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Show The Salt Lake Tribune RELIGION Saturday, March22, 1997 D2 WORLD VIEW led by Pegay Fletcher Stack SPRING PRAYER? | As an estimated 500,000 col students descend on Flori- s PanamaCity Beach for the ual spring break trek this some 3.000 young Chris tians will be offering prayers and pancakes in a new evange listic project. Free pancake breakfasts are a keyelement of Beach Reach,” an evangelis tic program sponsored by the Baptist Student Union and Campus Crusade for Christ. We're not going to push God down their throat,” said Rachael Elrod, 19, a sopho- more Campelisville Univery in Kentucky. But when the opportunity comes up, project rticipants will talk about Je sus and the Bible. Beach Reach rticipants also are offering free rides to students. sponsoring volleyball tournaments and evening worship sessions where students can gather to sing, read the Bible, and listen to Christian rock music. — The Associated Press Tim Kelly/TheSalt LakeTribune for the adults in the community The children of the Hebrew congregation Kol Ami take a bowafter putting on a play about Purim, a joyous Jewish holiday, Purim Holiday Celebrated With Jewish Merrymaking MOCKING ARTWORK A Penn State student's artwork hanging in a university gallery has outraged some BY PETER SCARLET and politicians for what sacred symbols of Christian- ity.” The artist, Christine En- edy. says the artwork, a quilt a Self Portrait,” was meant to show the importance f Catholicism in her life. It features 25 pairs of underwear the crotches. State Rep. John Haman. much impressedwith his new title and authority, decrees that all people must play He's [Haman]finally killed and none of the Jews is persecuted.” mandthat the artwork be re- moved from the Zoller Gallery. Penn State administrators Retired Anglican ArchbishDesmond Tutu has an- thetraditional Purim story Most noticeable is the presence of the devil a character that prompts an obviously insecure and jealou: Haman into attacking the Jews. The de il does not figure in the story in the Old Testament’s Book of Esther. the Persian king. AhaIn that sto suerus. banishes the queen. Vashti. He holds a beauty contest to choose a successther, urged on by her uncle Morsor ani nounced that he has been told by his doctors in Cape Town South Africa, that his prostate cancer had spread and that he will undergoradiation and hor- BY MICHAEL SMART mone therapy in an effort to THE TRIBU! treat it. Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in PROVO — Brigham Young University students whosurveyed campus attitudes towards homosex apartheid. said hewill travel to the United uals say 42 percent of the students questioned he- States later this year to receive radiation therapy. He will first undergoa three-month course lieve same-sex oriented students should not beallowed in school, evenif they obey its honor code which prohibits homosexual behavior School policy allows same-sex oriented people whofollow its guidelines of behavior of hormonetreatment in Cape Town. Tutu, 65, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in Janu- BYU has a general policy that any student who ary and saw doctors in the United States during visit last week — Religion News Service has a current ecclesiastical endorsem: goodacademicstanding and is abiding by the honor code can attend the university janet Scharman, dean of students. “The Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) sets policy for us As part of a project for their English class, Sam Clayton, Dale Franklin and Melanie Dinger conduct- COMMUNION BOYCOTT ed the school-approved survey Canon John Halliburton of St. Paul's Cathedral in London recently criticized the appoint ment of the cathedral’s first isting policies enda” and said he t communionser He feels the results show a substantial amount of intolerance and prejudice among students towards Lucy same-sex oriented people Winkett is presiding. Hallibur mn said, Clayton, who says I don't believeher tc ‘ommunion” into the heart of the cathedral. “I have nothing points to the 42 per cent of those surveyedsaid they were familt the church's stance, only a third actually were tion Indiaprotested job and educa Wednesday, demanding job and education quotas. Demon strators, most of them Indian Christians whose low-caste an cestors converted from Hindu clapped hall Over: vernment al sets aside positions in funded universities for Forty-one percent chose “Accepts homosexually oriented persons as long as they change their sexual orientation Ten percent believe the LDS Church excommuni cates homosexuals diess of sexual activity, and 10 percent marked “other A 1991 directive from the church's First