CHURCH FIRES
Federal officials investigate recent fires at black churches
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β Federal authorities say they are investigating recent fires at predominantly black churches, though the blazes do not appear to be related.
A federal law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity says a fire Friday at a church in South Carolina does not appear to have been intentionally set.
The official said another church fire Wednesday in North Carolina appeared to be set by vandals, and investigators have found no graffiti or other evidence that it was racially motivated.
In Georgia, the FBI says authorities are looking into whether a June 23 fire could be a hate crime, which is common practice for fires at houses of worship.
Another fire was reported at a Seventh Day Adventist church in Knoxville, Tennessee, which has a predominantly black congregation. Knoxville police had previously said the fire was not being investigated as a hate crime. Authorities have said bales of hay outside the church were set on fire, and a church van was damaged in the blaze.
Sound:
322-v-35-(Carlotta Bradley, AP correspondent)–Federal authorities say they are investigating recent fires at predominantly black churches, though the blazes do not appear to be related. AP correspondent Carlotta Bradley reports. (29 Jun 2015)
< CHARLESTON SHOOTING South Carolina church holds its last funeral for victim of deadly attack CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) β A woman who earned her preacher’s license the day she was killed at a South Carolina church along with eight others has been honored in the last victim’s funeral at the scene of the shooting. Myra Thompson was remembered in a Monday service at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Five other victims of the deadly shooting had services there this weekend, bringing political and religious leaders to the historic African-American church. Friends and family say the 59-year-old Thompson was a studious hard worker who led the church’s property committee and served on its board of trustees. At a court hearing last week, Thompson’s widower told the white male suspect, Dylann Storm Roof, that the family forgave him and asked him to repent. CHARLESTON SHOOTING-OKLAHOMA CHURCHES Oklahoma churches discuss security after Charleston slayings OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β Some Oklahoma churches are reviewing their security measures after nine people were gunned down at a historic African-American church in South Carolina. The Oklahoman reported that several clergy leaders say there’s a fine balance between the hospitality their churches offer and operating with a sense of caution that has heightened since the killings in Charleston. The Rev. D. Lavel Crawford, a senior pastor with the Avery Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, said church leaders are taking extra precautions, with plans to add security cameras. But he adds that taking those steps doesn’t mean that his congregation is submitting to fear. The Rev. A. Byron Coleman of Fifth Street Baptist Church said armed officers have provided security on Sundays for many years, but initially those measures were taken to prevent theft of tithes and offerings collected during a worship service. CHICAGO ARCHBISHOP-GAY MARRIAGE Chicago’s archbishop calls for compassion toward gay people CHICAGO (AP) β Archbishop Blase Cupich (blayz SOO’-pich) of Chicago is calling on Roman Catholics to be compassionate toward gay people following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. He says the rapid social changes signaled by the ruling “call us to mature and serene reflections” as we move forward together. Cupich says the Catholic Church “has an abiding concern for the dignity of gay” people and its teachings call on members to avoid “unjust discrimination in their regard. He says the respect “must be real, not rhetorical, and ever reflective” of the Church’s commitment to accept all people. Cupich says the Church must extend support to all families, no matter their circumstances, but he added that the Supreme Court decision that redefined civil marriage has no bearing on the Catholic sacrament of matrimony, which is between a man and woman. SUPREME COURT-DEATH PENALTY-BIBLE Justices allow new hearings in North Carolina capital cases WASHINGTON (AP) β The Supreme Court has left in place lower court rulings ordering hearings over jurors in two North Carolina death penalty trials who reached beyond the jury room for biblical references to help their deliberations. The justices have rejected North Carolina’s appeal of two rulings by the federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia. In one case, a juror called her father in search of a biblical verse to help her decide between life and death for a defendant who was sentenced to death for the 2002 shooting death of an acquaintance in North Carolina. The father pointed her