Religion News Briefs

Ban of Witnesses upheld in Russia

MOSCOW -- Russia's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal of its nationwide ban on the Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination.

The court's appeals chamber has upheld the April approval of the Russian Justice Ministry's call to halt Jehovah's Witnesses activities and to declare it an extremist organization.

The rejection of the religious group's appeal allows Russia to liquidate the 395 Jehovah's Witnesses congregations and seize their property. The group claims about 170,000 adherents in Russia.

Jehovah's Witnesses spokesman David Semonian said in a statement that "it's very concerning that despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, powerful elements within Russia continue to frame our organization as extremist."

Viktor Zhenkov, a Russian attorney for the group, said Monday's ruling would be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, according to the Interfax news agency.

On Tuesday the European Union criticized the Russian Supreme Court decision, saying "Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference." It added that Russia was bound by its constitution as well as its international commitments to provide such guarantees.

-- The Associated Press

Old Torah stays public, court says

LISBON, Portugal -- A rural town council in Portugal says a court has ruled that a 400-year-old Torah scroll found by accident can remain in public hands, rejecting a businessman's claim that he bought it.

The Covilha council says the scroll -- a sacred Jewish text -- was found by a construction worker about 10 years ago during a building demolition in the town.

The council later found out about the scroll, which is 100 feet long, and called in experts who said it was authentic.

After the council announced last year the scroll was being put on public display, a local businessman claimed in court that he had bought the relic from the construction worker.

The council in Covilha, 185 miles northeast of Lisbon, said Monday that the court had ruled in its favor.

-- The Associated Press

College says no to Baptist money

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Samford University will refuse an anticipated $3 million annual budget allocation from the Alabama Baptist State Convention next year, university officials said.

The university's Board of Trustees executive committee approved the decision July 7 after consultation with state convention leaders. The move is effective Jan. 1.

"I believe the action taken by our trustees is something that both parties have been anticipating for some time and will serve the best interests of both Samford and the Alabama Baptist State Convention," said Samford President Andrew Westmoreland in a news release. "Our longstanding educational and ministry relationships with Alabama Baptists have always been more significant than money, and these relationships will continue and flourish."

Al.com reported that Westmoreland said recent tension between Samford and state convention leaders over a proposed student organization to discuss LGBT rights and issues was a factor.

State Convention President John Thweatt and State Board of Missions executive director Rick Lance said they were "saddened" by the faculty's vote, "which provides recognition of an agenda that we believe to be contrary to Scripture."

Samford, which was founded by Alabama Baptists in 1841, had an annual budget in 2016 of more than $166 million. Samford recorded its eighth consecutive record enrollment in fall 2016 with 5,471 students.

-- The Associated Press

Religion on 07/22/2017

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