POPE-SOUTH AMERICA
Pope arrives in Bolivia amid church-state tensions
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) β Arriving in Bolivia on the second leg of his South American tour, Pope Francis has insisted that the Catholic Church continue to play an important role in society amid efforts by the government of President Evo Morales to curb its influence.
At an airport welcome ceremony with Morales by his side, Francis praised Bolivia for taking “important steps” to include the poor and marginalized in the political and economic life of South America’s poorest country.
Under Morales’ leadership Bolivia’s economy has grown thanks to booming prices for its natural gas. But Morales has roiled the local church by taking a series of anti-clerical initiatives, including the new constitution that made the overwhelmingly Catholic nation a secular country.
In his speech, Francis said the Catholic faith took “deep root” in Bolivia centuries ago “and has continued to shed its light upon society.”
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
264-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Pope Francis)–Arriving in Bolivia on the second leg of his South American tour, Pope Francis has insisted that the Catholic Church continue to play an important role in society amid efforts by the government to curb its influence. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (8 Jul 2015)
< 249-r-13-(Pope Francis, thanking people at his arrival ceremony in Bolivia)–Sound of Pope Francis thanking people at his arrival ceremony in Bolivia. (8 Jul 2015) < 250-r-18-(Sound of singers, greeting Pope Francis at his arrival ceremony in Bolivia)–Sound of singers greeting Pope Francis at his arrival ceremony in Bolivia. (8 Jul 2015) < POPE VISIT-CONGRESS Pope’s speech to Congress to be broadcast on National Mall WASHINGTON (AP) β Pope Francis’ historic speech to Congress in September will be broadcast on Jumbotrons on the National Mall. That according to House Speaker John Boehner. Boehner says the pontiff wants to make a brief appearance on the West Front of the Capitol after his speech on Sept. 24. Boehner, who is Catholic, invited the pontiff to address Congress in March 2014, and the Vatican accepted the invitation in February. Jumbotrons typically are used for presidential inaugurations. This arrangement will allow tens of thousands to watch the pope’s address to a joint meeting of Congress from the Mall. The speech marks the first time a pope will address Congress. The pope will meet with President Barack Obama and make stops in Philadelphia and New York during his visit to the United States. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 172-v-32-(Jerry Bodlander, AP correspondent)–In an event that will rival presidential inaugurations, the papal speech to Congress will be shown outside on the Capitol grounds. AP correspondent Jerry Bodlander reports. (8 Jul 2015) < RIGHT-TO-DIE-CALIFORNIA Catholic Church gets win in liberal California Legislature LOS ANGELES (AP) β The Catholic Church, often out of step with California’s liberal Legislature, has notched a victory at the statehouse after aligning with advocates for the disabled and medical groups to defeat a proposal to allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives. Tuesday’s decision by a legislative committee to shelve the bill followed weeks of lobbying by competing interest groups over whether to make California the next state to allow physicians to legally prescribe fatal medication, following Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez wrote to the Assembly Health Committee last month, warning against a state that responds to suffering by, in his words, “making it easier for people to kill themselves.” An archdiocese website urged volunteers to get involved. Parishioners and seminarians called and met with legislators. Tim Rosales of Californians Against Assisted Suicide said member organizations, ranging from clergy to medical groups, accounted for thousands of emails and phone calls to lawmakers over the course of the debate. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE-FIRING Catholic school teacher says gay marriage cost her her job MERION, Pa. (AP) β The director of religious education at a suburban Philadelphia Catholic school says she was fired because of her same-sex marriage. Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion sent an email Friday informing parents of Margie Winters’ dismissal. Principal Nell Stetser said the school must comply with Catholic teaching and that she had a duty to protect its future. Winters was hired in 2007. She married another woman the same year in Boston. Winters told the Philadelphia Inquirer that she was told she could be open with faculty but should avoid discussing her personal life with parents. Winters said she kept a low profile about her marriage but at least two students’ parents found out and complained. Lower Merion Township has an ordinance that protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. But religious institutions are exempt unless they are supported at least in part by government appropriations. GAY MARRIAGE-OHIO Ohio judge wants to know if he can refuse gay weddings TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) β A judge who refused to marry a same-sex couple now wonders if he can avoid performing gay weddings altogether. Toledo Municipal Court Judge C. Allen McConnell said he didn’t marry the couple earlier this week because of his personal and religious beliefs. Another judge was brought in to perform the wedding the same day. In a statement, McConnell said, “I apologize to the couple for the delay they experienced and wish them the best.” He also said he’ll continue to perform weddings between men and women while he waits to hear if he can opt out of same-sex marriages. The judge said he would seek an opinion from the Ohio Supreme Court, but court spokesman Bret Crow said the request would need to go before a board that handles conduct and ethics matters involving judges. