WHITE HOUSE-FIGHTING EXTREMISM
President says war is against those who have perverted Islam
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaking at a conference on battling extremism, President Barack Obama says the U.S. and its allies are not at war with Islam, but with people who have perverted it.
Obama said Islamic State and similar groups must not be allowed to mask themselves as religious. He said they are nothing more than terrorists. He told a gathering of prominent Muslims and experts that the Islamic State group is killing more Muslims than members of any other faith.
He said that IS and other extremist groups are presenting a false ideology and that his view is backed by Muslim scholars and leaders around the world. He called on Muslim leaders to “speak up very clearly” in opposition to violence against innocent people.
He also said countries should take steps to address legitimate grievances such as poverty that are being exploited by terror groups.
Sound:
233-a-15-(U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at event linked to White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)-“decent human being”-Secretary of State John Kerry says the Islamic State group must be stopped. (18 Feb 2015)
< 234-a-13-(U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at event linked to White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)-“on every continent”-Secretary of State John Kerry says there needs to be a global effort to provide jobs and education to the disenfranchised youth who are being courted by the Islamic State. (18 Feb 2015) < 236-a-16-(U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at event linked to White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)-“need to do”-Secretary of State John Kerry says there needs to be a multi-pronged approach to eliminating the allure of terrorism for some, and the threat that it poses to others. (18 Feb 2015) < 232-a-12-(U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at event linked to White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)-“need in Syria”-Secretary of State John Kerry says the terrorists with the Islamic State group are determined to kill anyone that doesn’t live by their doctrine. (18 Feb 2015) < 231-a-18-(U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at event linked to White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)-“blow themselves up”-Secretary of State John Kerry says it will take a coordinated mulitinational effort to remove the threat of dangerous terrorists who are trying to drag the world back into the ‘dark ages.’ ((note length of cut)) (18 Feb 2015) < 235-a-10-(U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at event linked to White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)-“might be be”-Secretary of State John Kerry says all nations should evaluate their justice systems, and make sure that Muslims, or other ethnic minorities, are not be isolated. (18 Feb 2015) < 216-w-36-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with President Barack Obama)–President Obama says the best way to combat terrorist recruiting is to debunk the “lie” that groups like Islamic State are defending their faith. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (18 Feb 2015) < 211-a-09-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“do it online”-President Obama says government and community leaders need to do a better job of reaching out to alienated young people. (18 Feb 2015) < 209-a-13-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“sometimes that’s accurate”-President Obama says confronting the roots of extremism means dealing with sometimes legitimate Muslim grievances. (18 Feb 2015) < 212-a-13-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“of their faith”-President Obama says Muslim communities are suspicious of law enforcement — sometimes with good reason. (18 Feb 2015) < 210-a-09-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“Islam and Muslims”-President Obama says Muslim leaders need to step forward and denounce terrorists for the faithless murderers they are. (18 Feb 2015) < 208-a-14-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“leaders, they’re terrorists”-President Obama says terrorists aren’t defending their faith — they’re bloodthirsty killers who’ve murdered more Muslims than non-Muslims. (18 Feb 2015) < 207-a-10-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“have perverted Islam (applause fades)”-President Obama says the U.S. and its allies need to join with Muslim leaders in exposing the “lie” that the West is at war with Islam. (18 Feb 2015) < 140-a-09-(Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (ee-DAHL’-goh), speaking through an interpreter at the White House conference on countering violent extremism)-“some school failure”-Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, heard here through an interpreter, says some of her city’s most effective measures against terrorist recruiting have been based in schools. (18 Feb 2015) < AMERICAN-ISLAMIC STATE Memorial in Kayla Mueller’s hometown to honor her life, work PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — Dozens of people have held a vigil in central Arizona to honor the American woman taken hostage by Islamic State militants. Kayla Mueller’s (MYOO’-lurz) death was confirmed earlier this month by her family and the U.S. government. The Islamic State group claimed she died in a Jordanian airstrike, but the Pentagon rejected that, saying it doesn’t know how she was killed. Churches and community groups in her hometown of Prescott organized a candlelight memorial Wednesday to reflect on Mueller’s life and work as an international aid worker. Participants wore pink ribbons and held candles The program included a song Mueller’s mother used to sing to her as a child — “He Who Began a Good Work in You.” ASH WEDNESDAY Pope walks in Ash Wednesday procession between Rome churches ROME (AP) — Christian around