Show IGION Religion Editor 625-422- www 3 standardnet 5C Standanl Examiner Saturday August African priests preach in Portugal To many it’s Mideast issues GENEVA - A fellowship of churches in more than 100 countries is explonng sharp reversal given its history By CRISTIANA PEREIRA The Associated Press Fragoselais theRev Roman Catholic leader of a small conservative community of farmers and factory workers - a place where priests are so scarce that several parishes had to share one until he arrived Yet Bento’s presence in this village of 2500 people was greeted with mixed priests “Like a son who comes back to teach his father” Bento says of his move to this village from his home in southwest Africa four years ago Bento is one of four Angolan priests who have come to Portugal to minister in rural parishes around Viseu a city roughly 185 miles north of Lisbon They are working here under a cooperation agreement between the Bishop of Viseu and his counterpart in Benguela a city along the western See PORTUGAL7C Rock H White plays Bishop Harris in the current production of Saturday’s Voyeur They Roy resident an active member of the Church Latter-da- y Saints enjoys his role in the spoof of Jesus Christ of Active Mormon enjoys spoofing his faith By BRYON SAXTON Standard-Examine- Davis Bureau r - Rock H White is James Dean or any rebel with a ROY cause Harris in the show that makes light of what he kindly refers to as but is careful not to mock church like this before” said White 29 who has appeared in such mainstream musicals as "Oklahoma" and “The Music gospel “Saturday’s Voyeur” is Man” “Utah-isms- performed at That’s why White an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daSaints is careful which church members he tells that he’s got a lead role in the Salt y Lake Acting Company’s production of “Saturday’s Voyeur” Those he does tell he whispers to in the hall realizing some church members find the production offensive where it spoofs “Saturday’s Warrior” and the predominant local LDS culture But despite those detractors White is enjoying playing the role of Bishop 7:30 pm But White claiming to be the only “active” LDS cast member said he found this production challenging where it involves a lot of impromptu acting and singing solos The said he has matured enough to realize LDS people need to be able to laugh at themselves That trait makes them more human and the church more approachable to “I thought it was interesting they would write said a show about White who graduated from Sandridge Junior High drama Weber State University in 1997 with a performing arts teacher said it is also good summer work while school is degree White said this particular out version of the play is a spoof or through ArtTix “When I first saw the play on the popular LDS film “There is nothing in it at I thought there is no way I all that steps on sacred would ever do this out of fear produced by Brigham Young University titled “Johnny of what people might say” things” White said White who served an LDS White said who first heard of Lingo” and Paula Houston Utah’s recently mission in Texas said “Saturday’s Voyeur” in 1996 porn czar to had he and initially Since then White who can cringed said White Harris Bishop often be found Sunday in laugh off some of the LDS aka Representative Harris is in satired the of front a congregation lifestyles being a character taken from play singing a hymn as the Roy See WHITE7C music Ward 8th coordinator “I have never done a satire Wednesdays and Thursdays 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays 2 pm and 7 pm on Sundays through Sept 9 at the Salt Lake Acting Company 168 W 500 North Salt Lake City Tickets are available for $2950 or $3450 by calling Utah-isms- ” 363-SLA- C state-appointe- d Feminist author criticizes LDS Church at Sunstone ering of scholars and members of various Mormon communities who discuss Mormon issues She claims the role of women is weakened strength in the church They and antiare birth control by “preaching anti-femini- st The church to a Mormon woman is totally different than the church to a Mormon male” churches that those who limit the number of children they have will That difference is based Anderson has written paexperience disappointment on traditional By MEUSA ANN WILSON gender roles as pers on feminism in the LDS and regret later on” Church and the roles of womstaff espoused in the Proclamation Anderson said messages on the Family that women en She said the “ProclamaSALT LAKE CITY - Two tion on the Family” and Boyd sent discouraging women to should not work outside the “sacred cows” of the Church K Packer acting president of serve missions or hold leader- home and men should be the of Jesus Christ of Latter-daLDS Quorum of the ship roles in the church have breadwinners the Saints fell subject to the sting Twelve Apostles are sacred caused the number of women of Lynn Matthews Anderson’s Anderson said women cows not to be criticized by active in the church to dee criticism at the annual should forget the concepts of cline Mormons “God the Mother” and women Symposium Thursday “We essentially have two holding the priesthood be But both reduce women’s The symposium is a gath Standard-Examine- 2001 Council explores a emotions The reasons? He’s the only black person in Fragosela and he comes from Angola - a former Portuguese colony where white missionaries landed five centuries ago Then Portuguese and Spanish Jesuits led the drive to spread Christian beliefs joining the voyages that set out to map distant lands and control lucrative trade routes Today Bento and his colleagues are completing the circle of fiistory by returning to the land of those European 1 1 r y Sun-ston- cause neither is acceptable in the current LDS climate many of us are discouraged wrestle with heartache pain and myriads of problems We all need encouragement One of the greatest musicians that the world has ever known was Ludwig Von Beethoven Born into a musical family in Germany Beethoven