Why Sarah Palin is at the centre of another storm of controversy

To those who follow global politics, the name of Sarah Palin will be synonymous with controversy. Her conservative political and religious views are not what rub people up the wrong way as much as her tendency to make uninformed and ill-considered statements that cause hurt. Thus, it is no surprise to find Palin at the centre of another storm of controversy when she recently stated that efforts to connect statements by her or others to last weekend's Arizona shootings amount to a "blood libel."

In case you are wondering exactly why so many people found her use of this term offensive, the Religion Professor at Boston University, Stephen Prothero, explains exactly why in an article on religion.blogs.cnn.com.

Prothero said that there were many variations on blood libel through religious history, but the myth normally involved accusing Jews of murdering non-Jews and then drinking their blood for ritual purposes. The myth is historically linked with the Passover practices of Jews.

Sadly, blood libel has been used throughout Jewish history as a pretext for violence against Jews.

Mary C. Boys, a Union Theological Seminary professor who has undertaken a personal study of the history of blood libel, said the myth is "related to blaming the Jews for the death of Jesus and the vilification of Jews. A lot of this is peasant ignorance, but it just never died out."

It is believed by scholars that the term originated in medieval Europe. "From the 11th century onward, there was an increased virulence of Christian vilification of Jews," states Boys.

The myth of blood libel was shaped more strongly in the culture of 12th century England, when a work called the Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich stated that a boy had been ritually tortured and killed by Jews.

The myth of blood libels often allege that Jews used the blood of gentiles to make Passover matzoh, or unleavened bread, and wine.

After the allegations in the Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich, the local Jews were attacked by mobs and forced to flee for their lives.

By the 14th century, ritual murder charges became common in Europe at Passover time.

The Anti-Defamation League, who work to combat anti-Semitism, criticized Palin's reference to blood libel, made in a video posted to her Facebook page Wednesday.

"We wish that Palin had not invoked the phrase 'blood-libel' in reference to the actions of journalists and pundits in placing blame for the shooting in Tucson on others," said the group's national director, Abraham Foxman.

"While the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused," Foxman said, "we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history."

Other Jewish groups also lent their weight behind criticisms of Palin's choice of words.

"It is simply inappropriate to compare current American politics with a term that was used by Christians to persecute Jews," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights group. "She has every right to criticize journalists without going over the top."

Christian scholars were equally chagrined at Palin's use of the term.

"This is not language that we Christians should use when we're victims," said Boys, who is also a Catholic nun. "This is what we charged Jews with... It's improper for us as Christians, who invented it and used it against Jews with horrific consequence, to use this terminology."

Seven million people attend Feast of the Black Nazarene

The Metro Manila police have reported that seven million devotees joined the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila on Sunday.

The Black Nazarene is a wooden statue of Jesus Christ, crowned with thorns and bearing a cross, and is believed to have been brought by Spanish missionaries from Mexico to Manila in 1606.

It is believed that the ship that carried the statue caught fire, and the statue, while it survived, was charred. This is how it came to be known as the "Black Nazarene".

The statue has survived fires and earthquakes through the centuries, and intense bombings during World War II.

During the feast, people will try to touch, kiss or wipe clothing on the Black Nazarene in the hope of acquiring graces or miracles.

Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said the festivities were "generally peaceful" even though the number of those who were injured was nearly three times higher than the figure recorded last year. There were 708 injuries in the estimated 7 million attendees but all of these were minor.

Pope challenges blasphemy laws

Pope Benedict XVI has urged the removal of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, saying that they are used as an excuse for violence against non-Muslims.

The Pope made an impassioned appeal for religious freedom in a speech to ambassadors saying it is a fundamental human right that must be protected in law and in practice.

Benedict challenged Pakistan to reverse the blasphemy laws, which carry a death sentence for insulting Islam, and noted the recent killing of the Punjab governor who opposed them.

It seems that many Pakistanis have stepped out in support of the governor's killer since the assassination a week ago. Crowds have showered him with rose petals and shouted supportive slogans during court appearances.

