WHITE HOUSE-FIGHTING EXTREMISM
Obama aims to show Islam, Western communities can coexist
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has urged delegates from dozens of countries to confront what he says is “the warped ideology” espoused by terror groups, particularly efforts to use Islam to justify violence.
Obama spoke at the State Department in the final day of a summit aimed at fighting extremism.
Obama has sought to use this week’s summit to urge the world to broaden its response far beyond military interventions. U.S. airstrikes have managed to blunt some of the militants’ gains in Iraq and Syria, but they don’t address the extreme ideologies that underpin deadly groups such as Islamic State, al-Shabab and Boko Haram.
The president urged Arab nations in particular to take steps to quell sectarian violence and boost economic and educational opportunities that could provide young people options beyond joining terror groups.
Sound:
230-a-11-(Susan Rice, White House national security adviser, in remarks at White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism)-“Syria and Iraq”-White House national security adviser Susan Rice says countries around the globe will have to work together to stop terrorist activity. (19 Feb 2015)
< 231-a-16-(Susan Rice, White House national security adviser, in remarks at White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism)-“redemption and belonging”-White House national security adviser Susan Rice says social and economic programs must be offered to help those who are likely to join groups like the Islamic State. (19 Feb 2015) < 229-a-08-(Susan Rice, White House national security adviser, in remarks at White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism)-“can feed extremism”-White House national security adviser Susan Rice says there needs to be a multi-pronged approach to combating the Islamic State and other terrorist groups, including ways to reduce their attraction to new recruits. (19 Feb 2015) < 232-a-17-(Susan Rice, White House national security adviser, in remarks at White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism)-“nothing but death”-White House national security adviser Susan Rice says the U.S. has launched a campaign to counter the recruitment messages from the Islamic State group. ((note lengh of cut)) (19 Feb 2015) < 147-w-37-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with President Barack Obama)–Wrapping up a three-day summit on battling violent extremism, President Obama is warning America’s Arab allies that poverty and oppression are aiding terrorist recruiters. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (19 Feb 2015) < 139-a-15-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“fear and resentment”-President Obama says nations shouldn’t view Muslim communities with fear and suspicion, they should seek understanding. (19 Feb 2015) < 144-w-35-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with President Barack Obama)–President Obama is defending his refusal to use the phrase “Islamic terrorism.” AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. ((contains shorter version of cut 138)) (19 Feb 2015) < 142-a-15-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“for extremist recruitment”-President Obama says poverty and oppression stoke resentments that terrorists feed on. (19 Feb 2015) < 141-a-12-(President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters)-“to stop them”-President Obama says the West needs to avoid negative stereotypes of Muslims in the media. (19 Feb 2015) < RABBI ARRESTED Rabbi pleads guilty to taping nude women at ritual bath WASHINGTON (AP) — A prominent Orthodox rabbi in the nation’s capital has acknowledged that for years he videotaped women at a Jewish ritual bath, recording more than 150 women as they changed clothes and got in and out of a shower. Barry Freundel pleaded guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism during a hearing in Washington D.C. Each count is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Prosecutors plan to ask for jail time. Freundel was a rabbi at the Kesher Israel synagogue in Washington for over 25 years before his arrest in October. At the time, court documents accused him of setting up a recording device disguised as a digital clock radio in the changing and showering area of The National Capital Mikvah, a ritual cleansing bath affiliated with Kesher Israel. He also acknowledged placing recording devices in a fan and a tissue box. Police arrested Freundel after a person associated with the mikvah discovered the hidden camera. Sound: 221-c-14-(Jessica Gresko, AP correspondent)-“statute of limitations”-AP correspondent Jessica Gresko reports Rabbi Barry Freundel has acknowledged the charges against him for taking videos of women taking ritual baths. Updated: 02/19/2015-06:32:57 PM ET (19 Feb 2015) < 219-c-08-(Jessica Gresko, AP correspondent)-“150 nude women”-AP correspondent Jessica Gresko reports that the former religious leader admitted making videos of women taking ritual baths. (19 Feb 2015) < 222-c-13-(Jessica Gresko, AP correspondent)-“includes jail time”-AP correspondent Jessica Gresko reports the rabbi faces up to a year in jail for each of the 52 counts in his plea. Updated: 02/19/2015-06:32:58 PM ET (19 Feb 2015) < 220-c-19-(Jessica Gresko, AP correspondent)-“he was recording”-AP correspondent Jessica Gresko reports the rabbi admitted using an elaborate system to videotape the women. Updated: 02/19/2015-06:32:57 PM ET (19 Feb 2015) < CHILE-BISHOP ABUSE Chilean priests accuse bishop nominee of covering up for a pedophile priest SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A group of Chilean priests has demanded the resignation of a bishop, accusing him of covering up for a prominent priest who sexually abused altar boys. The priests and deacons in the southern city of Osorno made their request to Ivo Scapalo, the papal nuncio in Chile. They said newly appointed bishop Juan Barros Madrid covered up for the Rev. Fernando Karadima. Victims have said Karadima began abusing them at his residence at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Santiago about 20 years ago, when they were between 14 and 17 years old. The Vatican sanctioned Karadima by ordering him to a life of “penitence and prayer” in 2011. A Chilean judge later dismissed a criminal case because the statute of limitations had expired, but she determined the abuse allegations were truthful. Barros, who was close to Karadima, was appointed bishop by Pope Francis in early January. About 50 Chilean lawmakers signed a petition this week asking the Vatican for his resignation, and more than 1,000 residents of Osorno have signed a similar petition protesting his nomination. MINISTER-INDECENCY Houston-area minister charged with indecency with a child CONROE, Texas (AP) — A Houston-area minister has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Montgomery County jail records show Delso Eli Erazo, of Spring, was being