Palestinians are among those who mourned the death of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein this past weekend. According to some analysts, one of the key reasons Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza held Hussein in such regard is because of the generous financial support the former Iraqi dictator gave them for terrorist attacks against the Jews. Reportedly, Saddam sent $25,000 to the families of each homicide bomber that blew himself up in an effort to kill and maim as many Jews as possible, and also offered $10,000 to the families of each Palestinian killed in fighting. That blood money, according to Associated Press assessments, totaled an estimated $35 million. Also, during the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam attacked Israel in a failed ploy to force his Arab allies to abandon the United States-led coalition arrayed against him and join Iraq in fighting the Jewish State. Over the past weekend, Palestinians referred to Hussein’s execution as martyrdom and held parades and other gatherings to honor the mass murderer.

-AP

A congregation north of San Francisco has become the latest to break ties with the Episcopal Church. Members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Petaluma voted to leave the denomination, which has become alienated from other parts of the Anglican Communion since consecrating an openly homosexual bishop. The rector of what will now be known as St. John’s Anglican Church says, “The Bible has already spoken regarding homosexuality, and it says it is sinful behavior.” But the rector of another Episcopal congregation in nearby Santa Rosa notes that “Jesus had nothing to say about homosexuality.”

-AP