to a verse containing the phrase “an eye for an eye.” The appeals court ordered hearings to determine if jurors were improperly influenced. ISLAMIC SCHOLAR RELEASED Judge tosses feds’ terrorism allegation against Florida imam ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) β A federal judge says prosecutors took snippets of information out of context to create a nonexistent terrorism plot by an Islamic scholar in Florida. U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell last week ordered the imam, Marcus Robertson of Orlando, released from jail for time served. Presnell called prosecutors’ efforts to give Robertson a terrorism enhancement during sentencing “woefully inadequate.” The enhancement could have imprisoned Robertson for up to 10 years. Robertson was convicted of tax fraud in 2013. Prosecutors claimed he committed the fraud to pay for another man to go to Mauritania to be trained in violent jihad. Prosecutors backed up their claim by saying Robertson’s computer contained documents by Islamic extremists. But the judge noted those documents were only about 20 works out of 10,000 on the computer. SUPREME COURT-TEXAS ABORTION Supreme Court blocks Texas abortion-clinic rules WASHINGTON (AP) β The Supreme Court is refusing to allow Texas to enforce restrictions that would force 10 abortion clinics to close. The justices voted 5-4 on Monday granting an emergency appeal from the clinics after a federal appeals court upheld new regulations and refused to keep them on hold while the clinics appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court order will remain in effect at least until the court decides whether to hear the clinics’ appeal of the lower court ruling, not before the fall. FRANCE-ATTACK France has expelled ‘about 10’ radical preachers this year PARIS (AP) β France’s top security official says the government has expelled “about 10” radical imams and preachers since the beginning of the year and a total of 40 since 2012. The country’s interior minister told Europe 1 radio that France will not tolerate “preachers of hatred.” He spoke three days after a man was accused of beheading his boss and then trying to cause an explosion at a U.S.-owned gas factory in southeastern France. He had been flagged in 2006 for ties to radical Muslims, but surveillance was lifted in 2008. SCHOOL VOUCHERS-COLORADO Colorado’s high court blocks school voucher program DENVER (AP) β The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that a school voucher program in suburban Denver violates the state constitution because it provides funding for students to attend religious schools. The ruling Monday reverses a Colorado Court of Appeals decision upholding the program. Justices directed the case back to Denver District Court so that an order permanently blocking the program can be reinstated. Opponents of the program in Douglas County argue the vouchers violate state constitutional provisions barring the use of taxpayer money to fund religious schools. Supporters contend that the vouchers simply provide parents a choice of where to send their children to school. The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado challenged the program. Sound: 325-a-13-(Heather Weaver, senior staff attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, in AP interview)-“violate that principle”-Heather Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU, says the Colorado Supreme Court made the right decision. (29 Jun 2015) < 326-a-18-(Heather Weaver, senior staff attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, in AP interview)-“of public money”-Heather Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU, says public money shouldn’t be used for vouchers that can be used at religious schools. (29 Jun 2015) < 323-a-11-(Gregory Baylor, senior counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“and their families”-Gregory Baylor, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, says parents should be able to get school vouchers to send their children to the school of their choice. (29 Jun 2015) < 324-a-18-(Gregory Baylor, senior counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“federal first amendment”-Gregory Baylor, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, says the Colorado Supreme Court made the wrong decision. (29 Jun 2015) < VACCINES-CALIFORNIA California Legislature passes strict school vaccine bill SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) β California Governor Jerry Brown hasn’t said if he will sign a bill that would impose one of the strictest school vaccination laws in the country. State lawmakers passed the bill in reaction to a recent measles outbreak at Disneyland. The bill strikes California’s personal belief exemption for immunizations. Mississippi and West Virginia are the only two states with such strict requirements in place. Parents opposed to the bill vow to take legal action even though the issue has been upheld in court, including by