SUPREME COURT-RELIGION
Supreme Court docket includes religious cases
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court term that starts today includes several religious cases.
On Tuesday, the justices will hear an Arkansas inmate’s appeal of a prison policy that prevents him from growing a beard in accordance with his Muslim beliefs. Prison officials say the policy prevents inmates from concealing contraband or quickly changing their appearance in an escape.
In a religious discrimination case, retailer Abercrombie and Fitch is defending its denial of a job to a woman wearing a Muslim headscarf, arguing that she did not say during her interview that she wears the hijab for religious reasons.
A third case involves an American born in Jerusalem who wants his passport to list his birthplace as Israel. The U.S. does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem.
The justices also could decide if gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry, although it’s not yet on the court’s agenda.
Sound: 3:06 aed
EBOLA-MASSACHUSETTS DOCTOR
Doctor cleared of Ebola virus feeling better
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Officials at a Massachusetts hospital say a missionary doctor who was admitted Saturday for an apparent respiratory infection after recovering from Ebola is in stable condition and feeling better, but still has a fever and cough.
Dr. Richard Sacra (SAY’-crah) remained at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester on Sunday in isolation as a precaution. He is being treated for an upper respiratory infection that doctors believe is not related to Ebola.
Hospital officials said Sunday that they expected results of Ebola testing on Sacra within a day or two.
Sacra returned to Massachusetts on Sept. 25 after weeks of Ebola treatment at a Nebraska hospital. He had spent much of the last two decades in Liberia, working with a Christian missionary group.
Sound:
151-a-11-(Dr. Robert Finberg, medicine chair, UMass Memorial Medical Center, in news conference)-“case of Ebola”-Dr. Robert Finberg explains why he does not believe Richard Sacra has had a recurrence of Ebola. ((“Sacra” is pronounced SAY’-kruh)) (5 Oct 2014)
< 150-a-12-(Dr. Robert Finberg, medicine chair, UMass Memorial Medical Center, in news conference)-“because of that”-Dr. Robert Finberg says it’s possible Richard Sacra was simply rundown and developed cold-like symptoms. ((“Sacra” is pronounced SAY’-kruh)) (5 Oct 2014) < 148-a-13-(Patrick Muldoon, president, UMass Memorial Medical Center, at news conference)-“rule out Ebola”-Hospital president Patrick Muldoon says Dr. Richard Sacra is being monitored after being diagnosed with a repiratory illness. ((“Sacra” is pronounced SAY’-kruh)) (5 Oct 2014) < 149-a-07-(Patrick Muldoon, president, UMass Memorial Medical Center, in news conference)-“Dr. Sacra’s caregivers”-Hospital president Patrick Muldoon says Dr. Sacra poses no risk to the public. ((“Sacra” is pronounced SAY’-kruh)) (5 Oct 2014) < VATICAN-FAMILY Pope to bishops: Be creative about families’ needs VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis says a creative, humble approach is needed as the Vatican tries to understand why many in the Catholic Church have gone their own way on sexual and family issues like contraception, pre-marital sex and divorce. A Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday opened a two-week meeting of 200 cardinals and bishops from around the world, who know that many Catholics defy church teachings on family matters. The most contentious issues include bans on artificial birth control and on Communion for divorced Catholics who remarry. Francis told the churchmen not to “discuss beautiful and clear ideas” but use “authentic freedom and humble creativity” in debate. Conservatives want to reinforce Vatican doctrine. Liberals hope the meeting will bring openness to Catholic families’ realities. GAY MARRIAGE-METHODISTS Methodist church to hear appeal over gay wedding PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Methodist church’s highest court will decide later this month whether a minister who officiated at his gay son’s wedding can keep his pastoral credentials. The Rev. Frank Schaefer was defrocked following a church trial in Pennsylvania last year, but was re-instated by an appeals panel in June. That decision was appealed to the Judicial Council, the church’s highest court. The nine-member panel says it will hear oral arguments in the case Oct. 22 in Memphis, Tennessee. The issue of gay marriage has long divided the United Methodist Church. The nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination allows gay members but bans “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from becoming clergy and forbids ministers from performing same-sex weddings. Schaefer has since launched a student ministry in Isla Vista, California. MORMON CONFERENCE-MARRIAGE Mormons uphold traditional marriage SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reiterated its opposition to gay marriage while urging Mormons to be gracious toward those who believe differently. This is third consecutive biennial conference in which church leaders have said marriage should be limited to a man and a woman, as God created. In October 2013, Dallin Oaks of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve said human laws cannot “make moral what God has declared immoral.” At this year’s April conference, the quorum’s Neil Andersen said: “While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not.” At this past weekend’s conference, Oaks said Mormons “must