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Feb. 6--A new president has been called to lead a controversial polygamous sect, replacing jailed leader Warren S. Jeffs in that post.

Wendell Nielsen, 69, is now president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and of the corporate entity that handles the faith's business dealings, according to a document filed with the state of Utah.

Nielsen signed the document amending the corporation's status on January 9. It was filed with the Utah Division of Corporations four days later.

It is unclear what status Jeffs now holds. It is likely he remains the sect's prophet, a position the FLDS consider appointed by God.

"As far as whom the members look to for their spiritual leadership, that's a decision most people make on an individual basis," said Rod Parker, a Salt Lake City attorney who represents FLDS members.

But, "As far as who has the legal authority to act on behalf of the church, there's never been any question that the people I'm dealing with have that authority and this filing helps to clarify that," Parker said.

He said that group includes Nielsen, Willie Jessop and others.

Jessop, who acts as the FLDS spokesman, said Nielsen "has been running the day to day affairs of the church for quite some time."

The church has communities in Hildale; Colorado City, Ariz.; Bountiful, Canada; Eldorado, Texas; and in numerous other states.

Regarding Jeffs, Jessop said he would "rather

not comment on who the prophet is out of fear there'd be retaliation by the government."

"It would be nice if the government respected people's rights to believe how, where and what they may," he said.

The corporate filing was made shortly after Bruce R. Wisan, a fiduciary overseeing the sect's $110 million property trust, filed a court document questioning who had authority to represent the FLDS in negotiations aimed at settling disputes over the trust. Wisan asked for a court order to depose Jeffs because he was still listed on corporate documents.

Jeffs issued a press release Dec. 4, 2007, saying he was resigning as president of the FLDS church's corporate entity. He made the announcement shortly after receiving two five-to-life prison sentences on rape as an accomplice charges.

At the time, the move was described as necessary to allow someone else to handle the church's business. But the sect did not file until last month any formal document noting who stepped into that void.

Nielsen was first counselor to Jeffs, as well as to his father Rulon T. Jeffs, who was the faith's president until his death in September 2002.

He started Western Precision, a high-tech machining company now located in Nevada, and numerous other businesses. Nielsen, said to have 21 wives, currently lives at the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas.

Texas authorities have charged him with three counts of bigamy based on evidence found at the ranch during a 2008 investigation. The charges are related to Nielsen's spiritual marriages to three women, all of whom were in their 60s at the time of the 2005 ceremonies. Among the FLDS, such marriages allow women to be under the care and protection of men considered to be faithful priesthood holders.

Nielsen also allegedly witnessed other marriages that are the subject of criminal charges in Texas, including at least one involving one of his underage daughters.

To see more of The Salt Lake Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sltrib.com.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

(RNS) The 25-member council advising the White House on faith-based issues has voted on two contentious issues for religious charities that receive government funds.

By a vote of 13-12, the council members said the government should require houses of worship to form separate corporations in order to receive direct federal funding for social services.

Separately, when asked whether the government should permit charities to offer social services in rooms containing religious art, symbols, messages or scripture, 16 said yes, two said no, and seven said they should be permitted if no other space is available.

Melissa Rogers, chair of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, said the votes will be included in a forthcoming report for President Obama.

"There are also a few issues that we address in the report that were ... nonconsensus issues," said Rogers. "That's what those votes represent."

Rogers said the votes and the report reflect recommendations the council will be making to Obama. "The council advises," she said. "The administration decides."

The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, has questioned the appropriateness of including members who work for charities that receive government funds to vote on the council.

"Wouldn't this be a conflict of interest by any ethical standard?" he wrote in an online column.

-- Adelle M. Banks
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.

A senior Vatican official called on Monday (Feb. 8) for "an ecumenical catechism" setting forth the common beliefs of the Catholic and major Protestant churches.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, announced the proposal at a Vatican symposium with representatives of the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches.

Citing the need for an "ecumenism of basics that identifies, reinforces and deepens the common foundation" of Christianity, Kasper said that the proposed catechism would be written "in consultation with our partners," according to a report by Catholic News Service.

Kasper noted that "we do not yet have any idea how such a catechism could be structured and written."

The cardinal himself is unlikely to preside over such a project, since he turns 77 next month, placing him two years past the normal retirement age for the heads of Vatican offices.

As head of the council since 2001, the noted German theologian has led the Catholic church's ecumenical dialogue with other Christian churches as well as with Jews.

In Monday's address, Kasper warned that ecumenism "is perhaps in danger of becoming a matter for specialists and thus of moving away from the grass roots," and appealed for "a people-centered ecumenism" to revitalize dialogue with other faith communities.

-- Francis X. Rocca
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.

(RNS) Southern Baptist leaders have appealed to President Obama to assist in the release of 10 American missionaries charged with kidnapping children in Haiti.

"We do not know all of the facts of this case, but we are concerned that the continued detainment and possible conviction of these Baptist mission volunteers will distract the world's attention and undermine the relief efforts so desperately needed by the Haitian people," wrote the leaders in a Friday (Feb. 5) letter to Obama.

It was signed by Morris Chapman, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, SBC President Johnny Hunt, and Frank Page, a former SBC president and member of Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

The leaders said they do not want to interfere with diplomatic negotiations, but requested the president "use all means necessary" to get the missionaries spiritual and medical assistance while they are detained in Haiti.

"We ask ... that you do everything within the authority of your office to secure a safe return home for these brothers and sisters in Christ as soon as possible," they said.

A White House official said U.S. embassy officials have met with the American missionaries and their legal case is being monitored.

"Our government will take all appropriate steps to ensure the well-being of U.S. citizens detained abroad," the official said.

-- Adelle M. Banks
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.

(RNS) The top U.S. Catholic bishop has denounced a Maryland-based gay ministry that has advocated on behalf of same-sex marriage, saying the group "confuses the faithful" and does not speak on behalf of the church.

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement on Friday (Feb. 5) that "serious questions" have been raised about New Ways Ministry's "adherence to church teaching on homosexuality."

"No one should be misled by the claim that New Ways Ministry provides an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching and an authentic Catholic pastoral practice," George said. "Their claim to be Catholic only confuses the faithful regarding the authentic teaching and ministry of the church with respect to persons with a homosexual inclination."

New Ways, which was founded in 1977 and based in Mt. Rainier, Md., calls itself a "gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics." It keeps track of "gay friendly" parishes and colleges, runs retreats, and works for gay and lesbian inclusion in the church.

As George noted in his statement, New Ways was denied official authorization by the archbishop of Washington in 1984, and two of its former leaders were barred by the Vatican in 1999 from associating with the group or working with gays and lesbians.

Recently, George said, New Ways has "criticized efforts by the Church to defend the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman and has urged Catholics to support electoral initiatives to establish same-sex `marriage."'

Last March, New Ways' executive director Francis DeBernardo testified before the Maryland House of Delegates against a proposed measure that would have banned same-sex marriage.

"We've pointed out that Catholics in polls are consistently in favor of same-sex marriage," DeBernardo said in an interview. "I didn't ever claim to speak for the church, which is what (George) claims."

According to a 2009 poll conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post, white Catholics are evenly split on same-sex marriage, with 46 percent in favor of legalizing it and 47 percent against. In 2006, just a third of white Catholics supported same-sex marriage.

DeBernardo said New Ways plans to speak with the USCCB, but otherwise the ministry will be unchanged by George's statement. "It won't affect our ministry at all," he said.

-- Daniel Burke
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.