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Skepticism is especially in order when James Tabor, Gibson's partner in the dig, says there's "no proof that John himself actually used the cave," according to the CBC. Tabor is a bit more hopeful in an interview with The Charlotte Observer, saying the cave is "associated with the early followers of John, and possibly (with) John."

Still, Jordanian archaeologists have Gibson beat—they say they've got John's head itself. Oh, and there's University of Hartford (Conn.) archaeologist Richard Freund, who was reported to have found John's entire skeleton. Wait. I thought that was at the Umayyad Mosque … Well, at least we know where his father is buried, right?

Florida vouchers unconstitutional:

• Florida court rules against religious school vouchers | In a 2-to-1 decision, the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee found that the "vast majority" of students with vouchers used them to enroll in the kind of "sectarian institutions," or religious schools, that are barred from receiving state money under the Florida Constitution (The New York Times)
• Fla. voucher law ruled unconstitutional | The 2-1 decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal upholds a ruling by a trial judge saying the state constitution forbids the use of tax money to send youngsters to religious schools (Associated Press)
• Don't Blaine Florida | Scholarships for public school students run into an old anti-Catholic roadblock (Editorial, The Wall Street Journal)
• Florida court declares school vouchers illegal | A Florida appeals court ruled yesterday that Gov. Jeb Bush's school voucher program violates the state's constitution, which bars using tax dollars to send students to religious schools (The Washington Times)

Education:

• Seminary in Pasadena has plans to expand | The Fuller campus will put in 700 housing units, a prayer garden and a performing arts center if the $79-million project is approved by the city (Los Angeles Times)
• Judge orders juvenile official to pay legal fees for Heartland Christian Academy | A federal judge has ordered a Missouri juvenile officer to pay more than $800,000 in attorneys' fees and expenses to a northeast Missouri school for troubled youths (Associated Press)

Life ethics:

• Court refuses to revisit assisted suicide | The White House wanted the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out its ruling backing the law, which allows doctors to help hasten the death of patients (Associated Press)
• Court won't rehear attempt to block assisted-suicide law | Ashcroft is expected to ask the Supreme Court to take case (Statesman Journal, Salem, Ore.)
• 'Miracle babies' seized in Kenya | Police in Kenya have seized 11 "miracle babies" for DNA tests after allegations of child trafficking (BBC)

Abortion:

• Few bypass abortion rule | Judges can override parental-notification law, but not many teens try (The Denver Post)
• Call for national law to regulate abortion | Two Victorian medical experts have called for abortion to be regulated by a single national law that applies to all stages of pregnancy and protects against prosecution (The Age, Melbourne, Australia)

Stem cells:

• Stem cell battles | Just as the debate was heating up, two developments suggested that the Democrats were right to call for expansion of this important research (Editorial, The New York Times)

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August (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48