RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-NO SERVICE
Northern Indiana pizzeria that backed religious law reopens
WALKERTON, Ind. (AP) β An Indiana pizzeria that closed after its owner expressed support for Indiana’s religious objections law has reopened.
Memories Pizza owner Kevin O’Connor says he reopened Thursday afternoon. He says that within an hour, all eight tables were filled and six people were waiting for carryout orders. There were no protests in the first several hours.
O’Connor faced criticism after he and his daughter, Crystal, said they would never deny service to a gay customer but would decline if they were asked to cater a same-sex wedding because it would conflict with their Christian beliefs. Threats led them to temporarily close the Walkerton pizzeria about 20 miles southwest of South Bend.
O’Connor says he’ll use some of his share of more than $842,000 raised online to make improvements. He also plans to donate to charity.
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318-w-36-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza)–An Indiana pizzeria that closed after its owner expressed support for Indiana’s religious objections law has reopened. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (9 Apr 2015)
< 294-a-09-(Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, in AP interview)-“praise the Lord”-Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, says business is good since he reopened Thursday afternoon. (9 Apr 2015) < 297-a-10-(Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, in AP interview)-“we’re condoning that”-Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, says his restaurant is glad to serve gays. (9 Apr 2015) < 295-a-09-(Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, in AP interview)-“help us out”-Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, says it’s been a rough couple of weeks, but he’s thankful. (9 Apr 2015) < 296-a-10-(Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, in AP interview)-“at the store”-Kevin O’Connor, owner of Memories Pizza, says he’ll put the money people donated to good use. (9 Apr 2015) < SCIENTOLOGY-SURVEILLANCE Private investigator claimed Scientology hired him to spy LOS ANGELES (AP) β A private detective arrested two years ago in Wisconsin claims he spied for the Church of Scientology on the father of the church’s leader. In 2013, Dwayne Powell told police in West Allis that the church paid him $10,000 a week over 1 Β½ years to spy full-time on Ronald Miscavige (mis-KAV’-ij) Sr., who had broken with the Southern California-based church. According to police reports obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, Powell claimed Miscavige’s son, David, wanted to make sure his father didn’t divulge details of church activities. Powell said he went through the father’s garbage and spied on his emails and conversations. A church statement calls Powell’s allegations preposterous and “an absolute bald-faced lie.” The police documents were first obtained by the Los Angeles Times. Sound: 319-v-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–A private detective arrested two years ago claims he spied for the Church of Scientology on the father of the church’s leader. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (9 Apr 2015) < IOWA LEGISLATURE-WICCAN PRAYER Many Iowa House lawmakers skip invocation by Wiccan DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β Many of Iowa’s House lawmakers have boycotted an opening prayer delivered by a Wiccan priestess. Thursday’s invocation was offered by Wiccan Deborah Maynard, leader of the Cedar Rapids Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans. She was invited by Democratic state Rep. Liz Bennett. Maynard prayed that the “spirit which is ever-present” in earth, fire, air and water would guide lawmakers in their work. At least half of the 100 lawmakers were not present in Iowa’s House chamber for the Wiccan prayer. The conservative Christian group the Family Leader organized an alternate prayer service in the Capitol building. Sound: 240-a-08-(Wiccan priestess Deborah Maynard, leader of the Cedar Rapids Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, delivering opening prayer Thursday in the Iowa House)-“us here today”-Wiccan priestess Deborah Maynard invokes the spirits in nature to guided Iowa lawmakers. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (9 Apr 2015) < 238-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Deborah Maynard, Wiccan priestess)–Many of Iowa’s House lawmakers have boycotted an opening prayer delivered by a Wiccan priestess. