7B
RELIGION/tETie Ctarlatte ^osit
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Vatican opposes death penalty for Saddam
Charlotte ^osit
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY - A top
Vatican cardinal said he felt
compassion for . Saddam
Hussein after seeing video
pictures in which, the
prelate claimed, American
forces treated the captured
Iraqi leader ‘Tke a beast.”
In the first Vatican com
ment on Saddam’s capture,
Cardinal Renato Martino
said Saddam should face
trial, but he stressed the
Church’s opposition to the
death penalty. He told
reporters the Vatican hoped
Saddam’s arrest would “con
tribute to the pacification
and the democratization of
Iraq.”
Martino said he felt “com
passion” for Saddam, even if
he was a dictator, after see
ing images of “this destroyed
man” being “treated like a
beast, having his teeth
checked” by an American
military medic. Martino,
president of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and
Peace, was speaking at a
news conference to launch
Pope John Paul II’s annual
message for the World Day
of Peace, which the church
celebrates on Jan. 1. “It
seems illusory to hope that it
(Saddam’s capture) will
repair the drama and dam
age of the defeat against
humanity which war always
is,” Martino said, reiterating
the Vatican’s deep opposition
to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Martino said the Vatican
hoped Saddam would face
trial in “an appropriate
place,” but didn’t say
whether that should be in
Iraqi or before an interna
tional court.
Ala. justices to step down from Moore appeal
Word Of Faith West
Invites You to
WATCH NIGHT SERVICE
Wednesday, Dec. 31,2003,10PM
Guest Speaker:
Rev. Odell Beasley
Rev, & Mrs. Guthrie
A Church that cares for your soul 2 Chron. 7:14
Pastor, Rev. Samuel Guthrie, Jr.
2300 Sanders Ave. • Charlotte, NC • 358-1709
By Bob Johnson
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -
The eight associate justices of
the Alabama Supreme Court
will step dovm from hearing
Roy Moore’s appeal of his
ouster as chief justice by a
judicial ethics panel, a court
official said Monday.
Supreme Court Clerk Bob
Esdale told The Associated
Press the justices have not
issued a formal order, but
plan to hold a meeting at 3
p.m. CST Monday to random
ly draw the names of quali
fied judges and attorneys
who coidd hear the case.
The names will be submit
ted to Gov. Bob Riley, who is
expected to make the final
appointment of a replace
ment court.
The Alabama Court of the
Judiciary voted Nov. 13 to
remove Moore from office for
refusing U.S. District Judge
Myron Thompson’s order to
remove a 5,300-pound Ten
Commandments monument
from the rotunda of the
Aiabama'^udicial Building.
The eight associate justices
had the monument moved
from the rotunda into a stor
age room in August after
Moore' refused to do so.
Moore’s attorneys had asked
acting Chief Justice Gorman
Houston to disqualify himself
from the case because of com
ments he had made to news
reporters and because of the
part he and the other justices
played in having the monu
ment moved.
Houston had previously
said that he could review the
case objectively and had no
reason to disqualify himself
The eight justices did not
immediately say why they
decided to step down.
Moore’s attorneys did not
seek to disqualify any justices
other than Houston.
Moore attorney Phillip Jau-
regui said Monday his
motion also asks that Hous
ton have no part m the selec
tion of replacement justices.
Jauregui said his motion
sought to remove Houston
“from all parts of the case.”
“Houston is participating in
a manner contrary to what
we requested in our motion,”
Jauregui said.
Houston had suggested the
process of drawing names if
any justices stepped down
from hearing the appeal. He
said that process would elim
inate criticism that either the
justices or the governor tried
to influence the final decision
of the replacement panel.
Moore’s attorneys filed
notice last week that the for
mer chief justice is appealing
his removal from office. In an
interview last week, Moore
said he will argue that he
was removed from office
because his Christian faith
requires him to acknowledge
God.
Separating meaning from fantasy
Continued from page 8B
white man who comes down
a chimney and brings toys
while eating the cookies and
drinking milk you leave.
I believe the goal of the
Evil One is to have people
confused to the point where
you don’t know what to
believe. Some people will
choose to believe nothing
and then his purpose is done
because without faith in
Jesus there’s no salvation.
I know some may not think
mixing fact and fiction
together at Christmas' is no
big deal, but it is. It’s as if no
one has thought about
maybe if you got rid of Santa
Claus and all of the materi
alism that becomes associat
ed with the birth of the
promised Messiah maybe
there could be peace on
Earth and good will toward
men.
Where are you going to be on
New Year's Eve?
At The Park!!!!
For two dynamic worship services at
University Park Baptist Church
1
Pastor Claude R. Alexander, Jr.
Serve More in '04
Two Services at
8:00pm & 10:00 pm
Services Interpreted for the Hearing Impaired.
Producing Kingdom Citizens through
Evangelism, Discipleship, Worship,
Fellowship & Service
6029 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, NC 28216
704-392-1681
www.theparkministries.org
“One of the most important
things is whether or not you
can hold office and believe in
God,” Moore said.
His legal adversaries said
he was removed for disobey
ing a federal court order, not
because of his religious
beliefs.
Moore, who is known
nationally as “the Ten Com
mandments judge,” had the
granite monument moved
into the judicial building on
July 31,2001, saying the Ten
Commandments represent
the moral foundation of
American law.
REEDER MEMORIAL
BAPTIST CHURCH
Come and share "The Journey" with us.
