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• Black churches quiet on gay marriage | As the May 17 date approaches when Massachusetts' highest court will permit same-sex marriage, most black denominations have not expressed their views on the controversy. (Religion News Service)
  
  
• `Politics of piety' criticized | Rabbi A. James Rudin, senior interreligious advisor of the American Jewish Committee, said Thursday that the "politics of piety" is emerging in this country, gradually blending religion and politics, and threatening the wall of separation between church and state that has allowed religious diversity to flourish freely. (Hartford Courant)
  
  
• Focus on Family demands records | Focus on the Family is forcing lawmakers who voted against the impeachment of a Denver judge to turn over all their correspondence in the case. (Rocky Mountain News, Col.)
  
  
• Whose God does Bush serve? | The president should stop worshipping the God of political expediency and take a look at the God of love. (Washington Blade, DC)
  
  
• Rites and Wrongs | Why John Kerry should not take communion (Editorial, Wall Street Journal)
  
  
• Christian Zionists to have a referendum of their own | A week after the Likud rejected a referendum on withdrawing unilaterally from the Gaza Strip, Christian Zionists in the United States are planning a referendum of their own. (Jerusalem Post, Israel)
  
  
• The divine calm of George W. Bush | So Iraq's a mess and half the country hates you. Just keep praying.( Village Voice)
  
  
• Primate raises collusion concerns | The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has criticised the government for failing to tackle the issue of collusion. (BBC)
  
  
• By faith or by force? | The Kingdom of God is apolitical, and can exist alongside the earthy kingdoms. The rule of God over us comes by faith, and individual by individual. There is no forcing of Christianity upon everyone en masse. That has been tried by governments lacking a biblical understanding of the Christian faith, but without success, always causing great harm. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, Arizona)
  
  
• America's fundamental sin of abuse | I'd say this kind of religiosity is now the biggest difference between us. It's amazing how many Americans drop into conversation, references to their faith, or ask about yours. Forty-six per cent call themselves born-again. In Canada, an evangelical group claims 12 per cent, but even those are not self-described; they are extrapolated from a dubious poll. The U.S. is a country that has "creationist" theme parks to offset dinosaur theme parks. Seriously. (Rick Salutin, The Globe and Mail, Canada)
  
  

Religion & politics in India:

• Christians have poor representation in civil, police services: ex-union minister | Former Union Minister and sitting Member of Parliament, Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, has underlined the need for Christians to involve themselves in mainstream politics, the media and civil Services. (Deepika, India)
  
  
• India's BJP says set for clear majority | India's ruling Hindu nationalist party says it will return to power with a clear mandate, shrugging off exit polls from four rounds of voting suggesting the mammoth national election will usher in a hung parliament. (Reuters)
  
  

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May (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48