VANDALISM PROMPTS SUSPENSION OF 'Jesus Camp' FEATURED IN Film Bismarck, N.D. (AP) A woman whose summer camp for children near Devils Lake, North Dakota, was featured in the controversial documentary "Jesus Camp" says she won't hold camps there anymore.

The Reverend Becky Fischer says the camp, which is owned by the Assemblies of God and rents to a number of groups, was vandalized after the release of the movie about her Kids on Fire camp. She says the camp's church was vandalized as well.

Critics have accused Fischer of brainwashing. She has said she wants to encourage young people to be committed Christians.

The camp's administrator, the Reverend Winston Titus, says his staff has had calls from both sides some threatening a boycott if the camp continues renting to Fischer's group, and others threatening a boycott if it does not. Titus says, "We just want it to be over."


SON SAYS BILLY GRAHAM IS STRONG AS 88TH BIRTHDAY APPROACHES BOONE, N.C. (AP) For the Reverend Billy Graham and his family, November seventh isn't just election day. It'll be the legendary evangelist's 88th birthday.

The Reverend Franklin Graham says his father remains strong and works part of each day, writing and giving interviews, but "won't do any more crusades." The younger Graham says his mother "isn't doing as well," but the family plans to gather for a quiet birthday celebration at his parents' home in North Carolina.

Franklin Graham observes that his father is a youngster compared with longtime Billy Graham Crusade associate George Beverly Shea (shay), who is still singing at the age of 98.

Sound: Steve Coleman, A-P Religion Editor, with the Reverend Franklin Graham, evangelist Religion Roundup: Vandalism prompts 'Jesus Camp' to move out, Evangelist Billy Graham approaches his 88th birthday. A-P Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports.

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Reverend Franklin Graham, evangelist, in interview The Reverend Franklin Graham says his father, evangelist Billy Graham, will celebrate another birthday on November seventh.

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:07 "still strong"


Reverend Franklin Graham, evangelist, in interview The Reverend Franklin Graham says the family will celebrate his father's 88th birthday.

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Reverend Franklin Graham, evangelist, in interview The Reverend Franklin Graham says his father and mother stay home together now.

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Reverend Franklin Graham, evangelist, in interview The Reverend Franklin Graham says his father is still active.

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Reverend Franklin Graham, evangelist, in interview The Reverend Franklin Graham says his father is a youngster compared to Billy Graham Crusade singer George Beverly Shea (shay).

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:12 "still going"

CAVIEZEL OPENS POLITICAL AD WITH JESUS' WORDS IN ARAMAIC UNDATED (AP) Actor Jim Caviezel, who starred in "The Passion of the Christ," repeats some of Jesus' words in Aramaic in a political ad opposing Missouri's stem cell research initiative.

Caviezel, in modern dress, opens the ad by uttering a phrase in the ancient language without any translation or explanation. Other Christian celebrities then state their opposition to the amendment in plain English.

Cathy Cleaver Ruse of Missourians Against Human Cloning tells the Washington Times that Caviezel was reciting Jesus' words to Judas, which mean "You betray the son of man with a kiss." She says the unstated message is, "Amendment Two is a betrayal because it's deceptive." Caviezel closes the ad by saying in English, "You know now.

Don't do it. Vote no on two."


Sound: Steve Coleman, A-P Religion Editor, with actor Jim Caviezel Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in 'The Passion of the Christ,' repeats some of Jesus' words in Aramaic in an ad opposing Missouri's stem cell research initiative. A-P Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports.

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Sound of actor Jim Caviezel, speaking Aramaic phrase in ad opposing Missouri's stem cell research initiative Archive audio from ad opposing Missouri stem cell research initiative featuring actor Jim Caviezel, speaking Aramaic phrase.

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Actor Jim Caviezel, speaking in ad opposing Missouri's stem cell research initiative Archive audio from ad opposing Missouri stem cell research initiative featuring actor Jim Caviezel, which he says explains why Missouri voters should reject Amendment Two.

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Reverend William Fulco, Jesuit priest who coached actor Jim Caviezel in Aramaic for 'The Passion of the Christ,' in A-P interview The Reverend William Fulco says actor Jim Caviezel opens the ad with an Aramaic phrase.

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Reverend William Fulco, Jesuit priest who coached actor Jim Caviezel in Aramaic for 'The Passion of the Christ,' in A-P interview The Reverend William Fulco says it's interesting that the Aramaic phrase is never translated or explained in the ad.

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Sandra Tipton, Friend Ships organizer, in A-P interview Sandra Tipton says the Friend Ships ministry has a shipload of gifts waiting to be unloaded.

