HEALTH OVERHAUL-RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
House approves individual religious exemption to health care law
WASHINGTON (AP) — Individuals who practice faith healing instead of seeking medical attention would be exempt from the health care law’s insurance requirement under legislation passed Tuesday by the House.
The bill would exempt Americans who notify the IRS that covered health care would violate their “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock (SHAHK) said insincere applicants would forfeit the exemption and be fined if they voluntarily sought medical treatment.
California Democrat Henry Waxman warned that the legislation would force the IRS to approve almost all requests for the exemption or try to determine whether religious beliefs are “sincerely held.” He said the IRS also would have difficulty determining whether an exempt person’s medical treatment was voluntary.
The legislation passed after Schock said lawmakers were sworn “before God to protect the religious freedoms of every American.” It’s unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate.
Sound:
295-a-10-(U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (SHAHK), R-Ill., in floor debate)-“not do that”-U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., says the health care law forces millions of Americans to violate their religious beliefs. (11 Mar 2014)
< 291-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with U.S. Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Aaron Schock, R-Ill.)–Individuals who practice faith healing instead of seeking medical attention could be exempt from the health care law’s insurance requirement under legislation that was passed Tuesday by the Republican House. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (11 Mar 2014) < 293-a-12-(U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in floor debate)-“meet that standard”-U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., says the bill would let individuals claim an exemption from buying health insurance if it includes treatements that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. (11 Mar 2014) < 292-a-14-(U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in floor debate)-“would be covered”-U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., says a House bill allowing individual religious exemptions from the health care law is too broad. (11 Mar 2014) < 294-a-09-(U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (SHAHK), R-Ill., in floor debate)-“exercizing those beliefs”-U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., says the health care law’s religious exemptions are too narrow. (11 Mar 2014) < OSTEEN CHURCH-THEFT Donations taken from safe at Osteen’s megachurch HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities are investigating after $600,000 in checks and cash was stolen from a safe at Pastor Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch, which has one of the largest congregations in the country. Police spokesman Kese Smith said Tuesday $200,000 in cash and $400,000 in checks were stolen from a safe sometime between 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday. The theft was reported Monday morning by a church employee and an off-duty sheriff’s deputy who provides security at the facility. Smith said no arrests have been made. In a statement issued Monday, Lakewood Church said the money and checks taken, as well as some envelopes with written credit card information, were limited to funds given during this past weekend’s Saturday and Sunday services. More than 40,000 people attend weekly services led by Osteen, whose televised sermons reach nearly 100 countries. PRINCIPAL-ARSON CHARGE Students at burned ND school return to classes DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — Students at a Catholic school that was shut down after a fire allegedly set by the school’s principal are back in class this week in other buildings. The 250 students at Trinity High School in Dickinson, N.D. — some of them wearing T-shirts that say “We Will Rise Again” — are now attending classes in two elementary schools, a junior high school and a church. They had a week off from classes before returning Monday. Principal Thomas Sander is due back in court April 21 and could enter pleas then to charges of felony arson and endangering by fire or explosion. The 30-year-old principal could face as much as 20 years in prison if convicted. Authorities say the March 3 blaze caused extensive damage, but no one was hurt. Authorities have not speculated on a motive. Sander told faculty about a month before the fire that he would not return next year, but school officials have not said whether that was Sander’s decision or the school’s. CHURCH CRASH Truck crashes into wall of northwest Ala. church CENTER STAR, Ala. (AP) — Services at an Alabama church have been relocated after a flatbed truck crashed through one of its walls. First Baptist Church of Center Star Pastor Ronny Jones told the TimesDaily of Florence that about 100 preschool children had been picked up from the church about 45 minutes before the truck hit the building Monday afternoon. No injuries were reported. Emergency workers erected temporary structures to keep the damaged portion of the building from collapsing while authorities inspect it. The building has been condemned by the Alabama fire marshal pending an inspection by a structural engineer. Jones says the church will temporarily hold services in the church’s family life center. VATICAN-FRANCISCAN FUNDRAISING Pope’s Franciscans kick-start fundraising effort ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’ namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, founded his order of mendicant friars in the 13th century after receiving a calling from God to “rebuild my church.” Some 800 years later, St. Francis’ followers are rebuilding his church in the ancient tradition of door-to-door begging that St. Francis championed — but with a modern twist. With interest in things Franciscan at an all-time high, the friars who run the San Francesco a Ripa church in Rome have launched a Kickstarter online fundraising campaign to try to raise $125,000 for the restoration of the tiny cell where St. Francis stayed when he went to see the pope. Rather than ask for funding from the Italian government, which owns the church and is responsible for its upkeep, the friars decided on the crowd-funding initiative, thinking it more in keeping with the Franciscan tradition of seeking alms for just what they need, spreading the faith as they beg and making sure the poor are the priority. CHURCH ABUSE-MINNESOTA-NIENSTEDT Nienstedt returns to public ministry MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The leader of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis says he’ll return to public ministry, after authorities announced they will decline to prosecute him over an allegation of inappropriate touching. Roman Catholic Archbishop John Nienstedt (NYN’-steht) has always denied a claim that he touched a boy on the buttocks during a public photo session in 2009. But he stepped down from public ministry on Dec. 17 while police investigated. Prosecutors said Tuesday there is insufficient evidence to bring charges. Nienstedt says in a statement he’s