Report Highlights Dangers to ‘Defamation’ Protections

23 Thursday May 2013

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Mosque

(Photo credit: Mystic Politics)

By Paul Marshall

There is good news about the State Department International Religious Freedom Report, released on May 20. First, the report is, by and large an excellent resource. While slightly slimmer than in most previous years, it is still the most comprehensive overview of religious freedom and persecution on the planet.

There is more good news. The report pays particular attention to the growing threat created by blasphemy and apostasy accusations to religious freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. It highlights this not only in the reports on particular countries, but also, following a practice that State introduced last year, in a special section in the executive summary:

“The use of blasphemy and apostasy laws continued to be a significant problem, as was the continued proliferation of such laws around the world. Such laws often violate freedoms of religion and expression and often are applied in a discriminatory manner.”

Secretary of State John Kerry also singled out this issue as one of the only two trends he highlighted in his very brief introductory remarks at the report’s release:

“Lastly, another troubling trend is the increasing use of laws governing blasphemy and apostasy. These laws are frequently used to repress dissent, to harass political opponents, and to settle personal vendettas. Laws such as these violate fundamental freedoms of expression and religion, and we believe they ought to be repealed. And because we defend others’ rights of expression, we are also ensuring that we can express our own views and practice our own faith without fearing for our own safety or our own lives.”

Much of my and Nina Shea’s work is on this key issue, especially on how these accusations are used to repress political and religious dissidents and reformers, and Kerry appears to have adopted this analysis. His call for such laws to be repealed may signal an end or a change to the “Istanbul Process” on religious tolerance in which the State Department has partnered with the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, whose charter commits it “to combat defamation of Islam.”

Of course, the State Department has often said good things in its reports before, but without translating them into policy. This might turn out to be true here as well, but the signals are better than we have seen for a while.

This blog post originally appeared on the National Review website as an article.

Boy Scouts Forced to Choose Sides in the Culture War

22 Wednesday May 2013

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Boy Scouts of America

(Photo credit: First Things)

By Mark Tooley (@MarkDTooley)

A group of mostly Protestant and evangelical church leaders, representing churches with over 20 million members, are asking the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) National Council meeting this week to retain the current BSA stance on sexuality. The May 22-24 meeting will consider a proposal to prohibit “discrimination” based on “sexual orientation or preference,” while leaving in place the current prohibition on openly homosexual Scout leaders.

Signers of the appeal to BSA include Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod President Matthew Harrison, Assemblies of God General Superintendent George Wood, Church of God General (Cleveland, TN) Overseer Mark Williams, and Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America, as well as theologians like Southern Baptist Albert Mohler, United Methodist Thomas Oden, and Presbyterian Luder Whitlock.

Here is their statement, which attracted about fifty prominent signers:

“We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital for sustaining this partnership, for protecting Scout members, and for ensuring BSA has a strong future. A proposal from the BSA board to prohibit “discrimination” based on “sexual orientation or preference” for BSA members potentially would open the Scouts to a wide range of open sexual expressions. In our current culture, it is more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts. We implore members of the upcoming BSA Council to affirm the BSA’s present policy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed, and which has served BSA well.”

In his own preamble to the statement, Rev. Harrison of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod warned the “proposed change will highlight sexuality, which has not been and should not be a matter of focus for Scouts.” And he suspects “it will make it more challenging to care for young people struggling with same-sex attraction and perhaps open our churches to legal action.” He also said the policy would supersede pastoral authority in churches with Scout units and could cause a “crisis of conscience for our church leaders, pastors, parents and congregations.” Harrison noted that “for more than a century, scouting has sought to uphold moral values at a level greater than that of general society,” and the “capitulation now to societal pressures would mar the long and honorable history of the Boy Scouts to honor the natural law of God, which at least for now, is still reflected in the current scouting membership policy.”

Richard Land, in his own separate May 15 letter to the Boy Scout leadership, warned that the proposed new policy would “cause many Southern Baptist churches, as well as many churches from other denominations, to withdraw their sponsorship rather than compromise their convictions.” He also said he was “perplexed” that the BSA “would abandon a century-old membership policy” less than a year after a 2 year study reaffirmed that policy “remains in the best interest of Scouting.”

In their own statement, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting cited Roman Catholicism’s teaching on chastity, and said the Church “reserves the right to seek to place those who live by its teachings in leadership positions that serve our youth, as well as the right to continue to call our young people to live by the teachings of our faith and by moral truth which can be known by all.”

Catholics are the third largest religious group involved in Scouting. Mormons are the most numerous, and their church effectively abstained from a public stance on the proposed new policy. United Methodists are the second most numerous, and their leaders in February asked BSA to defer any shift in policy until participating churches could review in a “thoughtful and prayerful manner.”

