SUPREME COURT-GAY MARRIAGE-BAPTISTS
Supreme Court gay marriage punt draws mixed Baptist reaction
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Baptists have mixed reactions to the Supreme Court’s refusal to stop the legalization of gay marriage.
The Rev. Russell Moore, who heads the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says courts can’t change what the Bible teaches.
He says Christians who oppose gay marriage, instead of retreating in anger, should love their gay and lesbian neighbors and demonstrate the unique value of traditional marriage in their homes and churches.
But the Rev. Nancy Petty, whose Baptist church belongs to a more liberal denomination, says she and her same-sex partner now look forward to getting married in North Carolina. Petty had refused to sign any marriage licenses until gay and lesbian couples could marry in her state.
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270-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Russell Moore, policy chief for the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Reverend Nancy Petty, pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina)–Baptists have mixed reactions to the Supreme Court’s refusal to stop the legalization of gay marriage. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (6 Oct 2014)
< 264-a-05-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, in AP interview)-“and with confidence”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says Christians who oppose gay marriage shouldn’t retreat in anger. (6 Oct 2014) < 265-a-12-(The Reverend Nancy Petty, pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, in AP interview)-“much more, accepting”-The Reverend Nancy Petty, pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, says she and her same-sex partner are glad they can now marry in North Carolina. (6 Oct 2014) < 263-a-08-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, in AP interview)-“down to us”-The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says the Supreme Court can’t change the meaning of marriage. (6 Oct 2014) < 266-a-07-(The Reverend Nancy Petty, pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, in AP interview)-“go to church”-The Reverend Nancy Petty, pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, says she and her same-sex partner didn’t want to have to marry in another state. (6 Oct 2014) < SUPREME COURT-GAY MARRIAGE Christian lobby group criticizes Supreme Court punt on gay marriage WASHINGTON (AP) β A conservative Christian lobbying group says the Supreme Court’s unwillingness to stop the legalization of gay marriage is bad for children. Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council says the justices’ refusal to review lower court rulings overturning state marriage bans was a “cowardly” way to let lower courts “do their dirty work.” Derek Kitchen, whose lawsuit overturned Utah’s ban on gay marriage, says the Supreme Court has handed a victory to same-sex couples, who can now “plan marriages and have children.” But Sprigg says children do better in a traditional marriage. He says, “Only the union of a man and a woman can bond children to both the man and the woman who produced that child.” Sound: 273-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Derek Kitchen, plaintiff who challenged Utah’s gay marriage ban, and Peter Sprigg, senior fellow with the Family Research Council)–A Christian lobbying group says the Supreme Court’s refusal to stop the legalization of gay marriage is bad for children. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (6 Oct 2014) < SUPREME COURT-TEACHER-BIBLE Supreme Court rejects appeal of fired Ohio teacher WASHINGTON (AP) β The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of an Ohio public school science teacher who was fired for encouraging students to question the theory of evolution and refusing to remove religious materials from his classroom. The justices on Monday let stand an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that found the Mount Vernon school district had grounds to fire John Freshwater in 2011 for insubordination for keeping religious books and a poster of a praying president. The state court said the district infringed on Freshwater’s First Amendment rights by ordering him to remove his personal Bible from his desk, but found he was insubordinate for keeping the other items. Freshwater’s attorney had argued that the firing violated the teacher’s free speech rights. GAY MARRIAGE-METHODISTS Methodist clergy escape sanctions over gay wedding PHILADELPHIA (AP) β A complaint against 36 United Methodist ministers who blessed a same-sex wedding in Philadelphia in defiance of church law has been resolved. The clergy will face no discipline, but released a statement acknowledging they could be punished if they do it again. The pastors blessed the Nov. 9 ceremony at Philadelphia’s Arch Street United Methodist Church to show support for the Rev. Frank Schaefer, a colleague who faced church discipline for presiding at his gay son’s wedding. That case is before the Methodist