Lebanon Valley College - Quittapahilla Yearbook (Annville, PA)

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Judgements for TV Evangelists TV Evangelist Jim Bakker announced his resignation from his PTL ministry this spring. His resignation occurred as a result of a sexual encounter with a secretary, Jessica Hahn. Bakker turned over the ministry and Heritage USA, a Christian retreat which includes a park, hotel, and shops, to Rev. Jerry Falwell, fundamental Baptist preacher who heads the Old Time Gospel Hour and Liberty Baptist University in Lynchburg, Virginia. After expected exploitation of his af- fair with Hahn, Bakker and his wife and co-host of the PTL (Praise the Lord People That Love) show an- nounced the turnover of the ministry to Falwell who is serving as chairman of the board. Rev. Richard Dortsch served as president of the ministry until his resignation in late April. Several of the board ' s new members also handed in their resignations, including James Watt, former Secretary of the Interior and Rev. Rex Humbard who has a ministry in Ohio. The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart has been accused of planning the exploitation, but has denied it. Many of the other television evangelists have been ac- cused of robbing the people to use their money for elaborate homes, cars, and bank accounts. Oral Roberts in his God will take me home if I don ' t raise the $8 million was able to raise the money, most from a Florida dog racer; but this caused an uproar among the American people who claim these ministers are corrupting religion — who are acting as business men rather than ministers of the Word. The Bakker ' s will not be allowed to return to their ministry according to Falwell and the Board of Directors. They will not receive pay from the PTL ministry either; their previous annual salary was $1.6 million. The Bakker ' s are uncertain of their future and their ministry. And, the people who have supported their ministry are uncertain about its future and leadership. And, the American people, in general, are uncertain about the role of the televi- sion evangelists today. U.S. Ship Hit WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- dent Reagan expressed concern and anger Monday over the Iraqi missile strike that killed 28 American sailors aboard the guided missile frigate Stark and he put U.S. ships on heightened alert in the Persian Gulf with authority to fire at threatening warplanes. We expect an apology and compensation for the men who died in this tragic incident, a White House statement said. We also seek compensation for the ship. The Stark, part of the U.S. naval task force in the gulf, was hit Sun- day (May 17) by one — possibly two — French-made Exocet missiles while on routine patrol about 85 miles northeast of Bahrain. It was the first attack on an American warship in the nearly 7- year-old Iran-Iraq war. Iraqi am- bassador Nizar Hamdoon called it an inadvertent error. The missile ripped through the ship ' s hull, tearing a 10- to 15-foot hole in its port side. Of the 28 sailors killed, 25 were trapped by intense fire in one compartment; 21 others were injured. At the Pentagon, the Navy ' s Vice Adm. Henry Mustin said the ship knew it had been ' locked on by the warplane ' s radar — a prelude to attack — and that the Stark attempted twice by radio to warn the attacker that it was an American ship. He said it was not known whether the message was received. Reagan said, We have pro- tested this attack in the strongest terms and are investigating the circumstances of the incident. This tragic incident underscores the need to bring the Iran-Iraq war to the promptest possible end. Reagan and other naval officers delivered messages at a memorial service for families of killed navy men, in Mayport, Florida, the home base of the USS Stark. 29

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Washington in Turmoil: Iran-Contra Affair 28 The event in Washington this year was the revelation of American involvement in weapon deals with Iran in exchange for hostages and the shipment of arms to Nicaraguan rebels. Hearings continue into the investigation of the af- fair which created a scandal not only for the American government but for the Reagan ad- ministration. Many people believe that there is a cover-up and Reagan ' s approval rating dropped tremendously within a month ' s time. Reagan said that he didn ' t know of the diversion of funds and weapons deals with the Contras. Behind this affair was National Security Adviser John Poindexter and National Security Council aide, Lt. Col. Oliver North. Apparently, North was the mastermind of the plan, requesting donations from Americans for ransom money for the hostages. Both Poindexter and North took the Fifth Amend- ment when asked to testify before the House Foreign Relations Committee. North ' s secretary, Fawn Hall, who was told to shred papers and falsify documents testified this spring. Much of the affair was carried out by those around him. Those who were also ridiculed of having knowledge but not taking action to protect the coun- try were CIA director William Casey, Chief of Staff Donald Regan who was eventually ousted by the public and government leaders. Secretary of State George Schultz, and Vice-President George Bush. The scheme was first presented to ex-NSC ad- viser Robert McFarlane who turned the idea over to North, before he resigned in 1985. The Israelis were middlemen to Iran. Ret. Maj. Gen. Richard Secord controlled the Swiss account were funds were stored for Contra aid. Secord, North and McFarlane flew to Iran in May 1986 with arms, meeting with Hashemi Rafsanjani. North contracted with Southern Air Transport to fly supplies to Nicaragua. A Quarryville, PA firm, Corporate Air Services paid the salaries to those who flew supplies to the Contras; among these pilots was Eugene Hasenfus who was shot down over Nicaragua. The arms deal got about $20 million.

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Surrogate Parenting Decision HACKENSACK, NJ — Five days after her first birthday, Baby M finally has a home to call her own. Bergen County Circuit Court Judge Harvey Sorkow Tuesday gave custody of the blue-eyed blonde to her father, William Stern, stripping her mother, Mary Beth Whitehead, of all parental rights. In the first such decision in the USA, Sorkow upheld the validity of the $10,000 surrogate-parenting contract between the Sterns and Whitehead, who agreed to give birth for the childless couple. Surrogate parenting is here to stay, said William Handel, director of the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Beverly Hills, Calif. This will be perceived as a legitimization of sur- rogating parenting in the United States. Excerpts from Judge Sorkow ' s ruling: Melissa needs stability and peace, so that she can be nurtured in a loving environment free from chaos and sheltered from the public eye. This court says Melissa deserved nothing less — stability and peace. The issues and dimensions of sur- rogacy are still evolving but it is necessary that laws be adopted to give our society a sense of definition and direction if the concept is to be allowed to further develop. With an increasing number of surrogate births, legislation can avoid harm to society, the family and the child. If there is no law, then society will suffer the negative aspects of this alternative reproduction vehicle that appears to hold out so much hope to the childless who make up a substantial segment of our society. IVIore South African Divestment More companies have continued to divest from South Africa, adding to the anti-apartheid moment which currently exists. General Motors was the largest USA operation to leave. GM will sell out to local managers. The largest companies which operate out of this country see a troubled future. Coca-Cola also announced its divestment. GM was losing money as were most of the other companies do- ing business in that country. Congress continued to urge Presi- dent Reagan to impose sanctions on South Africa. On many college campuses around the USA, students protested their in- stitutions ' investment in South Africa, urging a divestment of funds. Former hostage Father Lawrence Jenco hugs Peggy Say, sister of hostage Terry Ander- son, after a news conference at the American Baptist Church in Valley Forge, PA, on the second anniversary of Anderson ' s kidnapping in Beirut. Anderson was chief Middle East Correspondent for the Associated Press. 30