Religion news in brief
POSTED: June 14, 2008
Anti-torture supported
WASHINGTON (AP) — About 300 houses of worship are displaying anti-torture banners this month in an initiative by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
Most of the banners are a stark black-and-white and read, “Torture is Wrong” or “Torture is a Moral Issue.” Congregations participating in the monthlong campaign include Methodists, Presbyterians, Jews, Muslims, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Quakers and Roman Catholics.
The anti-torture group is lobbying for a congressional investigation of U.S. treatment of suspects and prisoners since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Government lawyers who drew up the legal basis for the Bush administration’s use of harsh interrogation methods against terror suspects argued that the president had broad wartime authority that could not be limited by domestic law or international bans on torture.
One government legal memo defined torture, as recognized by U.S. law, as covering “only extreme acts” causing pain similar in intensity to that caused by organ failure or accompanying death. An internal Justice Department investigation is now considering whether such advice was improper.
Vatican creates anti-terror teams
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has formed two new anti-terrorism teams that will work with police to prevent attacks, the Holy See’s security director said.
The rapid-intervention and anti-sabotage groups will be subunits of the Vatican’s gendarme corps, said corps director Domenico Giani. The Vatican also has begun closer collaboration with Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, according to a June 7 report in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper.
The Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI have been named as potential terror targets in recent years. An al-Qaida leader recently accused the pope of leading a campaign against Islam.
Although the Vatican has downplayed the threats, it also has strengthened security, adding metal-detectors for all visitors to St. Peter’s Basilica and attendees at papal events.
The gendarme corps also has been deployed at Vatican territories outside Vatican City, including at Rome’s patriarchal basilicas, according to Catholic News Service.
Anti-minaret petition in Switzerland
BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss nationalists say they have enough signatures to force a nationwide referendum on whether to ban the construction of Muslim call-to-prayer towers next to mosques.
Ulrich Schlueer, co-president of the Initiative Committee, said that 103,000 signatures have been verified, exceeding the required minimum of 100,000.
If approved, the referendum would enshrine in the Swiss constitution a ban on the minarets. The organizers say they are acting against the political spread of Islam. Opponents say a ban would violate religious freedom.
It will likely take months to schedule the vote.
NJ school district apologizes to Muslim
TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) — A Muslim student who sued because his public high school graduation ceremony was held in a Baptist church has received an apology from the largest school district in New Jersey and assurances that it will not hold future events in houses of worship.
Bilal Shareef says he had to skip his 2006 graduation from West Side High School because his religious beliefs prohibit him from entering buildings containing icons of God.
The lawsuit was filed on his behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union. Newark public schools apologized to Shareef and his father and agreed to change its policies under terms of the settlement announced Monday.
Missouri Torah stolen
UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police are searching for a Torah valued at $30,000 that was stolen from a St. Louis-area synagogue.
The handmade scrolls have been missing from the Congregation Bais Menachem-Chabad in University City since May 24th. The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is handwritten according to Jewish law and is the holiest document in Jewish life.
Authorities are investigating any possible connection between the theft and four similar cases across the country.
CA Court asked to help resolve
Hare Krishna suit
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court has asked the California Supreme Court to help decide if the Hare Krishna religious group can seek donations at the Los Angeles International Airport.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the request Monday in the Hare Krishna’s legal challenge to a Los Angeles law barring solicitation of donations at the airport.
The federal appeals court wants has asked California high court to determine whether the airport is a “public forum” under the free speech clause of the state constitution.
Ohio man convicted of cheating at church blackjack game
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A jury has convicted a sports bookmaker in central Ohio of cheating during a church-sponsored game of blackjack.
Witnesses say 67-year-old Roland Chapa palmed cards from the deck at a fundraiser last July at St. Timothy Roman Catholic Church in Columbus. One witness described seeing a two of spades fall from Chapa’s pants when he stood up to empty his pockets.
He was convicted Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court of possession of criminal tools and cheating — a felony because Chapa has a previous conviction for gambling. He faces
