World religion briefs

Ohio town trying to save ornate church

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — The City Council and mayor are trying to protect an ornate Roman Catholic church that was slated to be closed by the Diocese of Cleveland.

City officials have proposed an ordinance that would prohibit the diocese or any future owner from tearing down St. James Church or gutting its interior.

The towering stone building is one of 52 parishes in the eight-county diocese slated to be eliminated by next year through mergers and closings.

The proposed regulation would protect any structure that the city designates a historical or cultural landmark. It is designed specifically to save the church and is on track to become law next month.

Sect's plan for dormitory drawing protest

FORT HALL, Idaho — A plan by a religious sect to build a three-story dormitory in Fort Hall, Idaho, has drawn protest from residents.

About three dozen members of The Church of the Firstborn and General Assembly of Heaven moved to a home on Reservation Road from Magna, Utah, this summer, adding a handful of trailers at the site, the Idaho State Journal reported.

On Monday, more than 100 people packed the Land Use Policy Commission meeting for a hearing on the group's plan to build an 18,000-square-foot motel-like building with as many as 38 rooms.

Jennie Bloxham, whose home is just to the east of the group's property, said she fears the influx of people to the rural neighborhood is placing too much stress on a well shared by four homes, including hers and the home used by the sect.

Some residents voiced concern about the sect itself. Church member Geody Harman declined to comment on the church or its construction proposal.

Its Web site, www.thefirst born.org, says the sect was started by Terrill Dalton, who was excommunicated from the LDS church and now claims to be the Holy Ghost.

The Web site also says Dalton and Harmon translated records from God. Among those records were references to plural marriage and instructions to tithe to Dalton.

Muslim gets jail, caning for drinking

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A judge has ordered a Muslim man to be caned and jailed for drinking alcohol, two months after triggering a national debate for sentencing a woman to be whipped for a similar offense.