"I once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law, all the more so because it is clear that it serves as a pretext for acts of injustice and violence against religious minorities," the Pope said.

The Pope has often spoke out against the attacks against Christians in the Middle East and took the opportunity to warn again of the threat that religious intolerance poses to world security.

Benedict listed the injustices done to minority faiths in countries from China to Nigeria and called on their governments to take action. The Pope mentioned in particular the recent violent attacks on Christians attending Mass in Egypt and Iraq, and said that Christians are original members of these societies and deserve to live there in security with full civil rights.

"This succession of attacks is yet another sign of the urgent need for the governments of the region to adopt, in spite of difficulties and dangers, effective measures for the protection of religious minorities," he added.

Christian leaders call for global prayer efforts on behalf of Sudan

Christians around the globe are being urged to pray for Sudan as the southern Sudanese on Sunday began a seven-day referendum to vote whether to remain united with the North or become independent.

This referendum marks the end point of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that itself brought to an end 50 years of bloody civil war between the predominantly Muslim North and the mainly Christian and animist South.

Southern Sudanese are widely expected to vote for independence from the North, which they say treats them as second-class citizens.

On Friday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said Jan. 9 was an “immensely important day for Sudan.”

He called upon people around the world to stand with the Sudanese people “to ensure that the referendum takes place peacefully and that the process and the results are fully respected.”

The Church Mission Society which is based in the U.K. called on churches to devote time during Sunday worship to pray for Sudan and the referendum, while Anglican churches in Salisbury and the Diocese of Connor in Ireland put up prayer walls and resources on their websites to encourage people to pray for African nation.

In Australia, Dr. Julianne Stewart, programs director of the Anglican Board of Mission in Australia, said, "We are asking all Anglicans in Australia to pray for peace in Sudan. Whatever the outcome of the referendum, our hope is that the millions of people who have suffered amidst the conflict of the past few decades will come to know lasting peace."

The World Evangelical Alliance has urged its members worldwide to pray for a “free, fair and safe” referendum.

“While many seem confident that separation of the South will be the outcome of the January referendum, the hope for a peaceful acceptance by all parties seems much less probable,” they said.

Discovery Channel and the Vatican plan ‘The Exorcist Files’

Bizarrely, it seems an exorcism reality show is currently being plotted in a joint-project between Discovery Channel and the Vatican.

‘The Exorcist Files’ will recreate real-life cases of demonic possession and hauntings that have been investigated by the Catholic Church. In an unprecedented gesture, the Vatican will allow Discovery Channel access into their case files, as well as interviews with the Church’s top exorcists.

"The Vatican is an extraordinarily hard place to get access to, but we explained we're not going to try to tell people what to think," Clark Bunting, president and general manager of Discovery said. "The work these folks do, and their conviction in their beliefs, make for fascinating stories."

If the first season proves successful, the network plans to ramp up the partnership to a new level by sending a TV crew along with the Catholic exorcist specialists on their visits to suspected demon-oppressed subjects and other supernatural problem cases.

What do you think of this proposed TV series? Send us your opinion in our Feedback section.

Praying for Sudan: A crucial moment arrives in the life of a war-torn nation

To say that Sunday is a crucial day in the life of Sudan is to risk a crass understatement. The 9th of January 2011 sees the end of a five year peace period after 50 years of brutal war; and part of the agreement was that at its conclusion the 8.2 million southern Sudanese would be permitted a referendum vote: whether or not to pursue independence from the dominant north.

Sudan has more than 600 tribal groups who are further subdivided by colour, language, religion and geography. The biggest area of conflict has always been between the dominant north made up mainly of Muslims, and the south made up mostly of Christians and followers of animist religions. Fifty years of war has taken over 2 million lives and plunged millions into poverty. The peace pact brought a short period of respite - for many Sudanese it was the first time in their lives that they knew an era of peace. Yet, there are very real fears in the south that their right to vote for independence will not be respected and that violence will return to their lives.

