European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 21, t994 religion the stars and stripes Page 9 workplace plan fuels fear Ion by Terry Mattingly Scripps Howard news service fearing new Church state explosions Federal officials plan to reopen a for 30 Days a Public debate on new. Guidelines about religious harassment in the workplace. Many critics and their Capitol Hill allies fear the guidelines issued by the . Equal employment Opportunity commission could be used to create a religion free  a who came up with the idea of putting religion in the same category As sexual harassment. Christians who talk about a Bible study they attended would be on a Par with people who Tell dirty jokes at the water cooler a evangelical activist Charles Colson said in a radio commentary. A changing up a plaque that talks about a honouring god will be treated the same As hanging up a pinup  some critics want the proposed guidelines scrapped because civil rights Laws already ban religious discrimination. Others Are calling for modifications. The proposed rules were published in october and the usual Public comment period ended nov. 30�?zthere were few protests until word spread along the front lines of Church state  proposals define harassment As speech actions writings or Art that creates an a intimidating hostile or offensive work environment or that a denigrates or shows hostility or aversion to employees or to their a relatives friends or  an obvious question How can employers know the details of employees religious beliefs a let alone those. Of Quot relatives friends or associates a without asking invasive personal questions that could be seen As a form of religious harassment As reassurance an Leoc fact Sheet notes a harassing conduct rises to the level of unlawful discrimination Only when a reasonable person would regard it As hostile or  this raises More questions. Is this a a reasonable person an atheist a jew a new age priestess a presbyterian or a pentecostal Christian a a a reasonable unitarian May find it easy not to a a witness to others but what about a a a reasonable Southern Baptist l christians who talk about a Bible study they attended would be on a Par with people who Tell dirty jokes at the water  a Charles Colson evangelical activist under the Best scenario this Legal confusion will be a a a lawyers Bonanza a said Gary Bauer president of Quot the family research Council. A under the worst the proposed guidelines could Lead to the transformation of the american workplace into a religion free zone much like Public school with Borders patrolled by the Leoc and the  but a Church state expert at the Baptist joint committee on Public affairs is convinced that the guidelines could work if officials make it Clear that they done to want to deep Fri Etc religious speech and practice. In a recent memo to the Leoc general counsel j. Brent Walker said revised guidelines should clearly state that except for extreme or aggravating conduct the following kinds of behaviour Are not harassment. A inviting other people to worship services Bible classes of religious events. A telling others about ones religious convictions or affiliation or the use of religious jargon in conversations. A a a a. A. A a a a. A a a a a a a conducting informal religious discussions during free time at work or voluntary Bible studies. A performing such symbolic actions As displaying a Bible a Star of David or a religious poster in an office or work space or wearing a Cross Yarmulke or a turban. A giving Mission statements in an employers corporate documents stating that a business will be operated according to biblical standards assuming that Racli Giovis beliefs Are not mandated As a condition of employment and workers Are not compelled to worship. Near Mecca Mina saudi Arabia apr about 2 million muslims thronged to a tent City on the Plains outside Mecca on thursday a Day before they ascended mount Arafat in a ritual that culminates the annual pilgrimage to islam a holiest shrine. Retracing a trek made by the Prophet Mohammed the seventh Century founder of islam the pilgrims spent thursday night in the tent City at Mina. At Dawn Friday they were to climb the Mountain to Pray in unison forming the worlds largest single religious congregation. The Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is an obligation for every Able bodied Muslim at least once in a lifetime. It is one of the five pillars of islam As dictated by the Koran islam a sacred Book. Mecca is the Birthplace of Mohammed. A final estimate of this years crowd has not been released. But at least 1 million people have entered the country to join a similar number of pilgrims who Are estimated to have flocked to the City from within the kingdom. Draped in the same seamless White garb the pilgrims came from All Sci ments of society with princes and paupers standing shoulder to shoulder to perform the same rituals. Today the worshippers will Slaughter sheep to Mark the Start of the three Day eid Al aha or feast of sacrifice which commemorates Abrahams offer to sacrifice his son to god. Judge drops slander suit against polish Cardinal from wire reports Seattle a a a judge has thrown out a slander lawsuit brought against polish Cardinal j6zef Glymp by a rabbi who says he was falsely accused in 1989 of trying to kill nuns living at the site of the Auschwitz death Camp. Superior court judge Robert Lasnik said thursday that the Washington state court has no jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit by new York rabbi Avi Weiss. Glymp was served with the lawsuit during a visit to Seattle in october. The judge said there May be no forum for Weiss whose a reasonable request for a retraction and an apology continue to fall on deaf  Weiss said he will Appeal. In 1989, he led a sit in against the presence of a carmelite Convent at the site of the death Camp where the nazis killed an estimated 1.3 million during world War ii. The Convent is now closed. Vet ious vow Hajj Pilgrim Ali Saleh from North Yemen reads a verse from the Koran while waiting at a temporary Camp on the Plains of Mina just outside Mecca saudi Arabia on thursday. West Warwick . More than 50 years after he first prayed to the Virgin Mary for Protection while serving As a world War ii diver Amby Hughes recently fulfilled his end of the bargain. In 1943, after enlisting and completing Basic training in the . Navy Hughes went Home Toa West Warwick before shipping out to Europe. While there he went to St. Mary a Church in his neighbourhood of Crompton. A i prayed to the blessed Mother for Protection and i promised that if i Ever came Home i would do something to Honor her a Hughes recalled last week. On a recent sunday at St. James Church Hughes kept his Promise by singing a Hail Mary to music he had written himself. A a a there a no Way i can Ever say what this Means to me a said Hughes 69. Hughes served in the a Day invasion of Normandy by Allied forces on june 6,1944, scouting sentries on a German occupied Island. Hughes left the Navy in 1946. He wanted to be a musician and while in the Navy had decided that he would keep his Promise by writing a hymn for the Hail Mary prayer. But Over the years the project was often put off. While convalescing from a bout of appendicitis last Winter Hughes thought of his Promise and the music he had written. He Sang sunday with a strand of Silver plated Rosary beads looped around the fingers of his right hand. Hughes said the beads were Given to Hitney his Mother before he left for the War. Money found in new Bible Rantoul Iii. A Zelma Neal was inspired when she turned to Daniel 9 six $100 Bills were tucked in the  found the Money during a sunday school class at first United methodist Church. A i squealed at first i thought it was play Money. But then it dawned that a real Money a she said. After forgetting her King James be Sion at Home Neal said she unwrapped a new Bible Tea was sealed in plastic in the Church Library. She was trying to find a chapter in Mark but the Book opened to Daniel. A a in be read the verses a Neal said tuesday. A i done to see Why anyone would place the Money there because of what the verses  the Money will be used to renovate the Church. Environmentalism backed Hartford Conn. Leaders of Christian churches in Connecticut Are urging their j congregations to become More aggressive in supporting environmental efforts. In a pastoral letter sent tuesday to 2,400 Catholic and protestant churches in the state the religious leaders from 14 denominations termed environmental concerns a moral Issue. The letter issued by the Christian conference of Connecticut asked each congregation to organize an environmental Mission group and announced plans to Convene a statewide training conference on the environment next Spring. A your Mission for the environment will be conducted in dialogue with those who work in our economic and governmental institutions a the letter said. A was Christian citizens we have a responsibility to suggest Concrete actions and specific programs to the secular