BAGHDAD PASTOR-JERUSALEM
Vicar of Baghdad says he’s barred from returning
JERUSALEM (AP) β Canon Andrew White, the vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, has told thousands of Christians in Jerusalem that he isn’t being allowed to return to Iraq.
White spoke Sunday at the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem’s celebration of Sukkot (soo-KOHT’), the biblical Feast of Tabernacles.
White says church officials and the British Foreign Office have told him that his love for Israel and the Islamic State group’s pressure on Baghdad make it too dangerous for him to resume pastoring there for now. He says they believe he would be killed if he returns to Iraq.
White’s remarks at the Jerusalem gathering were followed by a prayer for persecuted Christians in Iraq and Syria.
The Rev. Malcolm Hedding asked God to strengthen those facing martyrdom and to, in his words, “bring down this great principality of Islam, in the name of Jesus.”
Sound:
183-a-12-(The Reverend Malcolm Hedding, spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, praying at Christian Feast of Tabernacles gathering)-“name of Jesus (applause fades)”-The Reverend Malcolm Hedding, spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, asks God to defeat the Islamic State group. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (12 Oct 2014)
< 182-a-07-(The Reverend Malcolm Hedding, spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, praying at Christian Feast of Tabernacles gathering)-“Syria, upon Iraq”-The Reverend Malcolm Hedding, spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, asks God to bring peace to the wartorn Mideast. (12 Oct 2014) < 181-a-13-(Canon Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church of Baghdad, addressing Christian Feast of Tabernacles gathering)-“stand with Israel”-Canon Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church of Baghdad, says he isn’t afraid to return to Iraq. (12 Oct 2014) < 180-a-17-(Canon Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church of Baghdad, addressing Christian Feast of Tabernacles gathering)-“they’ll kill you”-Canon Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church of Baghdad, Anglican officials and the British Foreign Office won’t let him return to Iraq.((note length of cut; longer version of cut used in wrap)) (12 Oct 2014) < 179-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, and Malcolm Hedding, spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem)–Canon Andrew White, the vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, has told thousands of Christians in Jerusalem that he isn’t being allowed to return to Iraq. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (12 Oct 2014) < ELECTIONS-CHRISTIAN VOTERS Webcast urges Christians to vote biblical values WASHINGTON (AP) β A conservative Christian group says pastors and their congregations can’t afford to sit out next month’s elections. The Family Research Council hosted a Sunday evening webcast from its Washington headquarters to churches around the country. FRC President Tony Perkins urged Christians to vote for candidates who reflect biblical values on issues like abortion, marriage and religious freedom. He was joined by the Rev. Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, who urged pastors to use their pulpits to address moral issues. Scarborough said, “If the pastors remain silent, the country is going to fall off the cliff. We’re close now.” Sound: 218-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, and the Reverend Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America)–A conservative Christian group says pastors and their congregations can’t afford to sit out next month’s elections. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (12 Oct 2014) < 220-a-09-(The Reverend Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, in webcast to churches)-“to give up”-The Reverend Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, says pastors should use their pulpits to address moral issues. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (12 Oct 2014) < 219-a-15-(Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, in webcast to churches)-“the Christian vote”-Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, says Christians should vote based on more than a political party. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (12 Oct 2014) < BAPTIST CHURCH-GAY MARRIAGE Kentucky Baptists want gay-friendly church out LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β Kentucky Baptists will vote later this year on whether to sever ties with a Louisville member church that says it is open to performing gay marriages. A committee of the Kentucky Baptist Convention voted last Thursday to end its relationship with Crescent Hill Baptist Church. The Louisville church last year announced that sexual orientation and gender identity would not be a factor in hiring, ordinations or performing marriages. A statement from the state Baptist Convention says the Committee on Credentials found that Crescent Hill is no longer “in friendly cooperation” with Kentucky Baptists. Paul Chitwood, the Baptist Convention’s executive director, says the Louisville church has departed from biblical teachings and Baptist beliefs. The full convention will vote on whether to disassociate from Crescent Hill at its annual meeting Nov. 11. FOOTBALL TEAM-PRAYER Aberdeen Central ends pregame coach-led prayers ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) β South Dakota’s Aberdeen Central High School has ended coach-led prayers before football games after a complaint was filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. Foundation attorney Patrick Elliot told KSFY-TV that the prayers violated the U.S. Constitution. Players are still allowed to pray before games, but coaches are not allowed to join them. Local pastor Bob Myers says he thinks the rights of coaches are now being violated. He says, “I think as long as students initiate it, the coach has every right to express himself in that same way.” FOOTBALL PRAYER Del. school district questioned about team prayer LEWES, Del. (AP) β An atheist group is challenging a Delaware school district where it says a high school football coach joined players in a prayer after the game. The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the Cape Henlopen School District, saying Cape Henlopen football coach Bill Collick committed a constitutional violation by praying with his team. The foundation’s president says that a coach has to be religiously neutral while acting in an official capacity. WXDE-FM in Lewes (LOO’-ehs) reports that the school district did not return