EBOLA-AMERICANS
Husband says Ebola-infected missionary seems stronger
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β A quarantined American missionary says his Ebola-infected wife is weak but seems to be gaining strength.
In a news conference via Skype from his quarantine in North Carolina, David Writebol said he isn’t showing any Ebola symptoms, and his wife sounds stronger when he talks with her on the phone.
Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly remain hospitalized in isolation at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital.
David Writebol told reporters his wife is “not out of the woods yet,” but they hope to be reunited soon.
He added that they don’t blame their exposure to Ebola on a failure by God to protect them. David Writebol says they believe “God’s purposes are higher than our pain.”
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS-MILITARY APPEAL
Religious scholars call for military destruction of Islamic State group
WASHINGTON (AP) β A petition signed by dozens of religious activists and scholars calls for military destruction of the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
The online petition says “none of us glorifies war,” but warns that nothing less can stop the Islamic militants’ “campaign of genocide” against religious minorities and “unconscionable acts of barbarism” against defenseless women and children.
Signers of the petition include the Rev. Russell Moore, the Southern Baptists’ public policy chief; Robert George of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Notre Dame law professor Gerard Bradley; Dr. Ben Carson; and author Eric Metaxas.
They say “no options that are consistent with the principles of just war doctrine should be off the table.” They also urge the United States to expand air strikes and fully arm Kurdish troops and others who can help destroy Islamic State forces. Such military action, they say, is what “justice as well as compassion demands.”
Online: http://iraqrescue.org
Sound:
228-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol)–A quarantined American missionary says his Ebola-infected wife is weak but seems to be gaining strength. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (13 Aug 2014)
< 226-a-12-(David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, at news conference conducted via Skype)-“love of God”-David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, says they felt called to Liberia. ((note audio quality)) (13 Aug 2014) < 223-a-10-(David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, at news conference conducted via Skype)-“that she is”-David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, says they keep in touch by phone. ((note audio quality)) (13 Aug 2014) < 222-a-05-(David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, at news conference conducted via Skype)-“the woods yet”-David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, says she’s still weak but seems to be gaining strength. (13 Aug 2014) < 225-a-11-(David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, at news conference conducted via Skype)-“than our pain”-David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, says they don’t feel that God should have protected her health. ((note audio quality)) (13 Aug 2014) < 224-a-02-(David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, at news conference conducted via Skype)-“I’m, I’m OK”-David Writebol, husband of Ebola patient Nancy Writebol, says he hasn’t developed any Ebola symptoms in quarantine. (13 Aug 2014) < 216-a-10-(Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, in interview)-“wrench, wrenching moment”-Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, says it was alarming to watch his mother’s arrival in Atlanta. COURTESY: NBC’s Today Show ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (12 Aug 2014) < 215-a-09-(Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, in interview)-“a little bit”-Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, says his mother seems to be recovering from Ebola. COURTESY: NBC’s Today Show ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (12 Aug 2014) < 217-a-11-(Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, in interview)-“see her again”-Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, says he greeted his mother from behind a hospital window. COURTESY: NBC’s Today Show ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (12 Aug 2014) < 218-a-11-(Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, in interview)-“through the window”-Jeremy Writebol, son of missionary Nancy Writebol, says he thanked the other Ebola patient, Dr. Kent Brantly. COURTESY: NBC’s Today Show ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (12 Aug 2014) < VATICAN-IRAQ Pope appeals to UN to end tragedy in Iraq VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has written to the U.N. secretary-general appealing for “action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway” against Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq. In the letter released Wednesday, Francis urges U.N. agencies “responsible for security, peace, humanitarian law and assistance to refugees” to aid the plight of religious minorities who have been driven from their homes by militants from the Islamic State group. He says “the violent attacks that are sweeping across Northern Iraq cannot but awaken the consciences of all men and women of goodwill to concrete acts of solidarity.” Francis has stepped up his denunciation of the attacks against Christians and religious minorities in Iraq. He has also sent a personal envoy, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, to the region to show solidarity with the victims. EGYPT-ISLAMIC STATE Egypt’s top cleric condemns Islamic State CAIRO (AP) β Egypt’s top cleric has condemned the extremist Islamic State group, describing it as a “terrorist” organization that poses a danger to Islam and Muslims. Grand Mufti Shawki Allam, Egypt’s highest religious authority, said the extremist group is “violating all the Islamic principles and the intentions of the Shariah (Islamic law).” In his remarks, which were carried by Egypt’s state news agency late Tuesday, Allam also said the “bloody extremist group” had tarnished the image of Islam and paved the way for the destruction of Muslim nations. The Islamic State is an al-Qaida breakaway group that has seized much of northeastern Syria and huge tracts of neighboring Iraq. UNITED NATIONS-FIGHTING TERRORISM Saudis give UN $100 million to fight terrorism UNITED NATIONS (AP) β Saudi Arabia has given $100 million to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help finance the U.N.’s center to combat global terrorism. The U.N. chief welcomed the gift at a ceremony in his office and said the recent upsurge in terrorism in a number of countries and regions β most dramatically, the Islamic State extremist group’s takeover of a large swath of Syria and Iraq β “underscores the challenge before us.” Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir, who presented the check, said, “Terrorism knows no religion. It knows no ethnicity. It has no nationality. It has no humanity. It has no compassion. It has no justice.” He added that terrorism “is in violation of every religion in the world” and can only be dealt with if all countries and peoples unite to deal with the threat. Sound: 272-a-09-(Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi ambassador to the United States, presenting $100 million check)-“has no justice”-Saudi ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir says terrorism is a scourge that must be opposed by all nations. (13 Aug 2014) < SKOREA-POPE Pope to make first South Korean visit in 25 years SEOUL, South Korea (AP) β Pope Francis is making the first papal visit to South Korea in a quarter century, with plans to beatify 124 Korean martyrs and encourage a vibrant and growing local church seen as a model for the future of Catholicism. Highlights of the pope’s five days in South Korea also include his participation in a Catholic festival for young believers from around Asia and a Mass for peace and reconciliation on the war-divided Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says a ceremony Saturday to beatify Korean martyrs who perished for their faith from 1791 to 1888 could draw about 1 million people. The pope plans to reach out to South Korea’s archrival, North Korea, during the visit, but the Vatican says authorities in the North declined an invitation by the Seoul archdiocese to send a delegation to attend a Mass. It’s the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II traveled to South Korea in 1989. In January, Francis plans to visit Sri Lanka and the Philippines. MUSIC-DOVE AWARDS Dove Awards announce nominees NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Hillsong United, Lecrae, Mandisa and Matt Maher (MAHR) lead the 45th annual Dove Awards nominations for artists, with five apiece for gospel and Christian music excellence. The nominations were announced Wednesday at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where the awards show will be held Oct. 7. Producer and songwriter Wayne Haun leads all nominees with 12 nominations overall. The Gospel Music Association awards show covers the broad range of Christian music with categories ranging from Southern gospel, rap/hip-hop, rock, pop and inspirational. Hillsong United, Lecrae and Mandisa are all up for artist of the year along with NEEDTOBREATHE, Casting Crowns and Switchfoot. Maher, Hillsong United and Mandisa also are nominated for contemporary Christian performance of the year along with for KING & COUNTRY and Natalie Grant. LILLY CHURCH-LAWSUIT Church alleges banker cost Lilly trust $13 million INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β One of Indianapolis’ oldest church congregations is suing JPMorgan Chase, saying the investment banker’s mismanagement and self-dealing led to $13 million in losses from a trust endowed by philanthropist Eli Lilly Jr. Christ Church Cathedral filed its complaint Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis. The complaint says JPMorgan Chase charged excessive fees and commissions in purchasing 177 different investment products, mostly from itself. It says the actions resulted in high revenues to JPMorgan Chase. The 177-year-old Episcopal congregation says Lilly bequeathed a portion of his estate to the Christ Church in 1973. JPMorgan Chase voluntarily resigned as the trustee for the account in December. A JPMorgan Chase spokeswoman says it does not comment on pending litigation. MOSQUE VANDALISM Va. mosque vandalized, hate-crime probe sought MANASSAS, Va. (AP) β A Muslim rights group is asking the FBI and local police to investigate whether vandalism at a Virginia mosque was a hate crime. The Manassas Mosque was vandalized sometime between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Vandals sprayed orange paint on the windows and wrote an obscenity. A window and door were also damaged. Prince William County Police say the damage itself does not indicate a hate crime, but their investigation could uncover a hate crime if the intent of the vandals can be determined. The police were offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. The Council on American-Islamic Relations asked police and the FBI to investigate whether a hate crime occurred. PRISON LAWSUIT-RELIGION 2 Iowa prison inmates sue over religious issues DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β A federal judge says two Iowa prison inmates must be provided nightly meals and chapel time during Ramadan and allowed the same religious accommodations as other Muslims. The inmates, Michael Williams-El and James Blair-Bey, sued prison officials in 2012 when they were at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The men identify themselves as followers of Moorish Islam. In 2012 they were denied participation in Ramadan activities by the prison Imam who said their beliefs are contrary to traditional Islam. Magistrate Judge Thomas Shields ruled that federal law requires the men to be able to participate in their religion. But he said prison officials may prevent them from taking scented oil into cells for security reasons and are not required to replace beans with soy or other meat substitutes. CORBETT-AMISH MAFIA Pennsylvania governor: End TV series ‘Amish Mafia’ HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) β Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and other politicians have signed a statement calling on the Discovery Channel to drop the series “Amish Mafia.” The statement says “Amish Mafia” is a “bigoted portrayal” of the religious sect and misrepresents the Amish in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County as a “crime-ridden culture.” The statement is signed by 18 elected officials, including congressmen, state senators, state representatives and Lancaster’s mayor. Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators signed a similar statement. The campaign against “Amish Mafia” is being organized by a Lancaster-based group called Respect Amish. The show purports to follow a group of Amish men who enforce law and order within the community. Questions have persisted about its veracity. Discovery spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg declined comment on the letter. She has said the characters on the show are, in fact, real-life Amish.