Sunday Morning Worship - 8 am and 10:45 am
Sunday School -9:30 am
Tuesday Bible Study-7:30 pm ;
A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY MAKING CONNECTIONS
WITH YOUR FUTURE
3725 Beatties Ford Rd.‘704-398-2914
tj
Long & Son Mortuary Service
Marshall F. Little died November 24 at Grant Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. Funeral
was held November 29 at Rock Hill AME Zion Church, Indian Trail Burial at Salisbury
National Cemetery, Salisbiuy.
Master Richard McCullough died November 24 at his residence. Funer
al was held November 29 at Christ Resurrection Church. Burial at Beatties
Ford Memorial Gardens.
Thomas E. Alexander died November 27 at his residence. Funeral was held
December 3 at East Stonewall AME Zion Chimch. Burial at Beatties Ford
Memorial Gardens.
James Lawrence Sr. died November 29 at Beverly Healthcare Nursing
Home. Funeral was held December 6 at Long & Son Mortuary Chapel. Bur
ial at Crown Memorial Park.
Mother Carolyn Rose Zlnnah Stryker died November 17. Funeral was
held December 6 at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Burial at Gethse-
mane Memorial Gardens.
WUIiam G. “Pee Wee” McKnight died December 3 at Carolinas Medical Center. Funeral
was held December 8 at Johnson C. Smith University Chapel. Burial at Forest Lavra Ceme-
teiy-West.
A.L. Jinwright Funeral Service
Alfred Guyton, 49, of 3023 Parkway Ave. #1 died December 13. Funeral will be held
December 19 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Elmont, N.Y.
Lizzie Anderson, 90, of 6540 Peace Haven Drive, died November 23. Funeral servdce held
November 28 at Beulah Baptist Church, Newark, N.J.
Alexander Funeral Home
Janice Patterson died December 4 at Carolinas Medical Center. Visitation and funeral
were December 10 at The Way of Holiness Christian Church. Burial at Sharon Memorial
Park.
Zennie Williams died December 11 at Presbyterian Hospital. Visitation and funeral held
December 14 at Zechariah Alexander Sr. Memorial Chapel. Burial at Beatties Ford Memor
ial Gardens.
Ernest Wade died December 10 at Presbyterian Hospital. Visitation and funeral held
December 16 at Zechariah Alexander Sr. Memorial Chapel. Burial at Beatties Ford Memor
ial Gardens.
Ola Mae Jones died December 11 at Presbyterian Hospital. Visitation December 14 and
funeral held December 15 at Gethsemane Baptist Churi^h. Burial at York Memorial Park.
Jessie Avent died December 13 at Carolinas Medical Center. Memorial service at Zechari
ah Alexander Sr. Memorial Chapel.
“A Word From Our Paitneis”
\ \ 3i .J BLsm^ ”
Giving is high profile this time of year, but we really do it every day. Christmas
gives extra emphasis to the need to give, and it can be quite expensive. Many
people enjoy the spending and plan for it in their budgets. How you spend your
money is your personal choice. However, giving at Christmas can create
unwanted debt. This is because many of us want to give more than we can
actually afford. It is their way of sharing the joy and the meaning of Christmas.
Actually there is another way to share the true meaning of Christmas. This
approach might give Christmas new meaning to those who do not know or
those have forgotten what it is all about. Perhaps we should be rerninded that
God's gift of love is the real meaning of this special time and season. Then we
can discover giving that does not cost money.
Don Stegar, Ph.D.,
Pastor of Reeder
Memorial Church
Some gifts are priceless. These gifts are so valuable that no amount of money
would be a lair price. When your "loving heart" is greater than your cash flow,
focus on the value in these priceless gifts. You may not be able to give what you most desire to give,
but you can always give what you have. The receivers will welcome these gifts and you benefit from
the joy of giving.
Give the gift of listening. Someone needs you to hear what he or she has to say, they don’t need
you to respond, just listen. Give the gift of affection. Be generous with appropriate hugs and
expressions that demonstrate your love. Give the gift of kindness. Make a special effort to give
kindness to someone who least expects it. Give it without expecting something in return. A simple
and sincere compliment can brighten someone’s day. Give the gift of laughter. Share a funny story
or incident and share the laughter. Give the gift of forgiveness. Forgive someone who thought you
never would or could forgive. Forgive yogrself! Give the gift of a miMscuiStS. Send a personal
note to say hello or to say thank you. It tells the receiver that you care enough to lake time for them.
Give the gift of a cheerful disposition. An easy way to feel good is to offer a friendly greeting with
a smile. Give of your MlUS. Take time to visit someone living alone, or living in an "in-care" facility.
Often patients with long term illnesses have diminished visitation. Sharing your time with them is a
gift. They need to know that they are not forgotten. Provide comfort and show appreciation. This
is a very limited list of valuable gifts that do not cost a cent. Can you see God in your gift giving?
Giving is a blessing. All these are gifts that last all year long.
These are God’s blessings to us. and God blessings are meant to be shared. God has
demonstrated this kind of giving, and Jesus is the demonstration of this kind of "on-going" giving -
day-to-day. He loves us, forgives us, listens to us, comforts us, and shares His grace, mercy and
peace with us. His love keeps on blessing, accompanied by joy that lasts for a long, long time.
God's most precious gift is the gift of His love. He gave us His precious son - the greatest
expression of love. He is the gift of life, only God can give life.
Don’t remove anyone from your list because you don't have the money. Many people need what
money can't buy. Consider folk to whom you can give these priceless gifts. There are so many ways
to give and share the joy of Christmas. If just stands to reason that we have been blessed so that
we can share the blessings. I have discovered that, "Giving is a Blessing."