This month's issue of The Lutheran, a magazine published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the largest of America's three major Lutheran bodies, had an uncritical take on an interfaith family.

The article was about the Lutheran bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and his soon-to-be-rabbi daughter. Basically, the bishop's daughter, Heidi Hoover, had promised herself that when she married her Jewish husband, she would never convert to his faith. But, beginning in 1997, she felt drawn to Judaism and eventually converted.

The bishop, B. Penrose Hoover, was unhappy about the switch, but didn't object because his daughter made her decision prayerfully. Years passed and she began studies to become a rabbi. The dad now says he overreacted 10 years ago, but now, "We've had some really interesting discussions and we try to learn from each other," he told the magazine. "So much of what Christianity is had its roots in what Judaism is — and was." Wait: Don't Lutherans have pretty strong ideas on how one gets into heaven? If this daughter has truly dumped her Christian faith, hasn't she given up her salvation? Shouldn't her dad still be pretty upset about this? I found some material here on the site of the Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod — a much more conservative group — that says Jews — and other non-Christians — can and will go to hell.

Do the ECLA'ers simply not believe there is such a place?

This is why I avoid writing about interfaith marriages and families. I've found the people involved in them ignore the very real eternal issues at stake. If they believe in the doctrines of their own religion, that is. Then again, maybe they don't.

— Julia Duin, assistant national editor/religion, The Washington Times

UPDATE: Jan. 25 — The Lutheran magazine requested that The Washington Times remove a photo of Bishop Hoover and his daughter, Heidi Hoover.