CHARLESTON SHOOTING-FUNERAL
Hundreds attend 1st funerals for church shooting victims
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) β A funeral has been held In Charleston, South Carolina, for 70-year-old Ethel Lance, one of the nine people fatally shot last week at a Bible study.
Interim Pastor Norvel Goff said “Jesus called Ethel by her name” the night that she and other members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church were killed.
Lance served as a sexton at the church for the last five years, helping to keep the historic building clean, and she loved gospel music. She had five children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Grandson Brandon Risher told mourners, “She was a victim of hate, and she can be a symbol for love. That’s what she was in life.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gov. Nikki Haley, and the Rev. Al Sharpton were among those attending the service.
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286-a-07-(Brandon Risher, grandson of Ethel lance, at funeral for shooting victim Ethel Lance)-“was in life (applause fades)”-Brandon Risher, grandson of Ethel Lance, says she didn’t die in vain. (25 Jun 2015)
< 284-w-36-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Norvel Goff, and Brandon Risher, grandson of Ethel Lance)–In Charleston, South Carolina, a funeral has been held for 70-year-old Ethel Lance, one of the nine people fatally shot last week at a Bible study. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. ((opens with sound)) (25 Jun 2015) < 285-a-04-(The Rev. Norvel Goff, interim pastor of Emanuel AME Church, at funeral for shooting victim Ethel Lance)-“by her name”-The Rev. Norvel Goff, interim pastor of Emanuel AME Church, says God was with Ethel Lance the night she was killed. (25 Jun 2015) < CHURCH FIRE-INVESTIGATION Pastor of church damaged by fire forgives suspected arsonist CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The pastor of a predominantly black church damaged by a fire that authorities believe was intentionally set says he forgives whoever was responsible and wants to move forward. WBTV in Charlotte quotes the Rev. Mannix Kinsey of Briar Creek Road Baptist Church as saying that he was afraid at first the church would be destroyed by the early Wednesday morning fire. But Kinsey said the damage wasn’t as bad as he thought. Kinsey said he speaks for the church in forgiving whoever started the fire, which damaged a wing of the building that houses education. The rest of the property, including the sanctuary and gymnasium, has smoke damage. A Charlotte Fire Department investigator said total damage is estimated at more than $250,000. CHURCH FIRE-GEORGIA Fire at black Georgia church was arson, officials say MACON, Ga. (AP) β Authorities say a fire that damaged a predominantly black church in Georgia has been ruled arson. The fire was reported at God’s Power Church of Christ in Macon early Tuesday morning. Macon-Bibb County Fire Sgt. Ben Gleaton told local media outlets that investigators determined the fire was intentionally set but didn’t provide details. Gleaton says there’s no evidence indicating that the fire was a hate crime. Authorities have said electronics and other equipment also had been stolen from the building in two burglaries. NATIONAL CATHEDRAL-CONFEDERATE FLAG National Cathedral dean wants to remove Confederate windows WASHINGTON (AP) β The dean of Washington National Cathedral is calling for the removal of stained glass windows that depict the Confederate battle flag in the historic church. Cathedral Dean Gary Hall issued a statement Thursday saying windows honoring Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. Robert E. Lee should be removed. Both windows depict the Confederate flag. The cathedral installed the windows in 1953. Hall says the cathedral’s leadership at the time thought recognition for the Confederate leaders would foster reconciliation. But Hall says celebrating the lives of the Confederate generals and flag now does not promote healing or reconciliation, especially for African Americans. Hall says the Confederate flag has become the primary symbol of white supremacy. Hall says the cathedral should consider new windows representing the nation’s history of race and slavery. NOAH’S ARK PARK Noah’s big biblical boat being built as Kentucky attraction WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (AP) β In a rolling Kentucky pasture, the first few wooden ribs of a giant Noah’s ark tourist attraction have begun to sprout up. The Christian ministry Answers in Genesis says the ark will be 510 feet long ship when it’s finished next year. The religious theme park project that was announced nearly five years ago is still afloat, after hitting a stretch of rough waters. The ministry had to break the project into phases after private funding stalled a few years ago due to a soft economy. The ark is the first phase, and plans for other attractions at the site were put on hold. Answers in Genesis says it will pour nearly $90 million of private donations and bond funding into the attraction, which will be called the Ark Encounter. Kentucky has withdrawn a tourism incentive that would have meant about $18 million for the attraction, saying tax incentives shouldn’t “fund religious indoctrination.” Answers in Genesis has filed a federal lawsuit to get back into the incentive program, saying they should not be excluded because of their religious beliefs. EPISCOPAL CHURCH-ALCOHOL ABUSE Episcopal assembly responds to fatal drunken driving case SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β The top legislative body of the Episcopal Church is reviewing its policies on alcohol and addiction as part of the churchwide soul-searching over a Maryland assistant bishop charged with drunken driving while texting and killing a bicyclist. Leaders of the Episcopal General Convention, meeting in Salt Lake City, put the topic on the agenda after the criminal case against Heather Cook drew national attention. Cook, who has been defrocked, has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter, drunken driving and other charges. Episcopal leaders say the reexamination of policies about alcohol is not about implementing prohibition, but promoting responsible use and compassion for people struggling with addiction. The Episcopal Church allows social drinking, which often becomes part of parish events and congregational life. VATICAN-PHILADELPHIA Philly officials wrap Vatican meetings for pope visit VATICAN CITY (AP) β Philadelphia church officials say they’re confident about preparations for Pope Francis’ visit this fall, saying they’ve raised more than $30 million of the $45 million needed and have lined up 6,000 of the needed 10,000 volunteers. Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo) and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter have wrapped up four days of planning talks Thursday at the Vatican for the Sept. 22-27 World Meeting of Families. Francis arrives Sept. 26 and will celebrate a final Mass before upward of 1.5 million people. The meeting will be preceded by an international conference on Catholic family life. Asked if gay families will be welcome, Chaput said all families are welcome but that “We don’t want to provide a platform at the meeting for people to lobby for positions contrary to the life of our church.” Sound: 282-a-08-(Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), at news conference)-“of our church”-Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says the World Meeting of Families will neither bar nor promote gay families. (25 Jun 2015) < 280-a-09-(Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), at news conference)-“a civic event”-Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says private funds are needed to pay for the pope’s visit. (25 Jun 2015) < 283-a-10-(Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), at news conference)-“time, without exception”-Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says the World Meeting of Families won’t promote gay families. (25 Jun 2015) < 281-a-06-(Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), at news conference)-“like anybody else”-Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says gays won’t be excluded from the World Meeting of Families. (25 Jun 2015) < 230-a-10-(Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), Archbishop of Philadelphia, at news conference)-“center of Philadelphia”-Charles Chaput, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, says he expects people of all races and creeds to come see Pope Francis. (25 Jun 2015) < 231-a-09-(Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), Archbishop of Philadelphia, at news conference)-“than half way”-Charles Chaput, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, says his team is making good progress as it prepares for Pope Francis’ September visit. (25 Jun 2015) < 232-a-17-(Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo), Archbishop of Philadelphia, at news conference)-“reaching that goal”-Charles Chaput, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, says many volunteers are needed for the September visit of Pope Francis. (25 Jun 2015) < GAY CONVERSION-LAWSUIT Jury finds promise of ‘gay conversion’ therapy was a fraud JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) β A jury has ruled that a Jewish nonprofit that offers so-called gay conversion therapy violated New Jersey’s consumer fraud act. The jury found Thursday that Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing and group co-founder Arthur Goldberg made false promises that it could turn gay men straight. Three men and two parents were awarded $72,000 in the civil judgment. The judge will rule later on their request to revoke the company’s license. Four young men sued the group in 2012 under New Jersey’s consumer fraud laws. One man dropped out, but his mother remained. The plaintiffs say the group lied about its success rate and used methods that had no scientific basis. The group says it didn’t make guarantees and should be allowed to help people struggling with their sexuality. CHURCH ABUSE-MINNESOTA Charges against archdiocese may jeopardize insurance payouts ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) β Lawyers for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are warning that the criminal charges it faces could jeopardize insurance coverage that’s being counted on to pay some claims of victims of clergy abuse. The archdiocese faces multiple counts for allegedly failing to protect victims from a former St. Paul priest. Archdiocese insurers were already questioning whether they were liable to cover abuse claims. University of Minnesota law professor Christopher Soper told Minnesota Public Radio News that the insurers’ case is strengthened because the charges allege the archdiocese knew about problems and didn’t protect kids. He says most insurance policies don’t cover intentional or criminal acts. Abuse victims have until Aug. 3 to file claims in bankruptcy court. So far, roughly 100 claims have been filed.
