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Supreme Court hears arguments in Pella church exploitation case

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Justices preparing to hear oral arguments.

The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments today in a lawsuit over sexual exploitation by a pastor in Pella.

Former Pastor Patrick Edouard was found guilty of sexual exploitation by a counselor in 2012. Valerie and Anne Bandstra, two of the victims, are asking the Supreme Court to allow them to sue the Covenant Reformed Church.

Church attorney Michael Thrall says the religious freedom clause of the U.S. Constitution bars any claims that the church board didn’t properly handle the situation. He says that brings up religious questions about how the church views sin and forgiveness.

“Those issues can’t be resolved outside the context of the doctrines of the church-what they believe, what the elders believe-and I think all of those things implicate First Amendment issues that the court historically has avoided,” he says. Thrall also says the lawsuit wasn’t filed within the proper time period.

The attorney for the women, Roxanne Conlin, argues the church Board of Elders is liable for failing to supervise the pastor, and for failing to keep later statements about the victims confidential. Conlin says the church board allowed the pastor to counsel women behind a locked door for many years.

“They have some obligation-particularly given the fact that this is not an uncommon thing to have happen-to find out what their pastor is doing in his basement. And they took no steps at all to do that,” Conlin told the justices. The Supreme Court will issue a ruling on the case at a later date.

 

Hindu cleric prays for illumination during invocations at Iowa capitol

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Rajan Zed

A Hindu cleric delivered the opening prayers in both the Iowa House and Senate today.

Rajan Zed read scriptures from Sanskrit, followed by the English translation of the prayers.

“We meditate on transcendental glory of the diety supreme who’s inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of the heaven,” he prayed. “May he stimulate and illuminate our minds.”

Zed recited passages from the “Song of the Lord” as well as other scripture. He began and ended his invocation with a two-letter syllable Hindus believe contains the universe.

“May your spirits be at one…Peace be unto all,” Zed said. “Om.”

Sanskrit, the sacred language of Hinduism, is the “root” of European and Indian languages, according to Zed. Zed, who lives in Reno, Nevada, is president of Universal Society of Hinduism and he arrived in Iowa this weekend. He’s met with local clerics from the Catholic, Baha’i and Jewish faiths. On Sunday afternoon, Zed spoke at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa, located near Madrid.

“We are very open minded,” Zed said, during an interview, when describing Hinduism. “We are the oldest religion in the world.”

About 500 families worship at the Hindu temple near Madrid. There also are Hindu temples in Cedar Rapids, Fairfield and the Quad Cities. At this time of year, Hindus gather for their annual “Holi” celebration — often called the festival of colors — to mark the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.

Council Bluffs priest suspended following hearing on allegation of unwelcome advances

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The Catholic Diocese of Des Moines says a priest has been suspended following an allegation of misconduct.

Information from the diocese says Father Carlos Pineda Gomez was suspended indefinitely after a hearing on an allegation of what is called “a serious violation of boundary issues related to unwelcome advances toward an adult.” The diocese says Bishop Richard Pates notified in Council Bluffs police and suspended Gomez — who serves the Corpus Christi Parish in Council Bluffs.

The suspended priest may not engage in public ministry including celebrating Mass or sacraments, nor may he go to the parish office, St. Albert Catholic Schools or the parish religious education program. The Des Moines Diocese says no further action will be taken until an investigation by the appropriate authorities.

The diocese says it encourages anyone with allegations of abuse by clergy to contact their local police department or diocesan Victim Assistance Advocate Sherry Knox at advocate@dmdiocese.org. sherry.knox@polkcountyiowa.gov or 515-286-2028. She can assist the person with making a complaint, receiving support and counseling services.

Iowa GOP senators may pass new ‘religious liberties’ protections

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Betty Odegaard

Republicans in the Iowa Senate are preparing legislation that would give new legal protections to Iowans who refuse services to customers for religious reasons. Iowa business groups warn the discussion could hurt employee recruitment and might prompt the NCAA to avoid Des Moines as a venue for tournaments.

