Should we be legislating “Year of the Bible?”

Posted on February 8, 2012 by John Hilton

It passed by with little notice last week when the state Legislature declared 2012 the “Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania.

The unanimous vote in the House favored a resolution to recognize how the book has shaped the state, and the “national need to study and apply the teachings of the holy Scriptures.”

I didn’t read it until a few days had already passed and I was fairly surprised that it hadn’t stirred up a controversy.

You know, that whole church/state thing. Well, the controversy seems to have caught up. Or at least the editorial writers have.

Sponsoring Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny, said he’s been getting a bit of critical feedback on the measure. The ACLU, for one, claimed the measure excludes religious minorities.
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Obama needs to back down on contraception

Posted on February 7, 2012 by John Hilton

This showdown between the Obama administration and the religious community continues to pick up steam.

I spent the drive in listening to George Weigel from the Ethics and Public Policy Center and E.J Dionne, a Washington Post columnist, debate the issue on MSNBC.

The debate is an interesting commentary on our culture, made all the more interesting by the fact we’re in an election year. First, let’s recap the issue:

The new rule was issued last month by the Department of Health and Human Services. Not only did it say employers who offer health insurance must provide contraception, they must also do it free of charge. Churches are exempt from the regulation, but because Catholic hospitals and universities serve many Americans who aren’t Catholic, the administration said they must comply.

The debate puts Obama in the middle of two groups whose support he needs in what may be a tight re-election bid: women’s groups and religious organizations.
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Casey pressures Obama on religious exemption

Posted on February 6, 2012 by John Hilton

A lot of Catholic Church news to discuss today.

First off, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) weighed in Friday on the dispute between the Obama administration and the Catholic Church over mandated access to contraception.

In a letter he released to the media, Casey called on President Obama and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “immediately reverse course on a new ruling that would force Catholic institutions to violate their religious beliefs.”
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Thoughts on Paterno from Ethiopia

Posted on February 5, 2012 by John Hilton

Just wanted to share this Sunday link from Anna Orso on hearing about Joe Paterno’s death while on her mission trip.

A Penn Stater, Anna often writes for us at the Daily Record and always does an outstanding job. This piece from the Colliegian is well worth the time.

John

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Can a boxer be a ‘Bible ambassador’?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by John Hilton

Today we’re talking sports and religion because… well, I am a sports fanatic and Tebow isn’t giving me anything to talk about these days.

But Manny Pacquiao and the Catholic Church are. It seems the church has taken notice of what Tebow has done for Christianity everywhere.

Consider this TMZ poll taken last month. Readers were asked to choose the world’s most influential Christian. In early balloting, Pope Benedict XVI narrowly edged Tebow, 55 percent to 45 percent.

That’s significant and the Catholic Church wants in. That brings us to Pacquiao, who some tout as the best boxer in the world, pound for pound.

He recently told a Philippine TV station that he had “an encounter with God” during a dream and is now being sought by the Catholic Church to be the country’s bible ambassador.
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“Mountaintop Jesus” can stay

Posted on February 1, 2012 by John Hilton

Lots of interesting religion news in my inbox this morning. I know Mitt Romney scored a big primary win Tuesday in Florida, and he even took the evangelical vote, but we have to start with mountaintop Jesus.

The religious statue has resided on federal land at a northwest Montana ski resort since 1955. It will be allowed to remain in place for at least 10 more years after the U.S. Forest Service reversed its eviction order Tuesday.

The initial decision came amid heated debate over the separation of church and state. The Forest Service received an avalanche of criticism from religious groups.

With its new decision to spare mountaintop Jesus, the Forest Service is being criticized by the other side. They argue the statue’s free placement on federal land is unconstitutional.

It’s a no-win situation that reminded me of the controversies over the display of the Ten Commandments in Alabama and Arkansas. Alabama judge Roy Moore initiated controversy in the early 1990s with his plaque of the Ten Commandments and his practice of starting court proceedings with a prayer.
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When churches battle

Posted on January 31, 2012 by John Hilton

We tend to think of church as a sacred place where peace and love wins out over the daily conflict life brings. At least I have anyway.

In five months covering religion here at the York Daily Record, I have learned that is a rather naive view.

I have another story today of church conflict. In this story, a southern York County pastor allegedly “grabbed the victim’s arms with force and threatened to slap” her.

According to folks I have interviewed at St. Paul (Mt. Pleasant) Lutheran Church, the conflict stemmed from a church budget meeting, although it may run deeper.

“There’s a lot of people that have left the church over the past several years,” said Karen Clever of Windsor Township, a member of St. Paul.

The turmoil at St. Paul is not unique. I have heard many stories in five months of church conflict and pastors quitting or being forced out. Rarely are these stories made public, but sometimes emotions boil over and I get a call.
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Marriage equality splitting churches

Posted on January 30, 2012 by John Hilton

Washington is poised to become the seventh state (plus D.C.) to allow same-sex marriage, an issue that has generated plenty of notice locally.

Marriage equality is also a topic on the campaign trail, as the Republican candidates for president all oppose extending marriage rights to gay couples.

On the church front, area denominations have struggled with the issue as some adopted a progressive stance.

The Lower Susquehanna Synod has lost about 10 congregations since the 2009 decision to embrace gay ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

“We continue to face the challenge of what it means to be one church in the face of profound disagreement about Scripture, ecclesiology, authority and the nature of creation,” Bishop Penrose Hoover wrote in a letter last summer.

In the last 20 months, five congregations in York County have formally disaffiliated with the ELCA.
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Pastor exhaustion

Posted on January 29, 2012 by John Hilton

We find a lot of comfort in our pastors. That is one of the surprising things I have learned so far covering religion — that congregations are very invested in their church leaders.

The reasons are fairly obvious when you think about it. From baptism to marriage to death, we tend to turn to our pastors for comfort and guidance. Those who wear the collar are seemingly available to comfort and console us 24/7.

There are some who feel that can lead to burnout.

The Rev. Nathan D. Baxter, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, has called Episcopal clergy together to address those issues Feb. 6-8 at its 2012 Winter Clergy Conference at Holiday Inn Harrisburg East, Swatara Township.

Using the theme “Caring For Ourselves So That We May Care For Others,” the conference for Episcopal clergy will focus on the clergy’s duty to take care of themselves so they can minister to others.

Baxter said the diocese has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Episcopal Widows Corp. to design and host a two-year pilot project on clergy wellness.

Main speakers at the conference will be the Rev. Craig H. Smith, founder and president of the Exit 7 Group and founder of Meant To Be Ministries; and Deirdre Good, a New Testament professor at the General Theological Seminary in New York City.

I may attend the conference (if possible) for a story on this issue. Contributions are welcome. Email me at jhilton@ydr.com.

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Former York pastor inspired by Paterno

Posted on January 26, 2012 by John Hilton

I know we’re all a little weary after a week of mourning Coach Joe, but I have to share this thoughtful recollection from the Rev. Charles Fitzgerald, whose chance meeting with Coach Paterno gave him resolve to fight through difficult times in York.

To set the scene, Fitzgerald writes: “In York in 1992-93, I was nearly destroyed as a pastor as I served a church where notes were left in the offering plates on Sunday mornings that read, ‘You are the worst preacher we have ever had.’”
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