the world have marked Ash Wednesday, their annual penitential Lenten period. At the Vatican, Pope Francis walked in a solemn procession between churches on Rome’s ancient Aventine Hill. Carrying his pastoral staff, Francis chanted prayers. He wore a purple cloak, in keeping with the somber Lenten mood as Catholics spiritually prepare for Easter, which falls on April 5 this year. In Mexico City, hundreds packed the Metropolitan Cathedral. Cardinal Norberto Rivera said people of faith should address the violence that is afflicting the country. In Upper Arlington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, clergy at Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church applied ash to the foreheads of anyone who stopped in the parking lot of the church. DENMARK SHOOTING-FUNERAL Funeral held for security guard killed at Copenhagen synagogue COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Hundreds of mourners, Jews and other Danes, have attended the funeral for a security guard killed Saturday night by a gunman outside a synagogue in Copenhagen. Dan Uzan was remembered as a hero and for his commitment to his faith and others. Security was high outside the cemetery on the outskirts of Copenhagen, a part of the increased protection given to the Jewish community in recent days. Meanwhile, police say the gunman responsible for Uzan’s death and that of a filmmaker at a free speech seminar, used an assault rifle and two hand guns in the attacks. Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein was killed in a firefight with police early Sunday. Authorities say that attack may have been inspired by the terror attacks in Paris last month. Sound: 280-a-10-(Jair Melchior, Denmark’s Chief Rabbi, speaking to reporers)-“was born”-Danish Chief Rabbi Jair Melchior says the victim, security guard Dan Uzan,lived an outstanding life. (18 Feb 2015) < 281-a-09-(Jair Melchior, Denmark’s Chief Rabbi, speaking to reporrers)-“the world”-Danish Chief Rabbi Jair Melchior says his message to the world is to do things better. (18 Feb 2015) < SWEDEN-ANTI-SEMITISM Swedish Radio apologizes for question about anti-Semitism STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden’s public radio network has apologized for asking Israel’s ambassador whether Jews have any responsibility for growing anti-Semitism. In an interview Tuesday, a Swedish Radio reporter asked Ambassador Isaac Bachman about the causes of anti-Semitism and whether Jews themselves had any responsibility. Bachman rejected the question, saying it was like asking whether a rape victim was to blame for what happened to her. Swedish Radio later apologized for the question, saying it “is misleading and blames both individuals and a vulnerable group. The Jewish community has experienced horrific terror and has all of our sympathy and condolences.” In a rare move, the network also deleted the question from a recording of the interview on its website. VATICAN GAY CATHOLICS Gay Catholics get Vatican welcome, but no papal shout-out VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has done something it has never done before by giving a group of U.S. gay and lesbian Catholics VIP seats at Pope Francis’ weekly general audience. But in a sign that the welcome wasn’t all it could have been, the New Ways Ministry pilgrims were only identified on the Vatican’s list of attendees as a “group of lay people accompanied by a Sister of Loretto.” And not even that got announced: When a Vatican monsignor read out the list of the different groups of pilgrims in attendance in St. Peter’s Square, he skipped over the group altogether. Francis didn’t mention them, either. Even without a papal shout-out, New Ways Ministry officials were nevertheless pleased that they had been invited to sit up front. Sound: 156-a-15-(Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, in AP interview)-“a homosexual person”-Sister Jeannine Gramick with New Ways Ministry says Pope Francis needs to put a face to the people the Church pushes away. (18 Feb 2015) < 157-a-15-(Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, in AP interview)-“his message too”-Francis DeBernardo with New Ways Ministry says he took advantage of being part of Pope Francis’ weekly general audience. (18 Feb 2015) < 155-a-14-(Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, in AP interview)-“good first steps”-Francis DeBernardo with New Ways Ministry says he loves Pope Francis, but he wishes the pope would improve the Church’s relationship with gay Catholics. (18 Feb 2015) < VATICAN-ARGENTINA Pope’s intervention sought in Argentine terror case following mysterious death of prosecutor VATICAN CITY – Relatives of those killed in Argentina’s worst terrorist attack have asked Pope Francis to intervene so that justice is found. Members of an association of victims of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires briefly greeted the Argentine pope at the end of his Wednesday general audience. Their visit came hours ahead a protest in the Argentine capital over the mysterious death of a prosecutor investigating the attack. The prosecutor had alleged that President Cristina Fernandez and her allies shielded Iranian officials accused of masterminding the bombing. Victim association leader Sergio Burstein told reporters in Rome that Francis said he would to do whatever he could. Francis, who was auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1994, has already called for justice for the 85 victims. SUPREME COURT-CHURCH SCHOOL SPACE High court rejects church appeal over use of public school NEW YORK (AP) — The Supreme Court has again rejected an appeal from a small church in the Bronx seeking to overturn New York City’s ban on after-hours religious worship services at public schools. The justices did not comment in siding with the city’s Department of Education in a long-running fight over the separation of church and state in the nation’s largest public school system. The Bronx