If the BSA National Council changes the membership policy, it will almost certainly create tensions between BSA and many of its participating religious congregations. Some may withdraw from BSA altogether and support religiously-based alternatives to Scouting. Meanwhile, many critics will not relent until BSA altogether abandons any restrictions on open sexual expression for members and leaders. The days of BSA as a culturally unifying icon are over, and BSA sadly will have to choose sides in the culture wars.

This blog post originally appeared on the First Things website as an article.

Inspired by a Russian Christian Dissident

22 Wednesday May 2013

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Sasha Ogorodnikov and me in Moscow 1991.

Sasha Ogorodnikov and me in Moscow 1991. (Photo credit: Faith McDonnell)

By Faith J. H. McDonnell (@Cuchulain09)

This week Front Page Magazine published my story about Russian Christian dissident Alexander Ogorodnikov. The news about a new biography of this courageous man, Dissident for Life: Alexander Ogorodnikov and the Struggle for Religious Freedom in Russia, by Koenraad De Wolf was what spurred me to reflecting on my own experiences with this hero of Soviet Union era Christianity.

I was very pleased that De Wolf has chronicled Ogorodnikov’s amazing story, and I hope that it will be read far and wide. It is a challenge to complacent, apathetic church members. It is an education into what “socialism” is really all about to Millennials and others may have had their views shaped by America’s own socialism supporters in public education and in the seminaries. And it is an encouragement that tyrannies and totalitarianisms – whether Marxist or Islamist – are not the final answer. Only God is the final answer, and He is able to deliver the oppressed.

You can read about my own experience with Sasha (Ogorodnikov’s nickname) in the Front Page article. It began before I ever met him, praying for him while he was in the Gulag. And then, the miracle! God answers prayer for his release and his pardon is signed by Mikhail Gorbachev himself. And to top it off – a few years later I was privileged to go with a small team from Church of the Apostles on a short-term mission to help Sasha form plans for a soup kitchen and many other ministries.

In Front Page Magazine I explained that reading Sasha’s story once again in Dissident for Life made me realize the significance of the experience of knowing and praying for and knowing a former prisoner of faith as I had never realized while it was happening. This made me wonder what experiences, what relationships in today’s ongoing battles for freedom around the world may ultimately be those that will make a similar difference.

For instance, right now we are praying for Pastor Saeed Abedini, imprisoned in Tehran’s horrible Evin Prison for his faith – along with dozens of other Christians as well as innocent Baha’i members. If God can open the prison gates and deliver Alexander Ogorodnikov from his Communist captors and then go on to use him to bring blessing to so many in Russia and throughout the world, He can do the same thing for Pastor Saeed and all those who are in prison and labor camp for the sake of the Gospel. Please pray with me for this miracle.

Over 50 Religious Leaders Ask Boy Scouts to Uphold Membership Standards

22 Wednesday May 2013

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Institute on Religion and Democracy Cross

(Photo credit: Institute on Religion and Democracy)

May 22, 2013
Contact: Jeff Walton 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell

“These groups are invested in the future of scouting, rather than simply making a political statement.”
-IRD President Mark Tooley

Washington, DC—Fifty U.S. religious leaders have signed a statement to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) encouraging the organization to continue its current leadership and membership standards, instead of a proposal to prohibit discrimination in membership based on ‘sexual orientation or preference.’ The discussion and vote are scheduled for May 23 at a national meeting of the BSA National Council.

The statement is signed by officials of the Southern Baptist Convention, Assemblies of God, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Anglican Church in North America, Evangelical Presbyterian Church and several Pentecostal denominations, among others. They represent churches whose memberships include over 20 million members.

The statement reads:

“We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital for sustaining this partnership, for protecting Scout members, and for ensuring BSA has a strong future. A proposal from the BSA board to prohibit ‘discrimination’ based on ‘sexual orientation or preference’ for BSA members potentially would open the Scouts to a wide range of open sexual expressions. In our current culture, it is more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts. We implore members of the upcoming BSA Council to affirm the BSA’s present policy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed, and which has served BSA well.”

A full list of signatories can be viewed by clicking here.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

“Nearly 70 percent of scouting units are sponsored by religious organizations, with Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Mormon and United Methodist churches among the largest sponsors. These groups are invested in the future of scouting, rather than simply making a political statement. Their voices merit being heard.”

www.TheIRD.org

Statement of Religious Leaders on Boy Scout Policy this Week

21 Tuesday May 2013

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(Photo Credit: Fox News)

(Photo Credit: Fox News)

The following letter was released earlier today and signed by IRD President Mark Tooley, which reads:

We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital for sustaining this partnership, for protecting Scout members, and for ensuring BSA has a strong future. A proposal from the BSA board to prohibit “discrimination” based on “sexual orientation or preference” for BSA members potentially would open the Scouts to a wide range of open sexual expressions. In our current culture, it is more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts. We implore members of the upcoming BSA Council to affirm the BSA’s present policy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed, and which has served BSA well.

