BIDEN-HANUKKAH
Biden marks start of Hanukkah at national menorah
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden says Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of courageous warriors overcoming great odds to protect the Jewish people’s culture and dignity.
Biden marked the start of the eight-day Jewish holiday Tuesday evening by observing the lighting of the national menorah. A trio of cantors sang Hanukkah songs as a rabbi lit the giant menorah on the Ellipse outside the White House. Biden said Jewish heritage is American heritage.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over Syrian oppressors.
Jews mark each of the eight days of Hanukkah by lighting candles on a menorah, or candleholder. The national menorah has been lit in the park south of the White House every year since 1979, when President Jimmy Carter attended the first lighting.
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
222-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Vice President Joe Biden)–Vice President Joe Biden has attended the lighting of the national menorah on the Ellipse outside the White House. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (16 Dec 2014)
< 204-a-04-(Vice President Joe Biden, at ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah)-“is American heritage”-Vice President Joe Biden says the Jewish people are an integral part of America. (16 Dec 2014) < 205-a-09-(Vice President Joe Biden, at ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah)-“oil for one”-Vice President Joe Biden says the Menorah that’s lit during Hanukkah commemorates a miracle. (16 Dec 2014) < 206-a-10-(Rabbi Levi Shemtov, master of ceremonies, at ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah)-“OK didn’t it”-Rabbi Levi Shemtov tells the crowd they were brave to come out despite heavy rain earlier in the day. (16 Dec 2014) < 207-a-06-(Basy Fogelman, 11-year-old Hanukkah essay winner, at ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah)-“and all Jews”-Eleven-year-old Basy Fogelman reads part of her winning Hanukkah essay. (16 Dec 2014) < 208-a-09-(Basy Fogelman, 11-year-old Hanukkah essay winner, at ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah)-“and to Hashem”-Eleven-year-old Basy Fogelman reads part of her winning Hanukkah essay. (16 Dec 2014) < 209-r-30-(Three Cantors with the U.S. Army Band, at ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah)–Sound of Three Cantors with the U.S. Army Band at the ceremonial lighting of the National Menorah. (16 Dec 2014) < COURTHOUSE NATIVITY-LAWSUIT County: Nativity scene lawsuit violates its rights BROOKVILLE, Ind. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed a lawsuit alleging that a Nativity scene that’s been erected each winter for more than a half-century on an Indiana county’s courthouse lawn violates the U.S. Constitution. The suit contends Franklin County’s nativity scene “represents an endorsement of religion and has the principal effect of advancing religion” and therefore violates the First Amendment. The complaint seeks a preliminary injunction preventing the county from displaying the Nativity scene. The display in Brookville, about 65 miles southeast of Indianapolis, contains life-size figurines of the Christ child, Mary and Joseph, the three wise men, at least one angel and several animals comprising a scene the suit calls “a well-recognized symbol of the Christian faith.” Tom Wilson, president of the Franklin County commissioners, said they don’t believe the display is unconstitutional and would welcome displays representing other religions as long as they’re tasteful. FIRED OVER FERTILIZATION Jury selected to hear in vitro dismissal lawsuit INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A jury has been selected to hear a schoolteacher’s lawsuit over her claim that she was dismissed by a northern Indiana Roman Catholic diocese because she tried to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization. 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There was no criticism of American nuns, no hard recommendations to shift focus away from social justice issues and no accusation that a feminist mentality prevails among them. Rather, the report was remarkably positive and encouraging. It offered a radically different message in content and tone compared with that of another Vatican office investigating a group of the sisters’ leaders. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 143-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“in the Church”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports a sweeping Vatican investigation of Catholic sisters in the United States over criticism, from some, that they had become secular and overly feminist, ended up mostly offering praise. (16 Dec 2014) < 144-c-17-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“with this investigation”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the investigation dates back to 2008 when U.S. nuns were being criticized within the Church for being secular and overly feminist. (16 Dec 2014) < 145-c-16-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“even among priests”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the Catholic rank and file in the U.S. came out in support of the nuns as they were being investigated by the Vatican. (16 Dec 2014) < 146-c-14-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“clearly