Topics: Art depicting Christ’s wounds; Sex scandal in Brazil RC churches; California city requires permit for Home Church; Ralph Reed will not run in Georgia; Imam calls for US Muslim revolt

Artists view Christ’s pain
By Brett Zongker (AP)
Depictions of Jesus Christ’s wounds and suffering on the cross are on rare display at the National Gallery of Art as the museum presents its first comparison of painting and sculpture from the Roman Catholic Church. Eleven paintings by Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Zurbaran and others are being displayed for the first time alongside 11 hyperrealistic painted wood sculptures from the 17th century in “The Sacred Made Real.”
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/18/artists-view-christs-pain/

Sex scandal embroils Catholic Church in Brazil
By Bradley Brooks (AP)
Brazilian authorities are investigating three priests accused of sexually abusing altar boys after a video allegedly showing one case of abuse was broadcast on television, police and church officials said Tuesday. The case came to light after the SBT network aired a video purportedly showing an 82-year-old priest having sex with a 19-year-old altar boy who worked for him for four years. Other young men appeared on the report saying that they, too, had been abused by Monsignor Luiz Marques Barbosa.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gDc-ZGlINGW1q-9loLMQZVnMIBHgD9EG0VDO0

Southern California City Says Home Bible Group Must Get Permit
AP Newswire
For the second time in six months, the city has ordered a group of Christian worshippers who meet inside homes to get a permit or shut down. It’s the latest incident in which religious groups in Southern California have been targeted by cities for home gatherings, though many of those groups were eventually allowed to meet without obtaining permits. Rancho Cucamonga is trying to halt Friday night meetings at a home after receiving a complaint in February from a neighbor that 40 to 60 people were gathering weekly in the San Bernardino County location. Officials said the homeowner needs a conditional use permit by Good Friday, April 2, to operate a church in a residential area.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/17/southern-california-city-says-home-bible-group-permit/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+foxnews%252Fus+%2528Text+-+US%2529

Ex-Christian Coalition head won’t run for Congress
By Shannon McCaffrey (AP)
Former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed announced Wednesday he will not run for Congress in Georgia, saying he can do more to push a conservative agenda through his work for a political startup. Reed considered seeking the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District northeast of Atlanta, but said on the social networking site Twitter and his Web site that he won’t. The boyish-looking 48-year-old was clobbered in his first bid for elected office in 2006. Facing questions about his ties to disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, he was defeated by a little-known state senator in the race to become Georgia’s lieutenant governor.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONGRESS_RALPH_REED?SITE=ALMON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Yemen-American imam calls for US Muslim revolt
By Paul Schemm (AP)
A Yemeni-American Muslim preacher known for his ties to extremists operating in the U.S. called on American Muslims in a new audio message to turn against their government because of its actions against Muslims around the world. Anwar al-Awlaki’s latest message, excerpts of which were aired on CNN Wednesday, described his own radicalization after U.S. operations against Muslims and called on those in the U.S. to follow his path. “I eventually came to the conclusion that jihad against America is binding upon myself just as it is binding on every other Muslim,” he said in his American-accented English.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jwr7sfBi0uaMpwEMegoa2cFZ-BFQD9EGL5AG0

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