CRUZ-IOWA
In Iowa, Ted Cruz embraces his religious side
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β Long known as a fiscal conservative, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is embracing his religious side for Christian home schooling advocates in Iowa.
The Texas Republican told a crowd of more than 500 homeschoolers in Des Moines on Tuesday that “there is no liberty more important than religious liberty.” And Cruz decried what he called the federal government’s attempts to impede it.
He said the Obama administration has been more openly hostile to religious freedom than any other in American history.
Cruz is frequently mentioned as a possible 2016 presidential candidate. His fourth visit to Iowa since last summer has fueled that speculation. Cruz addressed the Iowa Republican Party’s annual Ronald Reagan dinner in October, and met with Christian conservatives and evangelical leaders during two visits last summer.
Iowa is expected to host the first nominating caucuses for the 2016 presidential election.
Sound:
241-c-09-(Will Weissert (WY’-sehrt), AP correspondent)-“and praise God”-AP correspondent Will Weissert reports Cruz’s speech got an enthusiastic reception from the Christian homeschool audience. (18 Mar 2014)
< 239-c-05-(Will Weissert (WY’-sehrt), AP correspondent)-“their religious beliefs”-AP correspondent Will Weissert reports that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spoke Tuesday to Christian homeschoolers. (18 Mar 2014) < 240-c-06-(Will Weissert (WY’-sehrt), AP correspondent)-“the White House”-AP correspondent Will Weissert reports Senator Ted Cruz denounced Obama administration policies that he said threaten Americans’ religious rights. (18 Mar 2014) < 238-c-04-(Will Weissert (WY’-sehrt), AP correspondent)-“Christian home educators”-AP correspondent Will Weissert reports that a potential Republican presidential hopeful spoke in Iowa about the importance of religious liberty. (18 Mar 2014) < SALVATION ARMY-SETTLEMENT Salvation Army settles New York workers’ suit NEW YORK (AP) β The Salvation Army has reached an agreement to settle a decade-old lawsuit that accused the organization of religious discrimination in its employment practices in New York. The settlement announced Tuesday calls for the Salvation Army to notify all current and future employees of its government-funded social service programs that it doesn’t discriminate based on religious belief. The requirement applies only to workers in New York. The notification would also tell employees they’re expected to follow professional practices in their work without regard to the organization’s religious practices. The New York Civil Liberties Union had filed a lawsuit in 2004 on behalf of some current and former Salvation Army employees. The suit alleged retaliatory employment practices. The Salvation Army admits no wrongdoing but has agreed to pay $450,000 to be allocated between two plaintiffs and their attorneys. Sound: 245-v-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The Salvation Army has reached an agreement to settle a decade-old lawsuit that accused the organization of religious discrimination in its employment practices in New York. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (18 Mar 2014) < EASTERN MENNONITE-GAYS Eastern Mennonite reviews same-sex hiring policy HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) β Eastern Mennonite University is reviewing its policy against hiring people who are in same-sex relationships. The review includes a six-month listening process that began in January. The university, in Harrisonburg, Va., is conducting an online survey through April 30 to gather public input. The survey is posted on the university’s website. Eastern Mennonite conducted a previous survey to obtain input from students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. Valley Family Forum Chaplain John Sloop told WHSV-TV that changing the policy would go against the word of God. He says the university would lose support. But Claire Whiting, who attends a Mennonite church, believes the change could be positive. The President’s Cabinet will make a recommendation on whether to change the policy to the university’s board of directors in June. NOAH MOVIE Director and actors defend Noah movie BERLIN (AP) β Director Darren Aronofsky predicts that controversy over the movie “Noah” will disappear once people start to see it. At the European debut of his $125 million epic, Aronofsky said he believes the biblical story and its characters will resonate with moviegoers regardless of their religion. The film, starring Russell Crowe as the ark builder, has prompted officials in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to announce it won’t be shown in their theaters because Muslims believe it’s wrong to depict a prophet. In