The Burnhams, One Year and Counting

At anniversary of abduction, bad news for Burnhams Expect many media outlets to offer articles on the one year anniversary of Martin and Gracia Burnham’s abduction by the militant Muslim Abu Sayyaf group, which arrives on Monday. Weblog will round up these stories Tuesday (sorry, no postings on Memorial Day). But several articles are already appearing. The Washington Times has already published its one-year retrospective of what’s happened, noting that it’s not much. “The Burnhams appear no closer to freedom today than the day they were captured,” writes Marc Lerner. Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN News also summarizes the last year, but adds one sad latest note: the Abu Sayyaf’s other hostage, Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap is reportedly suffering from severe Stockholm syndrome, and recently married one of the guerrilla leaders, Esnilon Hapilon.

Other news reports are contradictory and full of rumor. The Philippine media says Martin Burnham is so seriously ill that he’s being carried on a stretcher, but New Tribes Mission denies the report. “Martin has a mild case of malaria, and is not being carried on a stretcher,” a mission spokesman told The Orlando Sentinel. “We believe it is not as serious as is being reported.” Another story, that different factions in the Abu Sayyaf were fighting over a ransom paid for the Burnhams, was denied by Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Sabaya. “What I can say only is that the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has run out of issues and they are making (this) up,” he said on the local radio station. He did not allow the radio station to speak directly to the Burnhams, only saying that they “are in good condition.”

In another development, police yesterday arrested Noor Mohammad Umog, reportedly head of an Abu Sayyaf special operations unit. Whether that will help the military find the Burnhams is questionable; many arrests have been made before, several of reported Abu Sayyaf leaders.

Meanwhile, New Tribes Mission continues to ask Christians to devote Sunday and Monday to special times of prayer for the Burnhams.

The Washington Times: Still a Moonie paperThe Washington Post devoted two articles to the 20th anniversary celebration of its local competition, The Washington Times. But it came to bury the Times, not praise it. “The party was to honor the success of the scrappy conservative daily; instead, it was dominated by [founder Sun Myung] Moon‘s address, titled ‘The Life of Jesus as Seen From God’s Will, and God’s Warning to the Present Age, the Period of the Last Days,'” reported Roxanne Roberts. “Even the most charitable souls might have come away thinking that the newspaper—founded by the Unification Church leader—is a conduit for Moon’s religious message, something its editors have repeatedly denied.”

They continue to deny it. The Unification Church leaders “have never, ever, not even once, told any of us to put anything in the paper, nor have they ever asked us to take anything out,” says Wesley Pruden. “As the editor, I have complete and total independence from the owners.”

Still, the Post‘s Frank Ahrens quotes some of the more interesting lines from Moon’s speech. He said he created the paper “in response to heaven’s direction.” And said the publication “is responsible to let the American people know about God. … The Washington Times will become the instrument in spreading the truth about God to the world.”

“By this point [of the sermon],” Ahrens says, “several Times staffers had exited for the Hilton’s bar, either because the party was alcohol-free or—possibly—because they needed a stiff drink.

Times staffers were reportedly embarrassed and humiliated by Moon’s remarks.

Church and state:

Both sides declare victory in Texas charitable-choice case | 5th Circuit panel upholds ruling that plaintiffs’ constitutional claims were moot but sends lawsuit back to lower court for consideration of monetary damages. (Associated Press)
Religions get new tool to fight land use regulations | Religious Land Use & Institution Persons Act of 2000 is making its presence felt nationwide (San Diego Daily Transcript)
Megachurch wins round | City backs off zoning ordinance in face of U.S. law (The Bergen [N.J.] Record)
When a triangle affronts religious beliefs | The refusal to use the devices on buggies signals a larger clash between religious rights and safety. (The Christian Science Monitor)
Church members who visited Cuba without permit face fines | Methodists say restrictions violate religious freedom (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Coup was ‘God’s plan’: Fiji PM | Critics claim his remarks amount to blasphemy (AFP)
Masaka, Uganda, relaxes ban on night prayers | Assistant Resident District Commissioner, a born-again Christian, defies her boss’s order (New Vision, Kampala, Uganda)

Education:

Christian Liberty founder dies | Paul Lindstrom was pioneer of the Christian home schooling movement (The Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs)
Boy, 10, best in world bee | Christian home schoolers dominate competition (The Washington Times)
Also: 10-year-old wins geography bee (Associated Press)
Group requests high school Bible class | Board to review curriculum focusing on book as historic document (The Ann Arbor [Mich.] News)
Suit targets graduation prayer | E. Plains parent seeks to end practice. (Denver Post)
School official innocent of abuse | Charles Robert Patchin faced charges for sending misbehaving teens to work in manure pits at the school’s dairy farm (Associated Press)
Catholic schools’ shutdown in doubt after court decision | Sale to compensate victims of the sex-abuse scandal at Mount Cashel appears uncertain (The Globe & Mail, Toronto)
Earlier: Catholic schools wait for ruling | Thursday decision could allow schools to be liquidated (Vancouver Sun)
Gideons told not to distribute Bibles | Parents of fifth-graders okayed distribution, but ACLU objected (Associated Press)
Keep religion out of schools | Every student and every teacher is free to practice his own religion without having the government push one on him. (Reggie Rivers, The Denver Post)

