IRS Warning - Does it work both ways?

IN THEORY

IRS Warning - Does it work both ways?

Q: The IRS is warning churches and charities to stay clear of political messages when communicationg with congregations, and is stepping up its enforcement efforts. The IRS prohibits religious organizations from intervening directly or indirectly with political campaigns, if those organizations are to receive tax-exempt status. Do you agree with the law? Where do you draw the line between what is a political issue, which a religious organization should speak out on, and where it shouldn't?

A: It's interesting that this topic should come to forum this week, especially considering that right here in Glendale, the Mayor's "Prayer" Breakfast takes place with a keynote by Kenneth Starr. Now here's an interesting partnering of politics and religion.

So, on the one hand, the law mandates that churches should not engage in political campaigns, but on the other hand, political agendas can be hidden beneath the cloak of religiosity? Let's not fool ourselves, there's more to this than taxation. It would be nice if this could be debated objectively, but I doubt it will be any time in the near future.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Note: This response was submitted but for obvious reasons was was not published.

Applying death-penalty protocol to minors' cases

Published March 11, 200 - Glendale News-Press IN THEORY Applying death-penalty protocol to minors' cases Q: Do you agree with last week's Supreme Court decision declaring that it was unconstitutional to execute a person younger than 18 when the crime was committed? How does this jibe, or not, with the biblical reference in Exodus, an " ... eye for an eye, tooth for tooth ... "? A: Let's leave the constitutionality of the decision to the court and as religious leaders address the issue of a society that is willing to kill children. Life, as small and insignificant as it may seem to some, is a miracle and precious nevertheless. On religious grounds, there are no arguments for the death penalty, neither for children nor for adults. The Supreme Court's decision is the first step in many to abolish capital punishment. As a religious community, we must use this court decision to address the bigger issues in our society. Why should children be in court in the first place? Why are children committing these heinous crimes and resorting to violence? And more importantly, once analyzed, find means of rectification. In our own backyard, youth violence is certainly a hot topic. Yet with a majority of the school board up for election in less than a month, are we looking into ethnic tensions and truancy in our schools? It seems as if the vote will be decided on what color and how many signs a candidate can slap across a gas station entrance rather than what a candidate can do to improve the system and thereby the quality of life for our children. Do we understand that the only way to prevent future children from facing death -- whether by gunshot on the street, by a dropped bomb in war, or by lethal injection in prison -- must begin with our conscious decision to promote and propagate love? The churches, temples, synagogues and all faith centers have the ultimate answer for the death penalty. It's called love and compassion. It comes freely from the creator, and we are asked to share it, especially with our children. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries' Center

Looking for new ways to practice faith

Published March 4, 2006

IN THEORY

Looking for new ways to practice faith

Q: A coalition of Jewish and Christian leaders has convened meetings in March to discuss common ways to meet challenges of revitalizing spiritual communities. The project, put together by the groups Synagogue 3000 and Congregations of Intentional Practice seeks new ways of living faith within congregations. Underlying the discussions is a belief that believers in traditional faiths are looking for new ways to practice it. Synagogue 3000, for instance, has sought out advice from Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Drive," on ways to revitalize Jewish worship.

Is there a need in religious communities to fuse traditional faith with more "modern" forms of worship? And are there things to learn from other faiths that can help? Have you found this to be true in your own spiritual communities?

A: You can't get more traditional than us, the Armenian Apostolic Church. We're as old as they get. We literally have a chain of leadership that dates back to Christ's apostles (Thaddeus and Bartholomew). So this discussion is one that surfaces all the time among church leadership. How do you make an ancient faith attractive to the children of the modern world? I personally have a different philosophy and approach to this question than most clergy in our tradition.

For me, the tradition and language of the ancient Armenian Church is the language of the angels. The way I see it, we have two options, either to bring the angels down to Earth to mingle with people, or lift people up to fly with the angels. I opt for the latter and it seems to be working.

In fact, at our parish we celebrate the Liturgy in the ancient Armenian language and in accord with the practices as established in the early Christian centuries. And yet, our church is filled to capacity on Sunday mornings with worshippers of all ages, and primarily young families.

I think one of the problems in finding new methods and practices is that we underestimate two things. First we have to believe that the Church belongs to God and He is in control. He will not let His Church fail. Second, people have a need for the spiritual and that realm is intertwined in mystery, that is, not everything needs to be explained with words and clarity, but with a pure heart striving for wholeness.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Published February 25, 2006

IN THEORY

What is Humanity's Greatest Threat?

Q: This week, Oakseed Ministries -- a Virginia-based group that helps other ministries in their efforts to serve the third world -- launched an international art contest called "Compassion for the Starving Child," designed to promote more awareness among children of international hunger, which organizers say is among the greatest crises on our planet. Bono, of U2, might agree, as he promotes his "One" campaign to deal with extreme poverty. Others have taken a slightly different perspective on poverty.

Mother Teresa once said that "the most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." What, in your opinion, is the greatest crisis on our planet, and what is faith's/religion's role in solving it?

A: The greatest crisis facing our planet is the loss of community and the rise of the self as the new god. Because in the self we find an ego expressing itself through pride, envy, lust, gluttony, greed, laziness and anger. Each of these seven expressions brings about the problems that our planet faces, from poverty to global warming, from loneliness to war, from hatred to nuclear annihilation.

