Religion in the News

Real men find Church too girly
Ruth Gledhill ("Times Online," January 27, 2010)

Real men don't like going to church because they don't want to "sing love songs to a man", because the "vicar wears a dress", because they feel like "mongrels on parade at Crufts" and because they want to be waited on by women rather than queue for coffee after the service.

Germany's motorway churches offer travellers time to reflect and pray
dpa ("EarthTimes," January 28, 2010)

Munich, Germany - Over 70,000 trucks and cars speed past the Maria am Wege motorway church every day on their way down the A 96 autobahn towards southern Bavaria. However, the sound of traffic can barely be heard in the snow-covered square at the front of the building's entrance, while total silence reigns in the church itself.

Malaysia terror arrests linked to Detroit bomb attempt, officials say
Richard Lloyd Parry, ("Times Online," January 28, 2010)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Twelve men arrested in Malaysia this month for alleged terrorist offences had connections to the Nigerian student accused of attempting to blow up a US passenger aircraft on Christmas Day, according to a report from Kuala Lumpur.

Anglican Archbishop Kidnapped in Southern Nigeria
("Compass Direct News," January 26, 2010)

Lagos, Nigeria - Gunmen are still holding the Anglican archbishop of Benin diocese in southern Nigeria’s Edo state after abducting him on Sunday (Jan. 24). Peter Imasuen, who is also the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), was abducted in front of his official residence on his way back from a church service.

Colorado man: Pot charge violates religious rights
(AP, January 27, 2010)

AVON, Colo. -- A Colorado man says marijuana is the main sacrament of his religion and a drug charge against him violates his First Amendment rights. Trevor Douglas of Avon says he belongs to the Hawaii-based THC Ministry but was cited with marijuana possession after a Colorado state trooper pulled him over for having an expired license plate.

Another loss in priest shortage: Anointing sick

Mary Foster (AP, January 27, 2010)
New Orleans, USA - It was John B. Baus's 82nd birthday. When he was getting ready to go out with his wife, he had a heart attack and ended up on his way to the emergency room instead. Doctors there worked to stabilize him and performed surgery to implant a pace maker. Mary Adele Baus, his wife, went home after the surgery, assured that her husband was resting comfortably. Instead, at 3 a.m. Read more here…..

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Pew Forum Resources on Abortion Debate The March for Life, an annual pro-life rally in Washington, D.C., will take place on Friday, Jan. 22, which is the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade. For more information about the abortion debate in the U.S., explore Pew Forum resources -- including public opinion polls, research studies, event transcripts and interviews. Go to the abortion resource page »

From the Pew Forum Archive: Q&A on Faith Healing and the Law A court case involving faith healing that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy began this week in Oregon. For an in-depth exploration of legal issues that courts must consider in such cases, go to the Pew Forum's 2009 Q&A with church-state scholar Robert W. Tuttle. Go to the Q&A »

San Diego Explained: Medical Marijuana

Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 9:45 am

Not quite sure what's going on with all of the discussions about medical marijuana in San Diego?

We try to bring you up to speed in the latest edition of San Diego Explained, our effort with NBC 7/39.

I absolutely love this. There are so many issues that rage in the community. Each one of them has a set of facts -- context that is largely uncontroversial. But they often get lost in the back and forth or the latest breaking tidbit. If you understand what's going on, you can better consume updates about it and you can participate in the debate going forward. That's the goal behind this: Get everyone up to speed on some very complex local issues.

Do you have something you want explained better? Drop me a line at scott.lewis@voiceofsandiego.org.

Here's our latest on medical marijuana:

Latest faith healing trial set to begin in Oregon; parents of teen who died charged

(AP, January 13, 2010) Oregon City, USA - An Oregon City couple will soon go on trial for the death of their son, the latest Oregon criminal case over faith healing deaths. Jeff and Marci Beagley have been charged with criminally negligent homicide for not providing medical treatment to their 16-year-old son, who died of an untreated urinary tract blockage. Read more here....

Burqas in France

Veiled threats:
Three views on the tension between Islamic dress for women and France's time-honoured laïcité

Free Will, Conscience and Moral Choice

Published: January 14, 2010

 

S.F Archbishop Speaks His Mind

The following commentary by San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer appears in his column, “Archbishop’s Journal,” in the Jan. 15 issue of Catholic San Francisco, the official newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco.

