News briefs Catholic bishop protests court-ordered abortion Catholic News Service Tuesday, August 31, 1999 PHOENIX – Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien of Phoenix has expressed outrage over a recent decision by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ordering child welfare officials to take a 14-year-old girl across state lines for a late-term abortion. But he is also offering the church's resources to help the girl. "I want to express my horror and outrage at the situation reported in the Arizona media in which Judge William Sargeant has ordered Child Protective Services to transport a 14-year-old girl out of the state to undergo an abortion, perhaps even a partial-birth abortion, of her nearly 7-month-old unborn baby," Bishop O'Brien said in a statement released Aug. 25. He urged Arizona Gov. Jane Hull and other Arizona leaders to appeal Sargeant's ruling "and take a stand in support of the life and well-being of the young mother and her unborn child." Megachurches attract 1.7 million Protestants Christianity Online Tuesday, August 31, 1999 More than 1.7 million Protestants in the United States now attend megachurches (which have a weekly attendance of 2,000-plus). That's out of a pool of 105 million to 111 million people who attend Christian churches on a weekend. The number of megachurches has grown steadily over the past 30 years. Most of them are in the Sunbelt or suburbs of large Midwestern cities. Ruling upholds discipline – in some instances Church Law & Tax Report Tuesday, August 31, 1999 A Michigan appeals court has ruled that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects churches that discipline members. Statements made by a pastor during services or in church publications about a member's conduct are protected in certain situations. However, if a person withdraws membership from a church during the disciplinary procedures, the issue becomes murky. Like other courts before it, the Michigan court drew a distinction between members and nonmembers. The Constitution does not protect churches when disciplining nonmembers or former members, and such persons who sue the church for causing emotional distress or invading their privacy are likely to win a lawsuit against the church. Church members have a right to withdraw membership at any time unless they have knowingly and voluntarily signed a waiver to the contrary. Churches considering disciplinary action should make sure the grounds for such are clear and supported by the Bible. The procedure should be straightforward. Phrases like "due process" should be avoided since they have no relevance to church law. If anything is to be learned from this case, it is that churches must precisely define membership. Review the definition of a member in your church's constitution or bylaws. If that isn't clear, clarify it. Also, whether protected or not, a church should never offer its members any damaging information about a disciplined member without first seeking an attorney's counsel. Remember: This ruling applies only to Michigan and could be overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court. Nevertheless, other courts may refer to it if the need arises.

Respond to these articles

Home · News · PLC Publications · The Presbyterian Layman Online Reviews · Archives · History of the Lay Committee · Feedback · Links