ARCHBISHOP’S MANSION
Atlanta archbishop to sell $2.2 million mansion
SMYRNA, Ga. (AP) β The Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta says he has decided to sell his $2.2 million residence following a storm of criticism from parishioners.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory said Saturday that he will leave the Tudor-style residence in the exclusive Buckhead neighborhood in early May.
The church leader apologized last week for building the mansion. He announced his decision after meeting Saturday with clergy and lay people from within his archdiocese.
Local Catholics have faulted Gregory for the opulent spending, citing the example of austerity set by Pope Francis.
Gregory moved into the residence in January after selling his old home to Christ The King Cathedral for $1.9 million. The cathedral plans to move its priests into the archbishop’s former residence, freeing up space on its campus.
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043-a-20-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading statement)-“Archdiocese of Atlanta”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading from a statement, says he will sell the mansion he moved into three months ago and invest the proceeds to help the church community. ((note length of cut)) (6 Apr 2014)
< 041-a-08-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading his statement)-“the Catholic community”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading from a statement, says he’s heard the concerns of parishioners and will move out of the $2.2 million dollar mansion he moved into just three months ago. (6 Apr 2014) < 042-a-11-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading his statement)-“differing points of view”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading a statement, says he received a great deal of input about his living in a mansion when the pope was calling for austerity. (6 Apr 2014) < 222-a-09-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta, in prepared statement)-“the Catholic community”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta, says his new $2.2 million residence will be sold. (6 Apr 2014) < 224-a-21-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta, in prepared statement)-“Archdiocese of Atlanta”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta, says critics of his new residence made some important points. ((note length of cut)) (6 Apr 2014) < 223-a-03-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta, in prepared statement)-“vacate the house”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta, says proceeds from the sale of his $2.2 million residence will be used to meet needs in the Catholic community. (6 Apr 2014) < 147-a-20-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading statement)-“Archdiocese of Atlanta”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading from a statement, says he will sell the mansion he moved into three months ago and invest the proceeds to help the church community. ((note length of cut)) (5 Apr 2014) < 145-a-08-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading his statement)-“the Catholic community”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading from a statement, says he’s heard the concerns of parishioners and will move out of the $2.2 million dollar mansion he moved into just three months ago. (5 Apr 2014) < 146-a-11-(Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading his statement)-“differing points of view”-Archbishop Wilton Gregory, reading a statement, says he received a great deal of input about his living in a mansion when the pope was calling for austerity. (5 Apr 2014) < BRYAN COLLEGE-EVOLUTION Bryan College could lose faculty over creationism DAYTON, Tenn. (AP) β The Tennessee college named after one of creationism’s most famous defenders is embroiled in a controversy over Adam and Eve. William Jennings Bryan helped prosecute the Scopes Monkey Trial. Now Bryan College could lose up to a quarter of its full-time faculty over a dispute that began in February when the trustees clarified the school’s statement of belief. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the statement already expressed a view that man was created by God. The clarification states that Adam and Eve were historical people who were not created from previously existing life forms. Since that move, 30 of Bryan College’s 44 professors have voted no confidence in the school’s president and one trustee has resigned. With the deadline now past for returning next year’s contract, which includes the clarification, seven professors are leaving and the status of another seven is up in the air. FORT HOOD-CHURCH SERVICE Near Fort Hood, church service honors fallen KILLEEN, Texas (AP) β The victims of the latest mass shooting at Fort Hood are being honored by members of the community. A church just outside the Texas military base held a service Sunday honoring the three soldiers killed in last week’s attack β the second fatal shooting rampage on the base in five years. Pastor Robert Sperbeck tried to comfort the congregation at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Killeen, saying most everyone is asking why a shooting like this would happen again. Sperbeck said “the devil is the author of what happened,” but that “the way of God leads to the way of comfort.” He said God gives individuals choice, and the shooter chose to follow darkness. Investigators say Spc. Ivan Lopez also wounded 16 people before taking his own life during Wednesday’s attack. BOX OFFICE ‘Noah’ and ‘God’s Not Dead’ have another good weekend LOS ANGELES (AP) β The director of the movie “Noah,” Darren Aronofsky, has called Bible characters the original superheroes. But in its second weekend in U.S. theaters, “Noah” has placed a distant second to a comic book superhero. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” set a record as the biggest domestic April release ever, selling an estimated $96.2 million worth of tickets. “Noah” placed second at the box office, earning $17 million, but that was down sharply from its $44 million opening weekend. The surprise hit “God’s Not Dead” took the weekend’s No. 4 slot with $7.7 million in its third weekend. Despite the decrease in “Noah’s” box office performance, its overall haul β and the success of both “Son of God” and “God’s Not Dead” β bodes well for other biblically-themed films coming this year, including “Heaven is for Real,” starring Greg Kinnear and “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” starring Christian Bale. EASTER EGGS-MUSLIM CHILDREN Arab-American leaders back church in egg dispute DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) β Arab-American and Muslim leaders are defending a suburban-Detroit church that drew criticism for inviting children at public schools with many Muslim children to attend its Easter egg hunt. Invitations to the Eggstravaganza at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church were distributed last week in elementary schools in Dearborn. The Detroit suburb is the center of southeastern Michigan’s large Arab-American community and has a high proportion of Muslim children. Lawyer Majed Mougni tells the Detroit Free Press that his two young children were upset to get fliers about the event. The Rev. Netta Nichols says