Washington Blade - December 9, 2005

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (AP) - After years of ministering to people with AIDS overseas, evangelical Christians are turning attention to the disease in their own backyard - and one of the nation's largest and best-known megachurches is leading the way. Nearly 2,000 pastors traveled to Orange County's Saddleback Church for a national conference that coincided with World AIDS Day last week. On the agenda: how to start local AIDS ministries and free HIV testing in churches. The "Disturbing Voices" initiative, led by best-selling author and megachurch pastor Rick Warren, author of "A Purpose-Driven Life," represents a shift among evangelicals. Many sidestepped the U.S. health crisis because of its association with homosexuality even as they made AIDS part of their missions in Africa.

Dying British Columbia priest pleads for new AIDS drug

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hoping to access a proposed new treatment that could save his life, a gay Vancouver priest went public last week to admit that he is dying of AIDS, the Vancouver Sun reported. Rev. Michael Forshaw needs Health Canada, the national health insurance program, to allow him and four other men quick access to the new treatment. He spoke out after receiving permission from Vancouver Anglican Bishop Michael Ingham, who has waged a fierce battle with conservative Anglicans around the world over same-sex blessings. It is believed that Forshaw, 64, is the first Anglican priest in Canada to publicly admit he is gay and has AIDS. Health Canada has refused to open the program because the drugs are considered too experimental.

Gay former N.J. governor now attends Episcopal churches

RAHWAY, N.J. - Formerly a Roman Catholic who struggled to reconcile his faith with his politics even before he came out as a "gay American," former Gov. James E. McGreevey now regularly attends Episcopal church services, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported. The lifelong Catholic and former altar boy, educated in Catholic schools, said this week at a Hackensack fundraiser that he attends either churches in his hometown of Rahway, N.J., or St. Bartholemew's Church in Manhattan. He did not say whether he will break from the Roman Catholic Church. McGreevey refused to answer further questions from a Star-Ledger reporter. The Democratic governor, who was in his second marriage and has three children, resigned last year after he admitted having an extramarital affair with a man. McGreevey's resignation came amid controversy surrounding Golan Cipel, a former bodyguard appointed by McGreevey to a sensitive homeland security post, who had threatened to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against the governor.

Anti-gay Christian group faces IRS probe over politics

DENVER (AP) - A Washington-based group has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether Focus on the Family or its founder James Dobson violated IRS rules by electioneering. James Bopp, an attorney for the Colorado Springs-based conservative Christian group, said the group has fully complied with IRS code. The complaint, filed last week by Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics, also asked the IRS to investigate whether the tax-exempt status of Focus on the Family should be revoked. Tax-exempt organizations cannot participate in campaigns for or against candidates for public office. The group alleges that news articles showed Dobson endorsed congressional candidates before the organization officially formed its separate public policy arm, Focus on the Family Action, in July 2004. "Anything Dr. Dobson did to endorse candidates, he did as an individual," Bopp said.

Anglicans in African nations reject pro-gay British bishop

BLANTYRE, Malawi - Because of his support for gay rights, a liberal British vicar has been rejected by the Anglican Church in Malawi and nearby nations, Reuters reported. Nicholas Henderson was appointed one of the Malawi's three bishops, but the Anglican Church of Central Africa said his previous connections with a pro-gay church group "made him unsuitable for confirmation." The statement was issued after a special church court of confirmation, including bishops from Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, considered a petition by conservatives to block Henderson's appointment. Archbishop Bernard Malango, leader of central Africa's Anglican church, said the rejection was a direct result of Henderson's support for gay rights. "We cannot support this because it is not compatible with our tradition and faith," Malango told the news agency.

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