GAY MARRIAGE-METHODISTS
Pastor who performed gay marriage keeps ordination
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β A Methodist pastor who was disciplined after he officiated at the wedding of his gay son will be allowed to remain an ordained minister.
The Judicial Council of the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination ruled Monday that a Pennsylvania church jury was wrong to defrock Frank Schaefer last year after he would not promise never to perform another gay marriage.
The council ruled on technical grounds and did not express support for gay marriage in general. Although the United Methodist Church has welcomed gay and lesbian members, the church’s Book of Discipline rejects sex outside of heterosexual marriage as “incompatible with Christian teaching.”
Since his church trial, Schaefer has become a gay rights activist, galvanizing other Methodists who support full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church.
John Lomperis (lahm-PAYR’-is), director of the conservative group United Methodist Action, says “This episode follows a long pattern of conservative United Methodists bending over backwards to be gracious to church-killing radicals,” who he says “abuse the grace they are offered to selfishly hurt the church.”
Sound:
210-c-15-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“hurt the church”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that conservative Methodists are expressing disappointment over what they regard as a failure to uphold church doctrine. (27 Oct 2014)
< 209-v-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–A Methodist pastor who was disciplined after he officiated at the wedding of his gay son will be allowed to remain an ordained minister. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (27 Oct 2014) < IMMIGRATION-SANCTUARY-DENVER CHURCH Mexican claiming sanctuary in church seeks amnesty DENVER (AP) β A Mexican man who has been living in a Denver church basement to avoid deportation says he is prepared to stay as long as it takes to gain the freedom to live in the U.S. Arturo Hernandez, who is a contractor, has been granted sanctuary at the First Unitarian Society of Denver. Immigration officials say they do not pursue people wanted for immigration violations into sensitive areas like churches unless they have committed serious crimes. Hernandez said the United States should welcome people willing to work hard, even if they are in this country illegally. Hernandez acknowledges he got into a scrape with another contractor while laying floor tile. He was arrested and then acquitted when he went to trial. The deportation order came after his arrest, and he was ordered expelled from the country earlier this month. Hernandez left his wife and two children and moved into the church basement Tuesday. His family comes to visit almost every day. Sound: 236-a-06-(Mike Morran, pastor, First Unitarian Church of Denver, in AP interview)-“to hide anything”-Mike Morran, pastor of First Unitarian Church of Denver, says his church is providing sanctuary to a Mexican who faces deportation. (27 Oct 2014) < 237-a-12-(Mike Morran, pastor, First Unitarian Church of Denver, in AP interview)-“where he’s living”-Mike Morran, pastor of First Unitarian Church of Denver, says his church isn’t trying to hide what it’s doing. (27 Oct 2014) < 238-a-07-(Arturo Hernandez, Mexican living in Denver church to avoid deportation, in AP interview)-“persona de ICE”-Arturo Hernandez, a Mexican living in a Denver church to avoid deportation, says in Spanish: “It is God who can fix my life. I don’t depend only on a decision by a person at ICE.” (ICE is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) (27 Oct 2014) < 182-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Kate Burns, member, First Unitarian Society of Denver)–A Mexican man who is living in a Denver church basement has claimed sanctuary to avoid deportation. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (26 Oct 2014) < 180-a-11-(Kate Burns, member, First Unitarian Society of Denver, at Sunday service)-“the immediate future”-Kate Burns, a member of the First Unitarian Society of Denver, says a Mexican man who is living in the church basement has claimed sanctuary to avoid deportation. (26 Oct 2014) < 181-a-17-(Kate Burns, member, First Unitarian Society of Denver, at Sunday service)-“destructive immigration system”-Kate Burns, a member of the First Unitarian Society of Denver, says the church is offering sanctuary to a Mexican man who is now living in the church basement. (26 Oct 2014) < SAME-SEX BENEFITS-CREIGHTON Creighton University to offer same-sex benefits OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β Creighton University will soon begin offering health benefits to legally married same-sex spouses of its employees despite the objections of the local Catholic archbishop. Creighton President Rev. Timothy Lannon announced the change Monday. He said 21 of the 28 Jesuit universities already offer similar benefits. The Omaha World-Herald first reported the policy change. Lannon says Creighton continues to support the Catholic