As The New York Times notes, the case “took 38 years to bring to trial, [but] a Birmingham jury of eight whites and four blacks spent barely two hours in deliberations today before convicting.” The Los Angeles Times notes that the jury forewoman “sobbed throughout her reading of the four guilty verdicts.”
Blanton is the second of the four former Ku Klux Klansmen named as suspects back in 1963 to be tried in the deadliest attack of the civil-rights movement. But so far, only Robert “Dynamite Bob” Chambliss had been convicted. He died in prison in 1985. Herman Cash, another suspect, has died, and Bobby Frank Cherry was ruled incompetent to stand trial.
“We are very, very grateful for the jury’s verdict,” USA Today quotes U.S. Attorney Doug Jones as saying. “Justice delayed is still justice, and we’ve got it here tonight.”
Other stories about crime:
- Church attackers face additional charges | St. Lucia priest dies from burns, leading to another murder charge (St Vincent Herald)
- Couple prayed as neighbor whispered threats | A man who conducted a hate campaign against his neighbors, following them to church and whispering threats to them while they prayed, has been banned from any form of communication with them for life. (The Times, London)
- Church can’t save granny from speeding fine | 71-year-old was doing 171 km/h (107 mph) because she was late for worship. (The Independent, Johannesburg)
- Thief takes coins, leaves Bible verse | Someone broke into a home in the Town of Erin Tuesday, stole about $30 in coins from two children’s coin bottles, pilfered some adhesive bandages and left a Bible verse in apparent apology: “Forgive them father for they know not what they do.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Woman held in theft of church’s statue of Jesus | Authorities say 44-year-old homeless woman may have taken it believing it would protect her. (Los Angeles Times)
More than Isidore It seemed rather settled that the Vatican would name Isidore of Seville patron saint of the Internet. Now comes word that the sixth-century Spanish bishop and etymologist may not be alone. News service Ananova reports that Titus Brandsma, a Carmelite professor of philosophy and the history of spirituality executed by the Nazis in 1942 because of his promotion of a free press, is also being considered. The Vatican is also reportedly considering a patron saint of the media in general.
More articles about Catholicism:
- Pope maps out moral battle | Cardinals asked to ponder seven key questions on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ahead of a gathering expected to offer a foretaste of the battle between conservatives and liberals at the next conclave to choose his successor. (The Times, London)
- New stock fund to invest according to Catholic values | Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund excludes companies involved in abortion, pornography—and has big names on its board. (Reuters)
- Over 250 Roman Catholic Church followers scared away | Tanzanian parishioners stop attending services after two catechists died in circumstances linked to witchcraft. (TOMRIC Agency, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania)
- Pope says he prays daily for Iraq and end to embargo | Also reminds new ambassador of need for religious liberty (Reuters)
- Pope says ethics needed to rein in globalization | John Paul II warns that globalization can be “a new version of colonialism” and ” just another name for the absolute relativization of values and homogenization of lifestyles and cultures.” (Reuters)
- Pope in Syria to retread road to Damascus | Country has produced six popes over the centuries but has never been visited by one. (Reuters)
- A professor argues for religious tradition | In Inventing Catholic Tradition, Terrence W. Tilley argues that tradition should be understood as a set of enduring, although not changeless, practices. (The New York Times)
- Pope honors victims of Chernobyl disaster (Reuters)
Pope John Paul II in Greece:
- Pope’s visit to Greece infuriates Orthodox Church | “He will infect our country,” says priest as stains appear on Virgin icon (The Daily Telegraph, London)
- Hundreds of Greek Orthodox rally against Pope visit | “Out with the two-horned Pope” banners spread word in streets of Athens (Reuters)
- Pope to get lecture on 1,000 years of Greek grudges | “There will be no joint praying whatsoever,” promises the Holy Synod, the Greek Orthodox Church’s administrative body. (Reuters)
Other stories of interest
Sudan:
- Top-flight defense puts heat on Sudan | Starr at D.C. hearing, Cochran isn’t (The Washington Post)
- Sudan protest makes odd bedfellows | Only a place as truly evil as Sudan could pull this crowd together (The Washington Post)
- Talisman CEO faces human rights critics over Sudan | Human rights activists and Sudanese expatriates descended on Talisman Energy Inc.’s annual meeting on Tuesday to accuse the Canadian oil company of fueling Sudan’s civil war, but Talisman’s chief executive said the firm’s presence was only improving the situation. (Reuters)
- Rights activists say oil worsening Sudan conflict | Toronto’s Talisman Energy calls for work “to end the war, rather than finger-pointing” (Reuters)
Rwanda genocide:
- Religious authorities exorcise Catholic Church in Rwanda | 11,000 Tutsis were massacred at Kibuye during the 1994 genocide. (Panafrican News Agency)
- Bishop’s arrest illegal, claims Kenyan counsel | Lawyer says that arresting police failed to produce any identification, any arrest warrant or transfer order. (Hirondelle)
