Headlines: Adventist Legal Affairs Director Supports Muslim Woman Against Abercrombie & Fitch.
Adventist Legal Affairs Director Supports Muslim Woman Against Abercrombie & Fitch. The Huffington Post published an op-ed by Dwayne Leslie, Legislative Affairs director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, about a case for which the church filed an amicus brief regarding the religious freedom rights of a young Muslim woman to wear a head scarf at work. Adventists were joined by a number of other organizations in supporting this case: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Christian Legal Society, National Association of Evangelicals, Church of God in Christ, American Islamic Congress, the Sikh Coalition. From Huffington Post, “Abercrombie & Fitch, The Supreme Court and You.”
Sanitarium Could Make Millions from Pharmaceutical. Baltimore’s Asklepion Pharmaceuticals, which tax-exempt New Zealand breakfast cereal manufacturer Sanitarium invested in, is posed to make more than $100 million over the next few years from the sale of a colic acid treatment for a deadly genetic liver defect. While the church declined to reveal the amount of capital Sanitarium had invested, “the core rationale for Sanitarium investing in biotech companies–that are creating products that save lives–is to generate funds for further charitable work in New Zealand,” James Standish, communications director for the South Pacific Division, said. From New Zealand Herald, “Sanitarium stands to reap windfall from liver drug.”
African Governments Want Adventists to Promote Condom Use. HIV/AIDS prevention in Botswana and Zimbabwe has created tension between the governments and Adventist healthcare facilities. Government officials in both countries want Adventists to have stronger policies than abstinence out side of marriage and faithfulness within marriage. The officials want Adventist facilities to provide condoms and encourage the use of condoms for sexual relations whether or not couples are married. From All Africa, “Botswana: SDA Hospital Not Distribution Point for Contraceptives – Official” and “Zimbabwe: Stamps Blames Catholics, SDA for HIV Stigma.”
MEND Act Will Benefit Hospital-based Schools Like Kettering College. Nate Brandstater, president of Kettering College in Ohio, has worked with U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on the Making the Education of Nursing Dependable for Schools (MEND) Act. The legislation would allow Medicare “pass-through” support payments to hospital-based nursing programs to continue after accrediting bodies required hospital-based programs to become separately incorporated to retain accreditation. Brandstater called the bill “vital legislation” that “protects the training of highly-skilled nurses and tens of thousands of healthcare-related jobs throughout Ohio and the United States.” From The Vindicator and Vindy.com, “Portman and Brown introduce bill to boost Ohio nursing programs.”
Sanjay Gupta, CNN Feature Loma Linda University Health. Loma Linda University Health community and its long-running and leading research, programs, and leaders are featured on CNN’s “Vital Signs with Dr. Sanjay Gupta,” a monthly program featuring healthy aging and greater longevity. The 30-minute program was broadcast on the CNN International channel worldwide during the month of February and addressed the question, “What can one do to live a healthier, happier, and longer life?” The CNN show is posted online.
Pam Dietrich taught English at Loma Linda Academy for 26 years and served there eight more years as the 7-12 librarian. She lives in Redlands, CA.