Church’s teaching about marriage. But Lannon says the university is taking this step to meet the needs of its employees and remain competitive with other universities that already offer similar benefits. VALLEY CITY CHURCH FIRE People accused of torching ND church sentenced VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) β Two people accused of torching a church in Valley City, North Dakota, to cover up a break-in have been sentenced. KOVC-AM reports that Andrew Miklas has been ordered to spend over 8 years in prison and pay more than $7,400 in restitution. Co-defendant Nicole Lindermann earlier was sentenced to 1 year in prison, with all days suspended. Miklas and Lindermann had pleaded guilty to a number of charges in connection with the October 2013 incident at Faith Lutheran Church. Barnes County State’s Attorney Carl Martineck has said Lindermann told authorities that Miklas broke into the church and stole cash and three bottles of wine. He later returned to the church with a can filled with paint thinner and started three separate fires. The fire caused an estimated $2.5 million in damage. ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-HOLY SITE Palestinian leader visits disputed Jerusalem holy site JERUSALEM (AP) β The Palestinian prime minister has paid a rare visit to a key Jerusalem holy site in a bid to bolster Palestinian claims to the area. Rami Hamdallah’s visit to the Dome of the Rock on Monday came at a time of rising tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in east Jerusalem. The Islamic shrine in Jerusalem’s Old City is located on a hilltop that was one the site of the biblical Jewish temples. It is a frequent flashpoint of violence. Yehuda Glick, director of the Temple Institute, a group of Jews claiming the right to pray freely at the site, says they expect the Israeli police and government to protect Jewish pilgrims wishing to pray at the holy site. Yitzhak Aharonovich, Israeli minister of internal security, said access to the site had been discussed at the Knesset, but there would be no change to the status quo. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967, as their capital. Sound: 224-a-10-(Yehuda Glick, director of the Temple Institute, in AP interview)-“of protecting them”-Yehuda Glick, director of the Temple Institute, says Jews should be allowed to pray at the site of the biblical Jewish temples. (27 Oct 2014) < 225-a-08-(Yehuda Glick, director of the Temple Institute, in AP interview)-“kind of violence”-Yehuda Glick, director of the Temple Institute, says Jewish visitors to the temple mount deserve protection from Palestinian protesters. (27 Oct 2014) < VATICAN-TWO POPES Francis praises Benedict amid church divisions VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has hailed the papacy of retired Pope Benedict XVI following a meeting of bishops that exposed divisions between progressive Catholics who back Francis’ call for a more merciful church and conservatives who value Benedict’s emphasis on doctrine. Francis unveiled a bronze bust of Benedict on Monday in the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences. The bust features the retired pope wearing an embroidered papal stole, an example of the elaborate liturgical dress that the tradition-minded Benedict favored. Francis called Benedict a “great pope,” praising his teaching, theological contributions, devotion to the church and current “monastic life” in retirement. Francis has gone out of his way to embrace Benedict even as he steers the church on a different course. CUBA-NEW CHURCH Cuba builds first new church in 55 years HAVANA (AP) β Catholic church officials say Cuba has allowed construction of the country’s first new Catholic church in 55 years. Experts say it’s a sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Cuba’s communist government. The church is being funded by donations from Catholics in Tampa, Florida, and will be built in the town of Sandino in the western province of Pinar del Rio. The church publication “Christian Life” says it will have space for 200 people. The Cuban Catholic Church had tense relations with the government for many years after the 1959 revolution, but relations have been slowly improving in recent years. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI visited Cuba, the government recognized a Christmas holiday and began allowing masses or homilies to be broadcast on official media. NIGERIA-KIDNAPPED GIRLS Dozens more girls abducted by Nigerian extremists MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) β Escaping residents report dozens more girls and young women have been abducted by Islamic extremists in northeast Nigeria, raising doubts about an announced cease-fire and hopes for the release of 219 schoolgirls held captive since April. The residents say about 30 teenage girls and boys have been kidnapped in recent days from villages 25 miles from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri. Another 40 girls and young women were abducted from neighboring Adamawa state on Oct. 18, the day after Nigeria’s military announced a cease-fire agreement with Boko Haram