European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                \ Page 10 the stars and stripes religion saturday october 29,1994 anti Gulf War forced from air Force Abilene Texas a a military chaplain who spoke out against . Involvement in the persian Gulf War has lost his struggle to remain in the air Force. It. Col. Garland Bob Robertson will be retired monday at his present rank according to an oct. 14 ruling. Robertson 48, angered superiors by complaining that chaplains were forced to Compromise their religious beliefs and become moral cheerleaders for military commanders. The decorated former Vietnam War combat Pilot had risked More than $2,100 a month and other retire ment benefits by refusing to step Down. The retirement ruling by air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall preserved. His benefits. A a pane of Superior officers at Dyess fab heard the Case in september 1993 and recommended that he be honorable discharged rather than be allowed to re tire to which would have Cost him the benefits. Robertson whose education includes a doctorate in ethics continued serving at Dyess while his Case was on. Appeal. " v v. ". I his ethical stand began with a letter to the editor of the Abilene reporter news in january 1991 that questioned the use of military Force to oust invading iraqi forces from Kuwait. Robertson claimed that he was ostracized by Superior officers afterwards. Robertson said he was disappointed that other Chap Lains did t rally behind him. Answering Call to run for office by March Gordon the associated press Washington or. Smith goes to Washington Frank Capra s classic film about a citizen legislator May be due for a sequel if some Republican House challengers prevail on election Day but with a title More in tune with the 1990s 77 e Rev. Smith goes to Washington. The growing strength of the conservative christians in Republican politics Means that this year there Are plenty of candidates who espouse conservative social values and some Are clergymen themselves. The gop clergy candidates Are running for Congress nationwide. They have several traits in common they often Are new to electoral politics. They believe in smaller government and Are fiercely conservative on such issues As abortion Gay rights gun control taxes and congressional term limits. And they often Are endorsed by conservative Chris Tian groups. We certainly have enough lawyers and professional politicians in Washington. Perhaps we could use a few ministers said the Rev. George Sweet a Baptist min ister in Chesapeake va., who is making his first Politi Cal Campaign. There Are of course already members of the clergy in Congress. They include sen. John Danforth r-mo., an attorney and Episcopalian minister who s retiring this year and rep. Floyd Flake d-n.y., an african methodist episcopal pastor and educator. But few of them Are fundamentalist christians or preach As their primary occupation. Sweet who studied at Jerry Falwell s Liberty univer sity founded the Atlantic shores Baptist Church in Chesapeake in 1981. He is taking on democratic . Rep. Norman Sisisky who has held the scat since 1982. Others include. The Rev. Thomas Haughey pastor at mennonite Brethren Bible Church has been preaching in san Juan Texas about the heed to Cut government spend ing welfare and immigration Reform and term limits in his Campaign against democratic rep. Kika Delagarza. In his previous Challenge to the 15-term lawmaker in1992, Haughey got 40 percent of the vote the biggest percentage Ever for a challenger of de a Garza. Ron Freeman an educational consultant in Kansas City mo., is an Urban ministry director for the a file sen. John Danforth r-mo., is a ordained episcopal minister. And even though Danforth is leaving a num Ber of other clergy members arc running for scats in Congress. Fellowship of Christian athletes. He s running against Democrat Karen Mccarthy. Freeman has been endorsed by conservative activist Paul Weyrich a co founder of the moral majority and founder of free Congress foundation and National empowerment television. Rep. Ron Lewis r., a Baptist minister who probably has the Best Chance on nov. 8 among the clergy candidates. Lewis won an upset Victory in a special election in May following the death of 41-year demo cratic incumbent rep William Natcher. The Rev. Donald counts of St. Louis a minister since he was 19, is assistant pastor and sunday school superintendent and teacher at Faith apostolic Tabernacle in Moline acres to. Episcopal Bishop becoming Catholic fort Worth Texas a the episcopal Bishop of fort Worth will switch to the roman Catholic Church when he retires