is disintegrating."

Former Attorney General calls Jesus a terrorist:

• Former Attorney General casts Christ as terrorist | "He was pretty tough on money lenders a time or two," says Ramsey Clark (CNSNews.com)
  
  
• Also: Christians and Muslims condemn Ramsey Clark, demand apology (CNSNews.com)
  
  

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January (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47