NEWSBREAK
California Supreme Court Decision
"Troubling" for Religious Freedom
lan J. Reinach, director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Pacific Union Conference, sees a recent ruling by the California Supreme Court as "a significant blow to religious freedom . . . troubling for several reasons."
Also concerned is James Standish, assistant director for legislative affairs at the General Conference. "The principles set by this precedent are widely understood to threaten all religious institutions in California, including those operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church," Standish says.
The court ruled that Catholic Charities had no constitutional right to avoid including contraception in its package of health care benefits provided to employees.
Reinach notes the court held that Catholic Charities is a "secular" rather than a religious organization because its religious mission is charity rather than proselytism. It serves without regard to the religious affiliation either of employees or those who are served.
"Secular [in this case] definitely means that you lose the right to claim a religious freedom exemption to regulations or laws that burden your religious practices," Reinach says. "Hospitals are probably secular, [and] colleges are definitely in doubt."
Loma Linda University filed a brief in the case, defending the autonomy of religious institutions. Attorney Reinach also filed a brief defending the Free Exercise clause of the California Constitution.
"Religious freedom continues to be an important ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church," Reinach says. "It provides an invaluable opportunity for clergy and laity to build bridges of understanding . . . to serve the religious freedom needs of the entire faith community."
Academy Students Aid Flood Victims
Students and staff from Bass Memorial Academy (BMA) in Purvis, Mississippi, aided flood victims of the March Big Bay Lake Dam break, according to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, American.
The dam's collapse sent 3.5 billion gallons of water down a 15-mile path to the Pearl River. Ninety-eight homes were destroyed or heavily damaged.
Craig Ziesmer, BMA principal, said, "I couldn't believe the damage. It was quite amazing, for miles and miles."
Academy seniors and sophomores worked in the morning, and freshmen and juniors continued the cleanup in the afternoon. "You learn how important your life is," said Nora Moon, 16, "and how less important materials [things] are."
Noted Physician-Educator Harold Shryock Dies
Harold Shryock, M.D., 97, died March 3, 2004, at Loma Linda, California.
He was a respected medical educator, college administrator, author, counselor, public speaker, and family patriarch.
Born Edwin Harold on April 14, 1906, in Seattle, Washington, Shryock grew up at Loma Linda, where his father, Alfred, became the sixth physician at the newly established College of Medical Evangelists (CME, now Loma Linda University). Harold married Daisy Bagwell in 1929, graduated from Pacific Union College, and completed his medical training at CME in 1933. He was asked to teach at CME three years later and did so for more than 40 years. He served as dean of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine from 1951-54 and chaired the Department of Anatomy from 1957-69.
Author of more than 600 magazine articles and 13 books, Shryock may be best remembered among Adventists for two volumes: On Becoming a Man and On Becoming a Woman.
His wife Daisy preceded him in death in 1992. He is survived by a daughter, Patricia Wallace; a son, Edward; 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Health Leadership Conference
The North American Division (NAD) Health Ministries Department is sponsoring a Regeneration Ministries leadership conference May 20-23 at Adventist world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The theme, "Working With Jesus to Sharpen Our Tools," will be incorporated into workshops, sharing time, and resources, says DeWitt Williams, NAD Health Ministries director.
Regeneration is a positive, Christ-centered concept working in harmony with other 12-step organizations and groups seeking the extinction of addictions and codependency. For more information, telephone 301-680-6472 or e-mail sdaxachrist12step@yahoo.com.
News Notes
The Sebring, Florida, Adventist Church is sharing the booklet, The Passion of the Christ, with moviegoers via a revolving magazine rack in the lobby of the mall theater. Within the first five days people had taken 300 books. A church member donated funds to cover the project.
A casual contact with a woman playing her guitar outside in Chandler, Arizona, in January led to her agreeing to translate Ron Halversen's nightly Prophecy Seminar messages into Spanish. The translator, Carmen Lydia Vazquez, was baptized at the close of the series, along with some for whom she had translated.
Margaret and Dave Kelln of Monroe, Washington, recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary and Dave's 100th birthday. Members of the Monroe Adventist Church, the couple have three sons, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
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