EVANGELICALS-GAY MARRIAGE
Southern Baptists tell pastors: hold line on gays
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β More than a thousand evangelicals who believe gay sex is sinful are attending a conference hosted by the Southern Baptist Convention.
At the three-day conference, called “The Gospel, Homosexuality and the Future of Marriage,” Southern Baptist leaders have sought to express their views in a way that’s humble and compassionate, but rooted in the belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
The Rev. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said gay marriage is a “rejection of God’s law.” But Mohler and the Rev. Russell Moore, who heads the denomination’s public policy arm, also said they don’t believe people can necessarily eliminate same-sex attraction.
Moore added that Southern Baptists do not support “reparative therapy” for gays based on psychological counseling. But he said the denomination believes biblical teaching can help people live chastely while being attracted to people of the same gender.
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221-a-05-(The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressing evangelical conference on marriage and homosexuality)-“we do now?”-The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says faithful Christians are wondering how to cope with the moral revolution. (28 Oct 2014)
< 220-a-08-(The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressing evangelical conference on marriage and homosexuality)-“against the gospel”-The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says faithful Christians can’t change what the Bible teaches. (28 Oct 2014) < 217-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)–More than a thousand evangelicals who believe gay sex is sinful are attending a conference hosted by the Southern Baptist Convention. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (28 Oct 2014) < 219-a-07-(The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressing evangelical conference on marriage and homosexuality)-“dismissed as homophobia”-The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says behavior that once was condemned is now celebrated. (28 Oct 2014) < 218-a-13-(The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressing evangelical conference on marriage and homosexuality)-“has the church”-The Reverend Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says there has been a revolution in morals. (28 Oct 2014) < EBOLA-US Ebola nurse on defensive gets call from Obama ATLANTA (AP) β A nurse who fueled Ebola fears by flying to Cleveland after being infected by her dying patient is thanking God and her caregivers for her recovery. Amber Vinson was released Tuesday from an isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. She said, “With God, all things are possible.” Vinson’s trip home to join her bridesmaids for wedding preparations was one of several moves by doctors and nurses that could have exposed others in the United States. In Ohio alone, 163 people were still being monitored Tuesday because of contact or potential contact with Vinson in a bridal shop and on the airplanes she used. Vinson arrived in Dallas on Tuesday evening, after tests showed she is now free of the virus. Vinson didn’t take any questions at Emory. Instead she read a statement thanking God, her doctors and people who prayed for her and her family. She also thanked missionaries Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly for donating blood plasma to her and others after their recovery from Ebola. Sound: 168-a-06-(Dr. Bruce Ribner, medical director, Serious Communicable Disease Unit, Emory University Hospital, at news conference)-“Emory University Hospital”-Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Bruce Ribner of Emory University Hospital says Amber Vinson can go home. (28 Oct 2014) < 170-a-11-(Dr. Bruce Ribner, medical director, Serious Communicable Disease Unit, Emory University Hospital, at news conference)-“Ebola virus infection”-Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Bruce Ribner of Emory University Hospital says the outcome of cases such as that of Amber Vinson shows the U.S. health care system can successfully and safely treat Ebola patients. (28 Oct 2014) < 171-a-09-(Amber Vinson, nurse treated for Ebola at Emory University Hospital after being infected by Ebola patient in Dallas, at news conference)-“things are possible”-Amber Vinson, a nurse treated for Ebola at Emory University Hospital after being infected by an Ebola patient in Dallas, says she feels a divine influence played a role in her recovery. (28 Oct 2014) < 169-a-16-(Dr. Bruce Ribner, medical director, Serious Communicable Disease Unit, Emory University Hospital, at news conference)-“any other individuals”-Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Bruce