OBAMA-IMMIGRATION OVERLOAD-CHURCHES
Obama thanks faith groups for border help
DALLAS (AP) β President Barack Obama says he’s impressed by the assistance churches are offering to help alleviate problems caused by the flood of illegal immigrants crossing the border into Texas.
Obama met with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, other state and local officials and faith leaders in Dallas Wednesday evening before heading to a political fundraiser.
The president said he thanked Catholic and Baptist relief officials for sending volunteers as well as donations to the lower Rio Grande Valley to build and repair shelters for unaccompanied children and other immigrants. Obama said he appreciated the church volunteers who have offered “care and assistance to these children.”
Faith leaders taking part in the meeting were Arne Nelson, President of Catholic Charities of Dallas; Kevin Dinn, President of Baptist Church Family Services; and Chris Liebrum, Director of Church Ministry Resources for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Obama, who has more political fundraising scheduled in Austin, said there’s no need for him to visit the border. He said it’s more important that Congress approve his emergency funding request.
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
264-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with President Barack Obama)–President Barack Obama says he’s impressed by the assistance churches are offering to help alleviate problems caused by the flood of illegal immigrants crossing the border into Texas. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (9 Jul 2014)
< 265-a-18-(President Barack Obama, at news conference)-“them thank you”-President Barack Obama says he was impressed by the help Catholic and Baptist relief agencies are offering to help immigrants. ((cut used in wrap)) (9 Jul 2014) < GAY RIGHTS-RELIGION Rift over religious exemption in anti-bias order WASHINGTON, Md. (AP) β In the intensifying debate over religious liberty, President Barack Obama faces pressure from opposite flanks as he prepares to issue an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against gay and transgender people in hiring. Many religious leaders and conservative groups want him to exempt religious organizations from the order so they can limit employment to people who share their beliefs. Liberal clergy and gay-rights groups oppose such an exemption and some have withdrawn their support for a non-discrimination bill that contains one. The White House says the executive order is still being drafted, nearly a month after Obama announced he would sign it. White House spokesman Josh Earnest has declined to say whether a religious exemption will be included. Some church leaders, comparing tax dollars to an ancient biblical currency, have long warned that with government shekels come government shackles. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 230-v-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–In the intensifying debate over religious liberty, President Barack Obama faces pressure from opposite flanks as he prepares to issue an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against gay and transgender people in hiring. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (9 Jul 2014) < 231-c-17-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“dollars are involved”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that scores of religious leaders have signed letters to President Barack Obama, arguing for and against a religious exemption. (9 Jul 2014) < 232-c-20-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“come government shackles”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that some faith-based government contractors expect employees to share their religious beliefs. (9 Jul 2014) < STORM-CHILD KILLED Storm kills one, injures several at Maryland Christian camp MANCHESTER, Md. (AP) β The director of a Maryland summer camp where a violent storm blew down trees, killing one child and injuring several others, says the grieving staff and families are leaning on a Bible verse that says God is a “refuge and strength” in times of trouble. Jon Bisset says the storm that hit River Valley Ranch camp in Manchester on Tuesday evening was very fast and very violent, knocking down about 20 trees. Bisset says 114 children ages 7 to 12 were gathered at an outdoor pavilion for the Christian camp’s evening service when the storm approached, and that staffers were able to shepherd most of them to safety in an enclosed building about 150 yards away. But several children were injured by falling trees and a 12-year-old boy died after being taken to a hospital. Bisset said all of the campers who were at the site during the storm have been picked up by their parents. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 206-a-06-(Jon Bisset (BIH’-siht), director of River Valley Ranch, with reporters)-“storm was there”-Jon Bisset, director of River Valley Ranch, says powerful winds blew in without warning. (9 Jul 2014) < 207-a-11-(Jon Bisset (BIH’-siht), director of River Valley Ranch, with reporters)-“of the storm”-Jon Bisset, director of River Valley Ranch, says the youngsters were at an outdoor service when the storm hit. (9 Jul 2014) < 208-a-13-(Jon Bisset (BIH’-siht), director of River Valley Ranch, with reporters)-“the families involved”-Jon Bisset, director of River Valley Ranch, says it’s a Christian camp. (9 Jul 2014) < 209-a-08-(Jon Bisset (BIH’-siht), director of River Valley Ranch, with reporters)-“to right now”-Jon Bisset, director of River Valley Ranch, says people there are grieving but leaning on a Bible verse. (9 Jul 2014) < UNCLAIMED BODIES Service held for 200 whose bodies went unclaimed BROWNSTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) β Dozens of family members, clergy, funeral directors and others have gathered at a cemetery to pay their respects to 200 people whose bodies had gone unclaimed at a Detroit morgue. The Rev. Louis Prues spoke at the interfaith memorial service Wednesday and called it “a day of closure.” The 40-minute service at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Brownstown Township was organized by a coalition consisting of The Jewish Fund, the Archdiocese of Detroit and area funeral homes. They came together to ensure the bodies are buried in individual graves. The coalition says all 200 bodies that have been sitting in the Wayne County medical examiner’s office will be laid to rest within 30 days. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 266-a-11-(The Reverend Louis Prues, who presided at memorial service, at memorial service)-“day of closure”-The Reverend Louis Prues, who presided at the memorial service, says these were people who deserved a dignified burial. (9 Jul 2014) < 267-a-12-(David Techner, who helped organize the memorial service, at memorial service)-“accomplished that goal”-David Techner, who helped organize the memorial service, says faith groups came together to bury some of Detroit’s unclaimed bodies. (9 Jul 2014) < US-NSA SURVEILLANCE-DOMESTIC SPYING Report: US spies on prominent Muslim-Americans WASHINGTON (AP) β A media account reports that the National Security Agency and the FBI covertly scanned the emails of five prominent Muslim-Americans under the government’s secret surveillance program aimed at foreign terrorists and other national security threats. The report in The Intercept, an online magazine, said the targets included an attorney, a Republican political operative, a university professor and two civil rights activists. The Intercept said all five denied any involvement in terrorism or espionage and had not been accused of any crimes. The magazine questioned whether the government obtained legal permission for its surveillance. National Security Agency and Justice officials denied Wednesday that American activists are targeted for criticizing the government. 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COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (9 Jul 2014) < 180-a-17-(Joshua Rozenberg, legal analyst, in interview)-“for bad publicity”-Legal analyst Joshua Rozenberg says Clooney was wise to go public without first bringing in lawyers who may have slowed the move to retract the article. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) ((note length)) (9 Jul 2014) < 181-a-15-(Joshua Rozenberg, legal analyst, in interview)-“go to lawyers”-Legal analyst Joshua Rozenberg says that while Clooney may often be the subject of shoddy journalism, the quick retraction shows the positive side of being an A-list celebrity. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (9 Jul 2014) < FRANCE-TOPLESS ACTIVISTS Topless activists on trial over Notre Dame protest PARIS (AP) β French prosecutors want activists who bared their breasts in Notre Dame Cathedral to each pay more than $2,000 in fines for damages. Nine activists from feminist group Femen pounded a huge church bell in the landmark Paris cathedral in February 2013 to express anger at the Catholic Church’s opposition to gay marriage, and to celebrate the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. The activists, wearing T-shirts and garlands of flowers, went on trial in Paris on Wednesday. Also on trial were Notre Dame guards who pulled the activists off the bell, accused of acts of violence. The prosecutor requested suspended fines against the guards. A verdict will be issued Sept. 10. VATICAN-BANK French financier to head Vatican bank VATICAN CITY (AP) β A French financier has been appointed as the new president of the Vatican’s long-troubled bank. As widely expected, the Vatican announced Wednesday that Jean-Baptiste de Franssu has been tapped to head the Institute of Religious Works, as the bank is formally called. De Franssu has been serving on a new Vatican economic council. 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