Sweden's three largest denominations - Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Congregationalists as well as "Christian gay" pressure groups favor a bill which threatens freedom of speech. Swedish gay-rights bill threatens religious freedom. The broader effect of the proposed legislation could open the door to criminalizing the religious views of Christians, Jews and Muslims. Jesus was portrayed as gay in the National Cathedral in Uppsala in 1998. (Charisma Magazine, August 2001, pp. 26,27)

Visiting mosque, pope calls for unity in Damascus, Syria. John Paul II became the first pope to enter a mosque Sunday May 7, 2001, calling for brotherhood between "Christians" and Muslims and stepping across a sensitive line in his campaign for better relations among different faiths. Vatican and Syrian flags decorated the Omayyad Mosque.

Papal aides quoted John Paul as telling Sheik Ahmad Kuftaro, "I can say I am very happy." The visit was also a natural step in John Paul's longtime campaign to heal the wounds separating Christians, Muslims and Jews.

The pope called upon Mideast leaders to end the regions destructive conflict and expressed sorrow for Palestinians. Assad told the pope: "we feel that in your prayers, when you recall the agony of Jesus, you will remember the people of Golan [Heights] and Palestine who are tormented. We expect your holiness to be on their side in their endeavor to regain what was unjustly usurped from them." On Saturday, Assad told the pope that Israel is slaughtering Palestinians, occupying Arab lands, attacking Muslims and Christian religious sites, and trying "to kill all the principles of divine faiths with the same mentality in which they betrayed Jesus." John Paul's spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said Sunday that "the pope will absolutely not intervene." He added that the church and John Paul both have spoken out against anti Semitism "on numerous occasions." In Los Angeles, Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said Assad's comments showed that Syria had no interest in Middle East peace... he continues the path of his father by offering up almost a daily menu of hate and bigotry." (The Tampa Tribune May 7, 2001)

John Paul II told participants in a meeting with representatives of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) that the commitment to ecumenical dialogue is "irrevocable". This comment was in the wake of a Vatican document arguing that it is the only true church. It was the first encounter between the Vatican and non-Roman Catholics since the publication in early September of a controversial document, Dominus Iesus, that seemed to cast doubt on the status of Anglican and Protestant churches. The declaration brought strong reactions because it's assertion that only the Roman Catholic Church fully represents the "one holy, Catholic and apostolic church," while recognizing other churches as "ecclesial communities." (Media Spotlight, Vol. 23 No. 4 p.5)

Back at the castle in Rome: Cardinals blasts the Catholic Church's hierarchy. While slogans including "a globalization of holiness" dominated the Vatican's official, filtered accounts of speeches, two Vatican officials and at least six other cardinals rose in the Synod Hall to criticize the way the church is run. Some of them circumvented Vatican's secrecy by e-mailing their speeches to reporters... The Belgian was scathing of peers who, he said, hold their tongue so they can get promoted... The cardinals want decentralization, shared policy-making. It was supposed to happen with Vatican II but their legislative power went back to Rome, which is an absolute monarchy.. Change is highly unlikely under John Paul in his 22 nd year.(The Tampa Tribune, May 24, 2001)

Archbishop married by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in spite of warnings from the Vatican. "A Roman Catholic archbishop who says God wants him and the Catholic Church to shed the celibacy rule married a physician Sunday in a group wedding conducted by Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Milingo, the groom is 71, the chosen by Rev. Moon is 43 of South Korea. The newlyweds plan to move to Africa. The archbishop said that he had no desire to leave the Catholic church and that "we are entering an era when every man and woman is called to fulfill his or her original purpose to reflect God's image." (The Tampa Tribune, May 28, 2001)

The Archbishop's Wife Vows Hunger Strike if she can't see him, reads the headline. The wife.. pleaded tearfully Saturday to be allowed to see her husband.. Maria Sung suggested the church was holding her husband, Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, against his will after he met with the pope and Vatican officials in an effort to open a dialogue and avert his excommunication.

Milingo, a Zambian, and his wife traveled to Italy to discuss reasons for getting married... "After the lamentable events to which he was protagonist, he has decided to take a period of reflection and prayer in view of his reconciliation," the statement said.. Maria said the two were married "in front of God." [at Rev. Sun Myung Moon's church]. (14) The latest is that she thinks she is pregnant and he wants to keep his job.

Rick Joyner was Featured in Charisma Magazine. A reader of Charisma wrote: "I was grieved by your article on Rick Joyner ("God's Lightening Rod" by Cedric Harmon, April). To attack Joyner because he missed it on a certain prophecy and belongs to the Knights of Malta is crazy. We all miss the mark from time to time. Your article had an obvious slant against this man of God. Thanks, Charisma, for giving the church another black eye." Another reader wrote: "The feature on Rick Joyner was unfair in that it accentuated the controversial aspects of his ministry while neglecting to point out his record of solid biblical teaching. He does not come across as arrogant or sensationalistic.." Another stated: "Deuteronomy 18:22 says, "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass.. the prophet has spoken it presumptuously." NKJV).

The passing of time ultimately validates the message and integrity of the prophet. But few people wait to see if prophecies come to pass." "Francis Frangipane, who was quoted in your [Charisma] report on Rick Joyner, seemed to dodge the point about the Old Testament standards for prophets. Because alleged prophets claim that God speaks through them, there is zero room for error. Christ cannot lie, nor will He cause confusion in the church. So when a modern-day prophet blows it, He makes the God who spoke through him a liar." "Joyner claims to have the gift of prophecy. But if he sees the Bible as complete authority, shouldn't he follow biblical guidelines? No man has the right to claim he has a revelation from God when it doesn't come to pass. And when it doesn't, these "prophets" say people misunderstood what was said." "Integrity is critical for a prophet."

A Three-year odyssey will end today when a Pentecostal congregation in Detroit and its pastor take the remarkable step of joining the Catholic church. After years of study and some agonizing disagreements, the Rev. Alex Jones and the 64 remaining members of his Marantha Christian Church will give up their old religious affiliation to become lay members of St. Suzanne Catholic Church in Detroit.

"No one can recall anything like this ever happening." Archdiocese of Detroit spokes Ned McGrath said Friday. Joining the Catholic Church feels like returning to a spiritual home, said James. He is studying at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit toward ordination as a Catholic deacon, which would allow him to preach at mass.

The spiritual journey began in 1998, when Jones' church had 200 members and they asked him to teach a class about ancient Christianity. Jones immersed himself in Christian history. As Jones' studies continued, "I discovered the word 'tradition'. All my life I'd been taught that was a bad word, but the early Christians were very concerned about this." Soon, he changed the style of worship at Maranatha to include a Eucharist, modified after a traditional Catholic mass. That sparked disagreement and members began leaving, until Jones was left with the 64 people who began Catholic studies last year. [TBC: To the spiritual harm of his flock, this shepherd turned to Catholic "history," "tradition," and "the Eucharist," rather than to the Bible.] (The Berean Call, June 2001)

Remember this? This is the building in Clearwater, FLorida that caught a lot of attention because the Virgin Mary is permanently fixed on this building's windows and it has become a shrine for Catholics.