church’s highest court. The rebellious clergy and the Methodists who filed a complaint against them have agreed to meet to discuss their differences over gay marriage. The denomination accepts gay members but bans “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from becoming clergy and forbid ministers from performing same-sex marriages. The issue has caused a split within the church. MUSIC-LECRAE Lecrae looks to break mold of a Christian rapper ATLANTA (AP) β Lecrae is dubbed a Christian rapper, but he considers himself a rapper who happens to be Christian. The Grammy-winning artist (his album “Gravity” won for best gospel album last year) is trying to avoid being boxed into one genre. Last month, his seventh album, “Anomaly,” became the first title to top Billboard’s Top 200 and Gospel Albums charts in the same week. He believes this success could help bring him closer to being embraced by both gospel and mainstream music. Lecrae says he wants to provide thought-provoking messages of life in songs without sounding like a Bible-thumping preacher. Lecrae, who attends a weekly men’s Bible study, is married and has three children, and makes sure he’s home twice a week while on tour. SUKKAH PARADE Booths on bikes prepared for Jewish holiday NEW YORK (AP) β Nine Orthodox Jewish men have pedaled their way down New York’s Fifth Avenue on pedicabs outfitted with little huts in the back. Twenty-one-year-old Levi Duchman (LAY’-vee DUK’-man) says it’s something he started doing when he was 16 because Manhattan is too congested for Jews to make the traditional hut for the biblical Feast of Tabernacles. The Jewish harvest festival starts Thursday and is traditionally observed by taking meals in the temporary hut. Duchman says the pedicabs deliver the hut to Jews who have no place to build one. Sound: 233-a-09-(Levi Duchman (LAY’-vee DUKH’-man), orthodox Jewish student, in AP interview)-“Knoxville, Tennessee, everywhere”-Levi Duchman, the student who created the pedi-sukkah, says they’re very popular. ((Sukkah is pronounced SOOK’-uh)) (6 Oct 2014) < 231-w-35-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent, with Levi Duchman (LAY’-vee DUKH’-man), orthodox Jewish student)–A group of Orthodox Jews found a way to squeeze one more unusual vehicle onto the crowded streets of Manhattan. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (6 Oct 2014) < 232-a-09-(Levi Duchman (LAY’-vee DUKH’-man), orthodox Jewish student, in AP interview)-“sukkah to them”-Levi Duchman, the student who created the pedi-sukkah, says it’s a way of getting a sukkah, or ceremonial hut, to people who would otherwise go without. ((Sukkah is pronounced SOOK’-uh)) (6 Oct 2014) < 234-r-32-(Sound of pedi-sukkah parade, on Fifth Avenue)–Sound of pedi-sukkah parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City. (6 Oct 2014) < TROOPER-RELIGION LAWSUIT Woman says trooper asked about faith during stop INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β An Indiana woman has filed a lawsuit accusing a state trooper of wrongly questioning her during a traffic stop about her religious beliefs and giving her a church pamphlet that asks readers to acknowledge being a sinner. Ellen Bogan of Huntington alleges in her federal lawsuit that Trooper Brian Hamilton violated her constitutional rights during the August stop on U.S. 27 in Union County. Bogan told The Indianapolis Star that the trooper asked her about her faith and she didn’t feel she could leave or refuse to answer with his squad car parked behind her. Bogan’s lawsuit, filed for her by American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, says Hamilton gave her a pamphlet that outlines “God’s plan for salvation,” a four-point list that advises the reader to “realize you’re a sinner” and “realize the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins.” BISHOP-NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE Bishop speaks out against nondiscrimination bill SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) β A Missouri bishop says forcing people of faith to recognize same-sex relationships is a form of discrimination and violates their religious freedoms. Bishop James Johnston of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese issued a letter opposing the proposed expansion of Springfield’s nondiscrimination ordinance, which the Springfield City Council plans to vote on at its Oct. 13 meeting. The ordinance would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes. The Springfield News-Leader reports that Bishop Johnston says that would violate religious freedom and make criminals out of people trying to live their faith. Johnson’s letter said that “in the name of preventing discrimination against some,” the council would “impose it on others.” VATICAN-FAMILY Pope urges bishops to speak out on family issues VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has urged bishops to speak their minds about contentious issues like contraception, gays, marriage and divorce at the start of a two-week meeting aimed at making the church’s teaching on family matters