Game designed to foster understanding. A mechanical engineer from Lincoln, Neb., has designed a question-and-answer game to promote interfaith awareness. John Cooper created “7th Heaven,” a game that tests players' knowledge of Judaism, Islam and Christianity in a way intended to help people junior high school age and older enjoy learning about different religious practices. Cooper began thinking about the concept a couple of years ago after he met some Iraqi refugees while volunteering at the People's City Mission in Lincoln. Conversations with refugees and others led him to explore common themes shared by the three faiths.
Insurer rejects pro-homosexual church. A United Church of Christ congregation's pro-gay stance puts it “at a higher risk” of litigation and property damage, a leading U.S. church insurer said in refusing to offer coverage to a Michigan congregation. Brotherhood Mutual, a Fort Wayne, Ind.-based insurance company, turned down the business of the West Adrian United Church of Christ after learning the church publicly endorses same-sex marriage and gay clergy. “Based on national media reports, controversial stances such as those … have resulted in property damage and potential for increased litigation among churches that have chosen publicly to endorse these positions,” wrote Marci J. Fretz, a regional underwriter for Brotherhood Mutual, in a July 30 letter to the West Adrian Church. Brotherhood Mutual declined to offer a quote to the church located in Adrian, Mich. Another insurer covered the church.
Pentagon ends probe of Muslim chaplain. The Pentagon's inspector general has concluded a review of a former Muslim chaplain who was detained and later cleared of espionage charges, saying the Department of Defense acted properly in investigating the Army chaplain. “We found that DOD officials acted in good faith and within applicable standards in ordering Chaplain (James) Yee's initial and continued pretrial confinement and Chaplain Yee was not targeted because of his religious affiliation,” reads a two-page executive summary of the review involving former Army Chaplain (Capt.) Yee. He was held at a military brig for 76 days, and the charges against him were dropped in March 2004. The inspector general said an investigation determined in May 2004 that Yee possessed 54 documents with secret information when he was arrested in 2003.
Catholic diocese pays millions to settle abuse cases. The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego has agreed to pay $198 million to 144 alleged victims of sexual abuse by clergy or other church employees—the second-largest such settlement since the abuse crisis exploded five years ago. The settlement follows four years of negotiations and a threat from a U.S. bankruptcy judge to dismiss the diocese's Chapter 11 claim if a settlement was not reached by a Sept. 11 deadline. In the wake of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' record-setting $660 million settlement in July, the San Diego agreement brings to more than $2 billion the total amount the U.S. Catholic church has paid in sexual abuse-related matters since 1950.
Compiled from Religion News Service