a call seeking comment. The Wisconsin-based foundation says it is committed to maintaining separation of church and state. MURDER EXONERATION Woman exonerated, freed after 17 years in prison TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) β A woman who spent 17 years in prison for the death of a homeless man is free after being exonerated by a Los Angeles County judge. Susan Mellen was released Friday evening from a Torrance courthouse. She told reporters that she always had faith that God would free her, but added that God had used her in jail to lead other inmates to faith. The 59-year-old Mellen’s conviction was overturned Friday by a judge who said he was convinced of her innocence. Mellen was convicted of the 1997 murder of a homeless man based solely on witness testimony β and a woman who claimed she heard Mellen confess had a history of giving false tips to authorities. Sound: 254-a-09-(Susan Mellen, woman exonerated after serving 17 years in prison, at news conference)-“fought for me”-Susan Mellen, who served 17 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, says she spent some difficult days behind bars. (12 Oct 2014) < 252-q-16-(Susan Mellen, woman exonerated after serving 17 years in prison, at news conference)-“reverse my destiny”-Susan Mellen, who who served 17 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, was asked if she was confident that she would walk out of prison one day. (12 Oct 2014) < 255-a-06-(Susan Mellen, woman exonerated after serving 17 years in prison, at news conference)-“get me through”-Susan Mellen, who served 17 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, says her faith helped her stay strong. (12 Oct 2014) < 256-q-07-(Susan Mellen, woman exonerated after serving 17 years in prison, at news conference)-“everybody say yes (crowd cheers fade)”-Susan Mellen, who served 17 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, was asked if there’s anything she’s nervous about. (12 Oct 2014) < 253-a-15-(Susan Mellen, woman exonerated after serving 17 years in prison, at news conference)-“free woman now”-Susan Mellen, who who served 17 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, says God had a purpose for her in prison. (L-WOP is life in prison without possibility of parole) (12 Oct 2014) < FAITH-BASED SERVICES OFFICE Cuomo wants to create faith-based services agency ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) β New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he wants to create a new state Office of Faith-Based Community Services. The Democratic governor announced his plan in Harlem during remarks to a convention of the United Missionary Baptist Association. The agency would help religious organizations and houses of worship find grant funding. It would also help religious groups work with government agencies to coordinate social services, and work with state economic development officials to “encourage the development of faith-based businesses.” Cuomo, a Democrat, says churches and other faith-based groups are valuable and trusted providers of community services. He says the state needs to do more for them. The governor faces Republican Rob Astorino in next month’s election. GAY MARRIAGE-MORMONS Some Mormons pushing church on gay marriage SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β Court decisions paving the way for same-sex marriage in dozens of states, including Mormon strongholds like Utah, Idaho and Nevada, have emboldened Latter-day Saints who have been pushing the conservative church to become more accepting of gay members. The church’s stance toward gays has softened considerably since it was one of the leading forces behind California’s ban on gay marriage in 2008, but high-ranking leaders have reiterated time and again the faith’s opposition to same-sex unions. Some Mormons hope to change that, or at least work to make congregations more welcoming places for gays and lesbians. They are optimistic that same-sex couples will become more visible, active members of their communities, allowing a wider swath of Mormons to get to know them. VATICAN-CANADA Pope says Mass for 2 Canadian saints VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has held a Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of two 17th-century missionaries who spread Roman Catholicism through what is today Canada. Francis said in his homily Sunday that Saint Francis de Laval and Saint Marie of the Incarnation spread their faith “to the smallest and most remote.” The two missionaries were elevated to sainthood in April. During his traditional Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Square, the pope also welcomed Canadian pilgrims who had traveled to Rome. Saint Francis de Laval was the first bishop of New France and was known for his efforts to protect Native Americans from exploitation. Saint Marie of the Incarnation was a nun who founded a convent and school providing equal education to the daughters of French settlers and Native Americans. EGYPT-COPTIC CHURCH Egypt completes restoration of famed Coptic church CAIRO (AP) β After 16 years, Egypt has completed the restoration of a famous Cairo landmark β the St. Virgin Mary’s Coptic Church, also known as the Hanging Church. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and the country’s Coptic Christian pope, Tawadros II, attended Saturday’s ceremony marking the end of the $5.4 million restoration project. The Hanging Church, one of the country’s oldest, owes the nickname to the fact that it rests above a gatehouse of a 2nd century Roman fortress. It was the seat of the Coptic pope from the 7th to the 13th century. Mahlab says the restoration took long because of “engineering challenges” in dealing with underground waters that threatened the area’s antiquities. It lies in a complex that houses one of the oldest synagogues and the first mosque built in Cairo. CHINA-CULT MURDER China sentences 2 to death for cult-related murder BEIJING (AP) β A Chinese court has sentenced two people to death and another woman to life imprisonment for beating a woman to death in a McDonald’s outlet after they unsuccessfully tried to recruit her into their religious cult. The Yantai Intermediate People’s Court in eastern China announced the verdicts Saturday, weeks into the trial of Zhang Fan, Zhang Lidong, Lu Yingchun and two others on murder charges. The other two were jailed to 10 and seven years respectively. The court said the five people murdered the woman one evening in May after she refused to give them her number so they can recruit new members for their “all-powerful spirit” cult. The cult claims Jesus has been resurrected as a Chinese woman.