the Supreme Court. If the bill becomes law, medical exemptions would still be granted to children with serious health issues. Children whose parents refuse vaccination can try to get a medical exemption or be homeschooled. Otherwise, school-age children who currently claim a personal belief exemption will need to get fully vaccinated by kindergarten and seventh grade, the state’s two vaccine checkpoints. Sound: 288-a-10-(Hannah Henry, supporter of vaccination bill, spokeswoman for Vaccinate California, with reporters)-“can’t be vaccinated”-Hannah Henry, who’s a spokeswoman for the group Vaccinate California, says there’s no arguing the benefits of vaccinating school-age children. (29 Jun 2015) < 287-a-14-(State Senator Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, co-sponsor of vaccines bill, with reporters)-“education as well”-California state Senator Richard Pan says the bill he co-sponsored that would require the vaccination of virtually all children is for the good of the public. (29 Jun 2015) < 290-a-14-(Jude Tovatt, opponent of vaccination bill, member California Coalition for Health Choice, with reporters)-“the government decide”-Jude Tovatt of the group California Coalition for Health Choice, says the mandatory vaccinations bill amounts to government overreach. (29 Jun 2015) < 289-a-11-(State Senate GOP Leader Bob Huff, R-29th Senate District, in remarks)-“a no vote”-California state Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff says the mandatory vaccination bill goes too far. Updated: 06/29/2015-07:31:36 PM ET (29 Jun 2015) < FARGO CHAPEL Diocese closes chapel near North Dakota’s only abortion clinic FARGO, N.D. (AP) β The Catholic bishop in Fargo has ordered the closure of a chapel that was purposely opened four years ago near North Dakota’s only abortion clinic. A diocese spokeswoman told a local radio station (KFGO-AM) that Bishop John Folda made “the tough decision to stop using the chapel” because of a change in building ownership and lease terms. Donations paid for the costs of running the chapel. The chapel gained national attention when former Bishop Samuel Aquila established it in 2011. The chapel was open on days when abortions are performed at the clinic. The spokeswoman says services that were scheduled to coincide with abortions at the clinic are now being held at the diocese headquarters in south Fargo. HOMELESS JESUS-STATUE Homeless Jesus statue debuts outside downtown Detroit church DETROIT (AP) β A statue of a homeless Jesus sleeping on a park bench is getting a lot of attention. It was recently unveiled in front of a Detroit church that serves as a warming center for the homeless. The bronze sculpture at Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Catholic Church in downtown Detroit shows a life-size man lying on a park bench. Feet protruding from a blanket bear the marks of crucifixion. Parish pastor, Reverend Gary Wright, says people are sitting on the bench and taking pictures with the Jesus figure. He says the artist who created it hopes people who see it will reflect on the human condition. He says the artwork can be a catalyst for awareness. Sound: 334-a-12-(Father Gary Wright, pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, in AP interview)-“poor they are”-Father Gary Wright, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, says the artist who created the homeless Jesus statue hopes it touches people emotionally. (29 Jun 2015) < 333-a-08-(Father Gary Wright, pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, in AP interview)-“are taking pictures”-Father Gary Wright, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, says people are interacting with the homeless Jesus statue. (29 Jun 2015) < 335-a-16-(Father Gary Wright, pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, in AP interview)-“I be responding”-Father Gary Wright, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, says the homeless Jesus statue can be a catalyst for awareness. (29 Jun 2015) < 332-a-17-(Father Gary Wright, pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, in AP interview)-“in the feet”-Father Gary Wright, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, describes the “homeless Jesus” statue. (29 Jun 2015) < MEDICAL WORKERS-CHURH RESCUE Medical workers attending church save woman’s life GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) β Medical workers attending church in North Carolina demonstrated the meaning of providence when they saved the life of a woman who passed out prior to the service. A Greenville radio station (WNCT) reports the workers were at Unity Free Will Baptist Church when a woman passed out before services got underway. Nurse manager Tammy Payne and three other workers from Vidant Medical Center in Greenville used an automated external defibrillator the church obtained last year. Payne says she felt for the woman’s pulse before a doctor showed up, and while they found in initially, they lost it again and used CPR