Christian Judicial Candidate
Offers to Wash Lawyers' Feet
by Chuck Shepherd
source: Grass Valley Union
May, 1996
In April, Nevada County, California, judicial candidate Robert Litchfield, attempting to rectify his low standing among local lawyers, offered to kneel and wash the feet of any lawyer in the county as a gesture of his desire to serve them. Said Litchfield, "What I [offered] was an act of faith, and I don't think that's something a news reporter can understand."
At the scheduled washing, Litchfield showed up with a basin and towel, but no lawyer came forth.
Saint Joseph Statues
Aid Home Sales
by Chuck Shepherd
source: New York Times
May 19, 1996
New York Times columnist Dan Barry reported a run on $6.95 St. Joseph statues at the Long Island Catholic Supply store, attributed to a belief by many house sellers that an upside-down St. Joseph buried in the lawn will bring a quick and lucrative sale.
The Long Island Board of Realtors told Barry that home sales have risen recently.
Feng Shui
Increasingly Popular
by Chuck Shepherd
source: Washington Post
April 23, 1996
The Washington Post reported in April that home-buying Asians around Washington, D.C., have turned increasingly to a 3,000-year-old philosophy of feng shui to help them select stress-free houses that match their personal spirits in location, dimensions, and design, and that among the non-Asian practitioners is Donald Trump.
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Self-Flagellation Celebration
For Saint Hussein
by Chuck Shepherd
sources: Springfield News-Leader (Missouri),
AP
May 28, 1996
Despite appeals by their more-mainstream leaders, about 4,000 Shiite Muslims in Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, slashed their heads with swords and razors in May in the annual self-flagellation celebration of the revered 7th century saint Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
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Self-Flagellation Celebration
For Saddam Hussein
by Chuck Shepherd
source: CBS
October, 1996
On October 21, the CBS Evening News aired a confidential videotape of an Iraqi wedding reception in which members of a cult of Sunni Muslims performed a series of severe self-mutilations to demonstrate their devotion to Saddam Hussein.
While Saddam's sons Odai and Qusai looked on approvingly, the men stabbed themselves in the abdomen with swords and impaled themselves on long skewers, and one man tore a hole in his stomach with a gunshot.
CBS's Middle East experts said the footage was authentic.
Brazilian Physician
Is Latest "Dr. Fritz"
by Chuck Shepherd
source: New York Times
January 12, 1996
The New York Times profiled physician Rubens Faria, Jr., the latest in a line of Brazilians who claim to possess the soul of "Dr. Fritz," an inexplicably meaningful German physician who died during World War I, and who is said to have had magical healing powers.
On a typical day, 800 people will wait up to 14 hours in line for an "office visit" that might last just 30 seconds.
Jewish Woman
Gets Rare Help
In Divorce Quest
by Chuck Shepherd
sources: Independence Examiner (Missouri),
AP
April, 25, 1996
A rabbi in London, England, granted estranged wife Rachel David a "nidui" in her quest to pressure her husband Moses David for a divorce. The "nidui" forbids observant Jews from speaking to Moses or coming within six yards of him.
So far, despite the pressure, Moses has refused to grant Rachel a "get," which means that she cannot have a religious divorce and that her subsequent children will be regarded as illegitimate.
"Confession by Computer"
CD-ROM Released
by Chuck Shepherd
October, 1996
The Lazarus Society in Cologne, Germany, recently released a "Confession by Computer" CD, with a menu of the 200 most-frequent sins and a separate program to allow the particularly iniquitous to customize the sins to which they will confess. Appropriate penances are prescribed, as well as a link to priests via the Internet.
The German Conference of Bishops quickly denounced the disk.
Roman Catholic Mass
Goes Online
by Chuck Shepherd
June, 1996
Rev. David E. Courter of the Independent Catholic Church International told an Associated Press reporter he would soon say Mass online and allow people to take Communion via computer by placing unleavened bread in front of their monitors.
Corporation Supports Monks
In Return For Prayer
by Chuck Shepherd
April, 1996
Eastern Orthodox monks in the former Soviet republic of Moldova signed a contract with the Exiton corporation, one of the leading builders of the severely-depressed Moldovan economy.
Under the contract, Exiton would help support a monastery and assist the monks in recovering lost icons, and the monks would pray for Exiton's bottom line.
U.S. Agency Responds
To 666 Superstition
by Chuck Shepherd
May, 1996
Social Security Commissioner Shirley Chater went against an agency policy by reassigning a social security number based on a religious complaint. Eric and Maria Bessem's toddler had been assigned a number containing 666 (the biblical "mark of the beast") and protested by refusing to claim the child on income tax forms.
A Pentecostal pastor near the Bessems' home in Orange County, California, has a zip code of 92666 but says he accepts it because it is not a personal identifier like the social security number.
Seattle Monastery
Markets Gourmet Coffee
by Chuck Shepherd
October 11, 1996
Recently, the All-Merciful Saviour Russian Orthodox Monastery realized it needed to raise money through an entrepreneurial venture.
Since the order is located on Vashon Island near Seattle, Washington, it decided to make and market four blends of gourmet coffee, at $20-$30 a pound, including its signature blend, Abbot's Choice.