Household of Faith held Sunday services at P.S. 15 for 12 years, until last summer when the church completed its own building near the school. But the church said it still needs extra space for events that include religious services. The Supreme Court has twice before rejected the church’s appeal in a lawsuit spanning 18 years. FLORIDA CHURCH SHOOTING Prosecutors seek death penalty for man accused in slayings BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors in Bradenton, Florida, will seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing three people, including a pastor. A Manatee County assistant prosecutor says a death penalty notice has been sent to the lawyer representing Andy Avalos. The Bradenton Herald reports that Avalos’ attorney declined comment on the case. Avalos is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife, Amber Avalos, neighbor Denise Potter and pastor James “Tripp” Battle. Officials said Avalos killed his wife and neighbor, and then shot the pastor at his church. Avalos’ wife worked at the church as a Sunday school aide. GAY MARRIAGE-ALABAMA Some counties refusing marriage licenses to gay couples MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — More than a week after same-sex couples began tying the knot in some parts of Alabama, some counties are refusing to issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. A few of the state’s 67 counties are not issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. At least another six are not giving licenses to anyone, gay or straight, to avoid the appearance of discrimination. The Supreme Court refused to take up the case of a federal judge who overturned the state’s ban. But Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore on Feb. 8 told probate judges they were not bound by the federal judge’s decision. TEXAS GAY MARRIAGE RULING Attorney general requests review of same-sex marriage ruling AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the state Supreme Court to review a probate judge’s order that found the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Probate Judge Guy Herman on Tuesday determined the ban unconstitutional in an order addressing a dispute over an Austin woman’s estate. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir called his order “a great step toward marriage equality” but added she won’t be issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples “at the present time.” Paxton late Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to review Herman’s order and place a hold on his ruling over the estate. Paxton wrote in his motion that Herman’s ruling may compel same-sex couples to seek marriage licenses in Texas and district clerks to mistakenly grant them. NATIONAL CATHEDRAL RESTORATION First phase of National Cathedral’s restoration finished WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington National Cathedral has finished the first phase of work to repair damage from a 2011 earthquake, but the church must still raise $22 million to complete exterior repairs. The iconic Episcopal cathedral in northwest Washington sustained some of the worst damage from the 5.8-magnitude earthquake. Officials say the total cost is estimated at $32 million for repairs. Additional restoration work is expected to take years. Preservation experts say the first phase of restoration focused on the cathedral’s interior. The work involved cleaning, resealing joints and repairing the ceiling and flying buttresses, some of the oldest elements. Overhead netting has been removed after the repairs. Much work remains to repair intricate carvings on the exterior and central tower. Construction of the church began in 1907 and finished in 1990. Sound: 283-a-08-(James Shepherd, director of preservation and faciliites, Washington National Cathedral, with reporters)-“the interior space”-National Cathedral preservation director James Shepherd says workers used mobile scaffolding to repair and refurbish high interior. (18 Feb 2015) < 282-a-10-(James Shepherd, director of preservation and faciliites, Washington National Cathedral, with reporters)-“to this building”-National Cathedral preservation director James Shepherd says the damage from the tremor was tremendous. (18 Feb 2015) < GERMANY-CATHOLIC CHURCH German archdiocese of Cologne reveals $3.8 billion fortune BERLIN (AP) — The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Cologne, Germany, has published financial accounts, showing for the first time the full extent of its wealth. The archdiocese has long been considered Germany’s richest, but exact figures weren’t known because the church never published its accounts. Documents posted on its website show Cologne had assets of 3.35 billion euros ($3.82 billion) at the end of 2013. Some 2.4 billion euros were invested in stocks, funds and company holdings. A further 646 million euros were held in tangible assets, mostly property. Cash reserves and outstanding loans amounted to about 287 million euros. Release of the information follows in the wake of a recent scandal over the former bishop of Limburg’s lavish spending. Pope Francis has stressed the need for the church to show humility and emphasize its work for the poor. GOSPEL AWARDS Gospel Music Association to hold honoring event on May 5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Gospel Music Association will hold its second annual hall of fame and honors ceremony on May 5 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. The hall of fame inductees include BeBe and CeCe Winans, Mark Lowry, Roland Lundy and Twila Paris. The GMA will also honor Bishop Paul S. Morton, founding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International; The Bridge, founded by Candy Christmas; Passion, founded by Louie and Shelley Giglio; and Porter’s Call, founded by Al Andrews. Started in 1964, the GMA community consists of agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers and songwriters.