was compelled to spend a lonely childhood while he practiced his music for hours upon hours every day His genius soon showed itself At the age of 11 he was composing his own music and conducting an orchestra and in his late teens he went to Vienna for further study There he reached fame if not fortune Then he composed what was perhaps his most bewitching composition Beethoven was passing a cobbler’s cottage early one evening and heard someone practicing one of his compositions As he paused to listen he overheard the girl express the desire to hear a real musician render it properly He entered the house and discovered that the young lady was blind Offering to play for her he sat palsy said “Be of good cheer” When he told His disciples about his pending death he said “Be of good cheer” The Lord also stated in John 1 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world” There is a little poem that says I have no voice for singing I cannot make a speech I have no gift for music I know I cannot teach I am no good at leading I cannot “organize” and anything I write would never win a prize But at roll call in meetings I always answer “Here” When others are performing I lend a listening ear After the program’s over I praise its every part My words are not to flatter I mean them from my heart It seems my only talent is neither big nor rare just to listen and encourage not so brightly shine were it not for those who use a talent such as mine! Sometimes all it takes is a smile a kind word a pat on the back a thank you a sincere compliment an act of kindness a card a phone call a Words of Faith at the piano and did so for an hour or more Dusk had settled into evening The lone candle in the room went out But the moonlight listened in the room and under the inspiration and that received from the blind girl who so loved his music Beethoven composed the “Moonlight Sonata” Often in life we need to change roles At times we are the encoprager and at times we need the encouragement It seems to me however that as we encourage we become encouraged as well The Bible speaks a lot about encouragement We are admonished to pray for one another help one another encourage one another Our Lord when he healed the man of i conflict Leaders to fight casino proposal BOSTON - Religious leaders are vowing to fight casino gambling following reports last month that the an Indian tribe is planning to build a casino in southeastern Massachusetts Members of the Wampanoag tribe say they are negotiating real estate deals on two privately owned sites in the New Bedford-Fal- l River area “I resent the fact that this area of the state where there are so many e people is continuously being targeted as an ideal place for a casino” said Bishop Sean P O'Malley of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River “These are the people who are the most vulnerable to the whole gambling syndrome” “To target Fall River and New Bedford “Until the proclamation is supplanted by bona fide revelation from God about such issues as God the Mother and women and priesthood women’s place in the church will continue to be circumscribed by male leaders who see women as consumers and dependents rather than as equal partners in building God’s Kingdom” Some times we encourage often we need encouragement So ways to protect Palestinian Christians and ease Mideast violence Two or three Palestinian Christian families leave the West Bank Gaza and east Jerusalem each week because of the fighting there the World Council of Churches estimates Palestinian Christians always a minority now comprise barely 2 percent of the roughly 3 million Palestinians in the territories according to Palestinian experts A delegation from the World Council of Churches visited Israel and the Palestinian territories and issued their report on Monday The fear that the holy sites of Christianity may become museums with no local congregation “is a very real one” the delegates said The study's authors have asked the church organization to consider creating an ecumenical team to protect victims of the violence and monitor and report on the situation in the territories Among the other suggestions is helping local churches and supporting “alternative and moderate” voices on both sides of the grateful acknowledgment an expression of love and appreciation Let me share a few scriptures for your consideration and encouragement: Isaiah 43:2 says “When thou passeth through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not ' overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” And Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee: yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" And Romans 8:31 35 “What shall we say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution of famine or nakedness or peril or sword” Be encouraged my friend God loves you ! Dave Duncan is the pastor for Valley View Baptist Church they have it - why don’t on Nantucket?” O'Malley asked Nantucket is a wealthy resort island off Massachusetts Rabbi Raphael Kant'er of Tifereth Israel Congregation in New Bedford argued a casino would not improve the stumbling economy of southeastern Massachusetts “That's where my skepticism lies" Kanter said The Wampanoags say a casino in southeastern Massachusetts could generate $300 million revenue for the state A third of visitors to Connecticut's two tribal casinos are from Massachusetts the tribe says Singers promote Billy Graham LOS ANGELES - Singers and songwriters have joined others in the entertainment industry to launch a Web ' site tribute to Billy Graham The site “Thank You Billy Graham" was created last month It grew from an effort-bactor and singer Pat Boone to honor the aging evangelist as he handed leadership of his ministry to his son Franklin Graham Boone and David Pack a producer and writer from the a band Ambrosia song called "Thank You Billy Graham" which was recorded by country singer Billy Dean last year - Standard-Examine- r staff and wire servlcei |