the U.S., conservative Christians convinced Paramount Pictures to add a disclaimer to its marketing material saying that “artistic license has been taken” in telling the story. Jennifer Connelly, who plays Noah’s wife, says she thinks much of the controversy about the film is “just speculation” on the part of people who haven’t seen it. “Noah” will open in U.S. theaters on March 28. Sound: 290-a-07-(Jennifer Connelly, who plays Noah’s wife, at German debut of the movie “Noah”)-“seen the film”-Jennifer Connelly, who plays Noah’s wife, says most critics of the film haven’t seen it. (18 Mar 2014) < 288-a-05-(Ray Winstone, who plays Tubal Cain in “Noah”, at German debut of the movie “Noah”)-“of a man (second reference)”-Ray Winstone, who plays Tubal Cain in “Noah,” says the movie is about more than the flood. (18 Mar 2014) < 287-a-14-(Darren Aronofsky, director of “Noah”, at German debut of the movie “Noah”)-“belongs to everyone”-Darren Aronofsky, director of “Noah,” says the biblical story and character are legendary. (18 Mar 2014) < 289-a-06-(Emma Watson, who plays Noah’s daughter, at German debut of the movie “Noah”)-“that plays out”-Emma Watson, who plays Noah’s daughter, says the movie is both epic and dramatic. (18 Mar 2014) < VATICAN-TWO POPES Retired Pope Benedict critiqued Francis’ interview VATICAN CITY (AP) β The man who serves two popes has revealed that retired Pope Benedict XVI wrote four pages of critique and commentary on Pope Francis’s landmark interview in which he blasted the church’s obsession with “small-minded” rules. Monsignor Georg Gaenswein (GYORG GAH’-en-svyn), Benedict’s personal secretary and head of Francis’ papal household, was quoted by German broadcaster ZDF as saying that Francis had solicited Benedict’s input. The revelation is further evidence of the remarkable and unprecedented collaboration between the two popes, who stay in touch by phone, in person and by sending notes back and forth across the Vatican gardens via Gaenswein. It’s unclear if any of Benedict’s suggestions made it into the final version of the interview, which was published in 16 Jesuit journals around the globe in September and helped define Francis’ agenda. VATICAN-JP2’S GUN Gun used against Pope John Paul II flown to Poland ROME (AP) β An Alitalia Airlines flight from Rome to Poland has delivered a special cargo: the gun used to shoot Pope John Paul II. Alitalia says Monsignor Dariusz Ras, the Polish priest who runs the John Paul II museum in the late pope’s childhood home, transported the pistol for the museum’s upcoming exhibit in honor of John Paul’s April 27 canonization. Mehmet Ali Agca (AH’-jah) used the handgun to shoot John Paul in the abdomen in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981. The pope spent nearly three weeks in the hospital recovering. Agca was released from prison in 2010. The weapon has been held by Rome’s department of penal administration, which lent it to Ras for the three-year exhibit. MATZO MAKEOVER It’s not just your grandmother’s matzo anymore NEW YORK (AP) β Passover, which commemorates the end of slavery for the Hebrews in ancient Egypt, calls for Jews to avoid leavened grain in products like pasta and bread, so it’s matzo’s biggest moment of the year In recent years, matzo has undergone a makeover, with new recipes and flavors for the large cracker with a big place at the Seder (SAY’-dur) table. This year, Passover begins the evening of April 14, and in addition to boxed matzo, from onion-poppy to chocolate-covered, Jews now have Matzolah, a commercial matzo granola. It comes in maple nut, whole wheat maple nut and gluten-free cranberry orange varieties. The maker of Matzolah calls it “The Trail Mix of the Exodus.” Taking a cue from gingerbread houses, matzo houses incorporate traditional Passover treats as decorations and chocolate as mortar. Other matzo creations include nutty, fruity brittles and barks in chocolate and caramel, matzo-layered ice cream cakes, toasted matzo crumbles on salads and matzo-crusted chicken cutlets. VENEZUELA-MORMON MISSIONARIES Mormon missionaries leaving Venezuela amid unrest SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β Officials with the Mormon church say they’re removing 152 missionaries from Venezuela because of unrest in the country. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Monday saying missionaries who are not Venezuelan citizens will be transferred to other locations in South America. Officials say Venezuelan missionaries are in frequent communication with their supervisors, and the church is making “every effort” to keep them safe. Venezuelan government forces and protesters have faced off for the past month in demonstrations that have at times turned deadly. Earlier this month, the church pulled 22 missionaries from Ukraine due to civil unrest there.
