POPE VISIT
Pope visits Turkey amid Christian-Muslim tensions
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis travels to Turkey this weekend. He is expected to tread lightly during his three-day visit, sensitive to the delicate diplomatic tensions at play between Turkey and the international coalition fighting the Islamic State.
But Vatican officials say he will not shy from denouncing violence in God’s name and voicing concern for Christians being targeted by the extremists. Remarkably, though, Francis will not meet with any groups of refugees as he has done on previous trips to the region, a clear sign of the Vatican’s unwillingness to wade too deeply into the conflict.
Yet there are some fresh issues with Francis. In September, the head of the government-run Religious Affairs Directorate and Turkey’s top cleric called on Francis to take action to stem attacks on mosques in Europe, saying that as many as 70 Muslim places of worship were attacked in Germany this year, compared to 36 last year.
The two men are to meet on Friday in private.
IRANIAN JEWS’ LOT IMPROVES
Once maligned, Iran’s Jews find greater acceptance
YAZD, Iran (AP) — More than a thousand people trekked across Iran this past week to visit a shrine in this ancient Persian city, a pilgrimage like many others in the Islamic Republic — until you notice men there wearing yarmulkes.
Iran, a home for Jews for more than 3,000 years, has the Middle East’s largest Jewish population outside of Israel, a perennial foe of the country. But while Iran’s Jews in recent years had their faith continually criticized by the country’s previous governments, they’ve found new acceptance under moderate President Hassan Rouhani.
Most of Iran’s 77 million people are Shiite Muslims and its ruling establishment is led by hard-line clerics who preach a strict version of Islam. Many Jews fled the country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Jews linked to Israel afterward were targeted. Today, estimates suggest some 20,000 Jews remain in the country.
Tensions grew under Ahmadinejad, who repeatedly called the Holocaust “a myth” and even sponsored an international conference in 2006 to debate whether the World War II genocide of Jews took place. Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi once accused Jews as whole of being drug dealers.
But since Rouhani took office last year, Jews say they have been heartened by the support they’ve received.
POLITICIANS GIVE THANKS
Weekly Addresses Take On Thanksgiving Theme
WASHINGTON (AP) — The addresses that usually take place on Saturdays, were moved ahead this week. They were put out on Thursday and they took advantage of the holiday to take on a Thanksgiving Theme. President Barack Obama says Thanksgiving is one of his favorite holidays because it is so uniquely American. He says it gives Americans a special day to reflect on what they are grateful for and to five back to the community. He praised Americans who strive to make things better for the less fortunate by working for “those who are less fortunate and lifting up those who have fallen on hard times.”
Arkansas Senator-elect Tom Cotton gave the Republican address. He said one thing that Thanksgivings throughout history have in common is “gratitude for the blessings of the beneficent and loving Lord.”
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146-w-34-(Shirley Smith, AP correspondent, with President Barack Obama and Republican Senator-elect Tom Cotton of Arkansas)–We have the usual Saturday political addresses a couple of days early, with both President Obama and the Republicans making note of Thanksgiving. AP correspondent Shirley Smith reports. (27 Nov 2014)
< 134-a-14-(President Barack Obama, in weekly address)-“of this nation”-In his weekly address President Barack Obama wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving. (27 Nov 2014) < 136-a-12-(President Barack Obama, in weekly address)-“ours to shape”-In his weekly address President Barack Obama says he likes Thanksgiving because it is a uniquely American holiday. (27 Nov 2014) < 135-a-08-(President Barack Obama, in weekly address)-“care of us”-In his weekly address President Barack Obama says he is thankful for those who serve their country in the military. (27 Nov 2014) < 137-a-15-(Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Senator-elect, in weekly Republican address)-“survived but thrived”-Arkansas Senator-elect Tom Cotton, in the Republican address, says Thanksgiving is a time to realize that we can overcome challenges. (27 Nov 2014) < 139-a-15-(Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Senator-elect, in weekly Republican address)-“sisters in arms”-Arkansas Senator-elect Tom Cotton, in the Republican address, says our troops have two families — the ones they were born into and the ones they form with their fellow military men and women. (27 Nov 2014) < 138-a-12-(Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Senator-elect, in