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If Setser doesn't get the maximum life sentence, next time he should just pose as a pastor in order to collect others' money.

4. Religious leaders say 'ban torture'

It's nice to think that in these days of polarizing political debates there are still some things we can all agree on.

In an expression of religious solidarity and moral outrage, Rick Warren, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, Ted Haggard, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, former president of Catholic University William J. Byron, and 21 others signed a statement asking the U.S. to "abolish torture now—without exceptions."

"Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed?" the statement read in part.

The government's response? "This government does not torture, and we adhere to the international conventions against torture."

Oh, well then, everything's fixed now.

But the National Religious Campaign Against Torture gets a little more specific.

The Washington Post reports:

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture urges Congress and the president to "remove all ambiguities" by prohibiting secret U.S. prisons around the world, ending the rendition of suspects to countries that use torture, granting the Red Cross access to all detainees and not exempting any arm of the government from human rights standards.

David Gushee, who the Post noted for his "influential article against torture" in Christianity Today, told the Post he is "not sure that everyone who signed the statement would concur with that platform." Whew, now that we know these leaders didn't mean anything specific, we can go back to ignoring them.

5. 'In God We Trust' survives Newdow attack

Ruling that the coined phrase is secular, a federal judge rejected Michael Newdow's claim that it violated the First Amendment. Newdow, of 'under God' fame, has promised to appeal. A new suit from Newdow challenging the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance is pending before the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Church & state | Religious freedom | Politics | Australia overrules same-sex marriage law | Religion & homosexuality | ECUSA | SBC | Missions & ministry | Islam in America | Crime | People | More articles of interest

Church & state :

1. Judge rejects atheist's lawsuit | A federal judge on Monday rejected a lawsuit from an atheist who said having the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins and dollar bills violated his First Amendment rights.
   
   
2. Judge orders ministry out of Iowa prison | A federal judge has ruled that Iowa crossed the First Amendment line when it contracted with an evangelical Christian program for prison inmates. (UPI)
   
   
3. City sued to stop payment to Baptist group | Funds are for an anti-hunger program to be conducted by a local organization preceding national convention (Baltimore Sun)
   
   
4. Churches push for school worship | Secondary schools are failing to hold daily acts of collective worship and so limiting pupils' "spiritual and moral" development, Church leaders warn. (BBC)
   
   

Religious freedom :

1. China rejects US criticisms on religious freedom | China dismissed U.S. resolutions criticizing it for religious persecution on Tuesday, saying it was based on "groundless accusations" and constituted interference in its internal affairs. (Reuters)
   
   

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June (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50