EBOLA-AMERICANS
Mission group identifies 3rd US aid worker with Ebola
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The president of a missionary group says a third U.S. aid worker sickened with the Ebola virus had decided to return to Liberia after the other two people became ill.
SIM USA President Bruce Johnson said at a news conference Wednesday that Dr. Rick Sacra (SAY’-krah) returned to Liberia about a month ago after another doctor and a missionary became ill with Ebola. Both survived after treatment at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Johnson says the 51-year-old Sacra lives in the Boston area. He says Sacra wasn’t caring for Ebola patients but was delivering babies in the SIM hospital’s obstetrics unit. He says it’s not known whether Sacra will return to the U.S. for treatment.
The missionary who survived Ebola, Nancy Writebol, said at the news conference that she believes an experimental drug, her medical care and her faith helped save her.
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350-v-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The wife of the third American missionary to contract the Ebola virus says she’s trusting God as she prays for his recovery. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (3 Sep 2014)
< 321-a-06-(Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA, at news conference)-“which we face”-SIM USA President Bruce Johnson says American missionaries continue to serve in Liberia despite the personal danger. ((cut used in wrap)) (3 Sep 2014) < 320-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with SIM USA President Bruce Johnson, and SIM missionary David Writebol)–American missionaries continue to treat Ebola patients in West Africa despite the risk to their own health. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (3 Sep 2014) < 322-a-06-(Nancy Writebol, SIM missionary who recovered from Ebola, at news conference)-“Lord was leading”-SIM missionary Nancy Writebol says there’s a question she and her husband have been asked about their service in Liberia. (3 Sep 2014) < 323-a-11-(David Writebol, SIM missionary and husband of Nancy Writebol, at news conference)-“to the world”-SIM missionary David Writebol says Christians serve in places like Liberia to follow Christ’s example. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (3 Sep 2014) < 311-a-15-(Dr. Warren Ferguson, professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, at news conference)-“family physician abroad”-Dr. Warren Ferguson, a professor who hired Dr. Rick Sacra at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, says serving others was his destiny. ((Sacra is pronounced SAY’-krah)) (3 Sep 2014) < 312-a-11-(Dr. Warren Ferguson, professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, at news conference)-“and provide care”-Dr. Warren Ferguson, a professor who hired Dr. Rick Sacra at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, says Dr. Sacra volunteered with SIM to return to Liberia, after learning that two other medical workers had contracted Ebola. ((Sacra is pronounced SAY’-krah)) (3 Sep 2014) < 313-a-13-(Dr. Warren Ferguson, professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, at news conference)-“unassuming and humble”-Dr. Warren Ferguson, a professor who hired Dr. Rick Sacra at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, says Dr. Sacra is a special person, humanitarian and doctor. ((Sacra is pronounced SAY’-krah)) (3 Sep 2014) < EBOLA-AMERICANS Wife of U.S. doctor with Ebola trusting God CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The wife of the third American missionary to contract the Ebola virus says she’s trusting God as she prays for his recovery. Debbie Sacra (SAY’-krah), who lives in the Boston area with her husband, says Dr. Rick Sacra remains in isolation at the mission hospital in Liberia. In a statement, she says, “I am surrounded by friends and family and the body of Christ, who are a great encouragement and who are praying fervently for Rick’s recovery along with me.” She adds, “We are trusting in God to be with Rick and us through this difficult circumstance.” Sacra’s job was to deliver babies at the hospital and take care of patients who were not infected with Ebola. Mission officials say he followed all the protocols to protect himself, but got infected nonetheless. It’s unclear if he’ll be brought back to the U.S. for treatment like the other two Ebola-infected missionaries, who have recovered. TEACHER PREGNANCY Gay Michigan teacher says pregnancy got her fired BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (AP) β A former chemistry teacher at a suburban Detroit Catholic high school says she was fired after becoming pregnant in a gay marriage. Thirty-three-year-old Barbara Webb says she was fired from the all-girls Marian High School in August after working there for nine years. 