weekly Republican address)-“and faithful service”-Arkansas Senator-elect Tom Cotton, in the Republican address, says we should remember our military men and women this Thanksgiving. (27 Nov 2014) < CHRISTIAN PARENTS-GAYS Evangelical parents question demonization of gay children HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) – Rob and Linda Robertson did what they believed was expected of them as good Christians. When their 12-year-old son Ryan said he was gay, they told him they loved him, but he had to change. He entered “reparative therapy,” met regularly with his pastor and immersed himself in Bible study and his church youth group. After six years, nothing changed. A despondent Ryan cut off from his parents and his faith, started taking drugs and in 2009, died of an overdose. The tragedy could have easily driven the Robertsons from the church. But instead of breaking with evangelicalism they are staying in the church and, in protesting what they see as the demonization of their sons and daughters, presenting a new challenge to Christian leaders trying to hold off growing acceptance of same-sex relationships. It’s not clear how much of an impact these parents can have. Evangelicals tend to dismiss fellow believers who accept same-sex relationships as no longer Christian. The parents have only recently started finding each other online and through faith-oriented organizations for gays and lesbians such as the Gay Christian Network, The Reformation Project and The Marin Foundation. BLESS FRIDAY Churches try to change the Black Friday image HOUSTON (AP) – While millions of people brave the traditional shopping frenzy leading up to Christmas, some others say they have an alternative. They say they are replacing Black Friday with Bless Friday. Houston and Seattle area churches are using the day after Thanksgiving as an opportunity to provide service to the needy. Chuck Fox, who founded Bless Friday four years ago, says “God didn’t send his only son so that we would have a shopping spree.” Churches will be using the day on community service projects, helping the homeless, manning the food kitchens, picking up trash at local parks and taking part in other projects that they think will remind people of the true message of Christmas. SOUND: 288-a-19-(Chuck Fox, founder Bless Friday, in AP interview)-“and the gospel”-Chuck Fox, who founded Bless Friday, says churches are taking part in Bless Friday in several different ways. ((note length of cut)) (27 Nov 2014) < 289-a-09-(Chuck Fox, founder Bless Friday, in AP interview)-“a shopping spree”-Chuck Fox, who founded Bless Friday, says people have been spending the days leading up to Christmas in the wrong ways. (27 Nov 2014) < 287-a-13-(Chuck Fox, founder of Bless Friday, in AP interview)-“day of service”-Chuck Fox, who founded Bless Friday, says the idea is to take the focus off the Black Friday shopping frenzy and place it on something more in line with the true spirit of Christmas. (27 Nov 2014) < 290-a-15-(Chuck Fox, founder Bless Friday, in AP interview)-“that honors Christ”-Chuck Fox, who founded Bless Friday, says the idea is to put Christ back in Christmas. (27 Nov 2014) < SHOEBOX CHRISTMAS Organization hopes to send 10,000,000 gift-filled shoeboxes to children BOONE, N.C. (AP) – Operation Christmas Child says it’s hoping to send out 10 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children all over the world. That includes 60,000 boxes earmarked for special delivery to Kurdish controlled regions in northern Iraq. Those recipients will be Iraqi and Syrian children who are now living in refugee camps. While a Christian organization is behind the charity, Domestic Assistant Director Rachael Mills says the children can be of any faith. She says “they don’t celebrate Christmas necessarily, but we want to send a gift and just let them know that they are not forgotten.” The boxes contain toys, school supplies, small clothing items and hygiene articles such as toothbrushes, soap, combs and the like. Organizers say that people could still donate “virtual” boxes by checking in with Operation Christmas Child online. SOUND: 284-a-16-(Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, in AP interview)-“hope and joy”-Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, says there are so many wonderful stories of how the gift-filled shoeboxes have helped people. (27 Nov 2014) < 282-a-14-(Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, in AP interview)-“in northern Iraq”-Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, says her organization hopes to send out 10 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children all over the world — including as many as 60,000 to Iraq. (27 Nov 2014) < 285-a-12-(Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, in AP interview)-“the first time”-Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, says in one case a boy’s shoebox gift allowed him to go to