in two months because episcopalians allow women to become priests. Bishop Clarence c. Pope jr., said he will offer him self for ordination into the Catholic Priesthood when he retires Jan. 1. He has already Given up leadership of the diocese because he is on sabbatical. Pope 65, said he had hoped for a reunion of the episcopal Church and the Catholic Church. But reunion became impossible when episcopalians decided to allow women to be ordained he said so he will make an individual reunion. The fort Worth diocese is among the few that does not allow the ordination of women or for women ordained elsewhere to function As priests. I come with no strings attached and no conditions the Dallas morning news quoted Pope As saying this is a spiritual pilgrimage and i believe it to be under the direction and guidance of the holy  Pope a native of Shreveport la., was ordained in 1955. He has been head of the 24-county, 20,000-Mem-Ber diocese since 1084. Baptist Seminary hires 1st f ill a time Woma n teacher from the associated press Irving Texas southwestern Baptist theological Seminary officials have hired the school s first full time female teacher. Trustees voted unanimously earlier this month to appoint Karen o Dell Bullock 41, As an assistant professor of Church history. Ken Hemphill president of the 3,200-student Seminary in fort Worth said Bullock has no feminist Agenda and will not teach theology. Many Baptist conservatives believe that scripture forbids women to teach men the principles of theology or to serve As senior pastor of a Church. Women have traditionally been allowed to teach at Baptist seminaries but usually instruct classes in How to teach religious education music and other subjects not directly related to theology. Archdiocese facing a deficit Boston the roman Catholic archdiocese of Boston which is the state s largest private social service provider is facing a multimillion Dollar deficit and is sounding the alarm a published report says.  it can Only help us for the world to know our needs and problems said David Smith finance director for the archdiocese. Two weeks ago the Boston sunday Globe reported Cardinal Bernard Law told the Region business leaders that the archdiocese faces a $3.4 million deficit for the fiscal year beginning july 1, 1995./.\- ,. Interviews with Church officials showed that  also faces a $3.8 million deficit for the following year beginning july 1,1996, the Globe reported the Church cannot Nike up the difference by Selling surplus real estate As it has in the past Smith said /  deficit accumulated since 1988, is expected to reach $18.1 million by june 1995 and $21.9 million by june 1996, if the Church gets no new income and makes no spending cuts. The archdiocese raises about $16 million each year $13 million in regular giving by Church members plus $3 million in bequests special contributions and interest on endowments. But the total spent for programs funded by the archdiocese is about $19.4 million a year. Church planes sex Ernst Bentonville Ark. Vehicles use exclusively for Church business even air planes cannot be taxed by the county a Benton .  n. -.y. V. Circuit judge Bruce Rutherford ruled recently that efforts to tax two planes owned by the Shepherd s Chapel Church in Gravette will not Fly. The county assessor said the planes a Beec Debonair 33 Worth $35,000 and a Cheyenne 400 Worth $1.3 million were taxable because the were used to transport Church personnel to locations where they taped Christian radio shows instead of carrying Church members to a place of worship. The Rev. Arnold Murray said his Church is part of the National Christian network. The Cheyenne 400was donated to the Church in 1992, Murray said. He said the planes Are used to carry him Church members and employees to broadcasts throughout the nation. Laura Andress attorney for Shepherd s Chapel argued that Church buses Are exempt from taxation. Aircraft when used exclusively for Church purposes should also be exempt she argued More priests needed Green Bay wis. The number of Roma Catholic priests serving area parishes is expected to drop a third by 2005, and the Church must make that loss its top priority Bishop Robert Banks said. Discussions of Priesthood As a vocation should be included in All Levels of religious education said Banks who has asked Parish priests to identify goo candidates and invite them personally to consider Priesthood. The number of priests in the northeastern Wisconsin diocese is expected to decline from the current 207 to fewer than 144 by 2005. Church closings and mergers have occurred i Rural areas of the diocese during the past several years