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U-S EvangelicalS BARRED FROM UNLOADING SHIPLOAD OF GIFTS ASHDOD, Israel (AP) After 35 days at sea, a group of American evangelicals traveling on a creaky World War Two-era ship have landed in Israel on a solidarity mission.

But the Friend Ships ministry has run aground on red tape, with long delays in unloading their 900-ton cargo of clothes, toys and medical supplies intended for Israeli charities.

The Spirit of Grace steamed into the port of Ashdod in early October from Louisiana, flying an American flag and a huge banner reading "Jehovah" in Hebrew letters. Three weeks later, the ship is still docked as the government processes the paperwork required for donations from abroad.

The ship's crewmembers, like many other evangelical Christians, see supporting Israel as a divine commandment. Their leader says God promises to bless those who bless Israel.

Sound: Sandra Tipton, Friend Ships organizer, in A-P interview Sandra Tipton says the Friend Ships ministry has a shipload of gifts waiting to be unloaded.

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Sandra Tipton, Friend Ships organizer, in A-P interview Sandra Tipton says the ship carries 900 tons of donations for Israelis.

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Shey Shields, Friend Ships volunteer, in A-P interview Shey Shields says delivering gifts to Israel is their way of serving God.

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CHURCH BOYCOTTS Wal-Mart OVER GAY AFFILIATION COLUMBIA, Tenn. (AP) A Tennessee church's 150 members are boycotting Wal-Mart because of the discount retailer's affiliation with a gay and lesbian business coalition.

In August, Wal-Mart became a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

That prompted Trinity Family Church of Columbia, Tennessee, to urge members to shop elsewhere because the chamber supports gay marriage.

A proposed state constitutional ban on gay marriage is on the November ballot in Tennessee.

Pastor Carol Jacobs says the church had been spending thousands of dollars at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club for supplies but won't do so anymore.

A Wal-Mart spokesman says the retailer is "reaching out to a number of groups" and will "welcome and serve all customers with respect and without discrimination."


MAN CHARGED IN ATTACK ON OREGON CHURCH SERVICE SALEM, Ore. (AP) The Peoples Church of Salem, Oregon, plans to reopen Sunday after an investigation into an attack during the Wednesday night service.

Members of the Pentecostal congregation say a man yelling about "the blood" burst in, threw fuel on people, then started a fire.

Two elderly women were burned when their clothes caught fire.

As the suspect ran down an aisle, chased by men from the congregation, a woman stuck out her foot and tripped him.

Pastor Scott Erickson says the attacker "was yelling things about the blood" and "making slurs about things that are most precious to us." Prosecutors say 53-year-old Kam Shing Chan, also known as Daniel Chan, was held on charges of attempted aggravated murder, attempted assault, arson and reckless burning.

FLORIDA Supreme Court REJECTS WiccanS' TAX SUIT TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida's Supreme Court has decided that it lacks authority to consider a Wiccan group's challenge to a state sales tax exemption for Bibles and other religious items.

The court earlier had agreed to take the case and even heard oral arguments. But it now says there isn't any conflict in lower court decisions to be worked out.

The Wiccan Religious Cooperative of Florida had appealed a ruling that it lacked standing to challenge the tax exemption for religious items as a violation of separation of church and state.

Two religious publications The Florida Catholic and The Florida Baptist Witnesses had joined the state in defending the exemptions.

ROBBERS HOLD HOSTAGES AT PARTY CELEBRATING END OF RAMADAN MOBILE, Alabama (AP) Police in Mobile, Alabama, say about 13 people mostly women and girls were held hostage by masked robbers who broke into their home during a party celebrating the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Investigators say three armed masked men who had foreign accents broke in Sunday night as the homeowner, who owns two jewelry stores, was celebrating the Eid (eed) festival with guests.

One of the girls says she and the other women and girls were forced to lie facedown on the floor while the house was ransacked and robbed.

Police say no one was injured, and the intruders left after taking money and jewelry.

MUSLIM CLERIC CALLS UNVEILED WOMEN 'UNCOVERED MEAT' SYDNEY, Australia (AP) Australia's most prominent Islamic cleric is vowing to stand strong against outrage over his description of women who don't wear head scarfs as "uncovered meat." Prime Minister John Howard has denounced Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali's remarks as blaming women for rape, and there have been calls for the 65-year-old cleric to quit or be removed from his role as mufti at Sydney's largest mosque.

Al-Hilali has apologized for any offense he caused women in making the comments in a sermon during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, but refuses to step down.

His sermon, translated from Arabic, said: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside ... and the cats come to eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat's?" Answering his own question, al-Hilali said, "The uncovered meat is the problem," adding that if a woman was at home in her veil, "no problem would have occurred."


(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-27-06 0230CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list