Ribner of Emory University Hospital says tests have found that Amber Vinson is free of the Ebola virus. (28 Oct 2014) < 172-a-10-(Amber Vinson, nurse treated for Ebola at Emory University Hospital after being infected by Ebola patient in Dallas, at news conference)-“in West Africa”-Amber Vinson, a nurse treated for Ebola at Emory University Hospital after being infected by an Ebola patient in Dallas, says the world must remain focused on the victims of the Ebola epidemic. (28 Oct 2014) < 173-a-12-(Amber Vinson, nurse treated for Ebola at Emory University Hospital after being infected by Ebola patient in Dallas, at news conference)-“warmth and care”-Amber Vinson, a nurse treated for Ebola at Emory University Hospital after being infected by an Ebola patient in Dallas, expresses her gratitude to all the health care professionals involved in her care and treatment. (28 Oct 2014) < 038-a-15-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference Monday)-“treat Ebola patients”-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the administration is concerned that blanket Ebola quarantines here will discourage American health workers from doing vital work in Africa where the disease is raging. (28 Oct 2014) < 053-a-17-(Dr. Tom Frieden, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Ebola teleconference Monday)-“isolated and treated”-CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden says health workers treating patients in West Africa know better than anyone how important it is to get early treatment and remain isolated if warranted. ((note length of cut)) (28 Oct 2014) < 039-a-08-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference Monday)-“or three days”-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says nurse Kaci Hickox, who has been released from quarantine in New Jersey, should not have been confined to a hospital on her return from West Africa. (28 Oct 2014) < PITTSYLVANIA PRAYER Appeals court hears county board prayer case RICHMOND, Va. (AP) β A federal appeals court in Virginia Is set to hear arguments over the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ practice of opening meetings with a prayer. The county is appealing a judge’s ruling last year barring the board from opening meetings with prayers associated with a specific religion. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in Richmond. Pittsylvania resident Barbara Hudson filed the lawsuit in 2011, claiming the Christian invocations violate the Constitution’s prohibition against government establishment of a religion. According to court records, the board has a 200-year tradition of allowing members to open meetings with prayers that sometimes mention Jesus Christ. The county argues that the Supreme Court has upheld such traditions as long as prayer isn’t used to proselytize or to disparage any faith. SCHOOL BOARD PRAYER Pickens school board takes no action on prayer EASLEY, S.C. (AP) β A South Carolina school board has set aside a vote on a policy approving prayer at its meetings. Multiple media outlets reported that the Pickens County School Board voted four to two against proceeding with a new policy it approved last month that would have let ministers take turns praying before the school board meetings. The decision not to vote for the policy Monday came following an opinion from its attorney. Trustee Jim Shelton says the board is not rejecting prayer at its meetings, but needs more time to study the issue. After the decision to delay the policy, Shem Durham, pastor of Cannon Mountain Baptist Church in Pickens, told The Greenville News he thought the board was failing to uphold a constitutional right. He said, “Our Constitution gives us the right to pray in Jesus’ name” VATICAN-POOR Pope delivers mini-encyclical on poor, environment VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has delivered an off-the-cuff, mini-encyclical on the poor, labor injustices and the environment, saying he’s not preaching communism but the Gospel. Francis’ remarks to the World Meeting of Popular Movements, delivered Tuesday in his native Spanish, ran for more than six pages, single-spaced. It was one of his longest speeches yet and a clear sign that the issues are particularly close to his heart. Francis said the poor need land, a roof over their head and work, and said he knew well that “some will think that if I talk about this, the pope is communist.” He said: “They don’t understand that love for the poor is at the center of the Gospel. Demanding this isn’t unusual, it’s the social doctrine of the church.” PRIEST ABUSE-APPEALS Pa. priest, ex-teacher appeal abuse verdicts PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Lawyers for a priest and former Catholic school teacher have argued to a Pennsylvania appeals court that their clients were