Religion Today Summaries - Feb. 10, 2009

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff | Crosswalk.com | Published: Feb 09, 2009

Religion Today Summaries - Feb. 10, 2009

Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
 
In today's edition:

  • Bible Translation Group Joins AIDS Fight in Africa
  • China: Elderly Woman Released to See Dying Husband, Tells Her Story
  • Holocaust-Denier Removed from Argentine Seminary
  • Police: Man Stole $100K from Church

Bible Translation Group Joins AIDS Fight in Africa

The Christian Post reports that one Bible translation group is fighting AIDS in Africa not with medicine, but with words. Wycliffe Bible Translators, already on an ambitious project to translate Scripture into the 2,000-plus languages still without it by 2025, is currently developing an easily translatable booklet in 11 countries and 80 African communities where AIDS education programs have been set up. Wycliffe personnel hope that the booklets, which tell "Kande's Story," will speak to African communities in their own "heart language." The story is close to Wycliffe's Kathie Watters, who dealt with the AIDS death of a friend while living in Cameroon. “Being part of a translation team and having a background in nursing, I believed Wycliffe could have an impact on AIDS in communities where language development was underway,” she said.

China: Elderly Woman Released to See Dying Husband, Tells Her Story

ASSIST News Service reports that Shuang Shuying, 79, was released Monday from prison and went immediately to see her dying husband, Hua Zaichen, 91, in the hospital. She sent an open letter to ChinaAid revealing how she was tortured for her faith while in prison and thanking those around the world for their prayers and support, as international attention led to her release. According to ChinaAid, Hua Zaichen has been guarded by military police stationed outside the hospital. "Every time when my son came to visit me and shared with me that brothers and sisters from all over the world had been praying for me, I felt greatly strengthened and empowered which has enabled me to continue to live," Shuang Shuying wrote. She and her husband have been singled out for their compassion to persecuted believers and their work for the poor.

Holocaust-Denier Removed from Argentine Seminary

Reuters reports that a recently rehabilitated Catholic bishop has been removed as the head of an Argentine seminary. This follows weeks of controversy after Pope Benedict lifted a 20-year excommunication on Bishop Richard Williams, who has refused to recant his statements that the Holocaust did not result in mass genocide for the Jewish people. Williamson told Germany's Spiegel magazine that he needs to time "review historical evidence before considering an apology," Reuters reports. In a move to distance La Reja seminary and the Catholic Society of St. Pius X, the Society's head in Latin America officially dismissed Williamson on Sunday. The Vatican has said Pope Benedict, who expressed his full solidarity with Jews, was not aware of Williamson's denial of the Holocaust when he rehabilitated the bishop along with three others.

Police: Man Stole $100K from Church

MSNBC reports that one church is stuck with a $100,000 bill after one of its members used the money to procure sports cars, SUVs and personal items for himself and his girlfriend. Rodney Settles, 40, used his position as Chair of the Board of Trustees at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Philadelphia to divert funds for himself. According to fraud investigators, Settles purchased the cars and racked up credit card debt in the church's name, leaving First Corinthian liable for the unauthorized purchases. According to MSNBC, church leaders didn't realize anything was wrong until bill collectors tried to repossess one of the cars that Settles bought, as he had quit making payments on the vehicle.

Religion Today Summaries - Feb. 10, 2009