CAPTURED SOLDIER-FAMILY
Freed soldier’s parents rejoice, but delay contact
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The parents of an American soldier just released from captivity in Afghanistan say they’re delaying direct contact with him until military experts say he’s ready to talk to his family.
At a news conference Sunday in Boise, Idaho, Bob and Jani (JAN’-ee) Bergdahl said their son may need time to recover from his nearly five years as a Taliban prisoner.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was freed Saturday in exchange for five Guantanamo terrorism detainees and was flown to a U.S. military hospital in Germany.
His mother’s message to him was, “We continue in our minute-by-minute prayers for you as you go through this healing process, and we praise God for your freedom.”
The circumstances surrounding Bergdahl’s capture remain something of a mystery. There has been some speculation that he willingly walked away from his unit, raising the question of whether he could face charges. In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine quoted emails Bergdahl is said to have sent to his parents that suggest he was disillusioned with America’s mission in Afghanistan, had lost faith in the U.S. Army’s mission there and was considering desertion.
Bob Bergdahl told reporters he’s proud of how far his son was willing to go to help the Afghan people, but didn’t explain what he meant.
Sound:
204-w-34-(Diane Kepley, AP correspondent, with Jani and Bob Bergdahl)–Emotions run high as family and friends welcome the news that Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has been released from captivity. AP correspondent Diane Kepley reports. ((opens with sound)) (1 Jun 2014)
< 278-a-04-(Jani (JAN’-ee) Bergdahl, mother of Sergeant Bowe (BOH) Bergdahl, at news conference)-“faith and hope”-Bowe Bergdahl’s mother Jani wants her son to know the family thanks God for his release and is still praying for him. (1 Jun 2014) < 277-a-07-(Jani (JAN’-ee) Bergdahl, mother of Sergeant Bowe (BOH) Bergdahl, at news conference)-“for your freedom”-Bowe Bergdahl’s mother Jani has a message for her son as the family awaits direct contact. (1 Jun 2014) < 279-a-05-(Jani (JAN’-ee) Bergdahl, mother of Sergeant Bowe (BOH) Bergdahl, at news conference)-“love you Bowe”-Bowe Bergdahl’s mother Jani wants her son to know that the family looks forward to having him home. (1 Jun 2014) < BRITAIN-SUDAN-DEATH SENTENCE UK leaders condemn Sudanese woman’s death sentence LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron and former leader Tony Blair have urged Sudan’s government to lift the death sentence imposed on a Christian woman who refused to renounce her faith. Cameron said the treatment of 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim “is barbaric and has no place in today’s world.” Blair called it a “brutal and sickening distortion of faith.” Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim but who was raised by her Christian mother, was convicted of apostasy for marrying a Christian and was sentenced to hang after being whipped for adultery, since Islamic officials don’t recognize her marriage. Her husband, Daniel Wani, is in Sudan where he asked that his wife be allowed to give birth to their second child outside of prison. Their toddler son is being held with her. Wani’s request was denied and Ibrahim gave birth to a daughter behind bars last week. Speaking Arabic, a relieved Wani said, “God allowed this to happen without a problem.” But he continues to appeal for the lifting of her death sentence so she can be freed and their family can be united. Sound: 280-r-27-(Danie Wani, husband of condemned Christian Meriam Ibrahim, in AP interview)–In Arabic, Daniel Wani says, “I would have wished that my daughter was born outside of the prison. However, it is not in my hands to have my wife give birth outside of prison. Because our request was rejected and I was afraid that my wife was going to face complications during the birth inside the prison, but God allowed this to happen without a problem.” (1 Jun 2014) < NKOREA-JAILED SOUTH KOREAN North Korea gives SKorean missionary life sentence SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it has sentenced a South Korean Baptist missionary to hard labor for life for allegedly spying and trying to set up underground churches, the latest in a string of missionaries to run into trouble in the rigidly controlled North. North Korean state media said the missionary was tried Friday and admitted to anti-North Korean religious acts and “malignantly hurting the dignity” of the country’s supreme leadership, a reference to the ruling Kim family. Christian missionaries have been drawn over the years to totalitarian North Korea, which tolerates only strictly controlled religious services. North Korean defectors have said that the distribution of Bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution. ITALY-CAMEROON-MISSIONARIES FREED 3 Catholic missionaries freed in Cameroon ROME (AP) — Italy’s Foreign Ministry and the Vatican say two Italian priests and a Canadian nun have been freed two months after they were abducted in northern Cameroon by armed groups. The Vatican said Pope Francis was quickly informed Sunday that the Roman Catholic missionaries were free. Gianantonio Allegri, Giampaolo Marta and Gilberte Bussier