POLICE SHOOTING-MISSOURI-PRAYERS
Police and protesters pray amid outrage over shooting
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) β Some prayers are being lifted amid the outrage in Ferguson, Missouri, over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black youth by police.
The State Highway Patrol has taken over Ferguson’s security supervision, with Capt. Ron Johnson β a black Ferguson native β in charge. To prepare for his new role, Johnson said, “Before I got into bed, like I do each and every night, I prayed.” After meeting with reporters, he went out on the street to talk with protesters.
But a local minister, the Rev. Tracy Blackmon, told angry marchers, “We are praying with our feet, and we will not go away.”
She said that when there’s injustice, “Our God is a warrior.”
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299-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson, and the Reverend Tracy Blackmon)–Some prayers are being lifted amid the outrage in Ferguson, Missouri, over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black youth by police. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (14 Aug 2014)
< NOAH’S ARK PARK Excavation underway at Kentucky ark attraction LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β Workers are clearing land in northern Kentucky to build a long-stalled tourist attraction featuring a replica of Noah’s Ark. Ken Ham, head of the Christian ministry Answers in Genesis, posted video of the excavation work on his Facebook page this week. It is the first sign of large-scale construction activity at the site in Grant County since plans for the 510-foot long biblical ark were announced by Answers in Genesis in 2010. The project had been delayed when private donations did not keep pace with the construction timeline. Ham has said the ark will be built to the dimensions described in the Bible’s book of Genesis. The biblical account is presented as a true historical event at the ministry’s Creation Museum in northern Kentucky near Cincinnati. The museum has attracted more than a million visitors since it opened in 2007. The Noah’s Ark attraction is scheduled to open by 2016. SKOREA-POPE Pope to Koreas: Avoid ‘fruitless’ shows of force SEOUL, South Korea (AP) β Pope Francis has called for renewed efforts to forge peace on the war-divided Korean Peninsula and for both sides to avoid “fruitless” criticisms and shows of force, opening a five-day visit to South Korea with a message of reconciliation as Seoul’s rival, North Korea, fired five projectiles into the sea. North Korea has a long history of making sure it is not forgotten during high-profile events in the South, and Thursday’s apparent test firing made its presence felt. In the first speech of his first trip to Asia, Francis told South Korean leaders that peace requires forgiveness and mutual respect. He said diplomacy must be encouraged so dialogue replaces “mutual recriminations, fruitless criticisms and displays of force.” During his visit, Francis will take part in a Catholic youth festival and beatify 124 Korean martyrs. Sound: 271-a-04-(Pope Francis, addressing South Korean political and church leaders)-“come to Korea”-Pope Francis thanks South Koreans for welcoming him. (14 Aug 2014) < 272-a-08-(Pope Francis, addressing South Korean political and church leaders)-“to our hearts”-Pope Francis says Catholics pray for peace on the Korean peninsula. (14 Aug 2014) < 273-a-07-(Pope Francis, addressing South Korean political and church leaders)-“hopes and concerns”-Pope Francis says he’ll meet with young Catholics at an Asian youth festival in South Korea. (14 Aug 2014) < 270-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Pope Francis)–Pope Francis has called for renewed efforts to forge peace on the war-divided Korean Peninsula. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (14 Aug 2014) < 143-a-08-(Pope Francis, in speech)-“work of justice”-Pope Francis says the Koreas should work for reconciliation and peace and avoid “fruitless” shows of force. (14 Aug 2014) < 142-a-19-(Pope Francis, in speech)-“whole war-weary world”-Pope Francis sought to encourage the pursuit of peace between the Koreas. ((“Korea’s quest for peace is a cause close to our hearts, for it affects the stability of the entire area and indeed of our whole war-weary world.”)) (14 Aug 2014) < 138-a-12-(Pope Francis, in speech)-“the Korean Peninsula”-Pope Francis calls for renewed efforts to forge peace between North and South Korea. (14 Aug 2014) < 139-a-15-(Pope Francis, in speech)-“and displays of force”-Pope Francis’ call for the Koreas to avoid “fruitless” criticisms and shows of force, comes even as North Korea uses his high profile visit to apparently test fires some sort of projectiles. (14 Aug 2014) < 115-r-08-(Sound of ceremonial cannon fire Wednesday, as Pope Francis arrives in Seoul)–Sound of ceremonial cannon fire as Pope Francis arrives in Seoul. (14 Aug 2014) < SKOREA FERRY-POPE Pope meets survivors of Korea ferry disaster DAEJEON, South Korea (AP) β On his second day in South Korea, Pope Francis has met with survivors of the country’s ferry disaster and relatives of the dead who are demanding a government inquiry into the sinking. The Vatican spokesman said Francis met Friday with about a dozen people in a room inside the soccer stadium in the central city of Daejeon where he was to celebrate a Mass for some 50,000 Asian Catholics. Most of the more than 300 people killed when the ferry Sewol sank in April were high school students on a class trip. Their relatives are pushing lawmakers to set up an independent, transparent probe of the cause of the sinking. The ruling party is opposed because it says a parliamentary committee doesn’t have the power to indict. The Vatican spokesman says Francis