BRITAIN-CHURCH
Church of England appeals to voters to take part in campaign
LONDON (AP) — Church of England bishops are appealing to Christians to take part in the politics ahead of upcoming elections. The leaders are calling for a fresh moral vision for Britain at time of disillusionment.
The bishops said in a 52-page letter that it is the duty of every Christian to vote May 7. The letter, the first of its kind before a vote, touches on topics such as the concept of a living wage and Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
The Bishop of Norwich, Rt. Rev. Graham James, said the bishops are aware that voices in British society, notably comedian Russell Brand, have been arguing that voting is pointless.
EUROPE-JEWS
Hollande: Anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim acts threaten France
SARRE-UNION, France (AP) — French President Francois Hollande (frahn-SWAH’ oh-LAWND’) says the growing number of acts of violence against Jews and Muslims threatens the country’s very foundations.
Hollande spoke in the small Alsatian town of Sarre-Union, where 250 Jewish graves were desecrated over the weekend.
He noted that anti-Semitism and acts against Muslims are both on the rise in France, notably after the attacks last month in Paris on a satirical newspaper and a kosher grocery store that left 20 people dead, including the three gunmen.
He promised firmness in searching down and prosecuting those who carry out anti-Semitic or racist acts. Five local teenagers — with no previous records — have been detained in connection to the cemetery desecration, but no charges were immediately filed.
Hollande said anti-Semitic acts doubled in 2014 compared with 2013, and acts against Muslims in just the month after the attacks totaled the same as the entire previous year.
ISLAMIC SCHOOL DEFACED
Faith leaders show solidarity after Islamic school defaced
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — Local faith leaders in West Warwick, Rhode island, say they won’t be divided by whoever tagged the Islamic School of Rhode Island with offensive graffiti.
They came together in a show of solidarity on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the vandalism Saturday night. School officials say the entrance was tagged with orange graffiti that read “Now this is a hate crime,” ”pigs” and offensive references to the Prophet Muhammad.
More than 20 faith leaders and law enforcement officials gathered at the school Tuesday. Rabbi Sarah Mack, president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, said local Muslims have supported the Jewish community during trying times so she wanted to do the same.
Sound:
218-c-15-(Jennifer McDermott, AP correspondent)-“references to Muhammad”-AP correspondent Jennifer McDermott reports the FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the vandalism of the Islamic School of Rhode Island. (17 Feb 2015)
< 221-c-16-(Jennifer McDermott, AP correspondent)-“to the community”-AP correspondent Jennifer McDermott reports efforts are being made to calm any fears after the Islamic School of Rhode Island was tagged with offensive graffiti. (17 Feb 2015) < 219-c-11-(Jennifer McDermott, AP correspondent)-“support the school”-AP correspondent Jennifer McDermott reports local faith leaders say the community won’t be divided by a perpetrator who tagged the Islamic School of Rhode Island with offensive graffiti. (17 Feb 2015) < 220-c-17-(Jennifer McDermott, AP correspondent)-“united than before”-AP correspondent Jennifer McDermott reports faith leaders and law enforcement officials have come together in a show of solidarity after the Islamic School of Rhode Island was vandalized with offensive graffiti. (17 Feb 2015) < HATE GRAFFITI Anti-Muslim graffiti sprayed on Bothell school BOTHELL, Wash. (AP) — Authorities believe the same person is likely responsible for the hate graffiti spray painted on a Hindu temple and a junior high school in Bothell, Washington. A swastika and the words “get out” were found Sunday on the outside wall of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center. Station KING reports swastikas and the words “Muslims get out” in red paint were later found on the wall at Skyview Junior High School, a few blocks from the Hindu temple. Bothell police and the Snohomish County sheriff’s office are investigating. Sound: 293-a-04-(Jeana Schroeder, Bothell resident, in AP interview)-“diverse community (bell rings)”-Bothell resident Jeana Schroeder says the vandalism done to the Hindu temple doesn’t represent the area. (17 Feb 2015) < MUSLIM LEADER-ARREST Chicago-area imam charged with sex abuse at Islamic school CHICAGO (AP) — The longtime head of a suburban Chicago Islamic school has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman who worked there, A civil suit filed Tuesday also accuses him of abusing that employee and three teenage students. The legal actions shed light on an issue that even many Muslims say is too often pushed into the shadows within their communities. Mohammad Abdullah Saleem founded the Institute of Islamic Education and is regarded as a leading Islamic scholar, or imam, in the United States. Saleem, who is 75, is charged with felony criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors said he abused the 23-year-old woman, an administrative assistant at the Elgin school, in a series of escalating incidents over months. The civil suit accuses Saleem of abusing that employee, as well as three female students at the school as far back as the 1980s. His lawyer says Saleem “categorically denies the allegations.” Sound: 207-a-10-(Steven Denny, attorney representing alleged victims, at news conference)-“covered it up”-Attorney Steven Denny, who represents the four alleged victims, says others at the Institute of Islamic Education enabled the abuses of Mohammad Abdullah Saleem to continue. (17 Feb 2015) < 206-a-14-(Steven Denny, attorney representing alleged victims, at news conference)-“into his care”-Attorney Steven Denny, who represents the four alleged victims, says Mohammad Abdullah Saleem was able to abused his victims because of his position as head of a suburban Chicago Islamic school. (17 Feb 2015) < 208-a-15-(Nadia Mohajir (moh-hah-ZHEER’), director, HEART Women and Girls, at news conference)-“last several decades”-Nadia Mohajir, who heads HEART Women and Girls, which raises