RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-PENCE
Indiana governor wants changes to religious-objections law
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he wants legislation on his desk by the end of the week to clarify that the state’s new religious-freedom law does not allow discrimination.
Pence defended the measure as a vehicle to protect religious liberty but said he has been meeting with lawmakers to address concerns that it would allow businesses to deny services to gay customers. The governor said the law has been “grossly mischaracterized.”
Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act prohibits state laws that “substantially burden” a person’s ability to follow his or her religious beliefs unless there’s a compelling government interest to do so. The definition of “person” includes institutions, businesses and associations. Nineteen other states have similar laws on the books.
Businesses and organizations including Apple and the NCAA have voiced concern over the law, and some states have barred government-funded travel to Indiana.
Sound:
222-w-27-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind.)–Indiana Governor Mike Pence says he wants legislation on his desk by the end of the week to clarify that the state’s new religious-freedom law does not allow discrimination. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (31 Mar 2015)
< 139-a-05-(Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind., at news conference)-“I abhor discrimination”-Indiana Governor Mike Pence says he does not support discrimination against any group. (31 Mar 2015) < 140-a-08-(Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind., at news conference)-“all my heart”-Indiana Governor Mike Pence says he abhors discrimination. (31 Mar 2015) < 137-a-06-(Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind., at news conference)-“gonna move forward”-Imdiana Governor Mike Pence admits dealing with the backlash from the bill’s signing has been difficult. (31 Mar 2015) < 136-a-13-(Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind., at news conference)-“false and baseless”-Indiana Governor Mike Pence says this bill has been mischaracterized in both social media and the news media. (31 Mar 2015) < 135-a-12-(Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind., at news conference)-“services to anyone”-Indiana Governor Mike Pence says he wants revised legislation on his desk in the next few days. (31 Mar 2015) < 138-a-13-(Governor Mike Pence, R-Ind., at news conference)-“to address that”-Indiana Governor Mike Pence says he knows there are concerns about the law. (31 Mar 2015) < RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-ARKANSAS Arkansas gives final approval to religious-freedom bill LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) β Arkansas lawmakers have given final approval to a religious-freedom bill that has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who say it opens the door to state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians. The House voted Tuesday to approve the measure, which prohibits the state and local governments from infringing on a person’s religious beliefs without a “compelling” interest. The measure now heads to Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has said he will sign it into law. If enacted, the move will make Arkansas the second state to enact such a law this year. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a similar bill last week, and 19 other states have comparable measures on the books. Arkansas-based retail giant Wal-Mart has urged Hutchinson to veto the bill. Sound: 259-a-12-(State Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Ark., sponsor of the religious freedom bill, in AP interview)-“of its own”-Republican State Rep. Bob Ballinger says controversy over the Arkansas religious freedom bill he sponsored is overblown. (31 Mar 2015) < 261-a-12-(Jerry Cox, president of Family Council, in AP interview)-“of an individual”-Jerry Cox, president of Family Council, says the Arkansas religious freedom bill is being mischaracterized by opponents. (31 Mar 2015) < 262-a-12-(The Reverend Wendell Griffen, pastor of New Millennium Church, speaking at rally outside the state Capitol)-“and justifiable disfavor”-The Reverend Wendell Griffen, pastor of New Millennium Church, says the religious freedom bill is a moral and ethical shame. (31 Mar 2015) < 260-a-08-(State Rep. Camille Bennett, D-Ark., in AP interview)-“us to do”-Democratic State Rep. Camille Bennett says Arkansas religious freedom bill could legalize discrimination. (31 Mar 2015) < 250-a-12-(Hans Hacker, a political science professor at Arkansas State University, in interview)-“kinds of things”-Arkansas State University political science professor Hans Hacker says the state’s religious freedom bill could have harmful effects. COURTESY: KAIT ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (31 Mar 2015) < 249-a-09-(Joseph Ruckus, faculty advisor to Arkansas State University Gay Straight Alliance, in interview)-“legislation as discriminatory”-Joseph Ruckus, faculty advisor to Arkansas State University Gay Straight Alliance, says Arkansas’ religious freedom bill could hurt the state’s economy. COURTESY: KAIT ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (31 Mar 2015) < 248-a-12-(Harley Mayall, a member of Arkansas State University’s Gay Straight Alliance, in interview)-“have your money”-Harley Mayall, a member of Arkansas State University’s Gay Straight Alliance, says gays shouldn’t force merchants to violate their religious beliefs. COURTESY: KAIT ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (31 Mar 2015) < RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAWS Religious freedom laws not used against gays in the past NEW YORK (AP) β Legal experts say religious freedom laws like the one causing an uproar in Indiana have never been successfully used to defend discrimination against gays, and have rarely been used at all. But that could change. Since gays started winning widespread legalization of same-sex marriage, religious conservatives have been scrambling for legal strategies to protect conscience rights. Gay rights advocates fear Indiana’s law will allow caterers and florists, for example, to refuse to do business with same-sex couples. Supporters of the law say it will only give religious objectors a chance to bring their case before a judge. But Gov. Mike Pence now says he wants the Legislature to present him a bill by the end of the week clarifying that the new law does not allow discrimination or denial of service to anyone. CHURCH-SCHOOL SPACE Churches can meet in NYC schools despite ruling NEW YORK (AP) β A spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio says churches will be allowed to continue holding worship services in New York’s public schools. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court ruling upholding a ban on religious services instituted by the city’s Department of Education. The lower court had ruled that the city could expel religious organizations that used classrooms for after-hours worship. But the mayor’s spokesman, Wiley Norvell, told The New York Times the city would continue to allow the groups to use the schools on the same basis as other organizations. Norvell said the city will develop rules that respect the rights of both religious groups and non-participants. He said groups currently using school facilities would be allowed to worship there while the city reviewed and revised the rules. Sound: 226-v-31-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent)–New York City has gotten permission to remove church services from public schools, but the mayor says it won’t. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (31 Mar 2015) < 228-c-13-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent)-“kicking them out”-AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports the U.S. Supreme Court has let stand a New York City education department policy against the use of public school buildings for church services. (31 Mar 2015) < UNBORN BABY-STATE LAWMAKER Colorado lawmaker gets some support after abortion comment DENVER (AP) β A Colorado lawmaker under fire for an abortion comment is getting some support from a fellow Republican who disagrees with the GOP’s response. State Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt has apologized for remarks he made after a Colorado woman was accused of cutting an unborn child from her mother’s belly. Klingenschmitt had said the attack was God’s curse on the country for tolerating abortion. A former Navy chaplain, Klingenschmitt made the comments on a personal weekly video he records called “Pray In Jesus’ Name.” After the comments made headlines, Klingenschmitt was denounced by fellow Republicans and removed from a post on the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee. On Tuesday, state Rep. Justin Everett said Klingenschmitt shouldn’t be removed from a legislative position because of something he said on his own time. Rep. Justin Everett of Littleton said he doesn’t agree with Klingenschmitt’s comment, but the punishment means lawmakers are having speech rights curtailed. CATHOLIC MORALITY MANUAL Catholics in San Francisco rally against ‘morality clauses’ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β Hundreds of students, teachers and supporters have marched in San Francisco and delivered petitions opposing the archbishop’s morality clauses at four Catholic high schools. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has called for teachers and staff members at high schools in the archdiocese to accept contract and handbook language against homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, contraceptives and artificial insemination. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that more than 80 percent of teachers and staff members at the schools issued a statement rejecting the archbishop’s proposed language for the handbook. State lawmakers have criticized Cordileone’s proposed statement and asked for a probe of working conditions at the archdiocese’s four high schools. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors also opposed the added language. GOOD FRIDAY SCHOOL STATEMENT Officials: Teachers’ Good Friday requests might close school PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) β School officials in Cranston, Rhode Island, say more than 200 requests to observe Good Friday might force schools to close that day. School superintendent Judith Lundsten announced Tuesday that she had warned parents that classes might be canceled. Lundsten says 194 teachers and 41 assistants had asked for the holiday off as of that afternoon. A court order issued Friday said teachers may take this Friday off if they submit a request no later than April 1. About 200 teachers filed a lawsuit March 16 after their requests to observe Good Friday were denied. Lundsten has said they were denied because Good Friday has “no required services.” Requests to observe Jewish holidays were approved. School department spokesman Raymond Votto says 21 employees requested to observe Rosh Hashanah last fall. VATICAN-JUBILEE Vatican hopes to avoid financial scandal during Jubilee year VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican finance minister has said he hopes to avoid any financial scandals in the church’s upcoming Jubilee year, saying new procedures should help the Vatican comply with international standards for transparency and accountability. Cardinal George Pell outlined the Vatican’s financial reforms Tuesday as he launched a book on better managing church assets β a priority for Pope Francis after years of financial scandal and mismanagement at the Holy See. Francis announced the Jubilee year dedicated to mercy on March 13. That set off panic among local politicians, who remembered the chaos that surrounded the 2000 Jubilee, when 25 million pilgrims flocked to Rome and millions were spent on construction and renovation projects. Pell said “we hope to avoid scandals, certainly in such a moment.” VATICAN-CHILE-BISHOP Vatican defends naming of bishop that caused Chilean outcry VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican is defending Pope Francis’ appointment of a Chilean bishop despite allegations that the prelate had covered up for a pedophile priest. A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, said Tuesday that before Monsignor Juan Barros was named to be bishop of Osorno, Chile, the Holy See’s Congregation for Bishops “carefully examined the prelate’s candidature and didn’t find objective reasons to preclude the appointment.” The bishop’s recent installation triggered nationwide political opposition, violent protests in the cathedral and a boycott by many of the diocese’s priests. A former Chilean military chaplain, Barros has insisted he didn’t know about the abuse until reading 2010 news reports. Barros was a protege of the priest, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, who was sanctioned in 2011 by the Vatican for sexually abusing minors.