All true religions should bring the person to understand him or herself as part of a community, and therein, serving the spiritual and physical needs of that collective. In this model, the self - ego - cannot find opportunity to survive above the goals of the community.

In this vein, I'm pleased that today, as this column is being read, that over a million young people are participating in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine this weekend. The purpose is to bring attention and funds to the starving children of the world -- 29,000 of whom are dying each day because of hunger. More than 50 Armenian youth -- all great grandchildren of genocide survivors -- are participating in this planned Famine here in Glendale. It's a strict fast they adhere to -- no food or drink -- to collect much needed funds to feed the children in Darfur, Sudan, who have fallen victim of genocide. In this way, the Church is faithful to its mission to help the individual lose the self (ego) and strive for the greater purpose: the service of humanity.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

Fair and Balanced Religion Coverage

Published February 18, 2006

IN THEORY

Fair and Balanced Religion Coverage

Q: A panel of Washington journalists was to convene this week to discuss coverage of religion in the media. The goal was to have a conversation about the pitfalls and the positives that coverage of faith issues brings. What do you think are some of the pros and cons of general coverage of religion in the media? What does it do well? What can it do better?

A: This is certainly an appropriate time to have such discussion. There is a religious dimension to just about everything in the news these days and if there isn't, it seems that there's someone ready to put a sacred twist on the profane.

When it comes to reporting stories, I feel an extra effort is made to emphasize the religious component to the story, perhaps because of the incongruity between bad news and the supposed good nature of the religious. For instance, a sexual molester is a bad person, whether he be a priest, a rabbi, a contractor, a plumber, a lawyer or an architect. His crime against the victim and against society is neither augmented nor diminished by his vocation. Yet, the religious twist is always an added feature, which makes for good copy.

I'm pleased that this discussion will be criticizing, and therefore evaluating media perceptions. Criticism -- and even more self-criticism -- brings evaluation and change for the better. It is part of the evolutionary process, in this case the evolution of journalism in a very spiritually-conscious era.

The next challenge will be for a little self-criticism and self-evaluation by religions and the institutions that represent them.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

Youth Ministries

A Matter of Freedom of Conscience

A Matter of Freedom of Conscience

Q: Anger over a depiction of the Muslim prophet Muhammad has turned into protests after a Danish cartoon's depiction of the prophet. How do you feel about depictions of deities in Western media, and the media's right to present them? Is there a line to be drawn when it comes to depictions of deities?

A: The anger demonstrated over the cartoon does seem out of proportion for us. After all, we live in a society where the sacred no longer exists. Everything is up for grabs, including deities and of course, life itself.

The concept of free speech guarantees a public critique of government. It has a place within free society and certainly in ours. Editorial criticism is the foundation of progress. Cartoonist Thomas Nast brought down Boss Tweed and Tammy Hall with witty caricatures. Tragically, we shelter filth and profanity under the same free speech guarantees and expect it to all come out clean in the wash, but it doesn't.

These Muslims are saying that the sacred should remain untouchable. When publishers and media owners are more interested in shock and disrespect, it is the right of the consumer to boycott and protest. The rioting is that protest taken to an extreme. Of course, it would be nice if they were consistent in their protest - say when a person is beheaded or terrorized - to protest the disrespect of human life. But it's always easier to love a god that we don't see rather than the brothers and sisters we do see.

As tempers flare up, we need to keep focused to a few inescapable realities; namely, we live on this planet together. The survival of our species depends on our ability to live together. Sure we're free to write, say, or draw anything, but that doesn't make it right, especially when there is disrespect for another person's beliefs.

Approach one another with love and respect and see if the world can be a better place.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church Youth

Ministries

Ministering to the Military

Published February 4, 2006 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time

IN THEORY

Ministering to the Military

Q: The number of mainline military Protestant chaplains has reportedly decreased recently as evangelical Christians have enlisted in the chaplaincy. Critics have reportedly complained that some evangelical chaplains are preaching to service men and women that the only way to salvation is through Jesus -- a claim new chaplains say is only natural, adding that restricting the impulse to preach about Jesus would be a restriction of religious freedom. Are you concerned about how service men and women are being ministered to, and do you think the influx of evangelical ministers, if it's disproportional to other faiths, could be detrimental?

A: Of all the people to play head-games with, soldiers might be considered the easiest targets. As the saying goes, there are no atheists in foxholes.

Thoughts of God and salvation are very comforting to most humans and are craved even more when stress levels are high.

We can only imagine the added stress on the lives of our soldiers. They have been separated from family and friends, living on foreign soil. They witness carnage daily and face the reality that life can be over any minute. And so, if a minister is able to offer these young men and women a bit of comfort or stability or a ray of hope, more power to them.

The success these chaplains have is not based only on their message, rather it is a combination of factors, and the chaplain's ability to lead by example weighs in the heaviest. That is, if the chaplain is offering serenity and a helping hand, our soldiers find a home in that faith.

Religion at its best should be all about making sense of the senseless -- bringing order to chaos. I can't think of a more appropriate place to begin than on the battle fields, whether in Iraq, on our streets or in our lives.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church Youth

Ministries