- Bishop charged with genocide | Anglican leader reportedly “instructed his subordinate to register them according to their ethnic groups, a list that was later used to select Tutsi refugees who were taken to nearby sites to be killed” (BBC)
Church and state in Africa:
- Churches say no to merger | A group of evangelical churches want Members of Parliament to reject the Constitution of Kenya (Review) Amendment Bill. (The Nation, Nairobi)
- Churches in threat on merger | Evangelical churches yesterday threatened to go to court if they were not included in the constitutional review process. (The Nation, Nairobi)
- Malawi churches to deliberate on third term | All Christian churches in Malawi, have agreed to meet Friday in the capital, Lilongwe, to express opposition to moves by the ruling United Democratic Front to amend the Constitution and allow President Bakili Muluzi to run for a third term. (Panafrican News Agency)
- Consignment of liquor burnt in Zamfara state | Nigerian governor speaking at the inauguration of a new mosque, calls for destruction of liquor in accordance with Shari’ah law. (U.N. Integrated Regional Information Network)
- Church alleges muzzling by Malawian government | In a letter read Sunday in parishes across Malawi, the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) has said its members were under threats after they read a previous pastoral statement highly critical of the ruling establishment (Panafrican News Agency)
Kenyan bishop’s suicide report:
- Wellstone grills FBI agents, insists priest was murdered | U.S. team stands by its report on Kenya death (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
- Kenyan Bishops Denounce FBI Probe (Associated Press)
- Catholics reject Kaiser report (The Nation, Nairobi)
- More reject Kaiser death probe report | The Justice and Peace Commission of the Holy Family Basilica says FBI’s suicide verdict was “unprofessional.” (The Nation, Nairobi)
- FBI chief speaks on Kaiser’s death | Suicide described as “a loss to Kenya” (The Nation, Nairobi)
Religious freedom and persecution:
- U.S. senator warns on visas | Members of foreign relations committee consider retaliatory visa restrictions if European governments do not ease restrictions on U.S. citizens involved in minority religions, such Mormonism or Scientology. (Financial Times)
- Indian court jails 17 for raping nuns | Seven others acquitted for lack of evidence (The Independent, Johannesburg)
- VHP seeks ban on Muslim, Christian organizations | Hindu group launches India-wide campaign against organizations engaged in “anti-national activities.” (The Times of India)
- State-owned hotel in Kano, Nigeria, bans Christian activities | Move comes a week after Islamic fundamentalists burnt area hotels and restaurants for selling alcoholic beverages. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network)
Other stories of interest:
- What happened to America’s moral climate? | Scholars and other thinkers ponder whether people know right from wrong and can reshape a shared moral center. (Los Angeles Times)
- Unaffiliated Web sites draw religious visitors | Denominations commonly have their own chatrooms, and congregants always have talked after services. But Web visitors say they feel more free to explore ideas when they venture outside their doctrinal niche. (Associated Press)
- A bitter end for the Dead Sea? | Scientists and environmentalists note that the Dead Sea’s level is dropping fast—at a rate of one meter every year—because both Israel and Jordan have diverted almost all of the fresh water flowing into it. The sea is quite simply drying up. (The Jerusalem Post)
- Stripper says Hanssen tried to rescue her | Accused spy showered dancer with jewelry, cash, Mercedes— and tried repeatedly to bring her closer to God. (The Washington Post)
- Monks hold wine family over a barrel | Chianti producers threatened with eviction unless they accept a huge rent increase for monastery cellars where their vintages are stored (The Daily Telegraph, London)
- The end of a British institution? | London’s Metropolitan Police Force has announced that plain-clothes officers are patrolling the historic Speakers’ Corner with concealed cameras and tape recorders in an attempt to curb growing friction between rival religious and political groups. (The Japan Times)
- Talks eased Baptist Temple’s seizure | Marshals took time to ensure potentially troublesome outsiders left church before raid. (The Indianapolis Star)
- Writing about Hinn requires compassion for his followers | There is nothing more complicated for a religion writer than doing justice to Benny Hinn and the people who believe in him. (Ken Garfield, The Charlotte Observer)
- The Christian right’s double shocker | Paul Weyrich is not an anti-Semite just because he believes the words of the Christian Bible. For what Pat Robertson said, on the other hand, there is no possible justification. (Jeff Jacoby, The Boston Globe)
Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere
See our past Weblog updates:May 1 | April 30
April 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23
April 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16
April 12 | 11 | 10 | 9
April 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2
March 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26
March 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19
March 16 | 15 | 13 | 12