(Titles are for identification only.)

Randy Alcorn

Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries

Bishop David C. Anderson, Sr.

President, American Anglican Council

Sara L. Anderson

Executive Vice President

Bristol House, Ltd. (United Methodist)

The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey

Chief Operating & Development Officer

American Anglican Council

Dr. Robert D. Benne (Lutheran)

Jordan Trexler Professor Emeritus

and Research Associate

Religion and Philosophy, Roanoke College

David K. Bernard

General Superintendent

United Pentecostal Church International

Dr. Robert H. Blackburn

Past Chairman, National Association of Covenanting Congregations

The Rev. John Bradosky, Bishop

The North American Lutheran Church

Rev. Dr. Gemechis Desta Buba

Assistant to the Bishop for Missions,

North American Lutheran Church

Pastor Mark C. Chavez

General Secretary, North American Lutheran Church

Nancy Clark

Director of Mutual Faith Ministries

The Rev. Sue Cyre

Executive Director of Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry (PFFM)

The Most Reverend Robert Duncan

Archbishop, The Anglican Church in North America

Dr. Anthony Esolen

Professor, Providence College

Dr. Jim Garlow

Senior Pastor; Chairman, Renewing American Leadership

Dr. Daniel N. Harmelink

Chair of the Board of Trustees

The Lutheran Bible Institute in California

Pastor Matthew Harrison

President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Doug Harvey

Executive Director, Disciple Heritage Fellowship

Rev. Charles Huckaby

Dean, Western Classis of the Calvin Synod Conference United Church of Christ Term 2010 – 2013

Clyde M. Hughes

Bishop/General Overseer, International Pentecostal Church of Christ

Bishop Harry R. Jackson

Presiding of the International Communion of Evangelical Churches.

Dr. Jeffrey Jeremiah

Stated Clerk, Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Bishop David Kendall, Bishop Matthew Thomas, Bishop David Roller

The Board of Bishops, The Free Methodist Church – USA

James M. Kushiner

Executive Director, The Fellowship of St. James

Dr. Richard Land

President

Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

John Lomperis

Director, United Methodist Action

Alex McFarland

Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics

Senator Patricia Miller

Executive Director, Confessing Movement (United Methodist)

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Bob Morrison

Secretary, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)

Rev. Dr. Mary Holder Naegeli

Minister-at-Large, San Francisco Presbytery; Moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition

Thomas C. Oden

United Methodist theologian

Director, Center for Early African Christianity at Eastern University

Rev. William Owens Sr.

President, Coalition of African American Pastors

Dr. Eric Patterson

Dean, Robertson School of Government

Regent University

Dr. Bob Phillips

Senior Pastor, Encourager Church, Houston

Co-Founder, Kairos Journal

Leon J. Podles

President, Crossland Foundation

Dr. Steve Riggle

Senior Pastor; Grace Church, Houston

President, Grace International

Dr. Mark E. Roberts

Publisher, Word & Spirit Press (Pentecostal/Charismatic)

Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph

National Covenant Association of Churches

Windwood Presbyterian Church

Dr. Rick Scarborough

Founder and President, Vision America Action

The Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Schumacher

Executive Director, American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

Charles G. Scot

General Bishop of the Pentecostal Church of God

The Rev. W. Stevens Shipman

Director, Lutheran Coalition for Renewal

The Rev. Paul Stallsworth

President, Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality

David M. Stanley

Director, Institute on Religion and Democracy

Chairman, United Methodist Action Steering Committee

Co-Chair, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)

John Stonestreet

Speaker and Author for Breakpoint and Summit Ministries

Bishop Ray Sutton

Ecumenical Officer, Anglican Church in North America

Eric Teetsel

Executive Director, Manhattan Declaration

Mark Tooley

President, Institute on Religion & Democracy

The Rev. Dr. David Wendel

Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism

The North American Lutheran Church

Dr. Luder Whitlock

Interim President of Knox Theological Seminary.

Mark Williams

General Overseer, Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee

Bishop Ronald Wilson

General Superintendent, Congregational Holiness Church

Dr. George O. Wood

General Superintendent, General Council of the Assemblies of God

[Update 5/22 at 2:21 pm]: Bishops David Kendall, Bishop Matthew Thomas, and Bishop David Roller have joined the above and Dr. Daniel N. Harmelink in affirming the above Boy Scouts of America’s current leadership policy.

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