wrongly convicted of child sexual assault. The Philadelphia case is linked to that of Monsignor William Lynn, the first U.S. church official ever prosecuted over his handling of abuse complaints. Lynn has been granted bail while he appeals his child-endangerment conviction. Now two of his co-defendants are appealing their convictions. They involve the same accuser. Lawyers for the Rev. Charles Engelhard and former teacher Bernard Shero say they have new evidence about the accuser and a key witness who corroborated some of his story. Shero’s lawyer, Burton Rose, says the Superior Court heard arguments Tuesday without ruling. Engelhardt is serving six to 12 years and Shero eight to 15 years. PRIESTS DEFROCKED-OHIO 3 priests accused of sexual misconduct defrocked CINCINNATI (AP) β The Cincinnati Archdiocese says three of its priests who were put on administrative leave years ago after allegations of improper behavior with minors have been defrocked by Vatican officials. The archdiocese said Tuesday that Thomas Kuhn, Thomas Feldhaus and Ronald Cooper are permanently removed from the priesthood. They had served as priests in southwest Ohio, but were barred from performing priestly acts while on leave. Thomas Kuhn was put on leave in 2002 and later convicted of misdemeanor charges including public indecency. He served 30 days in jail for violating his probation. The other two were put on leave at least a decade ago after allegations of touching children years earlier. An archdiocese spokesman says they weren’t charged. The archdiocese wouldn’t provide the priests’ contact information and no public listings were found. PASTOR ARRESTED-PROSTITUTION Texas pastor resigns after prostitution arrest AMARILLO, Texas (AP) β Officials say a pastor at a Texas Panhandle church has resigned after being arrested on a prostitution charge. The Potter County Sheriff’s Office says Cameron Tate Reeves was arrested on the misdemeanor charge at an Amarillo motel on Thursday. The Amarillo Globe-News reports that the 34-year-old Reeves was a pastor at Hillside Christian Church’s campus in the town of Canyon, where he had served since 2009. Canyon is located about 20 miles south of Amarillo. Reeves was released from jail after posting a $1,000 bond. Jail records did not list an attorney for him. In a statement, Hillside Christian Church said that Reeves had turned in his resignation and that the church was “saddened by this situation.” WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS-DALLAS 2 men free on bond in 1999 Dallas killing DALLAS (AP) β Two men serving life sentences for the death of a south Dallas pastor 15 years ago have been freed on bond after the Dallas County district attorney’s office said they were wrongfully convicted based on prosecutorial misconduct. Dennis Lee Allen, 42, and Stanley Orson Mozee, 55, both convicted in the 1999 slaying of the Rev. Jesse Borns Jr., must now wait for rulings from an appeals court and new trial dates. The men have said before that they are not guilty. Allen says his freedom feels like “heaven.” The Innocence Project took up their case and sought a new trial. The group said a prosecutor was able to get witness testimony from some people in jails in exchange for reductions in their sentences. More than 30 men wrongfully convicted in Dallas have been freed in the last decade. DALAI LAMA-PRINCETON Thousands attend Dalai Lama event at Princeton PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) β Large crowds of supporters and opponents have greeted the Dalai Lama at Princeton University. The Tibetan Buddhist leader stressed the importance of education and compassion during a talk Tuesday at the Ivy League school. He also urged his audience to more seriously consider the “oneness of humanity,” instead of focusing on the differences between people. A crowd estimated at about 4,300 people attended the lecture in the university’s gym. Outside the event, hundreds of protesters demonstrated against the Dalai Lama. The group included members of the International Shugden Community, who claim the Dalai Lama has discriminated against them and hindered them from practicing their religion. ISRAEL-CULT LEADER Court sentences Israeli cult leader to 30 years JERUSALEM (AP) β An Israeli court has sentenced a convicted polygamist and cult leader to a 30-year prison sentence. Goel Ratzon was found guilty of rape, incest and other offenses in September, but was acquitted of enslavement charges. He was sentenced Tuesday in Tel Aviv District Court. The case shocked Israelis when details of the cult emerged in 2010. Ratzon kept at least 21 “wives,” some of whom tattooed his name on their bodies along with images of the short 64 year old with long white hair and beard. The children they bore him were named after variations of his first name Goel, or “savior” in Hebrew.
