European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes religion saturday june 11,1994 Agency clarifies on ious Washington apr employees would not be barred from expressing their religion in the workplace under proposed guidelines on religious harassment civil rights officials say. Douglas Gallegos executive director of the equal employment Opportunity commission said the proposed Rule was targeted at those who harass others because of their religious beliefs not at those who express such beliefs. A the guidelines would not forbid wearing a Cross or a Yarmulke at work having a Bible on one s desk or inviting a colleague to Church a Gallegos testified to a Senate judiciary subcommittee thursday. The hearing came four Days before a deadline for Public comment on the proposed Leoc guidelines which have set off protests from religious and business groups. The controversy erupted last fall after Dudley c. Rochelle an Atlanta labor lawyer began advising her business clients that the Only Way they could avoid religious harassment lawsuits under the guidelines was to eliminate All religious expression from the workplace. Church groups quickly took up the cause flooding congressional offices with letters and Telephone Calls. More than 130 House members have co sponsored legislation to require the Leoc to remove religious activities from its proposed harassment guidelines. Rochelle said the proposals have concerned employers because they done to clearly define what is and is not permitted. They also increase liability beyond that for other forms of discrimination. A the potential liability is so Broad that the Only Clear advice i could now give to avoid claims of religious harassment is to sanitize the workplace of the whole expression of religion Quot she said. The guidelines which must be approved by the commission before they can take effect define unlawful harassment As conduct that is unwelcome and that a severely or pervasively denigrates or shows hostility on the basis of  comic cause stir Over Gays by the los Angeles times did the roman Catholic Church Ever bless homosexual unions in ritual ceremonies resembling the sacrament of marriage the question has acquired new urgency this week with the publication of Yale University history professor John Boswell s latest Book on human sexuality and the Church. The Book Samc sex unions in promo Dern Europe asserts that from the eighth to the 18th centuries the roman Catho lie Church sanctioned Samc sex unions and offered ceremonies Complete with prayers for the couples Union and holy communion. Publication of the Book a and instalments of a Doon Shu a cartoon strip that touch on Bow Ems a findings a arc already causing a stir within the roman Catholic Church in the United states and in Eastern orthodoxy. The comic strips have been running this week in newspapers including the stars and stripes. Although doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau refers to the Catholic Church in the strip As Blessing same sex unions most of the Boswell claims Point to rituals and practices associated with Eastern orthodoxy. Boswell bases his conclusion on a 12-year study of 55 ancient manuscripts mainly in greek that he says Point unmistakably to an Altitude of tolerance and Charity toward homosexuality among some earlier christians. A spokesman for the greek orthodox Church in new York disputed Boswell s claims. A Boswell would not be acknowledged by any theologian or historian of orthodox Voipan Catholic or protestant persuasion a says the Rev. , a Church historian at the greek orthodox archdiocese of North and South America in new York City. Robin Darling Young of the Catholic University of America in Washington dc., is an authority on the Early Church fathers. She said it is entirely Likely that Boswell came across manuscripts containing prayers and ceremonies for uniting couples of the same gender. There May have even been instances in which such ceremonies took place she said but they would not have been official. A whether somebody wrote Down a ritual at some time for the joining of two men in a relationship of course that a possible a Young said. A but As a Public ritual uniting two people of the same sex no. 1 done to think its plausible  uplifting Load daughters of St. Paul publishing House unload copies of the new roman Catholic catechism recently in Boston. The English version of the official guidelines of the Catholic Faith was released last month. The daughters doing the heavy lifting include sister Denise Cecilia left front and sister Irene Regina right front. Church upset by Pepsi laser and London apr Pepsi cola offended the Church of England this week when the soft drinks logo was laser beamed onto an anglican Cathedral to promote a nightclub act. A a in a astounded a said the very Rev. Derrick waiters the churches Dean of Liverpool where Pepsi a name appeared on a Cathedral Tower wednesday night shining brightly for All to be e. A it is outrageous that the Cathedral which is much loved would be used this Way a Walters said Friday. A i look Forward to an apology from  a Pepsi spokesman in London said he had mailed apologies to the Dean and Church lawyers thursday night. The Pepsi laser beam logo has been used on landmark buildings throughout Britain to promote Tours by the ministry of sound a London dance club that takes its show on the Road with sponsorship from the worlds no. 2 soft drink maker. Churches w ill be off limits in the future a Pepsi spokesman said. Rabbi rules against praying during housework from wire reports Jerusalem a the next time a jewish housewife prays for a Little help around the household while she scrubs the floors she could face divine Sanction a rabbi has warned.  Shamai grass ruled that women May not Pray while cleaning House the Maaris daily reported monday. Women a hands and clothing should of clean while they Pray grass ruled. That rules out worshipping during chores. Grass is a Jerusalem based rabbinical judge for the Belz hasidic sect which numbers in the tens of thousands. Orthodox jews turn to their rabbis for rulings on applying ancient religious Law to modern situations. . Pastor canonized South Canaan a. A a priest who in the 19th Century converted to the orthodox Church in America and persuaded thousands of others to join is the churches newest Saint. At least 10,000 people from around the world attended the canonization ceremony recently for St. Alexis Yurkevich Toth on the grounds of St. Tiki ones monastery in Wayne county. St. Alexis served As pastor of holy resurrection orthodox Cathedral in Wilkes Barre from 1892 until his death in 1909. The saints body exhumed from its grave outside the monastery in Early april was bathed in Rose Oil and wine before being reverted and placed in a new coffin. The relics will be enshrined in the monastery a Church. Archbishop sees problems Milwaukee a Milwaukee roman Catholic archbishop Rembert Weakland says he will obey Pope John Paul ills declaration against the. Ordination of women but expects the Pope s stand will cause problems in Milwaukee. Weakland issued a three Page statement after the pontiff in a recent letter rejected the possibility that women could become priests on grounds of Church tradition religious Law and the fact that. Jesus chose Only men As apostles. A was a Bishop a Weakland said a i would not be Loyal to the holy father if i did not again Point out the pastoral problems i now will face in my archdiocese a gang declares peace Albany Gay a gang has asked for Community support to help it change its ways promising a month s peace in return for a jobs education and a Chance to communicate. Three members of the Black gangster disciples announced their a peace in june plans at a recent news conference at mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. The gang which has 200 to 300 members will tease recruiting members and commit no More crimes said a gang member named Naashon who declined to disclose his last name. The gang also wants to change its name to better growth development. The Promise follows efforts of a Church based coalition led by the Rev. Clayton Smith of the l Church. Smith requested a meeting with gang leaders at a mothers Day forum and was surprised when he met members. Entry fee for Pisa Church Pisa Italy a first the leaning Tower was closed. Now there is something else visitors cannot do in Pisa anymore a tour the 11th-Century Cathedral for free. There is a 63-cent charge to enter the romanesque style Church on miracles Square. Entrance will be free Early on weekday mornings. And All of sunday morning when masses Are said. The organization that cares for Pisa a tourist attractions which include the Church needs Money to help make up for admission fees lost since january 1990 when tourists were banned from climbing the Tower. The Tower once brought in 51.9 million annually from the 800,000 visitors who climbed it each year. Experts Are trying to prevent the Tower from leaning More. Engineers have stacked 600 tons of Lead at the Tower base to serve As a counterweight. Although the Tower has straightened by a fraction of an Inch it has remained closed to the Public