Religion Is Emerging as a Central Issue in 2000 Campaign

There were the spiritual references in Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush's acceptance speech. This week, there was the selection of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, as Vice President Al Gore's running mate. For both presidential candidates, religion and faith have emerged as central issues. As delegates gather here next week for the Democratic National Convention, a round table of authors will discuss how religious issues bear on the 2000 election and public life. Columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. will moderate a discussion at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Los Angeles Marriott, 333 S. Figueroa St. Panelists will include writers who contributed to the recently released book "What's God Got to Do With the American Experiment?" The panelists are William Galston, advisor to the Gore campaign; Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist; Jim Wallis, editor in chief of Sojourners magazine; Melissa Rogers of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs; and Steve Waldman, co-founder and editor in chief of Beliefnet.com.

* The Rev. William Moore Campbell, pastoral associate of Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, is expected to launch a new faith-based group focused on globalization and its effects on Africa during the Democratic National Convention. The group, Ministers Against Global Injustice, aims to mobilize religious leaders and churches and African Americans to become more active on trade issues and their effects on Africa and on the African American community. The group will hold a teach-in on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The church is at 2412 S. Griffith Ave. in Los Angeles. (213) 748-0318.

* In the interest of supporting peace and justice during the Democratic National Convention, the Southern California Ecumenical Council is sponsoring an interfaith prayer service at 5 p.m. today at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd. People of all faiths are invited to attend, especially clergy and laity who have volunteered to act as faith observers during protests. (213) 398-3191.

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Loyola Marymount University received $9.5 million to help complete its acquisition of the Raytheon building. The gift includes a $5-million pledge from the Thomas and Dorothy Leavy Foundation and a $4.5-million pledge from the University Hill Foundation. In addition, the university received $1 million from 1940 almunus Reed LeVecke for a pedestrian bridge from the main campus to the new University Hall building.