Update on the latest religion news

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SUDAN-DEATH SENTENCE-US

Sudan woman who faced death over faith arrives in US

PHILADELPHIA (AP) β€” A Sudanese woman who refused to recant her Christian faith in the face of a death sentence has arrived in the United States.

Meriam Ibrahim, her husband and their two small children flew into Philadelphia on Thursday on a flight from Rome. After being greeted there by the mayor, they boarded another flight for New Hampshire, where they arrived Thursday evening.

Sudan had initially blocked her from leaving the country even after its highest court overturned her death sentence in June.

Ibrahim’s mother was Christian but her father was Muslim. Sudanese law requires children to follow their father’s religion and bars Muslim women from marrying non-Muslims. She was sentenced to death after marrying Daniel Wani, a Christian from southern Sudan and a naturalized American citizen.

The Rev. Bill Devlin, a pastor who has helped the family, says they’ll settle in Manchester, New Hampshire, where Wani used to live.

Sound:

284-r-07-(Crowd cheering Meriam Ibrahim and her family, at their airport arrival)–Sound of crowd cheering Meriam Ibrahim and her family at their arrival in Manchester, N.H. (31 Jul 2014)

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285-r-17-(Crowd singing and cheering for Meriam Ibrahim and her family, at their airport arrival)–Sound of crowd singing and cheering for Meriam Ibrahim and her family at their arrival in Manchester, N.H. (31 Jul 2014)

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EBOLA-US MISSIONARIES

Missionaries with Ebola could be brought to US

WASHINGTON (AP) β€” The White House says it’s looking into options for bringing back two American missionaries sick with Ebola in Liberia. It would be the first time the disease was brought into the U.S.

Samaritans Purse Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, a missionary with the aid group SIM (S-I-M), remain in isolation. SIM USA President Bruce Johnson says Writebol is receiving an experimental drug.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that while the U.S. government would facilitate any transfer to the U.S., private companies would be used to transport them.

Late Thursday afternoon, officials at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital said they expected one of the Americans to be transferred there “within the next several days.” The hospital declined to identify which aid worker, citing privacy laws.

The hospital has a special isolation unit built in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control. It is one of only four facilities of its kind in the United States.

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261-a-12-(Bruce Johnson, president of SIM (S-I-M) USA, in AP interview)-“of those options”-SIM USA President Bruce Johnson says missionary Nancy Writebol is receiving an experimental treatment for Ebola. (31 Jul 2014)

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259-a-09-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at briefing)-“citizen humanitarian workers”-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says two American missionaries who contracted Ebola in Liberia could be brought back to the U.S. (31 Jul 2014)

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262-a-05-(Bruce Johnson, president of SIM (S-I-M) USA, in AP interview)-“are with her”-SIM USA President Bruce Johnson says missionary Nancy Writebol is receiving one of the experimental drugs that could help treat Ebola. (31 Jul 2014)

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260-a-12-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at briefing)-“to the U.S.”-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the U.S. has facilitated the return of Americans who contracted dangerous diseases abroad in the past. (31 Jul 2014)

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258-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA, and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest)–The White House says it’s looking into options for bringing back two American missionaries sick with Ebola in Liberia. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports it would be the first time the disease was brought into the U.S. (31 Jul 2014)

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NORTH KOREA-AMERICAN DETAINED

American detained in North Korea feels ‘abandoned’

SEATTLE (AP) β€” The family of an American tour guide who has been detained in North Korea for nearly two years says reports that he feels abandoned are devastating.

A pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan published a new interview with Kenneth Bae (bay) in which he is quoted as saying that nothing seems to be happening in his case and he feels abandoned.

He was also quoted as saying that he fears being sent back to a labor camp because of his bad health.

Bae’s sister, Terri Chung, said Thursday that it was the first word the family has had of him since mid-April, and it was hard to hear. She renewed her call for the White House to do whatever it can to free him.

Bae is one of three U.S. citizens being held in North Korea.

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288-a-06-(Marie Harf, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-“like North Korea”-State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf says Kenneth Bae may not have been speaking freely in a newly published interview. (31 Jul 2014)

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287-a-08-(Marie Harf, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-“on humanitarian grounds”-State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf says the U.S. continues to call for Kenneth Bae’s release by North Korea. (31 Jul 2014)

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286-a-02-(Marie Harf, State Department spokeswoman, at briefing)-“Mr. Bae’s family”-State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf says the U.S. hasn’t abandoned Kenneth Bae in North Korea. (31 Jul 2014)

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IMMIGRATION OVERLOAD-PROTEST ARRESTS

112 arrested at protest against US deportations

WASHINGTON (AP) β€” Police say they have arrested 112 people for blocking traffic outside the White House during a protest called to protest U.S. policies on deporting migrants who are in the country illegally.

Immigration activists and religious leaders urged President Barack Obama to immediately halt deportations during Thursday’s protest. The demonstrators also called on Obama to extend relief for migrants by decree and to protect Central American children crossing into the U.S. unaccompanied by adults.

Bishop Minerva Carcano (kahr-KAHN’-yoh) of the United Methodist Church in Los Angeles says such protests are needed to, in her words, “raise a moral voice, because you do not hear from either Congress or the White House.”

Thursday’s protest took place as Republican leaders withdrew legislation aimed at the immigration crisis from consideration in the U.S. House.