Swastika Worship
by Chuck Shepherd
June, 1996
Mr. Esyededeea Aesfyza, 46, was sentenced to six months in jail in Washington, D.C. for having painted swastikas at more than 100 public places in town in the previous three years.
In court, Aesfyza, dressed in a long white robe with a green sash, expounded on his love of swastikas, said he prayed to them and said they are a symbol against circumcision.
Thai Prime Minister
Chooses New Star Sign
by Chuck Shepherd
August, 1996
Opponents of Thailand's prime minister Banharn Sipla-archa said he lied about his birthday this year when he claimed it was August 19 and not July 20, and they claimed that he changed the date on the advice of an astrologer so he could be a Leo and thus a better leader.
India's New Prime Minister
Leads by Astrology
by Chuck Shepherd
June, 1996
India's new prime minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, said he moved into his official residence a week ahead of schedule because his astrologers said it would be better for him.
Government-Mandated Beards
-- Just like Mohammad
by Chuck Shepherd
September, 1996
The Islamic Court that sets rules for the northern half of Mogadishu, Somalia, announced in September that men must have beards, as did the prophet Mohammed. Said the Court chairman, "Those who shave like Elvis Presley, Sylvester Stallone, and the U.S. Marines will not go unpunished." Two weeks later, Afghanistan's new ruling Taleban leadership made a similar decree for male government employees.
Presence of Preacher
Inspires Pro Football Player
by Chuck Shepherd
September, 1996
Pro football player Mark Carrier told a Greensboro News Record (N.C.) reporter that the presence of evangelist Billy Graham at the Carolina Panthers' stadium during a practice session was inspirational. "Even after we battle on the football field and beat each other's heads in," said Carrier, "we come together and thank God for just being able to do that."
Moorish Science Temple
Exploits Prison
Religious Guarantees
by Chuck Shepherd
September, 1996
The Washington Post reported that several self-described members of the Moorish Science Temple in Washington, D.C., had smuggled cocaine and prostitutes into the District's Lorton Correctional Complex and at one point made a 10-minute video of prisoners and women having sex in the prison chapel. The Temple "members" had taken advantage of Lorton's lax procedures for religious visitors.
Candidate Proposes
22,000-Mile Space Tower
by Chuck Shepherd
September, 1996
Mickey Kalinay, 43, was defeated in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Wyoming, despite his tantalizing proposal to make the space program more efficient by constructing a 22,000-mile-high tower so that space stations can be accessed by electromagnetic rail cars.
Faith Healer
'Some Kind Of Crackpot'
by Cliff Walker
April 27, 1998
England coach Glenn Hoddle has recruited the 57-year-old self-proclaimed faith healer Eileen Drewery to help his players physically and mentally in the build-up to the World Cup finals in France. Drewery appeared on television claiming to be "an instrument of God whose power would help England win the World Cup."
Martin Peters, a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning side and scorer of one of the goals in the 4-2 World Cup triumph over West Germany, was quoted in the News of the World newspaper as saying that Drewery had become "a farcical figure."
"Then there's that stuff about using her powers to prevent Ian Wright scoring a last-minute goal in Rome because it may have triggered crowd trouble," Peters said. "That was a crazy thing to say and she made herself look like some kind of crackpot."
"The England players will accept her if that is what it takes to be part of the squad but behind closed doors, when the players talk to each other, they'll probably say she's a joke."
Catholics Told to
Improve Relations
by Amanda Covarrubias
Associated Press Writer
November 25, 1998
Los Angeles (AP) -- The Catholic church will expand Holocaust studies in its schools and religious education programs as part of an effort to improve relations with Jews, Cardinal Roger Mahony told Jewish leaders.
Acknowledging the Roman Catholic Church has erred in its relations with Jews in the past 2,000 years, particularly during World War II, Mahony urged Jews and Catholics to work together to heal old wounds.
In turn, he asked Jews to try to develop a deeper understanding of Christianity and Catholicism.
"There needs to be a mutual respect of all religions, traditions and faiths," said Mahony, head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which has 4 million members and is the nation's largest.
Catholics will do their part by teaching future generations about the Holocaust and continue trying to "eliminate vestiges of anti-Judaism" from their preaching, Mahony said Tuesday in an address to the Jewish Federation's Board of Rabbis. The board represents 650,000 Jews in Southern California.
"I like everything I heard," said Rabbi Harold Schulweis, who organized the event as part of an effort by Catholics and Jews in Los Angeles to find ways to improve relations.
Some Jews say the Vatican has not shed full light on the role of the World War II pope, Pius XII, who they say could have done more to save European Jews from the Nazis. The Vatican forcefully defended Pius in a document this year and did not apologize for any failures by church leaders.
When asked whether the church would condemn Catholics -- by name -- who stood by in silence while millions of Jews died at the hands of the Nazis, Mahony said it was doubtful.
But he said the Pope will expand on the Vatican report on the church and the Holocaust during the 1999 Lenten period leading up to Easter.
"Rather than naming names, you will see the Pope asking forgiveness for the actions of people in a variety of religious roles at a variety of times," said Mahony, a key adviser to the Pope.
© Copyright 1998 The Associated Press