NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Prayer leaders laments U.S. moral decline
WASHINGTON (AP) — The daughter of evangelist Billy Graham has told hundreds of people at a National Day of Prayer observance that “God’s patience is running out.”
Anne Graham Lotz told the gathering in the U.S. Capitol complex that natural disasters and social and economic problems are warnings that God’s “judgment is coming.”
That message was echoed by other speakers who urged Americans to repent and pray for spiritual revival. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn warned that like ancient Israel, America was once blessed but had turned away from God.
Hymns were sung and prayers were said for the president, members of Congress, judges and the military.
Organizers said Thursday’s Capitol Hill observance was one of more than 40,000 National Day of Prayer events scheduled nationwide and worldwide.
Sound:
246-a-12-(Shirley Dobson, Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, at National Day of Prayer observance)-“in serious jeopardy”-Shirley Dobson, Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, says America is in moral disarray. (1 May 2014)
< 250-r-35-(Don Moen, Christian singer and songwriter, at National Day of Prayer observance)–Christian singer Don Moen performs a worship song at the National Day of Prayer observance. (1 May 2014) < 245-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with evangelist Anne Graham Lotz and Christian singer Don Moen)–The daughter of evangelist Billy Graham has told hundreds of people at a National Day of Prayer observance that God’s patience is running out. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (1 May 2014) < 249-a-10-(Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, President of Hope of the World Ministries, at National Day of Prayer observance)-“came into existence (applause fades)”-Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, President of Hope of the World Ministries, says America’s hope isn’t in government or Wall Street. (1 May 2014) < 248-a-13-(Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, President of Hope of the World Ministries, at National Day of Prayer observance)-“is good evil”-Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, President of Hope of the World Ministries, says America was once blessed but is going the way of ancient Israel. (1 May 2014) < MILITARY-RELIGIOUS FREEDOM USAF officer prays to protect religious rights WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Air Force officer is voicing concern about challenges to religious expression in the military. Major General Joseph S. Ward, Jr., represented the armed forces at the National Day of Prayer observance on Capitol Hill. The deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service said years of combat deployments have severely stressed American troops, with some committing suicide. Ward said Christians in uniform must be free to offer their colleagues the hope that a “foundation in faith” provides. He said, “God’s story is amazing. It needs to be told and it needs to be shared.” Some advocacy groups have campaigned relentlessly to restrict religious expression in the armed forces. Major General Ward said they mustn’t succeed. He prayed for the nation’s “military leaders to stand tall so that our right to express our faith freely and openly is never ever taken from us.” Sound: 299-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service)–A senior Air Force officer is voicing concern about challenges to religious expression in the military. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (1 May 2014) < 302-a-15-(U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at National Day of Prayer observance on Capitol Hill)-“healthy and strong”-Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., says many troops are stressed from multiple combat deployments. (1 May 2014) < 301-a-11-(U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at National Day of Prayer observance on Capitol Hill)-“not be broken”-Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., says Christians in the military shouldn’t be muzzled. (1 May 2014) < 300-a-08-(U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at National Day of Prayer observance on Capitol Hill)-“in our Lord”-Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., says he’s a follower of Jesus Christ. (1 May 2014) < 303-a-10-(U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at National Day of Prayer observance on Capitol Hill)-“express their faith”-Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., says Christians in the armed forces must be free to talk about their beliefs. (1 May 2014) < 304-a-11-(U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., deputy director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at National Day of Prayer observance on Capitol Hill)-“taken from us”-Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward, Jr., says groups that campaign to restrict religious expression in the military mustn’t be allowed to succeed. (1 May 2014) < CHINA-XINJIAN BLAST China blames religious extremists for attack URUMQI, China (AP) — Chinese authorities say that two religious extremists carried out a terror attack at a train station in far-western Xinjiang (shihn-jahng) region by detonating explosives, in an apparent suicide bombing that also killed one other person and wounded 79. The strike late Wednesday in Urumqi (uh-ROOM’-chee) was the third high-profile attack in seven months blamed on Xinjiang extremists that targeted civilians. These attacks, two of them outside the region, have marked a departure from a previous pattern of primarily targeting local authorities in a long-simmering insurgency. INTERSTATE CONSTRUCTION-PRAYER Commute blocked by construction? Prayers suggested LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is encouraging motorists who are spending more time on the road because of freeway construction to use that time to pray. Repairs to Interstate 96 have closed the freeway in Livonia and Redford Township, requiring motorists to take detours until October. The archdiocese and Sacred Heart Major Seminary plan to give away prayer CDs to 96 motorists so they can pray the Rosary