Presiden cy details the polic’ band and wife appropriately expressed within the bonds of marriage. Any othersexual contact, includ. ing fornication. adultery, and homosexual and lesbi an behavior is sinful ‘There is a distinction between immoral thoughts andfeelings andparticipatingin either immoral het erosexua! or an homosexual behavior However thoughts and feelings, regardless of their uses, can and should be overcome and sinful ber should be eliminated In a September 1995 speech to a General Relief Society Meeting, LDS Church President Gordon B Hinckley said, “Our hearts reach out to those whe struggle with feelings of affinity for the same gen der We remember you before the Lord, we sympa Sikhs or Buddhists to escape from the caste system. But low thize with you, we regard you as our brothers and sisters. However, we cannot condone immoral prac tices on your part any more than we can condone to extend the quotas to Chris BYU statistics professor Howard Christenser questioned the valid: of the survey's ability to ac curately represent the entire student body. Adminis tering the questionnaire to randomly selectedclass es rather than randomly selected individuals is percent of India's 936 million population. About 11 million the same student could have been surveyed twice, said are converts from low Hindu castes who are unable to re classes to be more alike than they would be if taker low-easte Hindus who become aste Hindus who become hristians receive no suchprotection Prime Minister HI Deve Gowda’s 15-party coali vernment has promised tians. Christians make up 24 ceive educational or white-col lar job opportunities — Religion Negos Service ’ ‘ issue, to not be scared to addressit and understand thereis a place in the church and the community for homosexually oriented people,” he said. Thirteen percent of those surveyed know someone same-sex oriented at BYU Clayton knows 40 such individuals Administrator Scharman has been meeting with Claytonand other studentsto discuss their concerns. Any groupsorindividuals who haveconcerns about anything related to their BYL eaperietice are wel cometo meet with me.” shesaid. Asked about the debate surroundingthe question of altering one’s sexuality, Clayton said ‘or an overwhelming majority of people, whether gay or straight or somewherein the middle, their orienta tion isn’t going to change. But regardless of their orientation, peopie can choosetheir behavior Almost 80percent of respondents would not live with a same-sex oriented roommate. Claytonhastold a total of 10 roommates about his orientation, and ‘there have been no major problems,” hesaid Approaching each roommateindividually. Clayton says, ‘1 tell them io gay, andIlive the honorcode and ask them if they a problemwith that, and if he does, we talk Spout it. No one has moved out because of it While Clayton was beinginterviewed near 2 well think you guys are doing a great job.” he said tc Clayton. “There's so much ignorance on this campus it’s pathetic Thirty-three percent chose "Accepts in full fellow ship homosexually oriented persons who live the Church's law of chastity | tensensaid of 3.25 percent to 5 percent error margin claimed bythe student pollsters. Clayton said he and other interested students, gay and straight, simply want a more open discussion among students about the issue “We want them to acquaint themselves with the traveled sidewalk on BYU's campus, a student over. Sexual relations are proper only between hus tion discrimination in a march toward India's parliament East In addition, Chabad Lubavitch will cele- Purim this year will be celebrated Sunmagogue, there will be a 7:30 p.m. Purim Eve service tonight with a Megillah reading. The Megillah is the scroll or book of Esther in the Bible. day At the Kol Amis to answer the ques church's stand Winkett’s appointment was de INDIAN PROTESTS Hundreds of Christians in Lubavitcher movement, will observe Pu- tim with Megillah readings tonight at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Both services will be at Bais Menachem 1433 8. 1100 minister “What statement do you think best describes the Respondents hadfour choices inst women,” he added Their gender does not worry me at all She is a very sweet gir based his objection yn the question of authority appointed her because she was the best candidate for the job — Episcopal News Service gay. cent of students who are ignorant of or opposedto the school's policy. He also saidthat while priest,” and that her apyintment brought “impaired fended by Cathedral Dean n Moses, who said, “We are not playing gender politics. We to 420 students in randomly selected classes on campus Clayton. a senior sociology major from Toppanish. Wash., said, “It was not directed at changing any policies, just clarifying and publicizing already-ex woman priest as “typical of the r the Rev. 3:30 p.m. Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, the Salt Lake City ministry of the New York City-based brateits fifth annual Family Purim Masquerade Party on Sunday at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. Festivities start at 5:30 p.m. BYU StudentPoll: Ban Gay Students Utah Presbyterians to Vote op 1 this. At a royal banquet. she reveals Haman’s plot to kill the Jews and that his decree would apply to her because she is Jewish. Ahasuerus, outraged, orders that Haman be hanged from the gallows on which he planned to hang Mordecai. The king subsequently appoints Mordecai as his chief hated us so much and we'reuncertain of The festive holiday includes food and drink. There are even little triangular cakes called “hamantashen” after the three-cornered hat Haman reportedly fa On Sundaythere will be a Purim carnival at the Jewish Community Center, 2416 E. 1700 South, Salt Lake City from noon to casts lots — purim — toset thedayoftheir destruction. Mordecai tells Esther about what happened [to causeit] Sunday’s playoffered a variation on the Purim story TUTU'S CANCER SPREADS The infuriated Haman decrees thatall the Jews of Persia should be killed and we're kind of hiding something we don’t want totalk about he said ‘We're hiding the sadnes that someone takers called graggors, and boo and his: whenever Haman’s name is mentioned in — TheAssociated Press Jews bowonly to God “In a way andadults at the Purimservice use noise have said they will allow the work to remain on display tion of another Purimspiel, or play, featur® ing both children and adults. It will have a lighthearted twist: females will play the male roles and males will play the female roles. For example, Richard Evans, whose daughter, Rachal, played Haman’s wife in last Sunday’s religious schoolplay, will be tonight's Esther. bend knee before him. Mordecai demures: Jake Arky, the fifth-grader who played Mordecai, offered an interior assessment of in a play about Purim presented last Sunday at the Kol Ami synagoguein Salt Lake City a holiday on which Jewsare encouraged to wear costumes and the service is characterized by merrymaking. Children Lawless of Montgomery has asked Goy. Tom Ridge to de- against sympathetically henpecked Haman in the tion Kol Ami’s religious school Jon played the Persian king Ahasuerus with crimson crosses sewn in fight He gets a new prime minister, Haman, too. Bauchman, a fourth-grader in Congrega- Part of the servicewill be the presenta- decai, wins and becomes the new queen. Ahasuerus gets more than a new queen said Matt Zalkind, the fifth-grader who portrayed a Purim is the kind of religious holiday that can make going to synagogue fun. Just ask young people ‘Purim is when you block out Haman’s name, have a great festival and say ‘boo when you hear Haman’s name.” said Jon entitled “25 Yearsof Virginity the vored. ‘Purim is a happyholiday THESALT LAKE TRIBUNE they call its mockery of the immoral practices on the part of others. calledcluster sampling andraises the possibility that It also has a tendency he for the results of particular separately I doubt if they took into account the cluster sam pling when computing the marginof error.” ‘ Chris heard the conversation. ‘‘I just wantedto tell you | Such a comment is typical, Clayton says. “Most people I have contact with are open-minded. They are eager to have an honest and opendiscussion about theissue. The positive experiences I've had far outweigh the negatives Indeed, survey respondents who knew a same-sex On Gay Ordination Ban PACK THE SALT LAKETRIBL E As Utah's Presbyterians are BY PEGGY FLETCHER poised to vote on an amendment from other presbyteries around favor of the amendment We feel like Hawaii on the na tional election for president In the last 22 years ourGener: al Assembly has affirmed repeat edly that persons practicing anac- quippedthe Rey, David Henry of Wasatch Presbyterian Church in Salt LakeCity Nevertheless, representatives — half laity andhalf clergy — of Utah's 24 Presbyterian congrega. tions will meet today at Mt. Olympus Presbyterian Church to dis cuss and vote on the proposed amendment No one knows howthe votewill go We've talked a lot about the issue, but not about how we are goingto vote,” Henry said. “Many mixedfeelings vote to amendthe Presby terian Church USA's Book of Or der to include the statement that all deacons, elders, or ministers must “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between aman and a woman, orchastity in singleness Although the Presbyterian General Assembly in 1995 af firmed past