November 4, 2002
___ Abortion counseling law passes muster. Indiana's law mandating that women get in-person counseling before having an abortion is constitutional, an appellate court ruled. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago reversed a lower court decision that sided with opponents of the law, who had said it would force women to make two trips to a clinic before getting an abortion and could prevent them from ending a pregnancy. The appellate court, in a 2-1 ruling, said women do not face an obstacle in visiting a clinic two times, in part because the law includes an emergency clause that covers physical or psychological risks to the woman.
___ Bakker back in broadcasting. Former televangelist Jim Bakker, who went to prison on charges of fraud related to his PTL ministry, is making plans to start a new broadcast ministry based in Branson, Mo. The program, which he hopes will be nationally syndicated, is to be an hourlong talk show featuring Christian celebrities, musical guests and a live band. Bakker, 62, moved to Branson at the end of August and is building a TV set in the former Cowboy Cafe, which has been renamed Studio City Cafe.
___ Judge blocks man naming himself "God." A Florida man who tried unsuccessfully to change his name to "God" has instead legally changed his name to "I Am Who I Am." Charles Haffey, 55, of Lake City, petitioned a judge for the heavenly name change. When the judge refused, Haffey turned to the Bible for an alternative. He found Exodus 3:14, where God tells Moses, "I Am Who I Am." The whole passage is "kind of wordy," he told the Associated Press, "so I'm just going for 'I Am Who I Am' as my full legal name. My first name, of course, would be 'I Am.'"
___ Evangelicals sue Navy over chaplaincy. Four evangelicals, including a Southern Baptist from California, have sued the United States Navy for alleged discrimination they say kept them out of the Chaplain Corps. Filed Oct. 11 in U.S. District Court, the sixth lawsuit against the Navy in recent years represents a new set of claims. In five previous suits, evangelicals charged that discrimination caused them to be passed over for promotions, often forcing them into early retirement. But the four new plaintiffs believe bias against non-liturgicals prevented them from even pursuing careers as Naval chaplains.
___ Graham Association breaks ground. Officials of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association broke ground Oct. 29 for their new headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., a city that will become its home after more than 50 years in Minneapolis. The evangelist and his son, Franklin, who is now president of the association, hosted the ceremony and unveiled architectural plans to about 500 government, business and religious leaders. The headquarters will be called the Billy Graham Center for World Evangelism. An estimated 400 employees will work at the headquarters site, which also will feature the Billy Graham Library.
___ Archaeological find puts Catholic theology in a bind. The editor of a conservative Catholic magazine said the discovery of a first-century stone box that could have held the bones of Jesus' brother does not disprove Catholic teaching on the perpetual virginity of Mary. Researchers unveiled an ossuary used to hold the bones of the dead, with the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." Experts from the Biblical Archaeology Society said chances are "extremely slim" the inscription refers to three men other than Jesus, his brother and Jesus' father from the Bible. Catholics teach that Jesus' mother, Mary, remained a virgin after his birth. They also teach that biblical figures like James, whom the Bible refers to as a "brother" to Jesus, were actually cousins. Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis magazine, said Oct. 23 the discovery does not prove Mary had other children or that the "Catholic doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary no longer holds water." Hudson said a traditional teaching from Orthodox Christianity could help explain the mystery. Orthodox Christians believe Jesus' father, Joseph, had been previously married, and James was a product of that earlier marriage.
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