and the defibrillator. The woman is recovering in the hospital from what is believed to have been a heart attack. KANSAS-REFLECTION ROOM University of Kansas sets up reflection room for all faiths LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) β The University of Kansas will offer a meditation and reflection room for people of all faiths and beliefs, beginning this fall. The Lawrence Journal-World reported that establishing the room was a yearlong process led in part by Shegufta Huma, a Muslim who said students of her faith met in small spaces across campus for 10-to-15-minute prayer sessions they hold several times a day. The reflection room will be in a small conference room in the Kansas Union. It will be non-denominational and encourage tolerance of all faiths, spiritual beliefs and practices. CHRISTIAN FICTION CAROL AWARDS FINALISTS Finalists have been announced for the 2015 carol Awards ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) β Finalists for the 2015 Carol Awards have been announced by the organization American Christian Fiction Writers. The finalists are in eleven categories of Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year. ACFW is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian fiction. It says its mission is to advance Christian fiction by inspiring writers to join with God in the creative process, training them in the craft, and educating them in the publishing industry. The awards will be given out at the ACFW conference in Dallas in September. The awards are named for Carol Johnson a pioneer in Christian fiction in the 1970s and ’80s. Sound: 339-a-12-(Cynthia Ruchti (RUK-tee), spokeswoman, American Christian Fiction Writers, in AP interview)-“Texas this year”-Cynthia Ruchti, with the group American Christian Fiction Writers, says the 2015 Carol Awards will be given out in September. (29 Jun 2015) < 337-a-12-(Cynthia Ruchti (RUK-tee), spokeswoman, American Christian Fiction Writers, in AP interview)-“the debut novelist”-Cynthia Ruchti, with the group American Christian Fiction Writers, says the Carol Awards honor the best in Christian fiction in eleven categories. (29 Jun 2015) < 336-a-09-(Cynthia Ruchti (RUK-tee), spokeswoman, American Christian Fiction Writers, in AP interview)-“previous calendar year”-Cynthia Ruchti, with the group American Christian Fiction Writers, says finalists for the 2015 Carol Awards have been announced. (29 Jun 2015) < 338-a-12-(Cynthia Ruchti (RUK-tee), spokeswoman, American Christian Fiction Writers, in AP interview)-“with the readers”-Cynthia Ruchti, with the group American Christian Fiction Writers, says the 2015 Carol Awards will honor the best Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year. (29 Jun 2015) < (note nature of the following item) POPE ART OBJECTIONS-MILWAUKEE Condom portrait of Pope Benedict criticized by archbishop MILWAUKEE (AP) β The Milwaukee Art Museum has handled dozens of complaints from angry Catholics and others over its plans to display a portrait of Pope Benedict that is made from 17,000 condoms. Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki says the museum’s decision to display the piece is insulting and callous. Some patrons have dropped their membership, and at least one donor has ended financial support of the museum. Museum director Daniel Keegan says the portrait is meant to spark a conversation about AIDS and AIDS education. He says that just as a pope can comment on secular issues, art can comment on a religious topic. The museum announced the acquisition of the piece by Niki Johnson this month. But, it won’t go on display until this fall because the museum’s permanent collection galleries are closed for renovation. Sound: %@AP Links 331-a-15-(Daniel Keegan, director, Milwaukee Art Museum, in AP interview)-“about gobal warming”-Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, says just as a pope can comment on secular issues, art can comment on religious topics. (29 Jun 2015) < 327-a-16-(Daniel Keegan, director, Milwaukee Art Museum, in AP interview)-“crisis in Africa”-Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, describes the artwork that some critics see as controversial. (cut contains the word condoms) (29 Jun 2015) < 329-a-09-(Daniel Keegan, director, Milwaukee Art Museum, in AP interview)-“even religious issues”-Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, says art by its very nature is open to interpretation. (29 Jun 2015) < 328-a-09-(Daniel Keegan, director, Milwaukee Art Museum, in AP interview)-“crisis in Africa”-Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, says the artist who created the portrait of Pope Benedict did so because of what the pontiff has said about AIDS in Africa. (29 Jun 2015) < 330-a-14-(Daniel Keegan, director, Milwaukee Art Museum, in AP interview)-“for that conversation”-Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, says many of the people who are criticizing have probably never seen it. (29 Jun 2015) <