insurgents. Human Rights Watch says in a new report Monday that more than 500 girls and women have been kidnapped by Boko Haram since 2009. It quotes escapees saying they are forced to become Muslim, forced into marriage and raped. Sound: 156-c-19-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ FAWL), AP correspondent)-“than 200 schoolgirls”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports recent cause for optimism over the fate of kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria has been dashed. (27 Oct 2014) < 158-c-19-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ FAWL), AP correspondent)-“over my mind”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports Human Rights Watch interviews with kidnap survivors and escapees indicate such girls and young women are receiving little assistance upon return to their families. (27 Oct 2014) < 159-c-14-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ FAWL), AP correspondent)-“who’ve been kidnapped”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports the Nigerian government has little credibility when it comes to its fight against Boko Haram. (27 Oct 2014) < 157-c-12-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ FAWL), AP correspondent)-“instead attacks, abductions”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports the Nigerian government’s credibility regarding its fight, and alleged truce with the militant group is at risk. (27 Oct 2014) < ISLAMIC STATE-MEDIA WAR US official urges allies to combat IS ideology KUWAIT CITY (AP) β The United States is pressing Arab nations and other allies to do more to counter the Islamic State group’s slick propaganda campaign, with a top American envoy on Monday describing efforts to combat the extremist messages as a vital pillar in the fight to defeat the group. The Islamic State group that has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and declared a self-styled caliphate, or Islamic empire, in areas under its control embraces social media platforms such as Twitter and YouTube. Hollywood-style film clips and other elements of its media campaign boost the group’s credibility among disaffected but plugged-in young Muslims and help promote its conquests, inspire sympathizers and attract new recruits. Speaking at a gathering of anti-IS coalition partners in the oil-rich Gulf nation of Kuwait, retired U.S. Gen. John Allen said it is up to all members of the alliance to “clearly, forcefully and consistently” reject the group’s ideology and offer alternatives to it. Sound: 160-a-14-(Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, with reporters after meeting with Egypt’s finance minister)-“sources of support”-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew says Islamic State militants are receiving funding from sources that are difficult to track and stop. (27 Oct 2014) < 161-a-15-(Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, with reporters after meeting with Egypt’s finance minister)-“to flow in”-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew says coalition partners must effectively turn off the funding tap for “the violence and the instability that the Islamic State is causing.” (27 Oct 2014) < 153-a-18-(Retired General John Allen, former top commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, special envoy for coalition to counter Islamic State militants, in address to meeting of Western and Arab partners)-“and national norms”-Retired General John Allen, the former top commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, now a special envoy for the coalition to counter the Islamic State group, says those militants try to portray themselves as the true leaders of Islam. ((note cut length)) (27 Oct 2014) < 152-a-12-(Retired General John Allen, former top commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, special envoy for coalition to counter Islamic State militants, in address to meeting of Western and Arab partners)-“radicalizes foreign fighters”-Retired General John Allen, the former top commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, now a special envoy for the coalition to counter the Islamic State group, says those militants present themselves, online, as the “true and victorious representatives of Islam.” (27 Oct 2014) < AUSTRALIA-FACE VEILS Trio test Australian Parliament’s face veil rules CANBERRA, Australia (AP) β Three men who attempted to enter Australia’s Parliament House wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood, a niqab and a motorcycle helmet say they were unfairly treated under new regulations regarding Muslim face veils. The men want Muslim veils that cover the face banned from the nation’s seat of government and said their stunt Monday exposed inequality in the security system that allows visitors to be so dressed. The three Sydney residents were eventually allowed inside the building, but not with their headwear. The Department of Parliamentary Services said in a statement that “protest paraphernalia” was not permitted inside Parliament House. It also said there has been a longstanding ban on helmets for security reasons.