Despite this most southern Sudanese seem determined to take the leap and separate, a point of view that is firmly supported by the Christians leaders among them.

"It is our golden choice. It is time to choose now," said Joseph Garang Atem Zorial, the Anglican bishop of Renk, who will be joining hundreds of religious and political leaders working to make the election fair and fraud-free.

Bishop Joseph believes that this is an ideal opportunity for southern Sudan to grasp control of their own destiny after having being subject for decades to rule by an Islamic majority.

"I am campaigning for separation," Bishop Joseph said in an interview with Christianity Today.

A recent survey backs his opinion in that a majority of southern Sudanese support political independence.

Christianity Today lists a number of factors that make separation necessary, according to southern Sudanese Christian leaders:

“Poverty: Sudan's national government exports about $35 million per day of crude oil, mostly from the South. Very little of the oil wealth gets shared with southerners, despite the 2005 peace agreement that required the North to do so. More than half of southern Sudan lives on less than $1 per day. Economic development has stalled for decades.”

“Religious discrimination: Sudan's national leaders support a version of Islamic law (Shari'ah) that creates a climate of chronic discrimination against Sudanese Christians and other minorities, especially in the areas of housing, employment, and education.”

“Political repression: President Omar al-Bashir is under criminal indictment by international courts for using the military to suppress minority groups throughout Sudan. He faces charges ranging from ordering genocide to committing war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region, where at least 200,000 have died since 2003.”

"We don't want to go back to war," Bishop Joseph said. "[But] the unity we had been looking for has failed, so now it is time for separation."

Sudanese religious leaders are convinced that prayer is a vital if they are to successfully and peacefully negotiate this extremely tenuous juncture in the life of their nation.

As Bishop Joseph said, "Muslims and Christians have a strong commitment to prayer. We say to the Muslims, 'You pray according to your way. When you go to your mosque, pray for a peaceful referendum.' We believe in the power of prayer. It is the only weapon we have."

This call to prayer was emphasised by the Sudanese delegates at the World Evangelical Alliance at Cape Town 2010. Twenty-eight Sudanese men and women were asked to share their hopes and fears as they approached the January 9 referendum on separate statehood for southern Sudan, and every single one of them urgently requested the international community to pray for a fair and free election, without violent incidents or intimidation.

It seems that the very least the international community can do is heed this call.

Various faith leaders express support for bombed church

Faith leaders from around the globe and across the full religious spectrum have united together to condemn the bombing of a Coptic congregation that left at least 21 people killed and 90 wounded.

Imam Mohamed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America, released a statement on Monday, calling the bombings “absolutely reprehensible.”

"It is a sad day for all people when a simple act of worship or community celebration is marked by violence and innocent deaths. ISNA asks Muslim community members and organizations in Egypt and Nigeria to lend support to the families who lost loved ones during these attacks and urges Muslim Americans to join them in prayer for God to ease the suffering of all those affected by this terrible tragedy," said Magid.

The statement went on to declare that these acts of violence should lead us to doubling “our efforts in promoting religious harmony and the right of people to worship free from fear and violence everywhere in the world.”

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs also conveyed their solidarity with the Coptic Church.

“We are pained to see the New Year begin with such blind hatred, bigotry, and wanton disregard for human life,” said JCPA President Rabbi Steve Gutow. “The targeting of any people because of their faith is an attack on all people of faith and indeed all humanity. Coptic Christians have had a peaceful home in Egypt for centuries. Their pain is our pain.”

The National Council of Churches also responded through their general secretary, the Rev. Michael Kinnamon who said:
“Christians, Jews and Muslims around the world are united by their outrage and condemnation of this soul-less act.”

"It is simply agonizing to think that many around the world will mistake this horror as the attack of one religious community on another,” he added.

(Image shows a woman mourning during Sunday Mass at the bombed Church of the Two Saints in Alexandria, Egpyt).