relevant to today’s Catholics. Francis told the opening session Monday that bishops shouldn’t even be afraid of showing him disrespect, saying “You have to say everything you feel without fear.” At the same time, he urged the nearly 200 cardinals, bishops and priests to listen to one another with humility. The run-up to the meeting has been marked by conflict between conservative and progressive churchmen over issues such as whether Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment can receive Communion. Church teaching says such Catholics are living in sin and cannot receive the sacraments. Sound: 214-r-29-(Pope Francis, speaking Italian, in address to cardinals, bishops and priests at the open of a two-week meeting addressing controversial issues such as contraception, homosexuality and divorce)–Pope Francis, speaking in Italian, tells cardinals, bishops and priests that they have to say what they feel the Lord tells them to say, “without concerns of human respect and without fear,” and at the same time, they must listen with humility. (6 Oct 2014) < 215-r-18-(Pope Francis, speaking in Italian, in address to cardinals, bishops and priests at the open of a two-week meeting addressing controversial issues such as contraception, homosexuality and divorce)–Pope Francis, speaking in Italian, tells cardinals, bishops and priests that he wants an open and frank discussion on major issues, and no one should think, ‘You can’t say this, they might think this or that about me.’ (6 Oct 2014) < 126-a-18-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“a later date”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the two-week meeting is only the beginning of a process aimed at making church teaching on family matters more relevant to today’s Catholics. (6 Oct 2014) < 125-a-15-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“more merciful place”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield was asked if these talks will lead to big changes in the church. (6 Oct 2014) < 124-a-10-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“and gay unions”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the bishops will discuss family issues. (6 Oct 2014) < 123-a-18-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“off the table”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports Pope Francis is urging bishops to speak their minds about contentious issues as they attend a two-week meeting at the Vatican. (6 Oct 2014) < VATICAN-CHURCH ABUSE Pope’s sex abuse panel makes progress VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis’ sex abuse commission has made new progress after languishing for much of the past year. It approved its legal statutes, proposed new members and divided up work to focus on reaching out to survivors, holding bishops accountable and keeping pedophiles out of the priesthood. Commission member Marie Collins, herself a sex abuse survivor, says much progress was made this past weekend. Collins said she had been frustrated earlier in the year with the slow pace of work on the commission, but is now more hopeful. In July, Francis had his first encounter with victims of abuse, meeting individually with a half-dozen men and women for more than three hours. Collins helped organize the meeting, attended one of the encounters and said she hopes Francis will meet with other survivors in the future. STOLEN JESUS STATUE-RETURNED Stolen Jesus statue returned to Edmond church EDMOND, Okla. (AP) β Catholics in Edmund, Oklahoma, are celebrating the return of a Jesus statue that was pried off of a wooden cross in their church’s prayer garden. Edmund police told KWTV-TV that the statue was dropped off on Saturday night by two unnamed college students. It was stolen from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church early Tuesday morning. Church surveillance video showed five young men getting out of two vehicles and removing the stone sculpture from the cross. The Rev. Ray Ackerman says the statue needs to be re-nailed to the display and that the church might “super glue the bolts this time.” He says the statue will be returned to the garden later this week. Ackerman says the church will not press charges against the thieves, but their college could discipline them. CHILD-CAR DEATH Boy left in car during church choir practice dies PHOENIX (AP) β Police in Phoenix say a three-year-old boy died a day after being left in a hot car for several hours while his mother and a family friend were in church for a choir practice. Officer James Holmes says a family friend had taken the boy and other children to a church where the friend and the child’s mother had choir practice late Saturday morning. The mother had arrived earlier. Holmes says Hayden Nelson was not discovered missing for three hours. By then, temperatures had reached the high 90s, and the child wasn’t breathing when he was found in the vehicle. The boy was hospitalized in extremely critical condition but died Sunday afternoon. Holmes says the case will be referred to prosecutors to decide whether to press charges.