A couple from Grimes who denied a same-sex couple the use of their business for a wedding testified today during a statehouse hearing on the bill. Betty Odegaard and her husband closed their wedding chapel rather than be forced to make it available to same-sex couples.

“If this law would have been in place, we would have had our day to argue in court,” she said. “…It doesn’t mean it would have had our way, but we would have at least had a chance and we did not have a chance to argue our case.”

Representatives of Iowa business groups forcefully argued against the bill during the hearing. Tim Coonan of the Principal Financial Group said it paints Iowa in a negative light.

“Legislation like this, even the mere discussion of legislation like this, has a clear chilling effect on our ability to recruit from around the country and around the world,” Coonan said.

Others argued the bill would open the door to discrimination based on race, disability, sexual orientation or gender that is now barred by the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

The chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee indicated the bill has a strong chance of getting that panel’s approval this week.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Joyce Russell; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)

Bible literacy bill clears first hurdle in Iowa House

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Chuck Hurley

State officials would be required to draw up standards for high school courses on the Bible if a bill that has cleared a House subcommittee becomes law.

The bill’s backers say an elective course on “the Hebrew Scriptures or the New Testament of the Bible” will help students better understand politics, society and culture. Chuck Hurley is vice president of The Family Leader, a Christian evangelical organization that supports the bill.

“Biblical principles helped lead to the unalienable rights that we ensconced in our Constitution,” Hurley says. “For students not to be aware of that background would be, in my opinion, educational negligence.”

Opponents of the bill say some educators might use the course to preach rather than teach and they fault the bill for picking one religious tradition to the exclusion of all others. Daniel Zeno, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, says a third of Iowa schools are already offering courses about religion.

“As long as they are academic courses, we don’t think there’s any problem,” Zeno says. “…There are ways that school districts can do this right now without singling out the Bible.”

The bill has cleared a three-member House panel and is now eligible for debate in a full House committee. If the bill becomes law, Iowa school districts would not be forced, but could choose to offer a Bible literacy course. At least seven other states let local school boards choose to offer a Bible literacy course as part of the social studies curriculum.

University of Iowa Christian group hopes for reinstatement

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A University of Iowa student group is waiting to find out if its status as a “registered student group” will be restored while a lawsuit on the issue plays out in federal court.

The university revoked the Business Leaders in Christ, or BLINC registration because the group wouldn’t allow a gay member to be a leader. The group is suing the University of Iowa for religious discrimination. The group’s Attorney, Eric Baxter, says many registered student organizations only allow people with certain beliefs to be leaders.

“A group cannot speak except through its leaders. And so if its leaders don’t embrace its mission, that changes its message,” Baxter says. “So, it does screen leaders based on their belief. But no one is screened because of their status of who they are.” The university’s attorney argues the group violated its human rights policy and the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The President of Business Leaders in Christ, Jake Estell, says he and other members of the group want to be treated the same as other student groups.

“The university wouldn’t force an environmental group to select a climate change deferrer as a leader. Or a Muslim group to select a Christian student as its leader. Or a pro-choice group to have pro-life leaders,” Estell says. “BLINC just wants to have the same right to chose leaders who actually affirm its beliefs.”

The university’s lawyer had several exchanges with the judge about whether the non-discrimination policy is enforced consistently among student groups. For example, an Islamic group requires members and leaders to sign a statement of faith. But the university’s attorney responded by saying no one has filed a complaint about that group, and it’s still officially registered.

BLINC’s lawyer Baxter says being a registered group allows them to get $25 a month for publishing and money for trips to a conference, which are mandatory funds the students themselves contribute to the school.

“We are just asking that they be able to participate and receive funds back just like everybody else does,” according to Baxter. “But more important is their access to students to recruit students, to let them know about their organization, to have the opportunity to invite them to participate in the group. And they are being entirely cut out of that process.” Baxter feels good after presenting the case to the judge.

“I am optimistic that the court is going to grant the injunction. She clearly understood that the university is targeting BLINC,” Baxter says. “There are other organizations that require their leaders to embrace their mission and the university has done nothing against them. And the judge clearly understood that and seemed concerned, and the university’s council clearly had no response to that.”

