GOP 2016-SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
Dems hit Bush after comments on funding for women’s health
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush has vowed to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood if elected to the White House, but drew immediate fire from Democrats for adding, “I’m not sure we need half a billion dollars for women’s health issues.”
Democratic front runner Hillary Rodham Clinton replied on Twitter, “@JebBush: You are absolutely, unequivocally wrong.” Bush later said he “misspoke” when speaking about women’s health funding and was referring only to what he called the “hard-to-fathom $500 million in federal funding” for Planned Parenthood.
Bush and Senator Marco Rubio were interviewed Tuesday at a Southern Baptist conference by the Rev. Russell Moore, who noted that Clinton had been invited as well.
Rubio said the undercover videos of Planned Parenthood talking about the cost of fetal organs show that abortion “has become a money-making industry.” The organization has said the videos are highly-edited and that it doesn’t profit from donating fetal tissue to researchers.
Sound:
259-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with former Governor Jeb Bush, R-Fla.)–Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush says he misspoke in remarks he made to a Southern Baptist conference about federal funding for women’s health. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (4 Aug 2015)
< 258-a-04-(Former Governor Jeb Bush, R-Fla., in interview at Southern Baptist Conference)-“women’s health issues”-Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush questions the amount of federal funding that now goes to Planned Parenthood. (4 Aug 2015) < 240-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, former Governor Jeb Bush, R-Fla., and Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla.)–Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio have denounced Planned Parenthood at a Southern Baptist conference. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (4 Aug 2015) < 226-a-10-(Former Governor Jeb Bush, R-Fla., addressing Southern Baptist conference)-“a bad thing”-Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush says immigrants from Mexico shouldn’t be demonized. (4 Aug 2015) < 223-q-11-(The Reverend Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and former Governor Jeb Bush, R-Fla., addressing Southern Baptist conference)-“defund Planned Parenthood (applause fades)”-The Reverend Russell Moore asked Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush about the undercover videos of Planned Parentood. (4 Aug 2015) < 227-a-08-(Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., addressing Southern Baptist conference)-“your everyday life”-Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio says religious liberty is more than just a private belief. (4 Aug 2015) < 228-a-10-(Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., addressing Southern Baptist conference)-“eternity with him”-Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio says faith is more important than politics. (4 Aug 2015) < 224-a-09-(Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., addressing Southern Baptist conference)-“their God-given rights”-Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio says the undercover videos of Planned Parenthood show that abortion is a lucrative business. (4 Aug 2015) < 225-a-10-(Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., addressing Southern Baptist conference)-“their God-given rights”-Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio says ultrasound images show that abortion kills a child. (4 Aug 2015) < OBAMA-NETANYAHU-IRAN NUCLEAR Obama, Netanyahu make dueling appeals on Iran to US Jews WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are making dueling appeals to the American Jewish community as they seek to rally support for their opposing positions on the Iranian nuclear deal. Obama met privately for more two hours with Jewish leaders at the White House, making a detailed case for the nuclear accord. Participants in the meeting say Obama urged opponents, including some in the room, to stick to the facts in making their own arguments. He singled out the tens of millions of dollars being spent by critics, most notably the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The president’s meeting came hours after Netanyahu participated in a live webcast aimed at Americans Jews. The prime minister railed against the agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief, calling it a “bad deal” that leaves Tehran on the brink of a bomb. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS-MIDEAST CHRISTIANS Persecution of Christians spurs charity in lieu of asylum PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Syrian archbishop visiting Philadelphia says the United States’ reluctance to offer asylum to persecuted Christians is “unjust.” Aleppo Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart made the remark Tuesday as he and an Iraqi counterpart appealed to the American people for help withstanding Islamic State oppression. The rise of the Islamic State group has forced hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Iraqi Christians from their homes. Refugees have flooded unoccupied cities including Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and neighboring countries including Jordan and Turkey. The Knights of Columbus has contributed more than $3 million for homes, schools, food and health care. The Catholic men’s group says it’s launching a fundraising and advertising campaign to help refugees. The U.S. State Department says the U.S. has announced hundreds of millions of dollars in life-saving assistance for those affected by fighting in Syria. DIOCESE-BOY SCOUTS Bismarck bishop tells parishes to break ties with Boy Scouts BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck has ordered parishes in western North Dakota to sever sponsorship ties with the Boy Scouts of America following the group’s decision to lift its ban on gay adult leaders. In a letter to parishioners, Bishop David Kagan wrote, “I cannot permit our Catholic institutions to accept and participate directly or indirectly in any organization which has policies and methods which contradict the authoritative moral teachings of the Catholic Church.” The Boy Scouts last week ended its ban on gay adult leaders, while allowing church-sponsored Scout units to maintain the exclusion for religious reasons. The bishop of North Dakota’s Fargo diocese said in a statement that he hopes “scouting remains a viable option for Catholic youth” in the eastern part of the state. But Bishop John Folda said Boy Scout leaders should be selected “based on character and conduct consistent” with the church’s teachings. BOY SCOUTS-GAYS-UTAH Utah group to start Boy Scout troop welcoming gay leaders SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah group that backed the fight to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage is preparing to start a Boy Scout troop, though activists say getting it off the ground could be an uphill battle in the conservative state where the majority of troops are affiliated with the Mormon church. Mark Lawrence with the group Restore Our Humanity said Tuesday that he’s not sure if everyone is ready for the end of the ban on gay scout leaders announced July 27. But Lawrence says welcoming them could create more interest in the organization, and he has heard from several potential volunteers. The Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it was deeply troubled by the decision and is considering breaking away to form its own worldwide scouting organization. GAY TEACHER FIRED Gay Catholic school teacher shut out at archdiocese offices PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The suburban Philadelphia Catholic school teacher fired over her same-sex marriage has been shut out after attempting to bring a box of petitions asking for her reinstatement to the Philadelphia Archdiocese. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Margie Winters, former director of religious education at Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion, was politely refused entry Monday to the archdiocesan offices. Winters joked it was “because I’m so threatening” after handing the box of petitions to the guard and asking him to deliver it to Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo). The petition, signed by 23,000 people, was organized by the group Faithful America. Winters was fired in June for being in a same-sex marriage, something she disclosed to the school upon her hiring eight years ago. COMMISSIONERS-MUSLIM PRAYER After Muslim prayer, commission changes to moment of silence LINCOLNTON, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Lincoln County commissioners have voted to end religious invocations prior to the start of meetings after the chairman walked out during a Muslim prayer. Local media outlets report that commission chairman Carrol Mitchem left Monday’s meeting after the leader of an interfaith group began his prayer. After the prayer, the commissioners took their action, replacing prayers with a moment of silence. Commissioner Cecelia Martin first suggested the moment of silence in May, but the motion was defeated. A prayer policy was adopted that allowed any local religious leader or representative of that denomination to deliver an invocation. In May, U.S. District Judge James Beaty ruled that the Rowan County commissioners must stop opening their meetings with prayers that almost always referred to Christianity. The county is appealing the ruling. POPE-PHILADELPHIA-CHOIR Choir begins rehearsals for pope’s Philadelphia Mass PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Those fretting about how Philadelphia will accommodate huge crowds when Pope Francis visits are now hearing some soothing sounds. Choir practices have begun for the Sept. 27 papal Mass. More than 250 singers from throughout the Philadelphia Archdiocese took part in the first session Monday night at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Choir director David Kimock says the singers know they are not putting on a show but engaging in the highest form of prayer. The papal choir will sing in several different languages. Rehearsals will take place every week until the big day. Francis will visit Washington and New York before arriving in Philadelphia, where he’ll take part in an international gathering of Catholic families and celebrate Mass on a wide scenic boulevard. Sound: 252-r-11-(Papal choir, rehearsing for Pope Francis’ outdoor Mass next month in Philadelphia)–Papal choir rehearsing for Pope Francis’ outdoor Mass next month in Philadelphia. (4 Aug 2015) < 250-a-11-(Liz Foldger, member of Philadelphia’s papal choir, in AP interview)-“be so exciting”-Liz Foldger, a member of Philadelphia’s papal choir, says they’re preparing for the pope’s outdoor Mass. (4 Aug 2015) < 251-a-08-(David Kimock, director of Philadelphia’s papal choir, in AP interview)-“offer, the Mass”-David Kimock, director of Philadelphia’s papal choir, says choir members want to be their best at the pope’s outdoor Mass. (4 Aug 2015) < 249-a-06-(Jeremy Triplet, papal choir member, in AP interview)-“coming to Philadelphia”-Jeremy Triplet, a member of Philadelphia’s papal choir, says everyone’s excited about the pope’s visit next month. (4 Aug 2015) < 253-r-10-(Papal choir, rehearsing for Pope Francis’ outdoor Mass next month in Philadelphia)–Papal choir rehearsing for Pope Francis’ outdoor Mass next month in Philadelphia. (4 Aug 2015) < MORMON HISTORY-GOLD PLATES Mormons publish photos of ‘seer stone’ used by founder SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church for the first time is publishing photos of a small sacred stone it believes founder Joseph Smith used to help translate the story that became the basis of the religion. The pictures of the smooth, brown, egg-sized rock are part of a new book that also contains photos of the first printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mormon. Officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled it Tuesday at a news conference in Salt Lake City. Mormons believe that 185 years ago, Smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient Egyptian in upstate New York. They say that God helped him translate the text using the stone and other tools, which became known as the Book of Mormon. Church historian Richard Turley says the stone was transported across the country during the Mormon trek to Utah in the mid-1800s, and now is in the church vault. MILWAUKEE-ARCHDIOCESE BANKRUPTCY Milwaukee archdiocese settles for $21 million MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Milwaukee archdiocese has agreed to a $21 million settlement with victims of clergy abuse. The Roman Catholic archdiocese provided details of the settlement to The Associated Press on Tuesday before releasing them more broadly. Archbishop Jerome Listecki says the settlement sets the stage for the archdiocese to close a bankruptcy proceeding that was filed in January 2011. The proposed settlement will be outlined in detail in a bankruptcy court on Aug. 24. Judge Susan Kelley is expected to review terms of the deal in a court hearing on Nov. 9. Listecki says in a statement that the settlement allows the archdiocese to “turn the page on a terrible part of our history and we embark on a new road lined with hope, forgiveness and love.”
