Commentary & News Briefs
Compiled by Jody Brown, Agape Press
December 1, 2005

...According to a Mennonite publication, several Palestinian groups usually associated with acts of terrorism against Israel are calling for the immediate release of four members of a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) group who were kidnapped on November 26. Mennonite Weekly Review quotes extensively from a statement released by Hamas, Fatah, the Palestinian Liberation Front, and other pro-Palestinian groups, in which the groups cite CPT's help over the past decade in "protect[ing] Palestinian people and their homes from physical attacks, forced evictions, and other violence." The statement acknowledges that the kidnappers -- a group that calls itself the "Swords of Righteousness Brigade" -- and the pro-Palestinian groups are "brothers in the resistance" who are "in the same trench confronting American aggression and occupation." Still, the Palestinian groups are appealing to the Brigade to release the two Canadians, one American, and one Briton "in appreciation for their role in standing beside and supporting our Palestinian people and all the Arab and Islamic peoples" -- even though the Brigade has accused the four of being spies. The Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada are both among the religious organizations that are official CPT sponsors, and the former is a founding denomination of the group. According to the CPT website, the organization was initiated "by Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers with broad ecumenical participation." [Jody Brown]

...It looks like South Africa could become the next nation to legalize homosexual "marriage." The country's highest court ruled today (Dec. 1) that it is unconstitutional to deny homosexuals the right to "marry" -- and it has given the country's Parliament one year to amend marriage laws to include homosexuals. Reuters quotes a statement from the African Christian Democratic Party condemning the ruling. It says "studies of previous civilizations reveal that when a society strays from the sexual ethic of marriage, it deteriorates and eventually disintegrates." [Fred Jackson]

...The head of the Anglican Church of Nigeria has announced formation of a "covenant union" with the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America, two small conservative denominations that broke away from the Episcopal Church. It is the latest instance of conservative Anglicans overseas -- at odds with the U.S. Episcopal Church over homosexual issues -- forming ties with alienated Episcopalians. Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola is head of the second-largest branch of the international Anglican Communion, but the two denominations it allied with are not recognized by the Anglican spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The accord says the Nigerian and American churches will work together "based on the irrevocable Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the final authority for faith and life." [AP]

...The chairman of the FCC is receiving kudos for his bold advocacy for American families during a Senate hearing earlier this week in Washington, DC. Speaking during an "Open Forum on Decency" held by the Senate Commerce Committee, Kevin Martin -- who heads the Federal Communications Commission -- encouraged U.S. cable companies to offer a family-friendly cable package allowing parents to exclude channels they feel their children should not watch. Otherwise, he warned, the FCC might be compelled to step in and respond to public outcry against increasingly raunchy programming. A spokesman for Focus on the Family says Martin "clearly understands the dangers posed to children by highly sexualized media" -- but also recognizes the television industry has not been acting in those children's best interests. Daniel Weiss, FOTF's senior analyst for media and sexuality, agrees with Martin. "The time has come for industry leaders to start working to find solutions to the problems they've created, rather than pushing the responsibility back to parents only," he says. Martin, says Weiss, is committed to working with the television industry to find the best possible solution for families. "We hope the industry will have the same dedication," Weiss adds. [Jody Brown]

...The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has lifted a ban on resident assistants (RAs) leading Bible studies in their dorm rooms, at least for now. The school reviewed the policy after a senior RA publicly challenged it. Lance Steiger had been warned that he could face discipline if he continued having Bible studies in his room. Congressman Mark Green, state lawmakers and conservative groups have attacked the policy as an assault on students' constitutional right to practice their religion. Interim Chancellor Vicki Lord Larson says the ban has been lifted until a committee convened by the UW System president makes recommendations to guide the activities of resident assistants, who are paid to supervise dorm students and are considered state employees. [AP]

...A prominent pro-family leader in California says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's appointment of an open homosexual indicates the Republican governor has taken a "disastrous turn to the left." On Wednesday (Nov. 30), Schwarzenegger named Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff. A self-described "Democrat to the core," Kennedy's resume includes stints with Democrats Gray Davis, the former California governor, and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. The new chief of staff also has been executive director for the California Democratic Party and the California Abortion Rights Action League. Randy Thomasson of the Sacramento-based Campaign for Children and Families (CCF) says the appointment is like President Bush selecting Hillary Clinton to head up his administration. "By placing a leading homosexual, pro-abortion Democrat activist in charge of his entire administration, Arnold has taken a disastrous turn to the left," says Thomasson. "Conservative voters who supported him are waking up from the dream and stepping into reality -- and the reality stinks." The CCF president calls Kennedy's appointment "utterly ridiculous" and wonders why Governor Schwarzenegger does not "get honest and just leave the Republican Party." [Jody Brown]

...An Arizona legislator who planned to oppose Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe next year says he is pleased that the 11-term incumbent has decided to call it quits. The state lawmaker believes Kolbe's views on immigration are out-of-sync with the people of Arizona. Randy Graf ran against Kolbe in the Republican primary last year and garnered 43 percent of the vote. Graf believes that showing sent a message to the incumbent. "We ran against Jim Colby because of his position on the border and his amnesty proposal, and we put a lot of pressure on him," Graf says. "We were very successful last year. Even though we didn't win the race, people started talking about it, and his ideas were out of synch with what the people in this district wanted." Graf says Arizona's 8th District needs a representative who can work with congressional members who oppose giving amnesty to illegal immigrants. "The congressman from here, ground zero on this whole issue, has been on the wrong side of the issue," he offers. "So that's why our representation here in DC hasn't been taken seriously on this issue. I look forward to going back there and joining those folks and making sure that elected officials from around this country understand the severe problems we have here." Graf says even though Kolbe is not running for re-election, he will remain in Congress for the next 13 months -- when immigration is expected to be a hot topic on Capitol Hill. [Chad Groening]

...While President Bush continues to push his "guest worker" program for illegal immigrants, members of his own party have different ideas for handling immigration reform. Acting House Majority Leader Roy Blunt says he wants to accomplish some specific goals in dealing with illegal immigration. He says the legislation must do several things. "[We need] legislation that does get better border control -- a real fence, a virtual fence, whatever it takes to really seal the border, to use all the technology available to us to make that happen," says the congressman. Blunt says the House will also work to beef-up enforcement of current U.S. immigration laws. "Frankly [we have to] create the penalties necessary and [require] the identification necessary so that legal immigrants here have an opportunity and folks who are here illegally don't have," he says. Interestingly it appears to be Democrats -- not the majority of Republicans -- who are supporting Bush in the battle over immigration reform. [Bill Fancher]