Ten Commandments:

Statue wars have roots in 1950s Hollywood | DeMille saw effort to display Commandments as way to promote film (The Washington Times)
Ten Commandments banner makes waves | Project was formed in 1995 with the goal of putting the biblical rules in the forefront of the public mind and public debate. (The Washington Times)

Politics:

Robert Casey Jr. soundly defeated in Penn. governor’s race | Prolife Democrat loses to liberal Ed Rendell (Associated Press)
Speeches by Bush reflect his faith | Like Jimmy Carter, he isn’t afraid to talk about religious beliefs (Scripps Howard News Service)
Church of Scotland now mirroring the politics of the far Left | The Church and Nation Committee’s committee has left the people of western societies theoretically defenseless in military terms and spiritually defenseless in Christian terms (Robert Anderson, The Scotsman)
Abortion rule snags bankruptcy bill | An amendment, aimed at clinic protesters looking to avoid fines, links the divergent issues (Los Angeles Times)

Crime:

Panamanians mourn slain priest | Jorge Altafulla, was allegedly stabbed by a man angry about being expelled from a seminary (Associated Press)
Burundi rebels release Catholic bishop | Joseph Nduhirubusa held hostage since last weekend (BBC)
Another East African held in US crackdown | Ugandan Daniel Lubowa sentenced to 40 months in jail, fined $75,000 for allegedly defrauding American churches of over $390,000 meant for missionary work. (The East African, Nairobi)
Also: Pastor jailed over US fraud (New Vision, Kampala, Uganda)
That old-time religion | A cautionary tale of how bunkum artists exploit true believers. (Forbes)

Spanking:

Kirk slaps down ban on child smacking | The Church of Scotland has condemned controversial proposals to ban smacking and is heading for a major confrontation with the Scottish Executive over the issue. (The Scotsman)
Smacks hit a political sore spot | The rghts and wrongs of spanking a naughty child divided Tasmania’s Parliament yesterday as Liberals were accused of pandering to the “fundamental Christian right” by Health Minister (The Mercury, Tasmania)

Courts & law:

Episcopal bishop wins suit against parish | But Accokeek church defendants say case may be mooted by her stepping down (The Washington Times)
Also: Episcopal priest’s ouster upheld (Associated Press)
Can Jesus help you get a new job? | Court decision could set precedent (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Appeals court: Laws aren’t kosher | Affirms ruling calling food standards unconstitutional (Newsday)
Also: NY kosher law ruled unconstitutional (Associated Press)

Abuse scandals:

Pope accepts resignation of archbishop accused of assault | Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland of Milwaukee, the Vatican said today. (The New York Times)
Also: Milwaukee reels over archbishop admission | $450,000 payoff to adult accuser (Chicago Tribune)
Also: Shock over accusations in Milwaukee (The New York Times)
Also: Weakland denies he abused man archdiocese paid $450,000 | Archbishop asks Vatican to hasten retirement (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Bishop steps aside over allegations | J. Kendrick Williams denies he ever abused anyone (Associated Press)
‘One strike’ policy on priests foreseen | Catholic conference chief says bishops, Vatican likely to support move (The Washington Post)
Also: Vatican, U.S. bishops may be at odds | Vatican may not agree to “zero tolerance” policy toward errant priests (Associated Press)
Presbyterian minister accused of sex crimes | Soliciting a minor over Internet among charges from state police sting (The Baltimore Sun)
Jury gets case of molestation against pastor | Old charges are revisited against Greater Anointed Tabernacle Worship Center’s Troy Brown (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Judge changes mind on priest | DeRiggi does not elaborate on sodomy sentence in court (Newsday)
Gay priests say it’s harder now to tell the truth | Some fear the church is making them scapegoats and say they may leave in protest. (The Los Angeles Times)
Also: Catholic debate over gay priests goes public (Associated Press)
Is LA Times religion reporter Larry Stammer too easy on Cardinal Mahony? | Steve Lopez is hitting the church hard, but the news section is pitching softballs (New Times LA)
Another church facing charges of sexual abuse | Former Jehovah’s Witness leader to be tried on sex offenses, attempted rape; Congregation is in Chase; 3 accusers, now 29 to 31, claim incidents occurred between 1974 and 1984 (The Baltimore Sun)

Pope John Paul II:

