CHRISTIANS FOR ISRAEL
Israeli leader thanks Christian supporters
WASHINGTON (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel appreciates Christian support as it fights to stop rocket attacks from Gaza.
The Israeli leader spoke by video link to thousands of members of Christians United for Israel at their annual conference in Washington.
Netanyahu said, “You don’t fall into the trap of saying, ‘Well of course we recognize Israel’s right of self-defense,’ as long as we don’t exercise it.”
Netanyahu said Hamas and other Islamic groups hate both Jews and Christians, and he told the group that Israel is the only place in the Middle East where Christians are free to practice their faith.
The founder of Christians United for Israel, the Rev. John Hagee (HAG’-ee), said they’ll support the people of Israel “now and forever.”
Sound:
269-a-07-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in video message to Christians United for Israel conference in Washington)-“don’t exercize it”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says members of Christians United for Israel recognize the Jewish state’s right to defend itself. ((cut used in wrap)) (21 Jul 2014)
< 267-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu)–Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel appreciates Christian support as it fights to stop rocket attacks from Gaza. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jul 2014) < 268-a-11-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in video message to Christians United for Israel conference in Washington)-“are being rocketed”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanks members of Christians United for Israel. (21 Jul 2014) < 270-a-10-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in video message to Christians United for Israel conference in Washington)-“Christian communities away”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Islamic militants hate both Christians and Jews. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (21 Jul 2014) < 271-a-11-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in video message to Christians United for Israel conference in Washington)-“state of Israel”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Christians are welcome in Israel. (21 Jul 2014) < 272-a-10-(The Reverend John Hagee (HAG’-ee), founder of Christians United for Israel, addressing Christians United for Israel conference)-“now and forever (applause fades)”-The Reverend John Hagee says thousands of people are attending the 9th annual Washington conference of Christians United for Israel. (21 Jul 2014) < US-IRAQ-CHRISTIANS US condemns forced exile of Christians from Mosul WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is condemning Islamic militants who have made thousands of Christians flee for their lives from Iraq’s second-largest city. Last week, the message played over loudspeakers gave the Christians of Mosul until midday Saturday to make a choice: convert to Islam, pay a tax or face death. By the time the deadline expired, the vast majority of them had fled to the largely autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq or other areas protected by Kurdish security forces. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Monday that the U.S. condemns the Islamic State group’s persecution of religious minorities, but is “particularly outraged” at the ultimatum it delivered to Mosul’s Christians. Their departure marks the latest — and perhaps final — exodus of Christians from the city, emptying out communities that date back to the first centuries of Christianity, including Chaldean, Assyrian and Armenian churches. Sound: 263-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf)–The U.S. is condemning Islamic militants who have made thousands of Christians flee for their lives from Iraq’s second-largest city. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jul 2014) < OBAMA-GAY RIGHTS Obama gives protection to gay, transgender workers WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay and transgender people who work for the federal government and its contractors now have some new employment protections. President Barack Obama has amended two executive orders to ban discrimination against those workers, citing what he called “the irrefutable rightness” of doing so. The president was joined by a minister and a rabbi at the White House signing ceremony, and he answered several shouts of “Amen” from the audience, acknowledging what he called his “Amen corner” and playfully starting to imitate a charismatic preacher. Obama had faced pressure from opposing sides on whether to allow a religious exemption for government contractors. He decided to maintain a provision that allows religious groups with federal contracts to employ only fellow believers, but not allow them to consider sexual orientation or gender identity. Sound: 152-a-13-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“their LGBT employees (applause fades)”-President Obama says his executive order means taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing discrimination aimed at gays and lesbians. (21 Jul 2014) < 153-a-13-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“who they are”-President Obama says workplace discrimination remains a real and serious problem for gays and lesbians. (21 Jul 2014) < 154-a-10-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“consequence of this”-President Obama says millions of Americans know they can be fired just for being gay, not for anything they’ve done wrong. (21 Jul 2014) < 155-a-12-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“the best talent”-President Obama says he hopes Congress will extend this ban on discrimination to all U.S. workplaces — since it’s not just right, it’s good for business. (21 Jul 2014) < 151-w-35-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with President Barack Obama)–President Obama has signed an order barring discrimination against gays and lesbians in the federal workplace. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (21 Jul 2014) < 042-v-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–President Barack Obama plans to sign executive orders Monday prohibiting discrimination against gay and transgender workers in the federal government and its contracting agencies, but a pre-existing exemption will reportedly remain in place. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jul 2014) < 315-a-14-(President Barack Obama, at executive orders signing ceremony)-“little bit fairer”-President Barack Obama says gay rights advocates have won another victory. (21 Jul 2014) < 317-a-17-(President Barack Obama, at executive orders signing ceremony)-“me preaching now (laughter fades)”-President Barack Obama interacts with a member of the audience. (21 Jul 2014) < 316-a-07-(President Barack Obama, at executive orders signing ceremony)-“their LGBT employees”-President Barack Obama says his executive orders will protect federal contractors’ lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. (21 Jul 2014) < OBAMA-GAY RIGHTS-RELIGION Executive orders could make faith groups forgo federal contracts WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s executive orders barring federal contractors from discriminating against gay and transgender employees will still allow religious contractors to only employ people of their own faith, but some critics view that exemption as inadequate. Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council says the executive orders would appear to bar religious federal contractors from requiring employees to abide by their church’s moral teachings. Sprigg says there could be challenges brought by people who say, “I’m a member of your church but I’m changing my gender identity” or “I’m engaged in a committed homosexual relationship.” Sprigg believes some religious charities will now steer clear of federal contracts, separating needy people from effective service providers. Sound: 232-a-15-(Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, in AP interview)-“committed homosexual relationship”-Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, says employees of religious federal contractors could be fellow believers in name only. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (21 Jul 2014) < 231-a-12-(Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, in AP interview)-“of their faith”-Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, says religious organizations with federal contracts should be able to expect compliance with their faith teachings rather than mere membership. (21 Jul 2014) < 233-a-13-(Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, in AP interview)-“forgo those contracts”-Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, says the president’s executive order could result in a reduction in services to the poor. (21 Jul 2014) < 229-w-27-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council)–President Obama’s executive orders barring federal contractors from discriminating against gay and transgender employees will allow religious contractors to only employ people of their own faith. But AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman says some critics find that inadequate. (21 Jul 2014) < 230-a-05-(Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, in AP interview)-“is wholly inadequate”-Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, says it isn’t enough to let religious federal contractors employ only members of their own faith. (21 Jul 2014) < 234-a-05-(Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, in AP interview)-“are very effective”-Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, says some religious organizations will steer clear of federal contracts that would require them to violate their faith. ((cut used in wrap)) (21 Jul 2014) < FAMILY BIBLES ONLINE Tennessee offering family Bibles online CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee State Public Library has put a database of family Bibles online where they’re available for searching by the public. State Librarian Chuck Sherrill told The Chattanooga Times Free Press that Bibles once served as the place where families marked milestones such as weddings, births and deaths. In Tennessee, birth certificates were not required until 1908 and, to this day, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will accept a family Bible’s list of births as one proof of citizenship for those with no birth certificate. Sherrill says the Bibles in the database include one from 1538 and a book dating to 1753. The database of 1,500 Bibles could serve as a treasure trove for genealogists and historians, preserving a record of a time when Tennessee was wildly dangerous and human life seemed especially small and fragile. Southern Adventist University history department head Lisa Diller says historians are often fascinated by comparisons of information in family Bibles to government data. VATICAN-NY MAYOR New York mayor talks migration with Vatican No. 2 VATICAN CITY (AP) — New York City’s mayor has paid a call on Pope Francis’ top aide to discuss migration issues. During his holiday in Rome, Mayor Bill de Blasio met Monday with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the two explored approaches to migration. Parolin recently returned from a meeting in Mexico dedicated to migration issues and human rights. Pope Francis has called for “urgent intervention” to protect migrant minors crossing into the United States on their own. Earlier this month, De Blasio signed a measure offering ID cards to city residents regardless of immigration status. Lombardi said the chat also provided an opportunity for the mayor to offer a welcome mat, should Francis visit the United States next year as many expect. RAMADAN-IFTAR As Ramadan fast ends, the feasts begin For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is the most anticipated moment of the day. In some parts of the world, Muslims are fasting for more than 20 hours a day, depending on when the sun rises and sets in their city. It is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor. But after a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar,” the evening meal that breaks the fast. For more than 1,400 years, many Muslims have been breaking fast in the same way the Prophet Muhammad did: with a handful of dates and a sip of water. Next comes the feast. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food. DEAD SEA SCROLLS No jail, for now, in NYC Dead Sea Scrolls case NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man who was convicted of criminally impersonating his father’s academic rivals in a dispute over the Dead Sea Scrolls will stay out of jail for the time being. Raphael (RAY’-fee-ehl) Golb was scheduled to start his two-month term Tuesday. He was sentenced last week after some of his convictions were tossed out. A New York judge decided Monday to postpone the sentence while Golb further appeals his remaining convictions. Prosecutors declined to comment. Defense attorney Ronald Kuby says Golb’s trial was “fundamentally unfair.” He’s seeking a new trial. Golb says he merely used satire to support his father, a University of Chicago professor. Golb’s father and other scholars disagree about the scrolls’ origins. The scrolls contain the earliest known versions of portions of the Hebrew Bible. PHILIPPINES-BREAKAWAY REBELS Philippines: 17 rebels, 1 soldier dead in clashes MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine military official says 17 Muslim rebels from a breakaway faction and a soldier have died in renewed clashes. Military spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said fighters with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement attacked army troops in two adjacent towns in the southern Maguindanao province. Three other soldiers were wounded early Monday. The rebels broke off from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main rebel group which signed a new Muslim autonomy deal with the government in March. The breakaway rebels opposed the peace talks and took up arms for an independent Muslim homeland in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