very pleased”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports U.S. nuns offered a collective sigh of relief after they learned of the report’s conclusions. ((“today” refers to Tuesday)) (16 Dec 2014) < 163-a-15-(Sister Mary Clare Millea (mih-LAY’), director, Apostolic Visitation in the United States, with reporters)-“shortcomings and limitations”-Sister Mary Clare Millea, who was appointed by the Vatican to head the investigation and was anxiously awaiting the report, got a bit emotional as she welcomed what it said. (16 Dec 2014) < 164-a-10-(The Reverend Thomas Rosica (ROHZ’-ee-kah), Vatican spokesman and investigation representative, in AP interview)-“come tumbling down”-Vatican spokesman The Reverend Thomas Rosica, who was also part of the investigation, says all involved needed to work through the distrust, fear and apprehension that was evident as the investigation began. (16 Dec 2014) < VATICAN-POPE’S FARM Holy cow! Vatican to open pope’s farm to public CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis is welcoming the public to see the working farm at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence south of Rome. Pope Pius XI had the farm built between 1929 and 1934, and it still produces the dairy, meat and vegetables for the pope and his staff. The Vatican is planning to open the farm to the public next year, after finding success with its guided tours of Castel Gandolfo’s surrounding gardens. Francis has decided not to use the hilltop retreat, preferring to stay put in his suite at the Vatican hotel during vacations. Soon, the public will be able to see the free-range hens, ostriches, turkeys, rabbits and 80 cows that feed Francis and his staff at the Santa Marta hotel. Osvaldo Gianoli, who runs the papal villa, says the farm may even offer visitors a taste of the farm’s products. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 188-c-19-(Daniela Berretta, AP correspondent)-“taste the products”-AP correspondent Daniela Berretta reports Pope Francis will soon open the doors to an earthly paradise, the working farm at the papal summer residence that produces food for the pope and his staff. (16 Dec 2014) < 189-c-19-(Daniela Berretta, AP correspondent)-“taken care of”-AP correspondent Daniela Berretta reports the papal farm is home to archeological treasures and animals living the high life, at least for a time. (16 Dec 2014) < 190-c-14-(Daniela Berretta, AP correspondent)-“to the Vatican”-AP correspondent Daniela Berretta reports the farm providing much of the pope’s fresh food will open as a tourist spot starting next year. (16 Dec 2014) < FLORIDA CHURCH SHOOTING Triple-slaying suspect indicted on murder counts BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man accused of killing his wife, a neighbor and a pastor who worked with his wife has been indicted on first-degree murder charges. A Manatee County grand jury handed down the three counts against 33-year-old Andres Avalos Jr. on Tuesday. A grand jury indictment is required for prosecutors to seek the death penalty in Florida, but prosecutors haven’t said whether they’ll pursue it in this case. Authorities say Avalos fatally shot his wife, 33-year-old Amber Avalos, and their neighbor, 46-year-old Denise Potter, at the couple’s Bradenton home on Dec. 4. He then made his way across town to Bayshore Baptist Church, where officials say Avalos shot and killed the Rev. James “Tripp” Battle. Avalos was arrested two days later at an area mobile home park. Prosecutors say Avalos gave a full confession to investigators after his arrest. ISLAMIC CENTER-LAWSUIT Agreement will allow Islamic center in St. Anthony ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE, Minn. (AP) — Federal prosecutors and the city of St. Anthony Village have reached a settlement that will allow an Islamic center to have a worship space in the Minneapolis suburb. U.S. Attorney Andy Luger announced a settlement Tuesday that resolves a federal lawsuit accusing the city of religious discrimination. Luger says the settlement was reached last week after marathon negotiations and shows that freedom of religion has prevailed. Under the settlement, Abu-Huraira (AH’-boo huh-RYE’-uh) will be allowed to worship in the basement of the St. Anthony Business Center. The space can be used for prayer, weddings and other religious ceremonies. The City Council voted to reject the proposed Islamic center in 2012, saying it wasn’t compatible with the site’s zoning. The agreement still needs approval from the City Council. ISLAMIC STATE-DIVERSE RECRUITING Islamic State recruits broadly, not just fighters WASHINGTON (AP) — The Islamic State group is trying to recruit more than fighters to its cause. With its propaganda and social-media presence, the group seeks brides as well as professionals such as doctors, accountants and engineers as it pushes to build a new society in a territorial base that has spread across broad swaths of Iraq and Syria. In one case, three teenage girls from Colorado swapped Twitter messages about marriage and religion with Islamic State recruiters, then set out for Syria with thousands of dollars in stolen cash. Authorities intercepted them in Germany and returned them to their families without criminal charges. FBI Director James Comey calls the group’s recruiting tactics a social-media “siren song.” People helping the group can be prosecuted even if they don’t take up arms themselves.
