 February 17, 1999
National Notes
___ Adventist president resigns. Robert Folkenberg resigned as president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Feb. 8, saying controversy over allegations about his business relations with a Sacramento, Calif., man "is distracting from God's work." Questions about Folkenberg's continuing role as president arose after church administrators learned he and the church, as well as others, were subjects of a suit alleging fraudulent business practices.
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___ Falwell apologizes for Antichrist comment. Jerry Falwell has apologized for saying the Bible dictates that the Antichrist is a Jewish male. In January, Falwell unleashed a torrent of criticism from Jewish groups when he said the Antichrist would of necessity have to be a Jewish male because that's what Jesus was. Falwell said his comment was based on traditional Christian belief. On Feb. 2, Falwell told a Christian prayer breakfast in Nashville, Tenn., that he was sorry for his remarks, but had meant no disrespect to Jews. "I apologize not for what I believe, but for my lack of tact and judgment in making a statement that served no purpose whatsoever," he said.
___ Presbyterian body approves same-sex unions. The Presbytery of the Hudson River, which represents 96 Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations in seven counties north of New York City, has voted overwhelmingly to allow ministers to perform same-sex holy unions--as long as the ceremonies are not called marriages. The Jan. 30 vote surprised liberal ministers who had been quietly performing same-sex ceremonies and prompted conservative ministers to file a petition seeking to overturn the decision. According to denomination officials, the vote represents the first time a presbytery has taken a stand on the issue, but they said it essentially affirms the church's current policy on same-sex unions.
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___ Baptist governor heeds pope's plea. Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan agreed Jan. 28 to a request from Pope John Paul II to commute the death sentence of a three-time murderer whose scheduled execution had been moved so as not to coincide with the pontiff's visit to the state. The governor said he had commuted the death sentence of 52-year-old Darrell Mease "because of the extraordinary circumstances of the pope's request and the historical significance of the papal visit to the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri." Carnahan, a Baptist, said he still supports capital punishment but that "because of a deep and abiding respect for the pontiff and all that he represents" he would spare Mease's life. Mease instead will spend life in prison without possibility of parole.
___ Arizona court upholds tax break. The Arizona Supreme Court has upheld a tax credit for people who donate money for scholarships at private schools, including religious institutions. In a 3-2 ruling Jan. 26, the court said opponents failed to show that the tax break violated either the state constitutional ban on public money being used for churches or private schools or the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on government involvement in religion.
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___ Oregon law appealed. A court case that would require all Oregon state and local governments to grant spousal benefits to same-sex couples has been appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court. Critics say such a law would weaken the status of marriage as a unique class while at the same time providing "special class" status to homosexuals.
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