 |
Prayers for President-Elect; Mixed Results on Ballot Measures
Religious leaders offered their congratulations to president-elect Barack Obama after his historic victory this week. Even those who didn’t support Obama have promised to pray for him. Both Obama and John McCain had continued their faith-based outreach right through the final moments of the campaign.
Religious groups also were actively involved in several state ballot measures, with mixed results. A slim majority of voters in California approved an amendment to ban same-sex marriage, which had been allowed in the state for the last four months. Catholics, evangelicals, and Mormons led the battle to stop the practice, although religious groups worked on the other side as well. Tuesday’s vote throws the status of some 18,000 same-sex marriages into question, and legal challenges have already begun. Meanwhile, voters in Arizona and Florida also approved gay-marriage bans. More than 40 states now have such bans.
But religious conservatives were disappointed by the outcomes of several initiatives on issues of life. South Dakota rejected a ban on abortion and California defeated a requirement for parental consent before a minor can have an abortion. Colorado rejected an amendment that would have defined human life as beginning at the moment of fertilization. Michigan will now allow expanded embryonic stem cell research, and Washington became the second state after Oregon to allow physician-assisted suicide.
 Read or watch this week’s discussions of religious voters and election implications. |
|
Pope Meets with Muslim Scholars
Roman Catholic and Muslim leaders pledged to work together to combat violence and terrorism committed in the name of religion. The declaration came at the end of an unprecedented three-day interfaith gathering at the Vatican and included a pledge that members of each faith respect other religions. Pope Benedict stressed the importance of religious freedom and said there’s a need to overcome what he called “the distorted images” Catholics and Muslims have of one another. |
|
Relief Efforts Brought to Congo Crisis
Relief agencies are warning of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Congo. Violence between the government and rebel groups has endangered and displaced tens of thousands. The United Nations and Red Cross rushed in food, water and medical supplies. Faith-based aid groups, many of which have evacuated foreign staff, are relying on local workers to distribute relief.
|
|
Somali Islamists Stone Girl to Death
In Somalia, a young girl’s stoning death has prompted human rights groups and religious leaders worldwide to condemn the radical Islamist militia that controls the region. The 13-year-old was charged and executed for adultery after she reported having been raped. She was stoned to death in a stadium before a thousand spectators. |
|
Dalai Lama Calls Tibet Autonomy Drive a "Failure"
The Dalai Lama has called his efforts to bring more freedom to Tibet a “failure.” The spiritual leader of Tibet told reporters that his attempts to persuade the Chinese to allow the Tibetan region autonomy have been unsuccessful, and he may step aside as the political leader of the effort. He has called a meeting of exiled Tibetan leaders for later this month to plan a new political strategy.
|
|
Kosher Meatpacker in Iowa Files for Bankruptcy
We have an update on our story a few weeks ago about ethics at a kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa owned by Orthodox Jews. The plant, Agriprocessors, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The plant’s owners blamed their financial troubles on the federal raid last spring that uncovered immigration and labor violations and led to steep fines and criminal charges.
|
|
On Our Calendar...
This weekend, somber services will mark the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of coordinated Nazi attacks on Jews in Germany that preceded the Holocaust.
Wednesday (November 12) Baha’is celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the founder of the faith, the Baha’u’llah.
Thursday (November 13) Sikhs celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the founder of that faith, Guru Nanak.
And many Americans sent birthday greetings this past week to Billy Graham. On Friday (November 7) the evangelical preacher turned 90 years old. Graham posted a message on his Web site that said he never expected to live this long. He added, “Every day is a gift from God.”
|
|
