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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 9, 1993                   TAG: 9301080321
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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RELIGION BRIEFS

Priorities defined

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond has announced the legislative priorities for which its representatives will seek to influence legislation this winter in the Virginia General Assembly. A report in the Catholic Virginian diocesan newspaper says public policy is determined by whether it protects or undermines the dignity of humans.

The church also tries to give its lobbying attention to issues not being addressed by other special interest groups, the report states.

Eight priorities are defined this year. They are assistance to at-risk children, basic health care for poor Virginians, seeking industry that pays better than minimum wage, housing for the destitute, alternatives to confinement in prison and rehabilitation for those behind bars, more affordable services for the elderly and informed consent laws to limit abortion. - Staff

Perspectives program

Registration is open for a Perspectives Study Program, an extension of Trinity College and its Evangelical Divinity School. The classes will be held at Heritage Baptist Church in the Lynchburg suburb of Madison Heights. The Perspectives program was developed by Dr. Ralph Winter of the U.S. Center for World Mission and is endorsed by such evangelical Christian agencies as Campus Crusade for Christ, Intervarsity and Wycliffe Bible Translators. Call 929-2713 for more information and to register for the Monday night programs, which begin Jan. 18 and continue through May 3. - Staff

Medical ethics seminar

"Life at Risk: Crisis in Medical Ethics," will be the theme of the 26th national seminar of the Southern Baptist Convention's Christian Life Commission. More than a dozen nationally known speakers will be on the program held in Nashville, Tenn., at Centennial Tower of the SBC Sunday School Board. To be discussed are Christian responses to AIDS, abortion, euthanasia, nursing care for the elderly, physician-assisted suicide and patient determination of treatments when seriously ill. Call 615-244-2495 for registration forms. - Staff

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