In a recent interview with Eleanor Clift in Newsweek magazine (Dec. 21), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked about her disagreements with the United States Catholic bishops concerning Church teaching. Speaker Pelosi replied, in part: “I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions. And that women should have the opportunity to exercise their free will.”

Embodied in that statement are some fundamental misconceptions about Catholic teaching on human freedom. These misconceptions are widespread both within the Catholic community and beyond. For this reason I believe it is important for me as Archbishop of San Francisco to make clear what the Catholic Church teaches about free will, conscience, and moral choice.

Catholic teaching on free will recognizes that God has given men and women the capacity to choose good or evil in their lives. The bishops at the Second Vatican Council declared that the human person, endowed with freedom, is “an outstanding manifestation of the divine image.” (Gaudium et Spes, No. 17) As the parable of the Grand Inquisitor in Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov, makes so beautifully clear, God did not want humanity to be mere automatons, but to have the dignity of freedom, even recognizing that with that freedom comes the cost of many evil choices. Read the whole article here....

Region VII regional mission

OSL North American Director, is visiting San Gabriel, CA

Dear Order of St. Luke Members,

In case you haven’t heard, we are having an important regional event that will bring fresh inspiration and insight you won't want to miss!  I'm hoping you can come.

Rev. Larry Mitchell, OSL North American Director, is visiting San Gabriel, CA, January 29-30 to bring an important message about Jesus Christ and the healing ministry today.  He is eager to share fresh insight about healing prayer he has gained from his study with Mike Endicott.

You can find the registration flyer on the OSL website in the calendar section.  We have arranged low-cost lodging in San Gabriel, which is near Pasadena ($65/night rate for one bed; $75/night for two beds).  Send inquiries about the event to: oslsangabrielevent@yahoo.com

San Gabriel, CA January 29-30, 2010
Region VII regional mission ::click for pdf flyer::
Leader: The Rev. Larry Mitchell
Location: Church of our Saviour, 535 W. Roses Rd., San Gabriel, CA 91775
For more info: e-mail oslsangabrielevent@yahoo.com or call Cynthia Hinckley 909-794-0475

Please consider coming.  Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Holy Spirit in action!!

Blessings to you and yours, and Happy New Year.

Cynthia Hinckley

cynthiahinckley@verizon.net

Regional Director

OSL Region 7

Brit Hume Tells O'Reilly: Tiger Woods Needs Something Christianity Provides - 01/04/10

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A NEW YEAR AND A NEW CONGREGATION

A new beginning on January 3, 2010

You are invited to worship with us at Holy Spirit Anglican Church

on Sunday mornings at 9.30

Who are we?

Holy Spirit Anglican Church San Diego is a community of people who desire to worship God in the Anglican tradition, to witness about Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and to walk daily with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We are members of the Anglican Church in North America and associated with the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our pastor is the Rev. David Montzingo, a graduate of Harvard University and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  Fr. Montzingo has served at three churches in the San Diego area over the past twenty years.  He is currently a chaplain in the Order of St. Luke the Physician and a faculty associate at Bethel Seminary in San Diego.

What is our mission?

Holy Spirit Anglican Church San Diego seeks to remain connected to historic Christian beliefs and practices as understood by the Anglican tradition, while at the same time making these available to present and future generations in our area. An important part of our mission will be to impact the many students and faculty of San Diego State University by sharing the grace of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of his Spirit.

Where do we meet?

Holy Spirit Anglican Church gathers for worship on Sunday mornings in the chapel of Bethel Seminary, 6116 Arosa Street, in the College Area of San Diego, ½ block off College Avenue and ½ mile from the San Diego State University campus. Parking is available beside and behind the seminary building, or on the street in front of it. During the week we plan to meet in various locations for friendship and discussion. On Sundays, homes will be open for anyone to share an informal meal and learn more about the church.

Note: Rev. David Montzingo was pastor of North Park’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on 30th Street until just a few years ago and it is our pleasure to continue in fellowship with Holy Spirit Anglican Church and ask God’s blessing on this new endeavor.