thankful for the thorough investigation and looks forward to returning to public ministry as Easter is approaching. He says he continues to pray for everyone affected by clergy sexual abuse. TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT Trial begins over Ten Commandments monument ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A federal trial is underway to determine whether a New Mexico city can have a Ten Commandments monument in front of its City Hall. A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two Bloomfield residents contends the monument violates their religious freedoms by conveying a message that the city endorses a particular religious belief. Bloomfield’s lawyers contend that private individuals erected and paid for the monument under a 2007 city resolution. That resolution allows people to erect historical monuments of their choosing. Attorneys for the city contend that the policy provides equal access to any group that wants a monument at City Hall relevant to the history or heritage of the city. MLK CHILDREN-LEGAL BATTLE Bernice King turns in father’s Bible, Nobel prize ATLANTA (AP) — A lawyer involved in the dispute over the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Bible and Nobel Peace Prize says few words were exchanged as King’s daughter surrendered the items to be put in a safe deposit box. A judge had ordered the items be kept there, with the keys held by the court, until the dispute is settled. Lawyer William Hill, who represents the slain civil rights icon’s estate, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Rev. Bernice King gave the items to her brother Martin Luther King III so they could be placed in the safe deposit box during a Monday meeting that was over in five minutes. Bernice and her father’s estate, which is controlled by her brothers, are locked in a legal dispute over the ownership of the Bible and peace prize. She says she fears they will be sold. RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINT Bill gives students free religious expression NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Legislation that would allow a student to express a religious belief in a school assignment has passed the Tennessee House. The measure sponsored by state Rep. Courtney Rogers was overwhelmingly approved 90-2 on Monday. Under the proposal, a student could express his or her beliefs about religion in homework, artwork and other written and oral assignments without discrimination based on the religious content. Rogers said she proposed the legislation after a 10-year-old student was given an assignment to write about the person she most admires and she chose God. The teacher asked her to choose another subject. The legislation also would allow a student to organize student prayer groups and other religious gatherings to the same degree that students are permitted to organize non-curricular activities and groups. FUNERAL PROTESTS Judge upholds Missouri limit on funeral protests JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge has upheld a Missouri law requiring protesters to stay at least a football-field length away from funeral sites, beginning an hour before they start until an hour after the services end. The ruling caps a nearly eight-year legal fight over Missouri’s funeral protest restrictions. The fight was prompted after members of a Kansas church opposed to homosexuality protested at the funeral of a Missouri solider who had been killed in Iraq. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said the law is now in effect. He said no parent who has lost a child should be “confronted by the hate and intolerance of strangers.” A tiny church in Topeka, Kan. — Westboro Baptist Church — conducts protests at funerals to highlight its belief that God is punishing the U.S. for its acceptance of homosexuality, regardless of whether the deceased person was gay. CHILD ABUSE-BIBLICAL TEACHINGS Couple from Black Earth church convicted of abuse MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A couple accused of spanking their young children with wooden dowels in line with their church teachings has been convicted of child abuse. Twenty-nine-year-old Matthew Caminiti and 27-year-old Alina Caminiti of Black Earth, Wis., were convicted Friday. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Matthew Caminiti is the son of Philip Caminiti, who led Aleitheia Bible Church. The church taught parents to spank children, including infants, on their bare bottoms with wooden dowels to teach proper behavior. Several members of the church were arrested in 2010. Philip Caminiti was convicted in 2012 of conspiracy to commit child abuse. Lawyers for the couple say there was no evidence the spankings occurred. The couple’s trial was delayed by constitutional challenges claiming they had the right to discipline children and practice religion as they chose. FRANCE-NAZI ART France returns 3 paintings stolen by Nazis to rightful owners PARIS (AP) — France has returned three paintings stolen by the Nazis during World War II to their rightful owners. In an official ceremony, France’s culture minister returned the works to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original Jewish owners who are now dead — calling it a “gesture toward justice.” They include “Madonna and Child,” by 14th century master Lippo Memmi and an 18th century canvas by an unknown artist, “Portrait of a Woman.” The third painting, “Mountain Landscape” by Flemish artist Joos de Momper, was to have been displayed in the art gallery Adolf Hitler wanted to build in Austria. The restitution is part of France’s ongoing effort to return hundreds of looted artworks that Jewish owners lost during the war and that still hang in French museums. Sound: 189-a-15-(Nicholas Florescu (flor-ehs-KOO’), from Houston, Texas, and grandson of Richard Soepkez (SOHP’-kehz), who owned “Madonna and Child”, in AP interview)-“gratitude to them”-Nicholas Florescu says he’s thrilled to recover the cherished artwork the Nazis looted from his grandfather during World War II. (11 Mar 2014) < 190-a-05-(Nicholas Florescu (flor-ehs-KOO’), from Houston, Texas, and grandson of Richard Soepkez (SOHP’-kehz), who owned “Madonna and Child”, in AP interview)-“this moment tremendously”-Nicholas Florescu says his 89-year-old father could not attend the ceremony, but will be overjoyed to learn that the painting has been returned to his family. (11 Mar 2014) < EGYPT-JEWISH COMMUNITY Deputy leader of Egypt’s Jewish community buried CAIRO (AP) — The deputy head of Egypt’s dwindling Jewish community has been buried. Nadia Haroun, lawyer and architect, was 59. Haroun’s sister Magda, leader of the community, led the ceremony in Cairo’s downtown Gates of Heaven Synagogue Tuesday. It was attended by a handful of the remaining members of the aging community along with several Egyptian public figures. Longtime friend Nevin Amin said Haroun died Thursday of a heart attack. She is survived by a son and daughter. Most of Egypt’s once-thriving Jewish community left more than 60 years ago. Today, less than 40 remain. Haroun was a daughter of prominent politician Chehata Haroun, known for his anti-Zionist politics. He defended Egyptian Jews against accusations that they had more loyalty to Israel than Egypt at the peak of the Mideast wars.