wouldn’t intervene in the issue. SKOREA-POPE-POPEMOBILE Pope’s small car fascinates South Koreans SEOUL, South Korea (AP) β Pope Francis’ choice of wheels during his five-day South Korean visit has surprised many in a country where big shots rarely hit the streets in anything but expensive luxury cars. After his arrival Thursday, the pope left the airport in a compact black Kia that many South Koreans would consider too humble a conveyance for a globally powerful figure. In a live television broadcast, the pope climbed into the backseat of the boxy Kia Soul, rolled down the window and waved. Surrounded by a few bigger black sedans, the pope’s compact car headed toward Seoul. Francis’ frugality and humble demeanor have received wide coverage in South Korea, a fiercely competitive country that celebrates ostentatious displays of status and wealth. CHINA-POPE Pope’s South Korea visit brings China opportunity BEIJING (AP) β Pope Francis’ greeting to Chinese President Xi Jinping as he flew to South Korea on Thursday marked a rare cordial exchange between the sides, which have no diplomatic relations and are embroiled in a sometimes bitter contest for authority. However, any goodwill generated was immediately called into question by reports that Chinese officials had threatened Chinese Catholic students and priests not to take part in events related to the pope’s visit. Vatican protocol calls for Francis to send telegrams to heads of state whenever he flies through their airspace. Usually they pass unnoticed, but Thursday’s telegram was unique because the last time a pope wanted to fly over China, in 1989, Beijing refused. Pope Francis’ message said, “Upon entering Chinese air space, I extend best wishes to your excellency and your fellow citizens, and I invoke the divine blessings of peace and well-being upon the nation.” In a faxed statement, China’s Foreign Ministry said it had noted the pope’s statement and remained committed to improving ties. CATHOLIC WORLD MEETING-PHILADELPHIA Pope again tells someone he’ll visit Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (AP) β The pope has again told someone he’ll be visiting Philadelphia, but the archdiocese says he has yet to confirm his plans. NBC reporter Anne Thompson said on the “Today” show that Pope Francis replied yes when she asked him Thursday if he would come to Philadelphia. She says he then mentioned the World Meeting of Families, an annual event that is being held in Philadelphia in September 2015. Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo) said last month that the pope told him that he was coming. But Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Kenneth Gavin says official confirmation won’t come until about six months before the event. Popes have attended five of the past seven such conferences. Pope Benedict had announced his intention to come when Philadelphia was announced as the host city. KENTUCKY SENATE-FAITH McConnell talks religion in Bowling Green BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) β Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell has talked about abortion, gay marriage and the persecution of Christians in Iraq with three of Kentucky’s most prominent evangelical leaders. McConnell told about 100 people at the Eastwood Baptist Church that he opposes gay marriage and abortion, although he stopped short of declaring an abortion litmus test for Supreme Court justices. He said the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which he charged was the decision of President Barack Obama, led to the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities there. Democratic candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes was invited but did not attend. She spent the morning helping serve breakfast at the start of the Kentucky State Fair. Grimes said she is eager to debate McConnell. The two are scheduled to appear at a forum next week sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau. GAY COACH Gay coach will keep job at Catholic school DELL RAPIDS, S.D. (AP) β A volleyball coach at a Catholic school in South Dakota who has publicly announced he’s gay says he’s being allowed to keep his job. Nate Alfson, who coaches at St. Mary High School in Dell Rapids, announced he was gay last week on the website www.outsports.com and later said he was concerned about his future with the private Catholic school. Alfson met with school officials Tuesday and later said in an email to www.outsports.com and on his Facebook page that he will not lose his job. The Argus Leader newspaper reports that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls issued a statement saying “all persons, whatever their attraction, are to be treated with respect, compassion and justice.” But the statement said same-sex or opposite-sex lifestyles that are “not chaste” can exclude a person from “employment or public ministry on behalf of the Church.” INDIA-RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL India sets age limit for Krishna birthday pyramids NEW DELHI (AP) β India’s Supreme Court says children as young as 12 can climb atop towering human pyramids in a popular Hindu celebration that has seen deaths and injuries in past years. Devotees celebrate the birthday of the child-god Krishna each August by forming a pyramid with the last climber, usually a child, clambering to the top to break the “dahi handi,” an earthen pot filled with curd. The practice honors Krishna’s effort to steal butter. Every year, several children are killed, injured or disabled in falls from pyramids that can reach 40 feet high. A court in Mumbai last week set the country’s first age limit for participants at 18. The Supreme Court put that ruling on hold Thursday and said children who’ve reached their 12th birthday can participate.
