8A the university daily kansan
news
wednesday, may 5, 2004
Searching for the right one
Elisabeth Brown, Prairie Village freshman, searched for the perfect Mother's Day card yesterday afternoon at the KU Bookstore on the second floor of the Kansas Union. "I don't know if I can make it home so I'm going to mail a card," Brown said. Mother's Day is May 9.
Methodists split on homosexuality
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH United Methodists rejected a measure yesterday that would have officially acknowledged their divisions over homosexuality while maintaining the church's condemnation of gay sex.
Liberals had proposed adding the watered-down statement to the Methodist Social Principles after years of failing to win support for a more ambitious goal: Eliminating the phrase in the principles that calls homosexuality uncomprehensive with Christian
principles that can be made in
"incompatible with Christian
teaching."
As at previous gatherings of the United Methodist General Conference, conservatives won out.
They argued that adding any language about their internal rift would send mixed signals about the church's stand, giving the impression that the church might diverge from Christianity's traditional condemnation of gay relationships. Delegates agreed, rejecting the liberal proposal on a 527-423 vote, with four abstentions.
"Jesus clearly said from the beginning of creation God made them male and female," said the
Rev. Eddie Fox, who spoke against the measure. "We must not give a message which is confusing to the world and to the people of the United Methodist Church."
Church. Delegates then voted by about 60 percent to 40 percent to add a phrase to the Social Principles that read, "we will seek to live together in Christian community."
The meeting, held once every four years, has been a forum for bitter disagreement over homosexuality since 1972 — though delegates have consistently affirmed prohibitions on gay sex.
The nearly 1,000 delegates in Pittsburgh voted last week to affirm that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.
The day began with gay advocates marching to the convention center where the meeting was being held and dropping to their knees in prayer.
The activists then took their protest inside the meeting, standing silently, praying and holding up colorful stoles that are the symbol of their movement. They began singing Amazing Grace, as the votes were tallied. Some wept when the results were announced.
Committee probes possible abuse of Iraqi prisoners
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said yesterday "heads will roll" in the scandal over the U.S. military's abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Roberts, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said his panel will question top intelligence officials at a closed hearing this afternoon.
"There will be an investigation, there will be a prosecution, and heads will roll," Roberts said in an interview with The Associated Press. Roberts said it's "going to be a long haul" to undo the damage the abuse has caused to U.S. credibility among Muslims.
"This is going to be a very deplorable chapter in a book that's going to be bookshelved in the Muslim nation library on America for some time," he said. "I think there are many ramifications that could occur. This will endanger American prisoners, and it will and already has given terrorists a tremendous propaganda tool."
Roberts also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee which met yesterday behind closed doors with Pentagon officials.
Lawmakers said afterward there may have been similar incidents of sexual humiliation and abuses of prisoners at other facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
An attorney for a military police officer under investigation has blamed the military intelligence community and other government agencies, arguing the soldiers were following orders. The attorney, Guy Womack, who represents
"This is going to be a very deplorable chapter in a book that's going to be bookshelved in the Muslim nation library on America for some time."
Pat Roberts United States senator
Charles A. Graner Jr., said on NBC's Today show that images of the prisoners "were obviously staged" to manipulate the prisoners into cooperating with intelligence officers.
Roberts said senior commanders of intelligence in the military and the CIA will appear before the intelligence panel.
He wouldn't say who they were but said at least three officials will testify.
Roberts said the intelligence community has a "hard-and-fast rule" about adhering strictly to criteria for treatment and interrogation of prisoners.
"So I am shocked that any allegations would be made that our intelligence community would be involved — although the allegations seem to be directed to, quote, 'local folks in the intelligence business,'" Roberts said. "I don't know who those people are, but we're sure as hell going to find out."
Six military police officers face criminal charges that were filed March 20. Seven others received non-criminal punishment.
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass. 832-8228
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