BLINC wants to participate in a recruitment fair scheduled at the end of the month. The judge plans to rule in about one week.

(By Michelle O’Neill, WVIK, Rock Island)

Nativity scene returns to Iowa State Capitol for second year

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Nativity scene at the Iowa State Capitol.

A nativity scene is on display in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol again this year.

The Thomas Moore Society funds the nativity scene that was first set up in the State Capitol last year. Martin Cannon is the spokesman for the group.

“It’s a simple thing, it’s a beautiful thing, it’s a quite thing, and we’re very pleased to do it,” Cannon says. Governor Kim Reynolds was on hand and made some comments after the nativity scene was set up.

“The Christmas season is a special time of year and it’s a pleasure to have the nativity shown in our beautiful capitol,”Reynolds says. “We’re a country that resects all faiths and traditions and this month we honor the faith of Christians by celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I want to thank the Thomas Moore Society for sponsoring the placement of this nativity scene.” Cannon says he doesn’t get a lot of feedback on the nativity scene.

Martin Cannon

“People are a little befuddled at first because it is unusual — and of course it shouldn’t be unusual. The questions that arise about the propriety of such a thing in the public space are easily resolved and very well settled. It’s really not a difficult issue,” Cannon explains. He says the nativity scene is not sponsored by the State of Iowa and his group simply asks for display space like any other group.

Cannon says the goal is to share their message.”We hope that this just becomes an annual celebration of Christmas, not an annual argument over the propriety of having it here, ” he says.

The Atheist display at the capitol.

He points out there is a display put up by atheists right across the rotunda that shares on equal footing with the nativity scene. And he says his group has not issue with that display.

“It’s a demonstration really that this is open to all beliefs,” Cannon says. The Thomas Moore Society works with the group the American Nativity Scene and Cannon says they have placed nativity scenes in a total of 40 state capitols across the country.

The nativity scene can be viewed during the normal operating hours of the Iowa State Capitol.

Des Moines Diocese Bishop joins others in call for Dream Act

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Bishop Pates.

The Bishop of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese is joining Catholic Bishops across the country in calling for Congress to enact the so-called Dream Act.

Bishop Richard Pates spoke with reporters after meeting with some 25 inmates of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding cell at the Polk County Sheriff’s office. He tells the story of one young man who was recently picked up on suspicion of being in the country illegally.

“His whole life has changed dramatically. He had a job, he’s raising children. Not only for him, but for his family. What is he going to do for his family? He says, all I want to do is have a decent life, be able to raise my family, to show love, to have a house, to work hard,” Pates says.

He says some of the people were once protected by the program known as DACA for immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children by their parents. Pates says they are asking the government to continue protecting them.

“We’re don,t saying that they necessarily have a pathway to citizenship, but a civil status, in which they can live freely,” Pates says, “they’re contributing to our communities, they have jobs, they pay taxes, they want to join the Army they want to join the National Reserve, all that sort of thing.”

Pates says this enactment of a so-called Dream Act by Congress one of the nation’s key humanitarian and moral issues.

(Thanks to Rob Dillard, Iowa Public Radio)

Iowan who lost his life helping others at Pearl Harbor honored in Dubuque

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Father Al Schmitt.

A ceremony in Dubuque on this Pearl Harbor Day honored an Iowan who gave his life so others could live.

Navy Chaplain Al Schmitt of St. Lucas was aboard the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese planes hit the ship in the harbor and it started to capsize. Schmitt allowed others to get through a hole to safety as water poured into the Oklahoma — and he never made it out.

The Secretary of the Navy just recently award Schmitt the Silver Star for his heroic acts after years of efforts by his family and others on his behalf. Great-nephew Steve Sloan never got to meet him — but knew the story. He says the family always thought “Father Al” was a hero, as did those who knew him, and felt it was appropriate for the military to recognize him with the medal.

