Religion Today Summaries – June 26, 2003
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- Jewish Group Raises Concerns About Gibson's `Passion' Film
- Nepali Believers Released After Four Months
- Missionaries Lose Menorah Battle – Again
- 'Peachy Jesus Sign' Suit to Proceed
Jewish Group Raises Concerns About Gibson's `Passion' Film
Kevin Eckstrom, Religion News Service
The Anti-Defamation League says it still has concerns that an upcoming movie on the death of Jesus by Mel Gibson will portray Jews as "blood-thirsty, sadistic and money-hungry enemies of Jesus." In a statement issued Wednesday (June 24), the ADL raised five separate concerns about "The Passion," which is scheduled for release next year and has already generated buzz for its Aramaic dialogue and violent depictions of the crucifixion. The ADL is concerned that the film resurrects old prejudices that blame Jews for the death of Jesus. The ADL said the film threatens to "oversimplify" history, and present an "inescapably negative picture of Jewish society and leadership." Officials from the ADL and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops convened a group of Catholic and Jewish scholars to examine an early draft of the film's script. The group's private 18-page report saw several problems and relayed their concerns to Gibson. The ADL said it "fully stands behind" the scholars' report but refused to release it, saying only that it found the film "replete with objectionable elements." A spokesman for Gibson's Icon Productions said company officials were unavailable for comment, and referred to a June 13 statement from Gibson in which he said "neither I nor my film are anti-Semitic."
Nepali Believers Released After Four Months
John Lindner, Christian Aid Mission
Three Nepali Christian workers who were jailed four months ago were released on June 20, according to a report received by Christian Aid. As previously reported by Missions Insider, the three had been on their way to visit a Christian family in Pyuthan district when they were stopped and interrogated by police. After finding Bibles and other Christian literature in their bags, the police arrested them on charges of carrying Christian literature, preaching Christianity, and attempting to convert others to Christianity. The believers never denied their Christian faith throughout all of their hearings, but they did deny ever attempting to force others to become Christians, which is a crime in Nepal. False witnesses were brought forward during their trials to try to condemn them. They were facing three to six years in prison. Fellow believers brought appeals to a higher court that overturned the decision of the lower court that sentenced the Christians in the first place. The higher court ordered the believers released immediately without bail. The believers are now with their wives and children, yet their ordeal is not completely over. They must still report to the district court for the next few months until their release becomes permanent. (http://www.christianaid.org /)
Missionaries Lose Menorah Battle – Again
Religion News Service
TORONTO -- Chosen People Ministries, a New York-based Christian outreach group to Jews, may not use the menorah as a legally protected logo, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled June 18. The court dismissed CPM's appeal of a ruling handed down a year ago, which reversed a decision by Canada's Registrar of Trademarks granting the organization's stylized, semi-circular menorah Official Mark status, similar to a trademark designation. The designation would have allowed CPM, which has an office in Toronto and claims about 100 Canadian followers, to use the menorah on all its wares and services and potentially, prevent others from using the same or similar design. Canadian Jewish Congress had argued successfully that allowing a group which seeks to convert Jews to Christianity to legally protect the menorah would be "scandalous and immoral," since the ancient seven-branch candelabrum is one of the most hallowed symbols of Judaism. This time, the court ruled that CPM was wrong to have received the designation for its menorah because Official Marks are supposed to be granted only to "public authorities" over which the government has control, and which work for the public's benefit.
'Peachy Jesus Sign' Suit to Proceed
Charisma News Service
An appeals court has reinstated a Pennsylvania woman's court battle seeking to keep her Jesus sign. Sybil Peachlum has been fighting York City Hall for a decade over a lawn sign with an anthropomorphized peach holding a newspaper with the headline, "Peachy News. Jesus is Alive," the Associated Press (AP) reported. The city says the 3 1/2-foot by 5-foot sign, which was until recently planted in Peachlum's front yard, violates zoning rules. Peachlum says the ban violates her right to free speech. A lower court dismissed her lawsuit seeking to keep the sign, but the appeals court declared last Thursday that after years of languishing before a city appeals board, her case deserves to be decided by a judge. Erik Stanley, an attorney with Liberty Counsel, which is representing Peachlum, said while cities have a right to regulate signs, the display erected by his client is protected by the First Amendment. "The neon only gets turned on at Christmas and Easter," Stanley said. "It's not a glaring eyesore; it's her way of reaching out to her neighbors with a message she wants to communicate. It's no different than hanging an American flag on your property." (http://www.charismanews.com/)
Originally published June 26, 2003.