Pope banishes a shadow left by Bulgaria’s tie to shooting | John Paul II said he bore no grudge over accusations that the Bulgarian secret service may have tried to have him killed in 1981. (The New York Times)
Also: Pope clears Bulgaria of link to 1981 murder plot (Reuters)
Earlier: Healing Old Wounds | Bulgarians hope the Pope’s trip will finally absolve them of suspicion in the 1981 assassination attempt. (Time)
Pope to meet Orthodox church leader | Patriarch Maxim, the leader of Bulgaria’s Orthodox Christians and a feisty cleric, had until recently repeatedly snubbed the pontiff by refusing to see him (Associated Press)
Pope lauds Bulgaria for keeping its faith | Pontiff, who arrives from Azerbaijan, praises Orthodox Christians’ perseverance during the Communist era. (Los Angeles Times)
A frail Pope takes message of tolerance to Azerbaijan | The pontiff, who is lowered off his plane, seeks to improve Vatican ties with Muslims. (Los Angeles Times)
Pope reiterates calls for tolerance | Trip is effort to ease relations with Muslims, Orthodox Christians (The Hartford [Conn.] Courant)
Frail Pope takes his message of peace to the Azerbaijanis | On his first foreign trip since child abuse scandals racked the Roman Catholic Church, John Paul II arrived in Azerbaijan on Wednesday (The New York Times)
Pope bringing ethnic peace bid to Azerbaijan | Stalemate continues after cease-fire in ’94. (Associated Press)
Pope lands in Baku at start of five-day trip (Reuters)

Catholicism:

Anti-Catholic views common, poll shows | Study, led by Andrew Greeley, planned before sex abuse scandal (The Washington Post)
Brazil gets first female saint | Paulina do Coracao Agonizante de Jesus, a Brazilian nun of Italian origin, founded a convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and an orphanage in the south of the country. (BBC)
Deal is testament to change | Land buy heralds Catholics’ growth (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.)

Mideast conflict:

American evangelicals ‘learned a lot’ from conference | ‘We affirms that God loves all humanity’ (The Daily Star, Beirut, Lebanon)
Patriarch believes Christians have crucial role in Mideast | Patriarch Gregory III Laham, leader of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church speaks at National Workshop on Christian Unity (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland)
An unholy alliance in support of Israel | Both American Jews and the Christian right back Israel. But their long-term visions for its future are miles apart (Jo-Ann Mort, Los Angeles Times)
Antichrist politics | For many fervent Christians, support for Israel has less to do with Ariel Sharon than preparing for Armageddon. (Salon.com)

Sudan:

Bush says Sudan must make peace (BBC)
Francis Bok’s story | Former slave in Sudan turns American celebrity (The Wall Street Journal)
Panel led by U.S. criticizes Sudan’s government over slavery (The New York Times)

Sex & marriage:

Weddings in church must be abolished, says bishop | “It would be much more honest of the Church to say that we won’t marry anybody, because doing so puts them in a position where they have said in the presence of God ‘We take these vows until death us do part’,” says the Rt Rev Noel Jones (The Daily Telegraph, London)
Modern marriage: Politically incorrect | It took a long time, but when Ian Burford and Alex Cannel last year became the first gay British couple to have their relationship officially recognized, homosexual couples throughout the country breathed a collective sigh of relief. (The Scotsman)

Pop culture & material culture:

After complaints, Abercrombie pulls thongs from shelves | Rearless underwear was aimed at preteens (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Earlier: Skimpy underwear draws fire for A&F (Associated Press)
Vatican cross at stars’ crucifixes | Glamorous stars who wear crosses as fashion accessories have come under attack from the Vatican. (BBC)
Find religion, or at least supplies, on the Web | The World Wide Web is abound with places to shop for religious-themed merchandise, whether it be ornaments, gifts for weddings and other special events, whimsical presents, or tools used in ceremonies. (Reuters)
Amy Grant is back with two new albums | One is contemporary Christian, the other pop (Associated Press)
‘NPR for Christians’ to hit TV | ‘Day 1’ radio show expanding its reach (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Selling sisterhood | Nuns using vocal ad campaign to recruit new clergy (ABCNews.com)

Missions & ministry:

A home of one’s own – with help from the church | From Harlem to Hayward, more churches in urban America are taking an active role in helping their members – and others – buy homes (The Christian Science Monitor)
Relief workers train in N.E. Georgia town | 3,300 Baptists commit to working five-day stretches at disaster sites with Georgia Baptist Relief (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Church life:

The Bible and the stripper | Don’t believe everything you read about the stripper with a heart of gold and the mean church that persecuted her (Debra Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle)
One preacher, two congregations | Frank Horton wrestles with diminishing Methodist churches (Associated Press)
Hymns have stories to tell | William J. “Bill” Reynolds, distinguished professor emeritus of church music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has been tracing history of hymns since his youth (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.)
Chicago cardinal proposes selling his mansion | He says the estimated $15 million price could keep the deficit-laden archdiocese from closing more schools, or help pay sexual abuse settlements. (The New York Times)

Other stories of interest:

What’s evil? Who decides? | Psychiatrists weigh in on how to define vile and heinous behavior. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Let us pray | Since 9/11, more people are seeking a spiritual dialogue, but they don’t always know how to connect. Sometimes simplicity works best (The Miami Herald)
New group calls for Christian unity | Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A. could eventually supplant the National Council of Churches (Associated Press)
Russia’s well-connected patriarch | As church enjoys revival of influence, its past remains clouded (The Washington Post)
Do Christians have to work on Sundays? | An employer might be off base in such a requirement, but the answer is not totally clear. (The Washington Post)
May the board, er, Lord be with you | The definition of soul surfing has gone literal, with the first edition of Surfers Bible to hit Australian bookstores next week. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Don’t call it a religion! | So what is theosophy? (Brian McGuire, The Wall Street Journal)