school. (27 Nov 2014) < 286-a-09-(Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, in AP interview)-“and hygene items”-Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, says the goal this year is to send out 10 million gift-boxes to needy children all over the world. (27 Nov 2014) < 283-a-09-(Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, in AP interview)-“bring some joy”-Rachael Mills, domestic assistant director Operation Christmas Child, says it doesn’t matter if the children are Christian or of another faith. (27 Nov 2014) < COMMUNITY HELPS FIRE VICTIMS Displaced Ohio residents see community and church support MANSFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Owners and managers of a north-central Ohio apartment complex say community support has been overwhelming after a fire left dozens of residents displaced last week. The Mansfield News Journal reports residents in Mansfield have donated furniture, clothes, bedding and other items after a large fire at an apartment complex on Nov. 20 left more than 50 residents displaced. Apartment owners say they’ve received so many donations that they almost don’t have enough room. An anonymous donor also provided supplies for a Thanksgiving dinner for each family displaced, and a church is adopting residents as they get back on their feet. Fire officials said no residents or firefighters were injured, but the apartment building was a total loss. Authorities were investigating whether a furnace caused the fire. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY VIEWING TV Offering More Christmas-Themed Movies GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – If you are looking for faith friendly entertainment this Christmas season, you may do better turning on the TV set. A religious rating service says there are fewer movies meet its criteria in the theaters this season, but more on television. Dick Rolfe, CEO of the Dove Foundation, which began rating movies because he said he couldn’t trust the Motion picture ratings of G, PG, PG-13 and R, says there are virtually no new Christmas themed movies in the theaters this season. But he says there are quite a few on TV. Rolfe says he attributes that increase in faith and family friendly holiday movies to the increasing number of specialized channels on cable TV. He also says some families find it easier to gather around the TV set than to pack everyone into a car and head out to a theater. SOUND: 291-a-16-(Dick Rolfe, co-founder and CEO, Dove Foundation, in AP interview)-“a local theater”-Dove Foundation CEO Dick Rolfe says there are an increasing number of faith and family-friendly Christmas-theme movies on TV, but there are other reasons why people stay home. (27 Nov 2014) < 292-a-15-(Dick Rolfe, co-founder and CEO, Dove Foundation, in AP interview)-“uplifting and encouraging”-Dove Foundation CEO Dick Rolfe says there’s a dirth of faith and family-friendly Christmas movies on in the theaters this year, but there’s an increase in them on TV. (27 Nov 2014) < CATHEDRAL SLAVE MUSEUM US cathedral may become museum to the slave trade PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A plan to open what would be the nation’s only museum centered on the trans-Atlantic slave trade would focus on the Episcopal Church’s role in its history and the sometimes-buried legacy of slavery in northern states like Rhode Island. The museum at the shuttered Cathedral of St. John, a church where slaves once worshipped, would explore how the church benefited from the trade and helped bring it to an end, said Bishop Nicholas Knisely of the Diocese of Rhode Island. To make it happen, the diocese is working with the Tracing Center, a group set up by descendants of what was once the nation’s most prolific slave-trading family, and Brown University, which in recent years has worked to come to grips with its own connection to slavery. The Rev. Canon Linda L. Grenz calls it a “teaching museum” and says it would be part of a larger project to show how people can use painful history to help overcome differences and be honest with one another. CHAPEL DAMAGED Flight 93 chapel closed after being struck by car SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A car has crashed into a Pennsylvania chapel honoring the Sept. 11 victims of United Airlines Flight 93, temporarily closing it. State police say the car hit a chapel wall after a two-vehicle accident Tuesday. They say the accident killed a Shanksville woman and injured the other driver. The chapel in Stonycreek Township is a spiritual memorial to the 40 victims of Flight 93, which crashed in a nearby field on Sept. 11, 2001, after being hijacked by terrorists. The chapel is overseen by the Most Rev. Ramzi Musallam. He says an engineer will need to assess the damage before visitors can be allowed back in. He says the force of the crash knocked photos of Flight 93 victims off the wall. The chapel also contains various Sept. 11 mementos.