during their extra drive time. The CD is a musical and vocal recitation of the Rosary recorded several years ago at the seminary. Sacred Heart Major’s director of liturgy, the Rev. Robert Spezia, says “If we sincerely offer that time to God and pray, I can almost guarantee a peaceful commute instead of one so often filled with frustration and anger.” Sound: 289-a-08-(Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, in AP interview)-“CD to motorists”-Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, says the school produced a CD featuring musical and vocal recitations of the Rosary. (1 May 2014) < 288-a-07-(Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, in AP interview)-“in these parts”-Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, says some Detroit-area motorists are facing more stressful commutes. (1 May 2014) < 290-a-11-(Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, in AP interview)-“in their faith”-Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, says there are benefits to praying the Rosary while stuck in traffic. (1 May 2014) < 287-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Father Robert Spezia, director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary)–Detroit’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese is encouraging motorists who are spending more time on the road because of freeway construction to use that time to pray. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (1 May 2014) < CLEMSON-RELIGION Clemson: FFRF ‘misconstrued’ facts in complaint COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — An attorney for Clemson University says the Freedom From Religion Foundation misstated the law in its complaint that Tigers coach Dabo Swinney (DAH’-boh SWEE’-nee) promotes Christianity in the football program. The foundation said that by organizing team devotionals and selecting a team chaplain who leads Bible studies, Swinney violated constitutional guidelines against publicly funded institutions endorsing religion or engaging in religious exercises. Clemson’s senior associate counsel Erin Swann Lauderdale sent a letter last week in response to the complaint. She wrote that the Supreme Court has upheld the right of public bodies to employ chaplains and has noted that prayer “is not in conflict with the principles of disestablishment and religious freedom.” Swinney said last week that he coaches players of all faiths or no faith and welcomes them to his team. He did not expect to change his practices in light of the complaint. TV-DAYTIME EMMYS ‘The Young and the Restless’ leads Emmy nominees NEW YORK (AP) — “The American Bible Challenge” has received a Daytime Emmy nomination for best TV game show. The religion-themed game will compete against “Jeopardy!” ”The Price Is Right,” ”Wheel of Fortune” and “Let’s Make a Deal,” along with GSN’s “The Chase.” Jeff Foxworthy, who hosts GSN’s “The American Bible Challenge,” is among the nominees for best game show host. The 41st annual Daytime Emmys will be presented June 22 in Beverly Hills, California. MLK CHILDREN-LEGAL BATTLE MLK estate withdraws request to disqualify lawyer ATLANTA (AP) — The estate of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has withdrawn a request to disqualify a lawyer for his daughter from participating in a dispute over the ownership of King’s Bible and Nobel Peace Prize. The slain civil rights icon’s estate, controlled by his sons, is locked in a legal dispute with his daughter, the Rev. Bernice King, over ownership of the items. Each side had sought to disqualify the other side’s lawyers. A judge ruled that the estate’s original lawyer and his firm had to be disqualified because the lawyer had been appointed by another judge to help resolve a similar 2008 dispute between the King children and the entities they control. The estate’s new lawyers last week withdrew the motion to disqualify Bernice King’s lawyer Eric Barnum and his firm. BRANDEIS-ISLAM CRITIC Brandeis students screen Islam critic’s film BOSTON (AP) — A student group at Brandeis University has hosted a screening of a film produced by a women’s rights advocate the university decided not to honor with a degree after concerns were raised about her criticism of Islam. The film, “Honor Diaries,” focuses on gender inequality and gender-based violence in majority-Muslim societies through the eyes of nine Muslim women and the activist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Senior Daniel Mael, who helped organize Wednesday’s screening, said the event drew about 100 people including the president of the university, Frederick Lawrence. Ali was raised in a Muslim family but says she renounced the faith after surviving civil war, genital mutilation, beatings and an arranged marriage. In a 2007 interview with Reason Magazine, Ali said of Islam: “Once it’s defeated, it can mutate into something peaceful. It’s very difficult to even talk about peace now. They’re not interested in peace. I think that we are at war with Islam. And there’s no middle ground in wars.” A national Islamic organization has said the film is offensive to Muslims, but did not attempt to block the screening. ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS Israeli leader pushes for Jewish State legislation TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s prime minister says he plans to promote legislation that will enshrine the country’s status as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Benjamin Netanyahu says it’s time for “the most basic element of our national lives to have legislative standing.” He spoke Thursday in Tel Aviv at the site where Israel’s Declaration of Independence was signed. Israel celebrates its Independence Day next week. Netanyahu’s intentions could further complicate Middle East peace efforts just as U.S.-brokered talks appear to have broken down. A major roadblock is the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland. Netanyahu insists it’s necessary to prove the Palestinians’ peaceful intentions. But Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says such an acknowledgment would undermine the rights of Palestinian refugees. Israel also refuses to freeze settlement building on land Palestinians want for a future state.