held Thursday on a charge of indecency with a child. Bond was set at $200,000 for Erazo, who was booked Feb. 13. Prosecutors say Erazo is not a U.S. citizen and concerns were raised that he might flee to Venezuela. Erazo has been accused of sexual abuse of the girl over several years, with the latest incident allegedly in December. Investigators say Erazo serves churches in The Woodlands and Spring and is part of an organization called Iglesia Cristiana Monte Sinai de Houston. GAY MARRIAGE-TEXAS Same-sex couple marries in Texas under one-time order AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Defying Texas’ longstanding ban on gay marriage, a lesbian couple wed in Austin on Thursday immediately after being granted a marriage license under a one-time court order because one of the women has cancer. The women — together for more than 30 years — said their union was the first legal same-sex marriage since voters overwhelmingly approved the ban in the fiercely conservative state in 2005. State Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an immediate appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. The marriage license was issued exclusively for Sarah Goodfriend, who has ovarian cancer, and Suzanne Bryant in liberal-leaning Travis County. The Austin couple requested the license two days after a local probate judge ruled in an unrelated estate case that Texas’ gay-marriage ban was unconstitutional. The couple cited that case, saying it should allow them to get married. Sound: 165-a-09-(Suzanne Byrant, married her partner Sarah Goodfriend following a one-time court order issued for medical reasons., at news conference)-“everyone very soon”-Suzanne Bryant says she hopes her marriage to long-time partner Sarah Goodfriend will lead to more same-sex unions being accepted in Texas. (19 Feb 2015) < 164-a-13-(Sarah Goodfriend, married her partner Suzanne Bryant following a one-time court order issued for medical reasons, at news conference)-“makes Texas stronger”-Sarah Goodfriend says her marriage to Suzanne Bryant is a reflection of the values all Texans should share. (19 Feb 2015) < 166-a-11-(Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend, couple married under a one-time court order issued for medical reasons., at news conference)-“we’re really married”-Suzanne Bryant and her partner Sarah Goodfriend say it’s amazing how quickly their lives have changed. (19 Feb 2015) < 163-a-12-(Sarah Goodfriend, married her partner Suzanne Bryant following a one-time court order issued for medical reasons., at news conference)-“as a family”-Sarah Goodfriend says she appreciates having been allowed to marry her partner, Suzanne Bryant, after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. (19 Feb 2015) < GAY WEDDING FLORIST Florist who refused to do flowers for gay wedding to appeal KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) — A florist in Washington state who refused to provide flowers for a gay wedding plans to appeal a judge’s ruling that she broke a state antidiscrimination law. Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner says the ruling threatens the financial ruin of 70-year-old Richland florist Barronelle Stutzman, along with her business, Arlene’s Flowers. ADF, a religious advocacy legal organization, says it will file the appeal on her behalf. Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom on Wednesday rejected arguments that Stutzman’s actions were protected by her freedoms of speech and religion. Ekstrom says the First Amendment protects religious beliefs but not necessarily actions based on those beliefs. He also says the state has the authority to prohibit discrimination. The florist was sued by the couple she refused as well as the state. She could be required to pay damages and legal fees. Sound: 279-a-07-(Kristen Waggoner, senior counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“in the law”-Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner says she rejects the court’s position that the First Amendment doesn’t cover the actions of the florist. (19 Feb 2015) < 281-a-10-(Kristen Waggoner, senior counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“fees and costs”-Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner says her client could face financial ruin if the ruling isn’t overturned. (19 Feb 2015) < 280-a-10-(Kristen Waggoner, senior counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“not true religion”-Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner says the First Amendment covers the beliefs and actions of people of faith. (19 Feb 2015) < RELIGION DIVORCE-COERCION Religious law at issue in rabbi’s divorce kidnap team trial TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New York rabbi has testified that Jewish law allows for nonviolent force to be used against husbands who don’t want to give divorces. The testimony came in Trenton, New Jersey, in the case against an Orthodox rabbi accused of using a kidnap team to force the hand of reticent husbands. Rabbi Jacob Goldstein said during cross-examination that “perhaps” some rabbis still use brutal means to secure a divorce. Prosecutors say New Jersey Rabbi Mendel Epstein’s team used handcuffs and electric cattle prods to torture men into granting divorces. But defense attorney Robert Stahl says the rabbi wasn’t involved in any crimes and is a “champion of women’s rights.” NORWAY-RING OF PEACE Norwegian Muslims plan ‘ring of peace’ around synagogue OSLO, Norway (AP) — After a series of attacks against Jews in Europe, young Muslims in Norway plan to form a “ring of peace” around a synagogue in Oslo. In a Facebook invitation for the event Saturday, organizers say “Muslims want to show that we strongly reject any type of anti-Semitism and that we are here to support them.” About 1,500 people have accepted the invitation. Like at other synagogues in Scandinavia, security around the Oslo synagogue has been raised in the wake of last week’s shootings in Copenhagen. In the second of two shooting attacks, the gunman killed a Jewish security guard outside a synagogue in the city. The head of Oslo’s Jewish community, Ervin Kohn, welcomed the idea and told Norwegian broadcaster NRK he hopes for a big turnout. COLD WEATHER MINISTRY Ala church leaving scarves, gloves around town GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) — Scarves, hats and gloves are showing up all over Gadsden, Alabama, tied around trees and tucked into benches. The articles are a gift from a new ministry at Harvestfield Church that is proving to be of timely importance. Many of the items are knitted or crocheted and have a note attached. It reads: “I’m not lost. If you’re stuck out in the cold, please take me to keep you warm.” It’s an idea Cathy Kruse came up with several weeks ago when she saw a similar ministry promoted on Facebook in some cold areas of the United States and Canada. Kruse originally is from the Chicago area and knows the importance of keeping warm in cold weather.
