In the Media

Bartholomew's Notes has a nice piece on Christian Zionism, with links to several recent stories. Mormonism leans toward American Zionism, following AOF 10 (Zion will be built on the American continent). But don't forget Orson Hyde, the Mormon apostle who, in 1841, "climbed the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem and offered a prophetic prayer of dedication, asking the Lord to remove the 'barrenness and sterility of this land'" (from the short Hyde bio linked to his name).

Get Religion reviews current developments in the Catholic politicians and Communion issue. Here is guidance supposedly directed to US clergy by a Vatican envoy named Joseph Ratzinger (which is interesting to compare to the loose and informal direction given to LDS members):

[H]is Pastor should meet with [a Catholic politician who votes and campaigns for permissive abortion laws], instructing him about the Church's teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.

When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" (quoted material n this paragraph is from an official Catholic publication of some sort).

(edited 7/10/04)

Comments

[danithew]

I think one of the major texts of Mormon Zionism is the Mormon hymnbook. See the words to the very first hymn in the book (The Morning Breaks).

Lo, Judah's remant cleansed from sin,
Shall in their promised Canaan stand.

I often wondered how my Palestinian friends who are members of the Church felt about these hymns.