were kidnapped in early April. At the time of the abductions, Vatican Radio said Boko Haram, an extremist Islamic group, might have been behind their kidnappings. The Italian Foreign Ministry thanked Canadian and Cameroon authorities but gave no details of how the abduction ended. OBIT-ANN B DAVIS ‘Brady Bunch’ actress Ann B. Davis dies in Texas SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Emmy-winning actress Ann B. Davis, who became the country’s favorite and most famous housekeeper as the devoted Alice Nelson of “The Brady Bunch,” has died at a San Antonio hospital at the age of 88. Bill Frey, a retired bishop and a longtime friend of Davis, said she suffered a fall Saturday at her San Antonio home and died Sunday. Frey said Davis had lived with him and his wife, Barbara, since 1976. For many years after “The Brady Bunch” wound up, Davis led a quiet religious life, affiliating herself with a group led by Frey. “I was born again,” she told the AP in 1993. “It happens to Episcopalians. Sometimes it doesn’t hit you till you’re 47 years old. Davis said, “It changed my whole life for the better. … I spent a lot of time giving Christian witness all over the country to church groups and stuff.” Sound: 023-a-17-(Robert Thompson, professor of pop culture, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television at Syracuse University, in AP interview)-“of the Brady’s”-Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University, says actress Ann B. Davis will always be remembered for her role as Alice, the housekeeper, on “The Brady Bunch.” (2 Jun 2014) < 019-w-34-(Ed Donahue, AP correspondent, with Ann B. Davis and Pastor Bill Frey)–Ann B. Davis, the actress who played Alice on “The Brady Bunch,” has died. The AP’s Ed Donahue reports. (2 Jun 2014) < 020-a-17-(Pastor Bill Frey (fry), friend and pastor to actress Ann B. Davis, in AP interview)-“an ardent Christian”-Pastor Bill Frey, a friend and pastor to actress Ann B. Davis, says in the mid-70s, the actress gave up her celebrity life. (2 Jun 2014) < 026-a-17-(Robert Thompson, professor of pop culture, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television at Syracuse University, in AP interview)-“Emmys for that”-Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University, says Ann B. Davis will be remembered for the “The Brady Bunch,” but she received acting honors for a 1950s sitcom. (2 Jun 2014) < 025-a-18-(Robert Thompson, professor of pop culture, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television at Syracuse University, in AP interview)-“revolved around her”-Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University, says even though the other Brady’s were considered the focal characters, it was Alice who held the family together. ((note length of cut)) (2 Jun 2014) < 024-a-22-(Robert Thompson, professor of pop culture, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television at Syracuse University, in AP interview)-“giving to her”-Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University, says the “Brady Bunch” character of Alice resonated more with audiences over the decades because of her down-to-earth demeanor. ((note length of cut)) (2 Jun 2014) < GAY WEDDING CAKE Panel: Baker must make cakes for gay weddings DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission has ordered a Christian baker to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples, finding his religious objections to the practice did not trump the state’s anti-discrimination statutes. The unanimous ruling from the seven-member commission upheld an administrative law judge’s finding in December that Jack Phillips violated civil rights law when he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple in 2012. The couple sued. Phillips, a devout Christian who owns the Masterpiece Cakeshop in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, said the decision violates his First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of his religion. After the ruling, he told reporters “I will stand by my convictions until somebody shuts me down.” He added that his bakery has been so overwhelmed by supporters eager to buy cookies and brownies that he does not currently make wedding cakes. VATICAN-POPE-FAMILIES Pope to packed stadium: families are under attack ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has led a pep rally to boost faith at Rome’s soccer stadium, packed with more than 50,000 Catholics who follow charismatic movements. Hands raised in unison, the faithful prayed in Olympic Stadium Sunday for Francis, who repeatedly has asked his church for prayers. Francis told the faithful that the devil wants to destroy the family, which he described as the “domestic church.” Bishops from worldwide will meet in Rome in October to discuss problems afflicting families. Francis told the crowd that when he was Buenos Aires’ archbishop, he didn’t initially “share” the way the exuberant charismatic Catholics prayed there, but later realized that “charismatic renewal is a great force” for the Catholic Church. Dynamic, evangelical Protestant groups have drawn many Latin American Catholics to their ranks. MEXICO-CHURCH ABUSE 19 alleged abuse victims denounce Mexico priest MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nineteen people have filed a criminal complaint alleging they were sexually