OBAMA-IRAN PASTOR
Obama meets with wife of American pastor jailed in Iran
BOISE, Idaho (AP) β President Barack Obama has met privately with the wife of an American pastor held prisoner in Iran.
Naghmeh Abedini says she and her two young children spent more than 10 minutes with Obama Wednesday during his visit to Boise, Idaho, and he assured her that freeing her husband and other Americans jailed in Iran is a top priority.
Christian pastor Saeed Abedini has been in Iranian custody since September 2012 and was sentenced to eight years in prison for what was termed undermining state security. The 34-year-old man is an American citizen of Iranian origin who had lived in Boise with his family.
Naghmeh Abedini says her son asked Obama if he could bring “daddy home” in time for the boy’s seventh birthday in March. She says the president hugged them all and responded that he would “try very hard.”
Sound:
318-a-05-(Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American pastor jailed in Iran, in AP interview)-“get him home”-Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of an American pastor jailed in Iran, says President Obama told her there are ongoing efforts to win his release. (21 Jan 2015)
< 322-a-07-(Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American pastor jailed in Iran, in AP interview)-“for meeting him”-Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of an American pastor jailed in Iran, says she’s encouraged after meeting with President Obama. (21 Jan 2015) < 321-a-03-(Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American pastor jailed in Iran, in AP interview)-“and the kids”-Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of an American pastor jailed in Iran, says the president was warm and personal. ((note length of cut)) (21 Jan 2015) < 320-a-15-(Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American pastor jailed in Iran, in AP interview)-“shook his head”-Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of an American pastor jailed in Iran, says the meeting felt like a miracle. (21 Jan 2015) < 317-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American pastor jailed in Iran)–President Barack Obama has met privately with the wife of an American pastor held prisoner in Iran since 2012. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jan 2015) < 319-a-15-(Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American pastor jailed in Iran, in AP interview)-“try very hard”-Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of an American pastor jailed in Iran, says her children were included in the meeting with President Obama. (21 Jan 2015) < ANTI-ABORTION MARCH Thousands to protest abortion in annual march WASHINGTON (AP) β Tens of thousands of Americans who oppose abortion, many of them young Catholics, are in Washington for the annual March for Life. Thursday’s rally and march on the National Mall will mark the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. Republican Congressman Mike Pompeo (pahm-PAY’-oh) of Kansas says the large youth contingent is evidence that “the pro-life movement is stronger than ever,” and a reminder that “every single life is a gift.” But Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of New York says abortion opponents should not be allowed to impose their beliefs on all women, some of whom may choose the procedure after consulting with clergy. As protesters march, the House had planned to debate a bill banning most abortions after 20 weeks, but the debate was canceled late Wednesday after a revolt by Republican women and others, leaving the proposal short of votes. President Barack Obama has said he’ll veto the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act if it reaches his desk. Sound: 323-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., and Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.)–Tens of thousands of Americans who oppose abortion, many of them young Catholics, are in Washington for the annual March for Life. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. ((Replaces cut 282, which is outdated)) (21 Jan 2015) < 286-a-10-(Re. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., in House debate)-“believe is true”-New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says abortion opponents shouldn’t seek to ban the procedure. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (21 Jan 2015) < 283-a-07-(Rep. Mike Pompeo (pahm-PAY’-oh), R-Kan., in House debate)-“is a gift”-Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo says thousands of Americans who oppose abortion are in Washington for Thursday’s March for Life. (21 Jan 2015) < 285-a-07-(Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., in House debate)-“this national sin”-North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx says the House should vote to ban most abortions after 20 weeks. ((longer version of cut used in wrap) (21 Jan 2015) < 287-a-12-(Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in House debate)-“by Washington politicians”-Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro says women shouldn’t need congressional permission to have an abortion. (21 Jan 2015) < 284-a-06-(Rep. Mike Pompeo (pahm-PAY’-oh), R-Kan., in House debate)-“the young people”-Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo says young Catholics comprise much of Thursday’s March for Life. ((cut used in wrap)) (21 Jan 2015) < 282-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., and Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.)–Tens of thousands of Americans who oppose abortion, many of them young Catholics, are in Washington for the annual March for Life. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jan 2015) < FIRED OVER FERTILIZATION Fired teacher asks judge to reject request to reject verdict FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) β An attorney for a former teacher fired by a Roman Catholic diocese in northeast Indiana for trying to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization is urging a federal judge to reject a request that he throw out a jury’s verdict. The filing Wednesday on behalf of Emily Herx contends a motion filed last week by the Fort Wayne-South Bend Catholic Diocese erroneously claims that no evidence supports the jury’s verdict. A federal jury ruled in Herx’s favor last month and awarded her $1.9 million in damages. That award was later reduced to about $544,000. Diocese officials declined to renew Herx’s contract in 2011 because she had undergone the medical procedure that involves mixing eggs and sperm in a laboratory dish and transferring the resulting embryo to the womb. Diocese attorneys say church teachings call in vitro fertilization gravely evil. VATICAN-CONTRACEPTION Pope praises big families after ‘like rabbits’ remark VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has praised big families as a gift from God, after his comments that Catholics don’t have to breed “like rabbits” made headlines this week. Francis said poverty in the developing world isn’t caused by having numerous children, as some have suggested. He said the real cause of poverty is an unjust economic system that idolizes money over people. Francis reviewed his recent trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines during his weekly general audience. During the trip, Francis strongly defended the Vatican ban on artificial contraception. But he also restated the church’s position that Catholics should practice “responsible parenthood” through church-approved birth control methods. On Wednesday, he gave a nod to big families, who may have felt somewhat insulted by his comments aboard the plane returning to Rome. Just weeks ago, Francis met with an association of large Catholic families to show his support. ANDRAE CROUCH-TRIBUTE Service held for gospel legend Andrae Crouch LOS ANGELES (AP) β Gospel music singer Andrae Crouch has been laid to rest in California, where he died two weeks ago at the age of 72. Wednesday’s service at West Angeles Church of God opened with the choir singing “Bless His Holy Name,” one of the many gospel classics Crouch wrote and performed in a career that spanned 50 years and earned him multiple Grammy Awards. West Angeles Bishop Charles Blake said so many people had asked to pay tribute to Crouch that they should all just repeat after him: “My life has been blessed by Andrae Crouch. He is a gift to the body of Christ. I am one whose life has been made better because of this great gift, and I thank God for him.” Bishop Roderick Caesar, who leads churches in New York, predicted that a century from now Christians will still be singing Crouch’s songs. Sound: 311-r-31-(Choir singing “Bless His Holy Name”, at Andrae Crouch funeral)–Sound of choir singing the Andrae Crouch song “Bless His Holy Name” at Crouch’s funeral. (21 Jan 2015) < 310-a-07-(Bishop Joe Ealy, pastor of Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ, Long Beach, California, praying at Andrae Crouch funeral)-“to your name”-Bishop Joe Ealy, pastor of Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ of Long Beach, California, thanks God for Andrae Crouch. (21 Jan 2015) < 309-a-12-(Bishop Roderick Caesar of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle in Jamaica, N.Y., at Andrae Crouch funeral)-“blesses us today (applause fades)”-Bishop Roderick Caesar of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle in Jamaica, N.Y., says the music of Andrae Crouch lives on. (21 Jan 2015) < TEACHING CREATIONISM Senators file bill critic says permits teaching creationism INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β Two Republican state senators have introduced a bill that a critic says would allow the teaching of creationism in Indiana’s public schools. The bill sponsored by Sen. Jeff Raatz and Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis Kruse calls for school administrators to create an environment for students to learn about differing “conclusions and theories concerning controversial scientific subjects.” Raatz told the Journal & Courier he wants to open the door for topics such as intelligent design β the theory that life and the universe are too complex to have evolved by accident. A provision of the bill says it pertains only to the teaching of scientific information and “may not be construed to promote any religious or nonreligious doctrine.” Glenn Branch, deputy director of the California-based National Center for Science Education, says the bill would give a green light to teachers who have what he calls “funny ideas about evolution, such as creationism.” The bill has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee, which hasn’t yet scheduled it for a hearing. MISSIONARY-FRAUD Former missionary from Wash. gets 2 years in Va. for fraud RICHMOND, Va. (AP) β A former Baptist missionary has been sentenced in Virginia to two years in prison for submitting fraudulent expense claims to his employer. Brady Nurse of Bothell, Washington, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in October. He was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Richmond. In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Nurse admitted fraudulently collecting more than $285,000 in expense reimbursements from the International Mission Board while working in Portugal from 2008 to 2013. The Richmond-based IMB is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. It has about 4,800 missionaries worldwide. NORTHERN IRELAND-IRA DISAPPEARED Catholic bishop asks IRA to pinpoint hidden Irish grave DUBLIN (AP) β A Roman Catholic bishop has appealed to the Irish Republican Army to identify the spot where they buried a teenage boy. Wednesday’s plea at a special Mass was made near a remote area where six searches from 1999 to 2013 failed to find the remains of Columba McVeigh. The 17-year-old from Northern Ireland disappeared from Dublin in 1975. Decades later, the outlawed IRA admitted killing and secretly burying McVeigh and more than a dozen other people who vanished in the 1970s and early 1980s. Bishop Liam McDaid called on IRA members to pass information to a British-Irish commission searching for unmarked IRA graves. McDaid said the McVeigh family’s anguish is “deepened almost beyond imagination by the fact that they have no grave to tend, no place to grieve.” POLYGAMOUS TOWNS-CHILD LABOR Judge: Jeffs’ brothers can avoid some child labor questions SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β A federal judge says two brothers of polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs can cite their religion in refusing to answer some questions about suspected child labor violations on a Utah pecan farm. Nephi and Lyle Jeffs testified Wednesday that their church doctrine bars them from talking about its dealings. The two are considered high-ranking members of the secretive Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. U.S. District Judge David Sam says the brothers’ beliefs are sincere, but he nevertheless ruled investigators can pose queries about the 2012 harvest. They include questions about phone messages that prosecutors say were left by church leaders telling as many as 1,400 children to take days off school and work on the harvest without pay.
