DENNIS HASTERT-WHEATON COLLEGE
Christian college removes Hastert’s name after indictment
WHEATON, Ill. (AP) β A Christian college in suburban Chicago has removed the name of former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert from an academic research center.
Wheaton College announced Sunday that what had been known as the J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government and Public Policy is now just named after the school. The center was established in 2007 when Hastert stepped down from Congress after eight years as speaker.
Hastert resigned from the research center’s board Friday, one day after the release of a federal indictment accusing him of violating banking laws by agreeing to pay $3.5 million in hush money to keep a person silent about unspecified “prior misconduct.”
Wheaton College says the center aims to help students understand “the redeeming effects of the Christian worldview on the practice of business, government and politics.”
In its statement, the college commits to pray for “Speaker Hastert, his family, and those who may have been harmed by any inappropriate behavior.”
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161-v-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–A Christian college in suburban Chicago has removed the name of former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert from an academic research center. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (31 May 2015)
< 162-c-22-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“government and politics”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that a Christian college is distancing itself from former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert after his federal indictment. (31 May 2015) < CONGRESS-SURVEILLANCE-PRAYER Prayer before Sunday’s Senate session pleads for guidance WASHINGTON (AP) β Congressional sessions typically open with prayer, but the plea for divine help before Sunday’s Senate session seemed especially appropriate. Just hours before a midnight expiration of key Patriot Act anti-terror provisions, Senate Chaplain Barry Black said God has protected America from its enemies, and Black expressed continuing trust “even in life’s storms.” He then prayed that members of Congress would become instruments of God’s will. The chaplain asked God to give members of the Senate “serenity to accept what they can’t change, and courage to change what they can.” Sound: 164-a-06-(Senate Chaplain Barry Black, praying the invocation before Sunday’s Senate session)-“of your will”-Senate Chaplain Barry Black asks God to guide the Congress. (31 May 2015) < 163-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Senate Chaplain Barry Black)–Congressional sessions typically open with prayer. But AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that the plea for divine help before Sunday’s Senate session seemed especially appropriate. (31 May 2015) < 165-a-10-(Senate Chaplain Barry Black, praying the invocation before Sunday’s Senate session)-“what they can”-Senate Chaplain Barry Black prays for the senators. ((cut used in wrap)) (31 May 2015) < SCHOOL SERMON LAWSUIT Judge erases suspensions from student preacher’s record EVERETT, Wash. (AP) β A judge has erased three suspensions from the high school record of a Washington-state student who preached and handed out Christian booklets. Cascade High School senior Michael Leal filed a lawsuit against Everett Public Schools last November, saying his constitutional right of free speech was being infringed. School officials said he was suspended for being disruptive, not for the content of his message. The Herald newspaper of Everett reports that federal Judge Thomas Zilly expunged Leal’s suspensions while upholding a school district policy that limits when and where students can hand out printed materials. The district policy says that students can only do so before or after the hours of instruction, and only outside the entrances of the school. The judge, however, tossed out a district requirement that the printed material be written or produced by the student. 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He says he is making himself available to prosecutors and trusts in “earthly justice.” Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo) said Friday he will pray for Paglia. Chaput says organizing for the Philadelphia event won’t be affected. OBIT-L TOM PERRY Top-ranking Mormon leader L. Tom Perry dies from cancer SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β A top-ranking Mormon leader, 92-year-old L. Tom Perry, has died from cancer. Church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement that Perry died Saturday at his home in Salt Lake City. Perry was diagnosed with cancer in late April. He began receiving radiation treatment and briefly returned to work as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a high-level governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But on May 29, church officials announced the cancer had spread aggressively. Perry was the second-most senior member of the quorum, having been chosen for the council in 1974. A replacement will be chosen by Church President Thomas Monson. Sound: 081-a-20-(Archive audio of L.Tom Perry, elder, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Latter Day Saints, in presentation at the General Conference, recorded in April 2014)-“the family unit”-In this archive audio from April of 2014, Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry spoke of his joy of having family members close by, just as his relatives were near when he was a child. (31 May 2015) < 079-a-17-(Archive audio of L.Tom Perry, elder, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Latter Day Saints, in presentation at the General Conference, recorded in April 2014)-“Father in heaven”-In this archive audio from April of 2014, Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry spoke of faith and obedience. (31 May 2015) < 080-a-19-(Archive audio of L.Tom Perry, elder, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Latter Day Saints, in presentation at the General Conference, recorded in April 2014)-“Jesus Christ. Amen”-In this archive audio from April of 2014, Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry said those who follow the teachings of the church will enjoy eternal life. (31 May 2015) < 184-a-19-(Archive audio of L.Tom Perry, elder, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Latter Day Saints, in presentation at the General Conference, recorded in April 2014)-“Jesus Christ. Amen”-In this archive audio from April of 2014, Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry said those who follow the teachings of the church will enjoy eternal life. (30 May 2015) < 185-a-20-(Archive audio of L.Tom Perry, elder, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Latter Day Saints, in presentation at the General Conference, recorded in April 2014)-“the family unit”-In this archive audio from April of 2014, Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry spoke of his joy of having family members close by, just as his relatives were near when he was a child. (30 May 2015) < 183-a-17-(Archive audio of L.Tom Perry, elder, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Latter Day Saints, in presentation at the General Conference, recorded in April 2014)-“Father in heaven”-In this archive audio from April of 2014, Latter Day Saints Elder L. Tom Perry spoke of faith and obedience. (30 May 2015) < ISRAEL DAY PARADE Israel Day Parade faces Jewish anti-Israel protesters NEW YORK (AP) β Marchers in the Israel Day Parade up New York’s Fifth Avenue have faced heckling from some Orthodox Jews who don’t believe Israel should exist. 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