GOP 2016 DEBATE-RELIGION
GOP presidential candidates address faith topics
CLEVELAND (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says that if he’s elected president he would issue an executive order protecting religious liberty “so Christian business owners and individuals don’t face discrimination for having a traditional view of marriage.”
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said he would issue an executive order ensuring that people of faith are not “harassed and persecuted by the federal government.”
All seven GOP presidential candidates in the Fox News Channel’s afternoon debate vowed to undo President Barack Obama’s executive orders.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki said mosques should be monitored because “religious liberty doesn’t include encouraging a fellow American to engage in violent jihad.”
In the prime time debate, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said “the Supreme Court is not the Supreme being” on issues like abortion. He and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said constitutional rights should be recognized and respected from the moment of conception.
Dr. Ben Carson called for replacing the IRS with a tax system based on biblical tithing, so that all Americans are taxed at 10 percent.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul denounced the subpoenas for pastors’ sermons sought by the mayor of Houston in her defense of a gay rights ordinance.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he recently attended a same-sex wedding and would extend God’s unconditional love to people with whom he disagrees.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he believes that God speaks through the Bible. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said he’s been saved by the blood of Jesus.
MEMPHIS-OFFICER KILLED-FUNERAL
Thousands attend funeral for slain Memphis police officer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Wearing starched uniforms and their badges marked with black tape to honor one of their own, police from as far as New York have said their goodbyes to Memphis Officer Sean Bolton.
The Commercial Appeal reports that the 33-year-old officer was buried Thursday after a service attended by thousands at Bellevue Baptist Church. Police Director Toney Armstrong, Mayor A C Wharton and fellow officers who spoke at the service remembered Bolton’s dedication, energy and compassion.
Police say Bolton was shot Saturday after interrupting a drug deal. A 29-year-old man is being held on a first-degree murder charge.
Mayor Wharton said, “The shooting death of Officer Bolton was an offense to God first, his family and to each of us who believe in the sanctity of human life.”
Armstrong said he believes that “God looked at him and said, ‘Sean, all lives matter.'”
Sound:
269-a-10-(Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, at funeral for Officer Sean Bolton)-“of human life”-Memphis Mayor A C Wharton mourns the loss of Officer Sean Bolton. (6 Aug 2015)
< 271-a-13-(The Reverend Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, at funeral for Officer Sean Bolton)-“very difficult job”-The Reverend Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, expresses appreciation to police and others paying respects to Officer Sean Bolton. (6 Aug 2015) < 270-a-05-(Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong, at funeral for Officer Sean Bolton)-“all lives matter”-Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong says he believes Officer Sean Bolton received a heavenly welcome. (6 Aug 2015) < 272-r-35-(Sound of musicians performing, at funeral for Memphis Officer Sean Bolton)–Sound of musicians performing at funeral for Memphis Officer Sean Bolton. (6 Aug 2015) < FLORIDA-FATAL VAN CRASH Report: No mechanical issues with church van that crashed MOORE HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — A homicide report released by the Florida Highway Patrol says no mechanical problems were found on a church van that crashed while carrying 18 people home from Palm Sunday services, killing eight. The report found that the four passengers sitting on the rear bench died immediately when the van ran through a stop sign at a dimly lit intersection in Moore Haven and plunged into a canal. Four others also died and 10 were injured in the March 30 crash. The van had been carrying members of the Independent Haitian Assembly Church of God home to Fort Pierce following church services in Fort Myers. The Palm Beach Post reports that autopsy and toxicology reports on the van driver showed that neither drugs nor alcohol played a part in the crash. PEOPLE-ROMA DOWNEY Actress says her husband was an answer to prayer NEW YORK (AP) — Actress Roma Downey says that after two failed marriages, she received advice from her “Touched By An Angel” co-star. Downey says Della Reese suggested that she pray that God would choose her next husband. Downey says her prayer was soon answered when she and television producer Mark Burnett caught each other’s eye at a hair salon. They married in 2007 and have since become the power couple behind the Emmy-nominated mini-series “The Bible,” the movie “Son of God” and the mini-series “A.D. The Bible Continues.” Their latest project, “Answered Prayers,” is a television series about modern day miracles and the power of prayer. It airs Sunday nights on TLC. Downey says, “Little did we know when we first met and we fell in love