Sloan, is a dentist who like Schmitt went to Loras College and says it wasn’t just the family that pushed for the Silver Star. He says there have been four or five other attempts to get the medal upgraded, but none were successful. Sloan says the family felt it was important to keep the story alive and continue pursuing the effort to get the review board to upgrade the award given to Schmitt.

“The initial one was done by the Oklahoma crew following World War Two. It has to get to a certain level to be review by the board — and it seemed like it had never gotten to that level by the people who have tried it in the past,” Sloan explains. The Silver Star Medal is the military’s third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat.

Sloan says many stories like Schmitt’s go untold, and that is why it was important to see this part of the story through. “I think Father Al would shy away from this, but I think from a family perspective and just from an historical perspective, I think it’s important for people to her the story and for people to understand that he could be an inspiration for others,” Sloan says. ” And I think that is what is important to the family — that the story is perpetuated — and that his influence is there and will continue to inspire others to do great things.”

There’s another chapter to the story of Father Schmitt that was also recently closed. His remains had been buried in a military cemetery in Hawaii for 75 years until they were finally identified using modern techniques and were returned to northeast Iowa for burial.

Sloan has been to Pearl Harbor and saw the place where Father Al made the choice to help others. “When I was there, I just tried to picture what it was like. And it was kind of awe inspiring to be quite honest,” Sloan says. “I’m just think what must have gone on. It seemed to still and peaceful when I was there. And to think what happened when those planes came over that hill — I can’t imagine.”

Sloan was on hand along with other family members today at Schmitt’s alma mater Loras College for the ceremony awarding the medal.

Sasse urges Iowa crowd to ‘be on guard against political idolatry’ (AUDIO)

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Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse speaks in Des Moines.

Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse warned against false idols, political tribalism and an addiction to “24/7 news cycles” during a speech in Iowa tonight.

“Friends, there is no politician who’s going to save America,” Sasse said. “Friends, there is no election that’s going to transform your life to become so much better than it is right now and into all you want it to be.”

Sasse was the featured speaker at a fundraiser in Des Moines for The Family Leader, a Christian conservative organization. Sasse told the crowd elections can make the country “worse” or “incrementally better,” but Sasse suggested it was “almost a little bit un-American” to organize your life around two- and four-year election cycles.

“America is made up of a people who think in decades and in centuries, not in terms of political addiction and political consumption and short-term-election ways of thinking about the world,” Sasse said.

Benn Sass talks with reporters.

Sasse was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014. He has raised the hackles of Iowa Republican Party leaders and a formal reprimand from Nebraska Republicans for his critiques of President Trump. Sasse, never said Trump’s name during his remarks, described himself as a “temporary public official affiliated with the Republican Party” who is “a Christian first.”

“To be a good Christian, you’re obligated to be on guard against political idolatry ’cause politics isn’t the center of any our lives,” Sasse said. “Politics isn’t the pathway by which the kingdom comes and, oh by the way, it isn’t just as a Christian that you have this calling. It’s as an American that you have this calling.”

AUDIO of Sasse’s speech, 50:00

State Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, was impressed.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Holt said. “I’d never heard him speak before and I thought he did a fantastic job and a lot to think about.”

Norman Rozendaal of Monroe said he was “honored” to be in the room.

“I have never heard anybody as articulate as that man, off the cuff, saying exactly what has to be said in our American culture,” Rozendaal said. “I would give him A+++.”

Sasse told reporters after his speech that the country’s two major political parties have become — in his words — “crappy…brands” that have devolved into political tribes.

“Lots and lots of people differ on policy debates, they just don’t think policy defines the line between good and evil,” Sasse said. “…You can’t fix what’s broken in American politics with more politics.”

Bob Vander Plaats, the president of the group that hosted Sasse tonight, started the evening by telling the crowd cultural change won’t be accomplished at the ballot box.

“For too long, the church was hijacked for political gain. The church was hijacked to get this candidate to win. The church was hijacked so this party could win,” Vander Plaats said. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is much bigger than any candidate and much bigger than any political party and it should not be reduced to such.”

The crowd of 550 applauded.