awareness about sexual abuse in the Muslim community, says the allegations against Mohammad Abdullah Saleem are disturbing. (17 Feb 2015) < TEXAS MARRIAGE EQUALITY Texas faith leaders gather in support of marriage equality AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A coalition of faith leaders has rallied for marriage equality at the Texas Capitol. They are trying to convince lawmakers that expanding rights to gay, bisexual and transgender couples won’t compromise their religious beliefs. Some of the participants wore colorful liturgical vestments and held signs stating they were Methodist, Jewish, Unitarian, Baptist and Presbyterian. About 150 people traveled to the Capitol for the rally, sponsored by the advocacy group the Texas Freedom Network. Rev. Eric Folkerth, from Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas, praised the Dallas non-discrimination ordinance, adding that equality at work is also important. Folkerth says his support of marriage equality for the LGBT community is based on his belief that the golden rule is a spiritual law that speaks against discrimination. The constitutionality of Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage is currently before a federal appeals court in New Orleans. Sound: 290-a-11-(The Rev. Eric Folkerth, senior pastor, Northaven United Methodist Church, in AP interview)-“of the state”-Northaven United Methoidst Church pastor Rev. Eric Folkerth says the coaltion of faith leaders opposed to the proposed law is widely diverse. (17 Feb 2015) < 292-a-08-(The Rev. Eric Folkerth, senior pastor, Northaven United Methodist Church, in AP interview)-“discriminate against anyone”-Northaven United Methoidst Church pastor Rev. Eric Folkerth says a proposed law called the “Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act” is a misleading title. (17 Feb 2015) < 291-a-06-(The Rev. Eric Folkerth, senior pastor, Northaven United Methodist Church, in AP interview)-“be treated”-Northaven United Methoidst Church pastor Rev. Eric Folkerth says his support of equality for the LGBT community is based on his belief that the golden rule is a spiritual law. (17 Feb 2015) < LAWMAKERS-CATHOLIC MORALITY CLAUSE Lawmakers urge archbishop to remove morality clauses SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California lawmakers are urging the archbishop of San Francisco to remove morality clauses from a teachers’ handbook they say are discriminatory. Eight state lawmakers on Tuesday sent a letter to Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone saying the clauses “foment a discriminatory environment.” Cordileone earlier this month presented teachers at the archdiocese’s four high schools with a statement that says Catholic school employees are expected to conduct their public lives in a way that doesn’t undermine or deny the church’s doctrine. The statement outlines the church’s teaching that using contraception is a sin and that sex outside of marriage, whether it is in the form of adultery, masturbation, pornography or gay sex, is “gravely evil.” The archbishop said the statement would be added to the faculty handbooks. BIBLE DISTRIBUTION-SCHOOLS Bible distribution challenged OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group that advocates keeping religion out of public schools has sent complaint letters after reports of bibles being distributed in several Oklahoma cities. The Oklahoman reports that the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation sent letters to school districts after it was informed that Gideon’s International and the son of a state representative had been distributing bibles to fifth-grade students in Checotah, Eufaula and Stidham. Someone complained to the foundation after seeing a Facebook post that members of Gideon’s International had spent a morning passing out bibles to students. Andrew Seidel, staff attorney for the foundation, says the actions are unconstitutional. LA SALLE PRESIDENT La Salle University picks first non-clergy, woman president PHILADELPHIA (AP) — After 152 years of priests at the helm, La Salle University has appointed a non-clergy woman as its president. The Roman Catholic university in Philadelphia announced Tuesday that Colleen Hanycz (HAN’-itch) will take over in July. She’s currently in charge at Brescia University College in London, Ontario. The Catholic school is Canada’s only women’s university. The chairman of La Salle’s board called Hanycz an innovative leader with an impressive record of positive change. The university’s previous permanent president, Brother Michael McGinniss stepped down last May after 15 years. CHURCH REBUILDS 11-member church to rebuild after fire LAKE WALES, Fla. (AP) — A fire won’t keep a tiny central Florida church down. Interim Pastor Jack Smith says the 11 members of the Bethel Baptist Church in Lake Wales hope to rebuild after a fire last Thursday caused massive damage. Smith says he’s been told that fire officials suspect arson. An investigation continues. The congregation may hold services temporarily in the fellowship hall. The Ledger of Lakeland reports the church received attention in September after refusing to lease three acres of property to a company which planned to open a medical marijuana facility that voters approved the ballot initiative in November. The church land would have served as a buffer zone for the 33-acre facility. The congregation agreed to the lease, then changed its vote when they saw the reaction to their decision. ASH WEDNESDAY-DRIVE BY CHURCH Ohio church offers drive-by ashes on Wednesday UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio (AP) — Too busy to stop for an Ash Wednesday service? A church in suburban Columbus is offering drive-by ash service. Clergy at Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Upper Arlington will be on hand to apply ash to the foreheads of anyone who stops in the parking lot of the church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Aaron Layne says it’s the first time the church has offered the drive-by service. He tells The Columbus Dispatch that the congregation supports it, although some comments on Facebook criticized him for cheapening the observance that marks the beginning of Lent for Christians. He reasons that it could be a first step back for some people who haven’t been to church in years. A service also is planned.