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM-UTAH GOVERNOR Governor: Utah may look at more religious protections PROVO, Utah (AP) β Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says state lawmakers may need to look at whether more religious protections are needed after the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Herbert made the comments Wednesday during a religious liberty conference at Brigham Young University in Provo. The governor says legalizing gay marriage through the courts instead of through voters or legislatures meant religious protections were not part of the discussion or decision. Herbert didn’t endorse or suggest any specific protections for people of faith and said any effort to shore up religious rights should also include discussions about protecting LGBT people from discrimination. The governor says that kind of cooperation led to Utah’s limited anti-discrimination law passed earlier this year. CHURCH OF CANNABIS-INDIANA Pot-smoking Indianapolis church sues over marijuana laws INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β A pot-smoking Indianapolis church is suing the city and state, claiming laws against possession and use of marijuana infringe on its religious beliefs. The First Church of Cannabis, formed as a test of Indiana’s new religious objections law, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Marion Circuit Court. The defendants include Gov. Mike Pence and state and local law enforcement officers. The lawsuit says church members believe marijuana “brings us closer to ourselves and others. It is our fountain of health, our love, curing us from illness and depression.” There was no marijuana during the church’s first service on July 1, which was monitored by more than 20 police officers. Local officials had threatened arrests if marijuana was present. TASER RAFFLE Pastor buying raffle tickets to save official from stun gun VAN METER, Iowa (AP) β An Iowa clergyman is buying raffle tickets, hoping that by winning he can spare a city official from being shocked by a stun gun. The city of Van Meter has been selling raffle tickets as part of a public safety fundraiser. The winner will get the opportunity to use a stun gun on City Administrator Jake Anderson or Councilman Bob Lacy. A pastor at Van Meter Baptist Church, the Rev. Paul Porter, has been raising money to buy as many raffle tickets as he can. He told The Des Moines Register that if he wins, neither man will get shocked. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa has condemned the event as an improper and dangerous use of a stun gun. MILWAUKEE-ARCHDIOCESE-BANKRUPTCY Milwaukee archdiocese asks Supreme Court to weigh in on fund MILWAUKEE (AP) β The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on whether a cemetery trust fund is off-limits in the Roman Catholic archdiocese’s bankruptcy case. Archbishop Jerome Listecki has asked the court to review a March ruling by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court said the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protects religious organizations from government interference, doesn’t protect the money because creditors who are seeking a share of the fund aren’t the government. The Journal Sentinel says the archdiocese argues that the ruling is at odds with decisions in other federal courts. Attorneys for clergy sex abuse victims have accused New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan of establishing the trust fund when he was archbishop of Milwaukee to shield money from their clients. SOUTH DAKOTA POLYGAMISTS Attorney says polygamist’s faith relevant to water hearing PIERRE, S.D. (AP) β The attorney for a South Dakota woman attempting to stop a polygamous sect from using more water at its compound says the group’s faith and background are relevant to whether regulators should grant the request. Attorney Michael Hickey says the group’s practices can help show whether it’s in the public’s interest to grant the permit for more water. Hickey represents Linda Van Dyke Kilcoin, whose property is near the compound. The sect wants to double the amount of water available at the compound and has asked a state board to block discussion of its faith. The South Dakota Water Management Board will consider the group’s request for more water Thursday. Jeffrey Connolly, an attorney for the sect, argues the group’s faith isn’t relevant to the application. FIRED TROOPER Judge: Sunni Muslim trooper fired for his faith KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β A federal judge says the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security was guilty of discrimination in the firing of a Muslim state trooper. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell ruled in June that the agency violated the rights of De’Ossie Dingus by firing him in 2010 after the 10-year highway patrol veteran was dubbed a potential terrorist without any proof. Military liaison Maj. Kevin Taylor labeled Dingus a potential terrorist after a 2009 encounter in which Dingus complained about the airing of a training video on the radicalization of children. The judge ruled that safety department officials were “all too eager to accept Maj. Taylor’s belief that because Mr. Dingus was a Muslim, he was dangerous.” But Campbell did not award Dingus the roughly $300,000 he sought in damages, saying he did not file any documents to support his claims of pain and suffering. Campbell opted to have the agency pay Dingus nominal damages of $1. MYANMAR-INTERFAITH MARRIAGE Rights group condemns Myanmar bill on interfaith marriage NEW YORK (AP) β An international human rights group says Myanmar’s parliament is playing with fire by passing a bill regulating the right of women from the country’s Buddhist majority to marry outside their religion. Phil Robertson of New York-based Human Rights Watch says the bill was related to a campaign by extremist Buddhist groups that have incited anti-Muslim hatred. Religious tensions have led to deadly violence, especially against Rohingya (ROH’-hin-GAH’) Muslims in western Myanmar, who have felt compelled to flee abroad. The bill that passed Tuesday is one of four so-called Protection of Race and Religion Laws, which have been criticized as discriminatory by rights groups. It mandates that Buddhist women register their intent to marry outside their faith, and that they can be stopped if there are objections.