abused by a now-suspended Mexican priest. The group Citizens Inititative is backing the complainants, and it says they filed the complaint on Friday with prosecutors in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, where priest Eduardo Cordova worked. Initiative spokesman Martin Faz says the complaint also accuses the local archdiocese of covering up the crimes, saying it knew of the abuses since 2004. Designated archdiocese spokesman Armando Martinez says a probe of the charges in 2008 turned up insufficient evidence. However the church this year suspended Cordova from the ministry following new complaints, and Martinez says evidence has been forwarded to prosecutors. ISRAEL PARADE NYC’s Israel Day Parade draws officials and some protesters NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s 50th Israel Day Parade up Fifth Avenue has attracted 35,000 boisterous marchers, but the celebration was punctuated by some Jewish spectators protesting same-sex marriage and even the existence of Israel. Those taking part in the annual parade on Sunday included Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Israeli diplomats and members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. However, some discordant notes interrupted the celebration. Orthodox Jews lined up behind police barricades to voice their opposition to same-sex marriage. And some parade participants marched to oppose the purchase of Israeli products made by Jewish settlers in the West Bank. A group of spectators greeted them with signs that read “Jews don’t boycott Jews.” Sound: 186-w-31-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with Sophia Melnick, parade-goer and Jeff Goldfarb, parade participant)–The 50th Celebrate Israel Parade took place today along New York’s Fifth Avenue with floats, bands and lots of people. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (1 Jun 2014) < 189-a-04-(Ruth Kestenberg, parade-goer, in AP interview)-“just love it”-Parade-goer Ruth Kestenberg says she’s really enjoying her first Celebrate Israel parade. (1 Jun 2014) < 187-a-07-(Oshrat Slama, marketing manager, Space-I-L, in AP interview)-“years from now”-Space-I-L’s Oshrat Slama says her non-profit organization is raising funds to send the Israeli rocket to the moon. (1 Jun 2014) < 185-w-33-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with Oshrat Slama, marketing manager, Space-I-L)–New York’s 50th Israel Day Parade featured plenty of people and floats on the ground, as well as a model of an Israeli spacecraft they hope to send to the moon. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (1 Jun 2014) < 188-a-13-(Shira Nussdorf, parade participant, in AP interview)-“have world peace”-Shira Nussdorf, who was participating in the Celebrate Israel parade, says as the country grows so does that parade and that’s encouraging. (1 Jun 2014) < 190-r-35-(Sound of Windsor Regiment drum and bugle corps, at New York’s 50th Celebrate Israel Parade along Fifth Avenue)–Sound of Windsor Regiment drum and bugle corps, at New York’s 50th Celebrate Israel Parade along Fifth Avenue. (1 Jun 2014) < 006-w-31-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with music from the 2011 Salute to Israel parade)–The 50th annual “Celebrate Israel Parade” will take place along New York’s Fifth Avenue today. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. ((opens and ends with music)) (1 Jun 2014) < 283-w-25-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with parade-goer Sophia Melnick, and parade participant Jeff Goldfarb)–Tens of thousands of marchers, and a few protesters, took part Sunday in New York City’s Israel Day parade. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (1 Jun 2014) < CHINA-CULT ATTACK 6 arrested in China killing blamed on cult members BEIJING (AP) — Police in eastern China say six members of a religious cult have been arrested over the beating death of a woman at a McDonald’s restaurant. The Zhaoyuan police department said Saturday that the accused allegedly attacked the woman after she refused to tell them her phone number. It said the six belonged to a group calling itself the “All-powerful spirit” and had been collecting phone numbers in an effort to recruit new members. Zhaoyuan is in Shandong province, a traditional hotbed for religious cults that gave birth to the violent anti-Christian Boxer movement that laid siege to Western interests in Beijing and elsewhere during the waning years of the Qing dynasty in 1900. State broadcaster CCTV said religious material had been found at a location linked to the sect. BRITAIN-FAITH HEALER FRAUDSTER Faux ‘shaman’ jailed for 10 years for fraud LONDON (AP) — A fraudulent faith healer who convinced victims she was a shaman and conned them out of almost $1.7 million has been jailed for 10 years. A British jury convicted Juliette D’Souza of ripping off clients who went to her for help with problems ranging from illness to job worries. Prosecutors said D’Souza convinced them to hand over money, saying it was a “sacrifice” that would be hung off a sacred tree in the Amazon rainforest as a spiritual offering before being returned. In fact the money was never sent or returned, but was used to buy designer handbags, luxury holidays and antique furniture. Judge Ian Karsten said 59-year-old D’Souza had “wrecked the lives” of her victims out of pure greed.