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234-a-06-(The Reverend Linda Jaramillo (hah-rah-MEE’-oh), a minister for justice with the United Church of Christ, at protest outside the White House)-“has clearly failed”-The Reverend Linda Jaramillo, a minister for justice with the United Church of Christ, says President Barack Obama should stop deportations. (31 Jul 2014)

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235-a-08-(The Reverend John McCullough (muh-CUH’-luh), president of the Church World Service, at protest outside the White House)-“bonds of injustice”-The Reverend John McCullough, president of the Church World Service, says President Barack Obama should take executive action to legalize all undocumented immigrants. (31 Jul 2014)

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236-r-09-(Protesters chanting, at immigration protest outside the White House)–Sound of protesters chanting at demonstration outside the White House. (31 Jul 2014)

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233-a-06-(The Reverend Linda Jaramillo (hah-rah-MEE’-oh), a minister for justice with the United Church of Christ, at protest outside the White House)-“have no purpose”-The Reverend Linda Jaramillo, a minister for justice with the United Church of Christ, says deportations have not convinced Congress to pass immigration reform. (31 Jul 2014)

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CONVERSION THERAPY-LAWSUIT

Challenge to gay conversion ban is dismissed

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) β€” For the second time in nine months, a federal judge in New Jersey has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on gay conversion therapy.

The ruling rejects the claims of a couple who said their free speech and religious rights were violated because the law prevents them from seeking treatment for their 15-year-old son. They said the law unconstitutionally denies minors treatment to “help them address the conflicts between their religious and moral values and same-sex attractions, behaviors or identity.”

Last November, the same judge dismissed another challenge to the law filed by a group of plaintiffs that included two licensed therapists who practice what are called “sexual orientation change efforts.”

Gov. Chris Christie signed a law last year banning gay conversion therapy, saying at the time that the potential health risks trumped concerns over the government setting limits on parental choice.

Sound:

213-v-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–For the second time in nine months, a federal judge in New Jersey has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on gay conversion therapy. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (31 Jul 2014)

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SAME-SEX MARRIAGE-MUSICIAN FIRED

Music director fired over same-sex marriage plans

INVERNESS, Ill. (AP) β€” The longtime music director at a Catholic church in suburban Chicago says he was fired after posting on social media plans to marry his male partner.

Colin Collette says his partner proposed to him last week in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

After leading the music on Sunday at Holy Family Catholic Community in Inverness, Collette says Pastor Terry Keehan asked for his resignation. He said he left without resigning, but was fired Monday.

In a written statement Wednesday, Archdiocese of Chicago officials said they were aware of the action taken by Keehan. After pointing out it doesn’t comment on individual personnel issues, the archdiocese said those serving as ministers, including worship ministers, are “expected to conform their lives publicly with the teachings of the church.”

SEX ABUSE-SETTLEMENT DRAINED

Sex abuse settlement drained by victim’s family

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) β€” A Delaware judge says much of the settlement money for a man who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest has been spent by family members on cars, jewelry and other property.

The man was one of more than 150 abuse victims who reached a settlement with the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington in 2011.

The News Journal of Wilmington reports that the $347,901 that was put in a trust dwindled to barely $3,000 in five months. Court records show two relatives denied cheating their relative. They contend purchases were made with his consent and often for his benefit.

But Vice Chancellor Donald Parsons disagreed. He has removed them as trustees, and ruled that the victim was entitled to recover $158,400 that the two spent on cars and house renovations.

PASTOR SUED

Pastor sued for trying to sell church property

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) β€” The pastor of a church in East Palo Alto, California, is being sued for allegedly trying to sell both the church and a house donated by a former deacon without the permission of congregants.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that the complaint names Born Again Christian Center Pastor Andre Harris, his wife Gloria, and members of his extended family.

The suit alleges that the church’s congregants never approved the sale of the church properties.

It alleges breach of fiduciary duty and violation of a state law that regulates the sale of properties by nonprofit religious entities.

MUSLIMS-CITIZENSHIP LAWSUIT

Lawsuit alleges Muslim citizenship denials, delays

LOS ANGELES (AP) β€” Five people have sued the federal government alleging that an expanded national security screen targeting Muslims has led to lengthy delays and denials in their citizenship and green card applications.

The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California claims that the government doesn’t allow immigration officers to approve benefits for applicants who are deemed a national security concern under a 2008 program. The lawsuit alleges that the program uses overly broad criteria and has tied up naturalization and green card applications filed by Palestinian, Iranian and Somali citizens.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services declined to comment on the pending litigation.

VIETNAM-RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

UN official: Vietnam violates religious freedom

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) β€” A U.N. official says Vietnamese security agents monitored his trip to assess religious liberty there and people he wanted to meet were harassed.

Heiner Bielefeldt told journalists Thursday that he found serious violations of religious freedom in Vietnam, while noting some improvements.

The U.N. special rapporteur said his whereabouts during the 11-day, fact-finding mission were closely monitored by undeclared “security and police agents” and that his planned visits to some provinces were interrupted because people he wanted to meet were under heavy surveillance and were intimidated and harassed.

On the positive side, Bielefeldt said the space for religious practice in Vietnam has increased in recent years.

Vietnam’s communist government official recognizes nearly a dozen religions, but others that are not sanctioned are banned.