not surrender” their positions or values, but should be understanding and kind to people who disagree. Sound: 231-a-17-(Dallin Oaks, Mormon elder, speaking at LDS church’s general conference)-“in sexual orientation”-Dallin Oaks, a member of the Mormon church’s Quorum of the Twelve, says followers of Christ should be gracious to people with opposing views. (5 Oct 2014) < 230-a-07-(Dallin Oaks, Mormon elder, speaking at LDS church’s general conference)-“legalizing same-sex marriage”-Dallin Oaks, a member of the Mormon church’s Quorum of the Twelve, says followers of Christ are sometimes called bigoted for refusing to endorse things they believe are wrong. (5 Oct 2014) < 229-a-14-(Dallin Oaks, Mormon elder, speaking at LDS church’s general conference)-“bigots or fanatics”-Dallin Oaks, a member of the Mormon church’s Quorum of the Twelve, says followers of Christ can expect persecution for upholding his teachings. (5 Oct 2014) < MORMON WOMEN-PRIESTHOOD Group of LDS women attend all-male meeting SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ignoring rebukes from church leaders, members of a Mormon women’s group pushing for gender equality have for the first time joined men at regional church buildings across the U.S. to watch a live broadcast of the male priesthood meeting. According to its Facebook page, members of Ordain Women watched the session Saturday night at scattered buildings in Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Texas and the Washington, D.C. area. The meeting, which coincides with the faith’s semiannual general conference, is held in Salt Lake City and broadcast to regional sites around the world. At the last two general conferences, the women marched to the meeting reserved for members of the all-male priesthood, but they were barred from entering. The demonstrations caused a stir and led to rebukes from church leaders. NUN BEATIFICATION Nun being beatified; credited with curing boy NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Hundreds of people have gathered to witness the beatification of a New Jersey nun credited with curing a boy’s eye disease. Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich was beatified Saturday during a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. The Archdiocese of Newark says she is credited with curing a boy’s macular degeneration in the 1960s, long after she died. Michael Mencer was given a lock of her hair and prayed to her. Roman Catholic Church officials say the effects of the eye disease soon began to fade. Pope Francis has pronounced it a miracle. Mencer and Demjanovich family members were among those attending the Mass. Beatification is the third of four steps toward Roman Catholic sainthood. Sound: 063-a-09-(Sister Mary Caravan, Sisters of Charity, at Mass Saturday at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart)-“to her beatification”-Sister Mary Caravan, with the Sisters of Charity, says the medically unexplainable cure of a young boy with macular degeneration is the reason Miriam Teresa Demjanovich is a step closer to sainthood. (Demjanovich is pronounced dehm-JAN’-oh-vich) (5 Oct 2014) < 020-w-33-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with Most Reverend John J. Meyers, Archbishop of Newark, and church music)–A New Jersey nun who is credited with curing a boy’s eye disease after she died in 1929, has moved a step closer to sainthood. Church officials say this was the first beatification Mass held in the U.S. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (5 Oct 2014) < 064-a-14-(Most Reverend John J. Meyers, Archbishop of Newark, at Mass Saturday at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart)-“of New Jersey”-The Archbishop Of Newark, Most Reverend John J. Meyers, says the beatification of Miriam Teresa Demjanovich is very significant. ((Demjanovich is pronounced dem-JAN’-oh-vich)) ((cut used in wrap)) (5 Oct 2014) < CATHOLIC CHURCH-HISPANICS Catholic sisters relocate to ND to serve Hispanics WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Church in western North Dakota is being transformed by an influx of Hispanic parishioners who have moved to the area to work in the oil patch. The Williston Herald reports that the need to better serve this population — many of whom speak little or no English — has led to the relocation of a group of nuns from Mexico to Williston thanks to a five-year grant. The Rev. Russell Kovash with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church says the oil fields have become a mission field. The sisters will spend nine weeks studying English at the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, Texas. They’ll then return to Williston to help in the church with sacramental preparation, music and readings during Mass, among other responsibilities. SAUDI-HAJJ Muslims celebrate Eid as hajj pilgrimage nears end MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslims around the world are celebrating the three-day Eid al-Adha (eed al-AHD’-hah) holiday as more than 2 million pilgrims complete one of the final rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail — the Biblical Ishmael, though Christians and Jews believe his other son Isaac was the near-sacrifice — as a test of his faith from God. In remembrance, Muslims around the world slaughtered sheep and other livestock on Saturday, giving the meat to the poor. Pilgrims, meanwhile, cast pebbles in a symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, just outside Mecca. Male pilgrims change out of the white robes of pilgrimage and shave their heads as a sign of renewal.