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The exhibit at the church’s history library includes the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon, a copy of the Book of Commandments, and church founder Joseph Smith’s journal from 1832 to 1834. Church historians unveiled the exhibit during a news conference Wednesday. A year ago, the church released a book of historical documents that shed light on how Smith formed the church in upstate New York. Sound: 357-a-05-(Richard Turley, assistant church historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in AP interview)-“things are priceless”-Richard Turley, assistant church historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, says the church documents are under glass with appropriate security. (3 Sep 2014) < 356-a-09-(Richard Turley, assistant church historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in AP interview)-“Book of Mormon”-Richard Turley, assistant church historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, says the exhibit in Salt Lake City features some of the Mormon faith’s foundational documents. (3 Sep 2014) < 355-a-08-(Richard Turley, assistant church historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in AP interview)-“of our faith”-Richard Turley, assistant church historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, says some historic Mormon documents are on display. (3 Sep 2014) < STATE PARK CROSS Atheist group weighs legal action in cross case LIBERTY, Ind. (AP) β An attorney for a group of atheists and agnostics who oppose Indiana’s decision to erect a sculpture featuring a cross in a state park says the group is considering suing over the matter. Gov. Mike Pence said Tuesday he fully supports the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ decision to accept the donated wooden sculpture that includes a 14-inch-tall cross for display at Whitewater Memorial State Park, located about 65 miles east of Indianapolis. But the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s attorney, Rebecca Markert, says the Wisconsin-based group believes it’s unconstitutional to put a religious-themed memorial in a state park. She says the group is considering legal action, but it can be hard to find local plaintiffs because they can face scorn if they’re named publicly in a suit. CHURCH EMBEZZLEMENT Va. woman pleads guilty to embezzling from church LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) β A Virginia woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a church in Rockbridge County. Fifty-six-year-old Marilyn Dudley was accused of embezzling from the Collierstown Presbyterian Church from July 2002 through January of this year. Police say Dudley was in charge of the church’s memorial fund and the Presbyterian women’s account. The Roanoke Times reports that Dudley pleaded guilty to two dozen embezzlement counts on Tuesday in Rockbridge County Circuit Court. Rockbridge County sheriff’s Deputy Tony McFadden testified that he calculated about $157,000 was taken from the church. He says church officials believe the amount is about $167,000. Dudley’s attorney said the amount of missing money is still being tallied. He says she has paid $20,000 in restitution. FALLEN CHURCH FINANCIER Repayments to church scam investors wrapping up INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β The last refund checks to devout investors who lost millions in what amounted to a religious Ponzi scheme are ready to be mailed after being tied up in court for nearly a decade. 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Waco television station KXXV reports that the city’s First United Methodist Church will pay almost $4,000 for two years of the system. Pastor Jimmy Sansom says the church will draw from donations it received after the April 2013 blast. VATICAN-IRAQ Pope to Iraqi Christians: You are church’s heart VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has sought to encourage beleaguered Christians who are under threat from Islamic militants in Iraq, saying they are the “heart” of the church and that Catholics are proud of them. In comments translated into Arabic during his weekly Wednesday general audience, Francis said the Catholic Church is like a mother, and like any mother will “defend her defenseless and persecuted children.” Thousands of Christians have been forced from their homes by Islamic State militants who have carved out a self-styled caliphate in the large area straddling the Iraqi-Syrian border that it now controls. 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EGYPT-BELLY-DANCING EDICT Egypt religious body: Suspend belly-dancing show CAIRO (AP) β Egypt’s top religious body has demanded that a new belly-dancing TV show be suspended for “corrupting morals” and serving “extremists” who could use it as a pretext to depict Egyptian society as anti-Islamic. A statement Wednesday by Dar al-Ifta, the top body that advises Muslims on religious and life issues, said that the “Dancer” show “serves extremists who take such matters as a justification to promote the idea that society is fighting religion.” The show was aired only once on the Cairo and People satellite television network. A famous belly dancer known as Dina was among a three-member panel to choose the most-talented dancers, many of whom were not Egyptians. While famed in Middle Eastern countries for centuries, conservatives in Egypt believe belly dancing is immoral.
