| Revelations 03/31/2001 Episcopal bishop leaps to sabbatical
No, Kermit isn't his favorite frog. But Episcopal Bishop James Stanton of Dallas posed with him at Epcott Center in Orlando, just before kicking off a five-month sabbatical in January. The inside joke is that the bishop has hundreds of frogs – mostly ceramic. After giving a sermon on kindness that talked about kissing frogs, people inundated him with them. "It's gone on for 25 years," chuckled his wife, Diane. The Stantons left this week for a two-week trip to Europe. Afterward, they'll head to Oxford for two months, where the bishop will write a book about the Pharisees. Folks in Dallas can track the bishop's sabbatical at his Web site (www.jmstanton.com). Mrs. Stanton reports that bishop has grown a "sabbatical beard." Will he keep it? Keep checking that Web site.
Deck the walls with vows so holy?
It's on our dollars, but does putting it in schools make sense? The Mississippi governor signed a law last week mandating that public schools display "In God We Trust" in classrooms, cafeterias and auditoriums beginning July 1. The American Civil Liberties Union said they plan to file a lawsuit. Maryland and Virginia lawmakers rejected similar proposals this year, though Virginia's "encouraged" schools to display the slogan. Last month, a U.S. Circuit Court ruled that the Ohio state motto, "With God, all things are possible," is constitutional.
God save the queen – of whatever faith
There's a movement in Great Britain to end the ban on Roman Catholics succeeding to the throne – in spite of there being no obvious Catholic royal contenders. The British newspaper the Guardian, which supports the change, reported last week that the British attorney general, Lord Williams of Mostyn, said a law barring Catholics and other non-Protestants from the line of succession was discriminatory and should be amended.
Christian slogans, alphabet souped up
First came products emblazoned with WWJD – What Would Jesus Do? WWJD begat FROG – Fully Rely On God. And the marketers of religious products looked upon both and said, This is Good, but maybe we can do Better. And they begat GOLF – God Offers Love and Forgiveness. The wife of the late golfer Payne Stewart is involved and some profits of the merchandise will go to charity. What's next? Crummy golfers could use FORE – Finally Operating with Respect for Everyone. Cowboys fans might like a FOOTBALL – Following the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Terrifying, But Always Loving Lord.
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