SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
S. Baptist leaders: No change on marriage stance
BALTIMORE (AP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention say the nation’s largest Protestant denomination won’t relax its position on same-sex marriage and transgender identity, even as courts across the country strike down gay marriage bans.
At their annual meeting in Baltimore, Southern Baptists passed a resolution declaring that gender identity is determined by a person’s biology and not by self-perception.
The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Rev. Albert Mohler, observed that what was once “condemned is now celebrated, and what is condemned is the refusal to celebrate it.” But he said God is raising up a new generation that will proclaim “all that the Lord has commanded.”
The denomination’s new president, Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd, said Southern Baptists “stand strong on what Scripture says about marriage between a man and a woman,” but at the same time must “have compassion and love to bring people into the fellowship.”
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239-w-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)–Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention say the nation’s largest Protestant denomination won’t relax its position on same-sex marriage. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (11 Jun 2014)
< 240-a-07-(The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressing annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention)-“to celebrate it”-The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says morality has been turned upside down on the gay marriage issue. ((cut used in wrap)) (11 Jun 2014) < 242-a-04-(The Reverend Ronnie Floyd, newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, praying at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention)-“in this nation”-The Reverend Ronnie Floyd, the newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, asks God to empower Christians. (11 Jun 2014) < 241-a-06-(The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressing annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention)-“Lord has commanded”-The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says young Christians are being prepared to confront an immoral culture. (11 Jun 2014) < SOUTHERN BAPTISTS-MUSLIM STUDENT S. Baptist leader: No change on marriage stance BALTIMORE (AP) — The president of a Southern Baptist seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, has offered a tearful apology for his decision to admit a Muslim student. Shortly before the denomination’s annual meeting wrapped up Wednesday in Baltimore, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson apologized for admitting a Muslim student to the seminary’s Ph.D. program. That decision has inspired harsh criticism and debate at this year’s meeting. Patterson told members that the student, a Palestinian man who worked on an archaeological dig the school runs in Israel, is a “cultural Muslim” who is “very open to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” The seminary’s board of trustees plans to meet in the fall to discuss the decision. Patterson quoted a passage from the Bible in which God tells Ezekiel that if he does not warn a sinful person from his wicked ways to save his life, the man’s blood will be on Ezekiel’s hands. With tears in his eyes, Patterson said, “When I stand before God I will say God, I violated a policy, but I didn’t want to stand before you with blood on my hands.” Sound: 292-a-10-(The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting)-“I knew how (applause fades)”-The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, says he’ll stand before God someday explaining why he admitted a Muslim student to the seminary. (11 Jun 2014) < 291-a-15-(The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting)-“on my hands”-The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, says he’s reminded that God told Ezekiel that if he didn’t warn an unbeliever, the unbeliever’s blood would be on his hands. (11 Jun 2014) < 289-a-09-(The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting)-“have caused sorrow”-The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, says he violated the denomination’s policy by admitting a Muslim student. (11 Jun 2014) < 290-a-11-(The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting)-“I am sorry”-The Reverend Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, says he apologizes for offending his fellow Southern Baptists. (11 Jun 2014) < CATHOLIC BISHOPS Catholic bishops keep focus on abortion, marriage NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has renewed its focus on abortion and gay marriage. Pope Francis has said the church has been alienating Catholics by focusing more on divisive social issues than on mercy and compassion. But at their meeting Wednesday in New Orleans, the bishops voted to make only limited revisions to a guide they publish every presidential election year on church teaching, voting and public policy. They voted to incorporate Francis’ teachings into the document, but rejected a complete rewrite in favor of limited changes instead. In their presentations, the bishops noted the tide of court decisions in recent months in favor of same-sex marriage, but said religious conservatives should not give up. The bishops also voted to renew their committee on religious liberty, which has led their campaign for broader protection for religious charities and for individual business owners with religious objections to birth control, same-sex marriage and other issues. Sound: 275-a-11-(San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (korh-dih-lee-OH’-nee), chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, speaking at meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)-“in their lives”-San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone says the church remains opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage. (11 Jun 2014) < 274-a-06-(San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (korh-dih-lee-OH’-nee), chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, speaking at meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)-“other in marriage”-San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone says Roman Catholics believe marriage is only between a man and a woman. (11 Jun 2014) < CATHOLICS-CONTRACEPTION Court denies injunction for contraceptive coverage NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal appeals court has refused to grant an injunction that would have exempted Catholic groups in Tennessee and Michigan from the contraception coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act. In an opinion issued on Wednesday, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that all the plaintiffs already are eligible for either an exemption or an accommodation to the contraception requirement. The accommodation still allows employees to receive contraceptive coverage, but it is paid for and administered by an insurance issuer or third-party administrator. The plaintiffs claimed that regardless of the exemptions and accommodations, the contraceptive requirement could make them “complicit in a great moral wrong.” Plaintiffs include the Michigan Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo, the Catholic Diocese of Nashville and Catholic Charities of Tennessee. ISLAMIC STATE Iraqi Christians flee al-Qaida breakaway pursuing an Islamic state BEIRUT (AP) — Iraqi Christians are fleeing from an al-Qaida splinter group with as many as 10,000 fighters that has seized a huge chunk of northern Iraq and much of northeastern Syria in pursuit of an Islamic state that would straddle the two countries. The group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, has used beheadings to terrify opponents and impose its strict interpretation of Islam. Todd Daniels of International Christian Concern says the group has threatened to kill Christians unless they convert to Islam. This week, Islamic State fighters, many of them in fast-moving pickup trucks mounted with machine guns, captured Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul, before barreling south to take the city of Tikrit — two urban centers in the heartland of northern Iraq’s oil industry. Daniels says thousands of Mosul’s remaining Christians have fled their homes, seeking refuge in Kurdish controlled areas to the north. Sound: 257-a-15-(Todd Daniels, Middle East Regional Manager, International Christian Concern, in AP interview)-“of the city”-Todd Daniels, of International Christian Concern, says the conquest of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has terrified Christians. (11 Jun 2014) < 256-a-11-(Todd Daniels, Middle East Regional Manager, International Christian Concern, in AP interview)-“fled the city”-Todd Daniels, of International Christian Concern, says Iraqi Christians are fleeing an Iraqi city that’s been overrun by a radical Islamic group. (11 Jun 2014) < 259-a-04-(Todd Daniels, Middle East Regional Manager, International Christian Concern, in AP interview)-“convert to Islam”-Todd Daniels, of International Christian Concern, says the Islamic State group has persecuted Christians in areas it controls. (11 Jun 2014) < 258-a-08-(Todd Daniels, Middle East Regional Manager, International Christian Concern, in AP interview)-“regime in Syria”-Todd Daniels, of International Christian Concern, says the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has been notorious for beheadings. (11 Jun 2014) < VATICAN-POPE Pope presides at scorching audience after illness VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has presided over a scorching hot audience in St. Peter’s Square in seemingly good form after cancelling two days of meetings due to illness. Francis began his weekly Wednesday audience about an hour early, meeting with sick and disabled pilgrims who were moved to an indoor Vatican auditorium to spare them the searing 93-degree temperatures outside. Francis told them: “We thought you’d be better off in here, where it’s a bit cooler, and not under that burning sun.” Afterward, Francis presided as usual over the hour-long audience outdoors. He made remarks denouncing corrupt businessmen, human trafficking and forced child labor. The 77-year-old pontiff came down with an unspecified illness on Monday, cancelled his audiences and also took Tuesday to rest. MORMON EXCOMMUNICATION Mormon women’s group founder faces excommunication SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The founder of a Mormon women’s group pushing for gender equality says the church is trying to excommunicate her. Kate Kelly says she received a letter this week from the bishop of her Virginia congregation informing her of a disciplinary hearing June 22. In the letter, posted on her blog, the bishop says leaders are considering ousting her because of apostasy, defined as repeated and public advocacy of positions that oppose church teachings. Kelly says she’s shocked and devastated. She’s led demonstrations at the past two conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, objecting to women being barred from the all-male meeting. Church leaders asked her group to stay off Temple Square in April, but she held the demonstration there anyway. SOUTH KOREA-SHIP SINKS-MISSING OWNER S. Korea police raid church in ferry owner search SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Thousands of South Korean police officers have stormed a sprawling church compound in their hunt for a fugitive billionaire businessman over April’s ferry sinking that left more than 300 people dead or missing, officials said. Authorities believe the businessman, Yoo Byung-eun, owns the ship and that his alleged corruption may have contributed to the sinking. Police and prosecutors have been after Yoo for weeks and are offering a $500,000 reward for tips about him. The 73-year-old Yoo is a member of a group called the Evangelical Baptist Church, which critics say is a cult. About 5,000 police officers, some wearing helmets and armed with plastic shields, raided the group’s compound south of Seoul on Wednesday. Police said four church members were detained for allegedly providing shelter to Yoo or helping him flee and another church member was detained for allegedly trying to obstruct the raid. About 200 church members rallied against the raid, singing hymns, pumping their fists into the air and chanting slogans. CHINA-CULT CRACKDOWN China announces round up of alleged cult members BEIJING (AP) — China has announced the roundup of hundreds of alleged cult members following a deadly attack in which a group of adherents beat a woman to death in a McDonald’s restaurant. The official Xinhua News Agency said Wednesday that more than 1,500 cult members had been detained and that prison terms were handed out to at least 59. Those detained were allegedly members of the Church of Almighty God and the Disciples Sect, groups with unorthodox interpretations of the Bible. Six members of the Church of Almighty God are accused of beating a woman to death at a McDonald’s last month after she refused to tell them her phone number as part of a recruitment drive. China has struggled at times to control grassroots religious movements based on Christian or Buddhist ideology, most notably the Falun Gong meditation movement that attracted millions of adherents before being repressed in 1999.