that we would literally join forces to create so much together.” Sound: 236-a-12-(Roma Downey, actress-producer, in AP interview)-“so much together”-Roma Downey says she and Mark Burnett have become co-producers of religious programs. (6 Aug 2015) < 237-a-06-(Roma Downey, actress-producer, in AP interview)-“speaks for itself”-Roma Downey says she and Mark Burnett have become a productive team. (6 Aug 2015) < 235-a-16-(Roma Downey, actress-producer, in AP interview)-“a second time”-Roma Downey says God answered her prayer for a new husband when she and Mark Burnett crossed paths at a hair salon. (6 Aug 2015) < 234-a-10-(Roma Downey, actress-producer, in AP interview)-“what I did”-Roma Downey says that after two failed marriages, she got some advice on how to pray from her “Touched By An Angel” co-star Della Reese. (6 Aug 2015) < POPE DAY LABORERS NY workers building altar, lectern for Pope Francis’ visit PORT CHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — New York day laborers and young men at a boy’s home are building a wooden chair, altar and lectern that Pope Francis will use when he celebrates Mass in Madison Square Garden this September. The workers who made the chair said Thursday they feel honored and humbled. The workers, from Del Bosco Workers and Obreros Unidos de Yonkers, are building the chair in a garage in Port Chester. New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan said on Thursday in a visit to the site that he was proud of them. He also traveled to Lincoln Hall Boys Haven, in Lincolndale, New York, where young men there are building an altar and lectern the pope will use at the Mass. The finished chair will be light brown with a white back. ITALY-PILGRIM SIDEWALKS Make way for lots of pilgrims: Rome to get wider sidewalks ROME (AP) — Make way for millions of pilgrims who will be coming to Rome soon. How to do that? Make the sidewalks wider. That’s Rome’s strategy to handle up to 30 million extra pilgrims who are expected to pour into the city starting on Dec. 8 for the special Jubilee of Mercy year declared by Pope Francis. Mayor Ignazio Marino, who gets around Rome on a bicycle, says pilgrims should expect to either walk or pedal to basilicas along special routes instead of taking tour buses. Among the initial preparations mentioned in local newspapers on Thursday are the widening of sidewalks along the routes, many of them leading to the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica, and the creation of bike lanes. ALABAMA PRISONERS-LONG HAIR Native Americans lose fight for long hair in Ala prisons MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The 11th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against Native American inmates fighting for the right to wear their hair long in Alabama prisons. The court on Wednesday upheld an Alabama prison policy which states that male inmates must keep their hair cut short. Inmates had told the court that long hair has deep religious significance for Native Americans, and they wanted to keep their hair unshorn because of their beliefs. The Alabama prison system maintains that long hair poses security, discipline and hygiene risks. The appeals court said many well-run prisons see the benefit of allowing inmates to follow the grooming practices of their religion. However, the judges say the Alabama prison system must make its own assessment on the benefits and risks. ISLAMIC CENTER THREAT Iowa man pleads guilty to threatening Boston Islamic group DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime after admitting he posted messages threatening to kill Muslims on the Facebook page of a Boston Islamic group. Gerald Wayne Ledford of Clinton pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of transmitting threatening communication in interstate commerce. The 57-year-old admitted to leaving two threats on the Facebook page for the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in October. One included a photo of a man with a gun threatening Muslims. The other called Muslims children of Satan and said “we will destroy you here” and in other countries. Under a plea agreement, Ledford admitted he targeted the Islamic group because of its religious affiliation. That means his recommended sentence under federal guidelines will be enhanced because of the hate crime motivation. The plea deal calls for Ledford’s defense attorney and federal prosecutors to jointly recommend a four-year term of probation, with the first six months in home confinement. FIGHTING EXTREMISM-PUSHBACK Activists want more transparency in counterterrorism efforts BOSTON (AP) — Muslim groups and civil rights activists are calling for greater transparency in an Obama administration program aimed at countering homegrown terrorism. The organizers spoke out Thursday through coordinated efforts in Boston, Los Angeles and Minneapolis, the three cities where the so-called “Countering Violent Extremism” program is being piloted. The groups include local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Among their primary concerns is that federal agencies continue to host invitation-only discussions about the program to the exclusion of dissenting groups. And despite months of planning, opponents say program leaders have still not shared basic information about how the programs will actually work. In February, the program’s organizers in the three cities released “framework” documents sketching out their local objectives.