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (9 Apr 2015) < 239-a-10-(Wiccan priestess Deborah Maynard, leader of the Cedar Rapids Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, delivering opening prayer Thursday in the Iowa House)-“are a part”-Wiccan priestess Deborah Maynard prays that lawmakers will be guided by the spirit of earth, fire, air and water. (9 Apr 2015) < US-GAY-ADOPTION Florida bill would let some adoption agencies refuse gays TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) β The Florida House has passed a bill to let private adoption agencies turn away gay couples based on religious and moral grounds. The 75-38 vote came after more than an hour of debate, with Republicans saying the measure was needed to protect religious rights. Supporters said faith-based organizations handling adoptions would stop offering services if the bill isn’t passed. Conservatives sponsored the measure as a response to a bill that the House passed last month that stripped a gay adoption ban from state law. That law hasn’t been enforced since it was found unconstitutional five years ago. The bill now goes to the Florida Senate, which rejected similar language Wednesday in a separate adoption bill. GAY TEACHER FIRED Gay man ousted from Catholic school may have little recourse OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β Supporters of a teacher whose Omaha Catholic school contract will not be renewed because of his same-sex relationship say the school is discriminating against him based on his sexual orientation. But experts say the school has not violated Omaha’s anti-bias ordinance protecting gay and transgender people because the ordinance has a religious exception, and a lawsuit would probably not succeed. An online petition in support of Matt Eledge says Skutt Catholic High School rescinded its offer to renew his teaching contract next year after learning he planned to marry his same-sex partner, saying that would violate church teachings in breach of his contract. The school later said he could return to the school, but only if he ended his same-sex relationship. SCHOOLS-INTELLIGENT DESIGN ACLU scolds Maine school for discussing intelligent design BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) β The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has sent a complaint to the Brunswick school system, saying a fifth-grade teacher discussed creationism and intelligent design in his science class. The ACLU’s letter, dated March 27, alleges that Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School teacher Lou Sullivan “under the guise of educating students about ‘astronomy’ … improperly injected his religious doctrine into his science lessons.” The letter says that was unconstitutional and the school department could be held liable. The Portland Press Herald reports that the ACLU was alerted by a parent. Superintendent Paul Perzanoski denied the ACLU’s allegation and said the 26-year veteran teacher was just responding to a question from a student who asked Sullivan about his personal beliefs. TENNESSEE-BIBLE-OFFICIAL-BOOK Bill would make Bible official state book of Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Tennessee lawmakers are forging ahead with plans to make the Bible the official state book. The Tennessee measure has moved swiftly through the legislative process and could be on the House and Senate floors as early as next week. One of the main concerns is whether the proposal would meet separation of church and state provisions in the federal and state constitutions. The Tennessee Constitution says “no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.” Lawmakers are awaiting a legal opinion from the state’s attorney general. Supporters of the legislation say its intent is not to focus on religion but rather the Bible’s historical and cultural contributions to the state. Similar proposals to make the Bible the state book failed in Mississippi earlier this year and in Louisiana last year. LAWSUIT-JEWISH EVENTS Ex-candidate sues Greenwich over Israeli event at Town Hall GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) β Officials in Greenwich, Connecticut, have rejected an $11,000 proposed settlement of a lawsuit that claims photos and videos at its Town Hall of a bar mitzvah and pro-Israel event violated the Constitution by promoting religion. The newspaper Greenwich Time reports that former congressional candidate Lee Whitnum sued the town over the May 15, 2011, use of Town Hall by the UJA Federation of Greenwich for Israeli Independence Day. The events were on a Sunday when the Town Hall and offices are closed. Town officials did not comment on their decision to reject the settlement. Whitnum lost a 2008 House race against Rep. Jim Himes and a Senate campaign against Sen. Chris Murphy in 2012. CHINA-TIBET Tibet chief demands monasteries display Chinese flags BEIJING (AP) β Tibet’s Communist Party chief, Chen Quanguo, says Tibetan Buddhist monasteries must display the Chinese flag to show their allegiance to China. Demands to display Chinese flags have frequently sparked protests by Tibetans who complain of heavy-handed Chinese rule. Tibetan monks and nuns are among the most active opponents of Chinese rule in the region and face some of the harshest restrictions on their activities. In an editorial printed in state newspapers, Chen said Buddhist clergy must be “more conscious of patriotism, obedience to law, and the promotion of religious harmony.” He called for stepping-up legal and patriotic education in the monasteries β particularly on China’s regulations and restrictions on religious life and institutions β along with activities to select model temples, nuns and monks who display “advanced patriotism and obedience to law.” Communist forces occupied Tibet in 1951 following victory in the Chinese civil war.