it’s intended for children of any religion and isn’t an attempt to proselytize. Arab American News editor Osama Siblani and leaders of Arab-American advocacy groups came to the church Sunday as a gesture of support. CAMEROON-KIDNAPPED MISSIONARIES 2 priests, Canadian nun abducted in Cameroon ROME (AP) β Church and government officials say armed groups have kidnapped two Italian priests and a Canadian nun working as missionaries in northern Cameroon. Italy cautions against travel to that area, citing the risk of kidnappings by Muslim rebels crossing the border from Nigeria. A Vatican spokesman said Pope Francis was praying for the three and “expressed hope for a solution.” Vatican Radio says, “It isn’t ruled out that those who carried out the abduction belong to the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram.” Italy’s foreign ministry identified the abducted priests as Giampaolo Marta and Gianantonio Allegri, but declined to give other details, including the Canadian’s identity, to avoid compromising efforts for the missionaries’ release. LAW ENFORCEMENT-CHURCH SERVICE Detroit church has annual law enforcement service DETROIT (AP) β Dozens of uniformed police and their families have filled a Detroit church for its annual Law Enforcement Appreciation and Prayer Day. Police officers, deputies, military personnel, firefighters, federal agents and others attended Sunday’s service at Greater Grace Temple. This year’s event singled out state police for recognition. The Detroit News says a state police cruiser and a Detroit police car were put on the stage. Greater Grace first held “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” in 1999 following the shootings of two Detroit police officers. Bishop Charles Ellis III said it’s important to “continually offer encouragement and prayer for those who we hold accountable for keeping and maintaining the peace in our society.” MORMON CONFERENCE Mormon leader outlines opposition to gay marriage SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β A Mormon leader is reiterating the church’s opposition to gay marriage. Neil L. Andersen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve said Saturday during the church’s biannual general conference that changing definitions of marriage by governments don’t change the Lord’s guidance. Andersen said God defined marriage as between a man and woman and designed it not just for the personal satisfaction of adults, but to create the ideal setting for children to be nurtured. The church’s message on homosexuality has softened in recent years, but this marks the second consecutive conference in which leaders have talked about their opposition to gay marriage. Utah’s same-sex marriage ban was overturned by a federal judge in December. The state has an appeal pending before a federal appeals court. Sound: 045-a-06-(Neil Andersen, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, in remarks at the 184th Annual LDS General Conference)-“we do not”-Neil Andersen, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, says God defined marriage as being between a man and woman. (6 Apr 2014) < 044-a-13-(Neil Andersen, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, in remarks at the 184th Annual LDS General Conference)-“husband and wife”-Neil Andersen, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, says even though some states are changing the definition of marriage, the Lord’s guidance doesn’t change. (6 Apr 2014) < 185-a-13-(Neil Andersen, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, in remarks at the 184th Annual LDS General Conference)-“husband and wife”-Neil Andersen, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, says even though some states are changing the definition of marriage, the Lord’s guidance doesn’t change. (5 Apr 2014) < 186-a-06-(Neil Andersen, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, in remarks at the 184th Annual LDS General Conference)-“we do not”-Neil Andersen, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve, says God defined marriage as being between a man and woman. (5 Apr 2014) < MORMON CONFERENCE-ATHEISTS Atheists march around Mormon Temple Square in Utah SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β About 75 atheists, most of them former Mormons, marched Sunday around Temple Square in Salt Lake City during the faith’s general conference. Many mailed resignations to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the end of the walk that was dubbed “the Mormon exodus and mass resignation event” by Atheists of Utah president Dan Ellis. The Salt Lake Tribune reports the atheists marched through some 100 Mormon faithful singing the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” Afterward, the demonstrators gathered at a nearby park to hear American Atheists president David Silverman tell them they’re “making it easier on closeted atheists who are afraid” to leave the Mormon church. American Atheists will hold its national convention in Salt Lake City from April 17-20, coinciding with Christianity’s Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday. VATICAN-FREE GIFT Pope treats faithful to copies of the Gospels VATICAN CITY (AP) β Tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square have been treated to gifts from Pope Francis β pocket-sized copies of the Gospels which he hopes they’ll keep handy and read daily. The scriptures were handed out by volunteers after the pope’s traditional Sunday appearance to pilgrims and tourists in the square. The pope did ask for something in return, telling them: “In exchange for this gift, perform an act of charity.” He said such an act might be praying for an enemy, for example. Last fall, the pope had volunteers distribute free rosaries in boxes resembling pill packets, likening them to spiritual medicine. Pope Francis also asked pilgrims to pray for the victims of Ebola virus in Guinea and bordering countries. Sound: 103-r-17-(Sound of Pope Francis addressing faithful in Italian, at window of Apostolic Palace in Vatican)–Sound of Pope Francis praying for victims of the Ebola virus in Guinea in a Sunday address to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. COURTESY: Vatican TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (6 Apr 2014) < 102-a-04-(Klaudyna Poetz (klow-DIH’-nah pets), Polish pilgrim, in AP interview)-“might help me”-Polish pilgrim Klaudyna Poetz says she finds the gift from Pope Francis very helpful as the pontiff treats tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square to a pocket-sized copy of the Gospel. (6 Apr 2014) < VATICAN-POPE’S JOB Pope says he’s happy to have a job VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis says he’s happy because he has a job and the “inner peace” that comes with age. The Vatican on Saturday released the text of an informal interview he gave to Belgian youths earlier this week. When asked if he’s happy, the pontiff said he is, “maybe because I have a job, I’m not unemployed.” He says his happiness isn’t the same as what young people feel. He says at 77, he feels, “a certain inner peace, a great peace, a happiness that comes as well with age.” Francis told the youths from Flanders that he has “found my path in life, and going down this path makes me happy.” Asked how he prays, he replied, “sitting down because it hurts me to kneel.”
