JOSH MCDOWELL-RESISTING PORN
Internet porn is called worst threat to Christians
WASHINGTON (AP) — Christian author Josh McDowell says internet pornography is undermining the church more than gay marriage.
McDowell says laws that declare traditional beliefs bigoted may actually help Christian families “stand out more” and present a positive example to their neighbors, but addiction to pornography is destroying pastors, church members and their marriages.
His latest book is titled “God-Breathed: The Undeniable Power and Reliability of Scripture.” In it, McDowell sets out to prove that the Bible is God’s truth, and that applying it to life and relationships can give people “victory, even in the area of pornography.”
McDowell, who’s now 75, says he’s confident that his mission of declaring the truth of Christianity is in good hands. He says young men and women are “coming to the forefront in apologetics more than probably ever before in the history of the church.”
Online: http://www.readgodbreathed.com/
Sound:
254-a-11-(Josh McDowell, Christian author, in AP interview)-“pervasive internet pornography”-Christian author Josh McDowell says Christians today face a bigger threat than gay marriage. (22 Apr 2015)
< 253-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Christian author Josh McDowell)–Christian author Josh McDowell says internet pornography is undermining the church more than gay marriage. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Apr 2015) < 257-a-19-(Josh McDowell, Christian author, in AP interview)-“pretty good hands”-Christian author Josh McDowell says he’s 75, but a younger generation is stepping up to proclaim the truth of Christianity. ((note length of cut)) (22 Apr 2015) < 256-a-12-(Josh McDowell, Christian author, in AP interview)-“to your neighbor”-Christian author Josh McDowell says his new book is titled “God-Breathed.” (22 Apr 2015) < 255-a-15-(Josh McDowell, Christian author, in AP interview)-“area of pornography”-Christian author Josh McDowell says the Bible can help people overcome addiction to pornography. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (22 Apr 2015) < GAY MARRIAGE-MINISTERS Oklahoma House, Senate pass religious freedom legislation OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation that would protect members of the clergy who refuse to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony has been approved by the Oklahoma House and Senate. The House voted 87-8 for the bill Wednesday while a nearly identical bill passed the Senate on a 38-5 vote. All opposing votes came from Democrats. The bills protect clergy members and others authorized to perform weddings from being required to perform them if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. They also shield churches from being required to participate in the ceremonies. Troy Stevenson of Freedom Oklahoma, which advocates for the rights of gay and transgender Oklahomans, says he believes the bills are unnecessary but that he supports the spirit of the laws. ALABAMA-ADOPTIONS Committee votes to let adoption agencies refuse gay couples MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama legislative committee has approved a bill that would allow private adoption agencies to turn away gay couples on religious grounds. The House State Government Committee passed the measure Wednesday on a 6-4 vote. The bill says groups could not be forced to participate in adoptions and foster care placements that violate their religious beliefs. It would prohibit the state from refusing to license, or contract with, child care service providers that refuse the services on religious grounds. Proponents said it is needed to protect religious-affiliated organizations from being forced to go against their religious convictions. Opponents said it could legalize a broad range of discrimination in the name of religion. The bill does not mention homosexuality, but proponents said it is in anticipation of legalized same-sex marriage. MICHIGAN-ADOPTIONS Senate committee approves religious objection adoption bills LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Faith-based agencies could refuse to participate in adoptions involving gay couples or prospective parents on grounds of religious beliefs under bills heard and approved in two hours Wednesday by a Michigan Senate committee. The bills would also prevent governments from refusing to issue a license or provide funding for adoption agencies that exercise such objections. The committee approved the three bills 4-1 along party lines. The GOP-led House passed the bills mostly along party lines in March. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has said he fears the adoption legislation could lead to lawsuits. Supporters say the adoption legislation codifies existing practice and won’t prevent anyone from adopting because agencies that choose not to work with prospective adoptive parents would refer them to other places. PUBLIC MEETINGS-PRAYERS Federal judge: Hamilton County prayer policy constitutional NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Officials in Hamilton County, Tennessee, may continue asking local clergy to deliver prayers before commission meetings. In a Wednesday ruling, U.S. District Judge Sandy Mattice cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions that prayers offered before the meetings of legislative bodies are constitutional. He quoted a 2014 Supreme Court decision that reads, in part, “legislative prayer lends gravity to public business, reminds lawmakers to transcend petty differences in pursuit of a higher purpose, and expresses a common aspiration to a just and peaceful society.” Two Chattanooga men had claimed that the prayers given before Hamilton County Commission meetings improperly promote Christianity. Mattice rejected those claims. In his order, he noted that Jewish and Unitarian Universalist clergy have been among those chosen to give invocations. Hamilton County selects invocation speakers from a list of all the religious congregations in the local Yellow Pages, and others may request inclusion. The commission does not review the invocations in advance and only asks that the prayers neither proselytize nor denigrate the religious faith or non-religious views of others. VATICAN-CUBA Vatican confirms pope will stop in Cuba stop en route to US VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis will visit Cuba before arriving in the United States in late September. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed the Cuba leg to reporters Wednesday. He didn’t provide details or dates. Francis has been credited with helping the United States and Cuba reach their historic rapprochement by writing to the leaders of both countries and having the Vatican host their delegations for the final negotiations. The pope’s visit to Cuba would be a way for him to push the process forward. Francis is scheduled to visit three U.S. cities starting around Sept. 23. He will address Congress and meet with President Barack Obama at the White House, address the U.N. in New York and attend a church rally for families in Philadelphia. FRANCE-ATTACK THWARTED French official: extremist was planning attack on church PARIS (AP) — France’s top security official says police arrested an Islamic extremist in Paris as he was preparing to attack one or more churches. The man is also accused of killing a young woman shortly before he was arrested Sunday. The 24-year-old computer science student had lived in France for several years and had been flagged by security officials last year. A French security official says the suspect was arrested after he apparently shot himself in the leg by accident and called for an ambulance. An attack on a church would be a new target in France, where Jewish sites have been under increased protection since the 2012 attack on a Jewish school and the killings at a kosher supermarket this year. Extremists have targeted Christians in the Middle East. A video released on Sunday showed Islamic State militants in Libya killing captive Ethiopian Christians. Sound: 132-c-16-(Lori Hinnant, AP correspondent)-“a formal investigation”-AP correspondent Lori Hinnant reports even though the potential attack was stopped, it’s still very worrisome. (22 Apr 2015) < 130-c-11-(Lori Hinnant, AP correspondent)-“he was targeting”-AP correspondent Lori Hinnant reports a French security official says the 24-year-old suspect was arrested after he apparently shot himself and called for an ambulance. (22 Apr 2015) < 131-c-17-(Lori Hinnant, AP correspondent)-“as his arrest”-AP correspondent Lori Hinnant reports the 24-year-old computer science student had been flagged by security officials last year. (22 Apr 2015) < IRANIAN ACTIVIST SLAIN Jordanian immigrant family charged in activist’s death HOUSTON (AP) — Three members of a Jordanian immigrant family have been charged in Texas with killing an Iranian activist who authorities say persuaded a family member to leave her home and marry a Christian man. They’re also accused of killing the man. Ali Awad Mah Irsan, the 57-year-old head of the family, is charged with capital murder in the 2012 deaths of Gelerah Bagherzadeh (geh-LAH’-reh bag-HUR’-zah-deh) and son-in-law Coty Beavers. Charged with murder are his wife, Shmou Alrawabdeh (SHMOO’ al-RAH’-wahb-deh), and son Nasim Irsan. Charged with felony stalking is daughter Nadia Irsan, whom investigators say tracked her sister after she left home. Father, mother and daughter are already in federal custody awaiting sentencing in an unrelated disability fraud case. A defense attorney says the family had nothing to do with the slayings. ISLAMIC CONCERNS Radical Islam fears emerge during Idaho legislative session BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former Muslim turned Christian pastor has warned a crowd at a Republican Party event about the threat of Muslims coming into Idaho, the most recent in a string of concerns over radical Islam that have surfaced this year in the conservative state. Shahram Hadian spoke to the Bonner County Republican Women on Tuesday, saying that Muslims who support Sharia law and aim to kill anyone who doesn’t agree with their interpretation of Islam are trying to move to the United States, and to Idaho. The event comes less than two weeks after a House panel killed a child support enforcement bill by one vote, potentially dismantling Idaho’s child support enforcement system after Idahoans testified the state could potentially be bound to enforce Islamic Law under the act. MUSLIM INMATE-LAWSUIT 2nd Muslim woman sues jail over church attendance CLEVELAND (AP) — A second Muslim woman has sued an Ohio county alleging she was forced to participate in Christian services. Sonya Abderrazzaq says in the suit filed Tuesday that a correction officer told her attendance at Christian services was mandatory and she would be punished if she didn’t go. Northeast Ohio Media Group reports that it happened while the woman was serving a six-month sentence at the Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County jail in 2014 for a drunk driving conviction. The claims are similar to those made by Sakeena Majeed in a lawsuit filed in December. She says she was threatened with solitary confinement if she didn’t attend the services. The county denied Majeed’s claims in a court document filed in February. TRACTOR FATAL Pastor killed after tractor overturns in Suffolk SUFFOLK, Va. (AP) — Authorities say a pastor died after a tractor he was operating overturned in Suffolk, Virginia. Suffolk police say 44-year-old Adam Thourogood Sr. of Chesapeake was pronounced dead at the scene. Thourogood was senior pastor at the New Jerusalem Church of God In Christ in Virginia Beach. The cause of the accident is under investigation. MORMON LEADER-HOSPITALIZED Mormon leader L. Tom Perry hospitalized SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ninety-two-year-old L. Tom Perry, one of the highest-ranking leaders of the Mormon church, is hospitalized with breathing difficulties. Church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement that Perry is undergoing tests and observations. Perry is the second-most senior member of the high-level Mormon governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Perry has been in the Quorum since 1974. He spent his professional career as a vice president and treasurer in retail business. He’s originally from Logan, Utah. Perry spoke earlier this month at the faith’s biannual conference in Salt Lake City. He said the religion would be a leading advocate for traditional families and speak out against “counterfeit and alternative lifestyles.” NAVAJO ACCOMMODATIONS Appeals court: Navajo inmate can wear headband, eat venison MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal court has ruled that a Navajo Indian imprisoned in Wisconsin can wear a headband in his cell and celebrate a tribal feast with wild venison. David Schlemm filed a federal lawsuit in 2011 demanding that he be allowed to wear a colorful headband while he prays and celebrate his tribe’s annual Ghost Feast with tacos containing venison rather than the beef stew prison officials offer. In reversing a lower court decision, a three-judge panel from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Schlemm’s headband isn’t a plausible means of signaling gang membership since he has offered to wear it only in his cell or at group religious ceremonies and it will contain only earth tones that aren’t associated with gangs. As for the wild venison, the appeals panel said that saving a few dollars and a “bureaucratic desire” to follow the rules aren’t compelling reasons to deny the meat.