policies forbidding the ordination of noncelibate ho mosexuals, the faith’s official rule dressed the issue of gay ordina nothing I can do about it’ is almost a slap in the face to BYU students and the school Hubbard says them” he understands “it's a problemfor but after choosing to attend BYU and live by its honor code, he expects not to haveto live with a gay roommate or have gay men in the locker rooms on campus. Richard Bailey N_Y., a senior in finance from Rome welcomes same-sex oriented people to BYL ‘as long as they aren't acting on it ‘There are people here with various different problems or temptations,” said Bailey, adding that he has a good friend who “overcame same-sex at traction” and is now engaged to be married Alecia Maher, a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif majoringin art, spent her high school yearsliving with her lesbian mother and her mother’s partner When| first came to BYU, | didn’t tell anyone but my very close friends,” said Maher, a heterosex ual, Since then, she says, she “grew up alittle” and became more comfortable discussing her back ground. “People havebeenreally positive and genu inely interested Maher calls for a group that can be publicized on campus where students, whatever their orientation can discuss same-sex orientation openly tc ae the stigma help re hesaid The Rev. William Alexander of thenation to pass live with a gay or lesbian roommateandagree that before attending BYL If people have the desire to change, that’s great he says. “But for them to say ‘I’m gay and there's ‘We are a congregation with gay and lesbian personsinit and First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, on the other hand, is in andlesbians from being ordained. the amendment got enough votes book Jon Hubbard, a sophomore business major from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, says he knew several gays Henry said Of the 172 districts reporting 88 arein favor and 60 against we will be hurt by this.” orientedindividual were morelikely to be willing to those who keep the honor code should be allowed to attend BYL clear consensus,” that would effectively block gays = priests had not specifically ad tive homosexual lifestyle do not meet the biblical or confessional standards for ordination,” Alex ander said In addition to questions sur. rounding gay ordination, the church has been confrontedrepeatedly in recent years by “inap. propriatesexual behavior on the part of our heterosexual clergy he said This amendment “fairly and equally calls for celibacy in sin gleness for both heterosexuals and homosexuals as a standard for ordination andit clearly af firms that married clergy are called to fidelity to their spouses,” he said These are important issues for the state's Presbyterians, said the Rev. Marvin Groote, presbyter of Utah executive ‘The vote that we will take in this presbytery represents the feelings of the Presbytery of Utah. their concerns and de sires.’ Groote said. “It may be moot on a national level, but it tions definitely is not on locallevel In the last six months, the Wa satch congregation has sponsored a series of lectures and presenta tions on both sides of the issue terians hope to exemplify how people “can deal with controver. Wasatch’s governing board of elders opposes the amendment We fee! it is bad to put it inte the constitution when there isn't a Church Leaders Ask Endto Racism Blight Henry adds that sia] and divisive Utah's Presby issues in ways that show the love of Jesus You can disagree passionately but without rancor or vitriolic body slams,” he said BULLETIN BOARD Compiled by Laurene Sowby RELIGION NEWS SERVICE joint statement Friday four ional Christian organiza end to the con tinuing global blight” of racism ‘The continuing existence of the blight of racism i front tc the ministry of Jesus Christ saidthe statement The message was signed by World Couneil of Churches Gen Secretary Konrad Raiser Fischer, general secretary of the Conference of Buropean Churches; Ishmael Noko, general tary of the Lutheran World and Milan Opo al secre World Alliance Churches ry of the of Reformed LUTHERAN Mount Tabor Lutheran Church. 17: 5. 700 Bast, Salt Lake City, is offering a new member orientation following worship Sunday at noon. Asix-session new member class will thenbeoffered during the 9:15 a.m. education hour beginning Apri! 6. Contact the church office for more information at 326 MISCELLANEOUS Inner Light Institute, 470 E3906 South, Salt Lake City, presents insti tute classes ‘Awakening to the Christ Consciousness’ beginning Mondo The classes will continue through te June 2. to 10 pm. "Qabalah” begin: Thursday through May 20. 7 t pm. For prayer, cal] 276-8976 |
