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Can Reich really mean what he says, asks Ramesh Ponnuru in National Review Online. His most recent column

is a denunciation — as a graver threat than terrorists — of people who believe that the world to come is more important than this world, or that all human beings owe their allegiance to God. Many millions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other religious believers will reject Reich's witless rhetorical oppositions. One can believe in the political "primacy of the individual," the obligation of all people to answer to God, and the wrongness of any governmental attempt to make them answer to Him, all at the same time. But if our choice is between the primacy of individuals and the primacy of God — if, that is, we are to choose between individual human beings and God — then the vast majority of traditional religious believers would have to choose God. I certainly would. That would be the case for plenty of believers who are not sure what they think about abortion law, or want a higher minimum wage. All of us, for Reich, are the enemy.

Religious believers don't have to accept the battle cry, Ponnuru says. "Reich is not my enemy, although I certainly want most of what he stands for politically not to prevail. I don't think we have to have the battle he forecasts. I hope we don't. In fact, I pray we don't."

Presidential election:

• Values become key campaign issue | Kerry, Bush show their differences (The Washington Post)
• The pope and the president | In 44 years we have gone from the fear that a Roman Catholic president might take orders from the pope, to a Protestant president who asks the pope to order his bishops to help him get elected. Even as Roman Catholic bishops wield access to Holy Communion as an antigay political weapon, this clergyman asks, "What would Jesus do?" (Bruce J. Simpson, The Advocate, gay magazine)

Politics & law:

• Ovadal loses lawsuit | Cops can remove "Homosexuality is a sin" overpass banners (The Capital Times, Madison, Wi.)
• Also: Judge: It was OK to order anti-gay banners removed | Madison, Wis., police didn't violate minister's free speech, district judge finds, because banners on highway overpasses posed safety issue (Associated Press)
• Archdiocese sues Louisville over control of its property | Church says government interferes with religious freedom by refusing to allow buildings to be leveled for parking (Associated Press)
• Special session called in Va. to address 'day of rest' | Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner on Thursday called a rare special session of the General Assembly to unravel legislation that mistakenly granted the state's private employees the right to time off on weekends (The Washington Post)
• Religious ethics and the death penalty | Most major religions oppose the death penalty. However, most Americans overwhelmingly support it (The Express-Times, Bethlehem, Pa.)
• Powell says Sudan failing on promises | Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday the Sudanese government has yet to follow through on promises to help those in the Darfur region who are "imperiled by violence, starvation and disease" (Associated Press)
• President calls for prayers | President Ratu Josefa Iloilo yesterday called on citizens to pray for God's blessing on the nation (Fiji Times)

Exorcism death trial:

• Court hears 'exorcism' death case | A court in the US state of Wisconsin has heard how an autistic boy died while being held down by worshippers and a priest during an exorcism (BBC)

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July (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48