Episcopal Church’s ordination of its first openly homosexual bishop as the top religion news story of 2003, according to the Religion Newswriters Association (RNA).
Bishop Eugene Robinson’s election fueled threats of a schism both in the U.S. Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion, and spurred emergency meetings within the church.
About one-third of the 240 members of the RNA ranked 28 news items (not all are included here, due to lack of space) in a survey conducted Dec. 12-16. Besides the Episcopal ordination controversy, RNA voters chose the following 2003 religion news stories as important (in order):
2. Pending war in Iraq, early in 2003, splits religious groups. Most mainline denominations, led by the National Council of Churches, oppose starting the war; many evangelicals support war preparations.
3. Definition of marriage becomes a hot topic as the Massachusetts Supreme Court overturns a gay-marriage ban; a constitutional amendment stating “marriage shall consist of the union of a man and a woman” is proposed. The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a ban against homosexual sodomy in Texas, and Ontario’s highest court legalizes homosexual marriage.
4. Ten Commandments monument is removed from Alabama Judicial Building. Chief Justice Roy Moore, its proponent, is removed from office.
5. Roman Catholic Church seeks to combat sex abuse by priests; an ex-priest and convicted sex-abuser is killed in prison.
6. Pope John Paul II celebrates 25th anniversary of his election; concerns about his health and eventual successor intensify.
7. Slumping economy forces budget cuts in many denominations.
8. Presbyterian Church (USA) retains much-debated Fidelity and Chastity clause, elects first clergywoman moderator.
9. The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear, this term, a California case challenging the inclusion of the words ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance.
10. Suspension of New York’s David Benke for participating in an interfaith service after 9/11 is overturned by the Lutheran Church-Missouri.
11. Southern Baptists fire 13 missionaries and accept resignation of 20 others over the SB revised Faith and Message statement.
12. Discussions over legality/worth of Charitable Choice continue, but President Bush issues orders making government funds more available to some faith-based groups.
13. Religious-liberty concerns rise over the Patriot Act; Muslims complain of lingering persecution in aftermath of 9/11.
14. President signs bill outlawing partial-birth abortions.
RNA voters also listed these stories as important: Middle-East peace-talk frustrations; evangelical leadership changes; Terry Schiavo and the debate on the ending of life; a new ecumenical organization called Christian Churches Together in the USA (formed by 30 Christian groups); attacks on Christians in Third World countries; Mel Gibson’s “The Passion” movie; decline in the followers of the teaching of Judaism; states struggling with following up on the Supreme Court’s 2002 ruling approving vouchers for non-public schools; and failure of European Union’s constitution to acknowledge Europe’s Christian heritage.
I wonder if readers of The Pilot agree with the RNA’s list and ranking of stories.
Steve Crain may be reached at crain207@juno.com
