News Shorts

Billions of dollars have been stolen in the USA by religious con-men anxious to exploit the gullibility of the believers. According to a report from the North American Securities Administrators Association (a group of state officials who work to protect investors), between 1984 and 1989, about $450 million was stolen in religion-related scams, the association says. In its latest count — from 1998 to 2001 — the toll had risen to $2 billion. Rip-offs have only become more common since then.

The ownership of a 29 foot high cross in San Diego, California, whose legality has been contested for 17 years by an atheist, Philip Paulson, on the grounds that it discriminates against non-Christians, has been transferred to the federal government. A series of court decisions had deemed the structure, built in 1954 to honour Korean War veterans, unconstitutional because it stands on public property and that it should be removed. Mr Paulson vowed to continue his struggle.

The Church of England took time out from pressurising the government to pay for the upkeep of its churches to announce that it will be spending an estimated £6 million on restoring a Bishop’s Palace so that Archbishop John Sentamu can have sumptuous new apartments. Mr Sentamu is presently living in a tent to show his solidarity with those displaced by the Middle East conflict. He often speaks out about how sorry he is that most of the world has to live in poverty. The Church of England has £5 billion in the bank.

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