ON-AIR SHOOTING-FAX
Fax says on-air shooter was motivated by black church massacre
MONETA, Va. (AP) β ABC News says someone using the name of the black gunman in the on-air shooting of two white TV journalists sent the network a lengthy fax saying he was motivated by the June massacre at a South Carolina church.
Police and WDBJ-TV identified the gunman as Vester Flanagan, who used the name Bryce Williams on the air when he worked for the Virginia station as a reporter. Authorities say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound hours after the shooting.
The 23-page fax says Flanagan suffered racial discrimination and decided to kill his former co-workers after the recent Charleston church shootings. The document says he bought a gun on June 19, two days after authorities say Dylann Roof killed nine people inside a black church in a racially motivated hate crime.
The fax’s author says, “What sent me over the top was the church shooting.” He adds that Jehovah spoke to him, telling him to act.
Sound:
254-v-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–ABC News says someone using the name of the black gunman in the on-air shooting of two white TV journalists sent the network a lengthy fax saying he was motivated by the June massacre at a South Carolina church. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (26 Aug 2015)
< GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY Appeals court upholds gay marriage ruling in Kentucky FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) β A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling ordering a Kentucky county clerk to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis objects to issuing same-sex marriage licenses for religious reasons. She stopped issuing marriage licenses the day after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned state bans on same-sex marriage. Two gay couples and two straight couples sued her. A U.S. district judge ordered Davis to issue the marriage licenses, but later delayed his order so that Davis could have time to appeal to the 6th circuit. Wednesday, the appeals court denied Davis’ request for a stay. An attorney for Davis said she was disappointed and that Davis could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but he did not know how Davis would react to the ruling. Sound: 254-v-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–ABC News says someone using the name of the black gunman in the on-air shooting of two white TV journalists sent the network a lengthy fax saying he was motivated by the June massacre at a South Carolina church. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (26 Aug 2015) < BOY SCOUTS-GAYS-MORMONS Mormons keep affiliation with Boy Scouts despite gay leaders SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β The Mormon church says it will maintain its longtime affiliation with the Boy Scouts despite the organization’s decision to allow gay troop leaders. The decision from senior leaders of the Mormon church came as somewhat of a surprise. The church said it was deeply troubled and considering other options when the Boy Scouts announced on July 28 that it would lift its ban on gay adult leaders, while allowing church-sponsored Scout units to continue excluding gay adults. In a news release, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said they decided to stay with the Boy Scouts after getting assurances that they can appoint troop leaders according to their own religious and moral values. The Mormon church sponsors nearly 38,000 Scout units with 427,000 boys β accounting for about 18 percent of all youth Scouts. The Mormon religion, with 15 million members, has softened its tone on gays in recent years but still opposes gay marriage and believes homosexual activity is a sin. Sound: 219-c-21-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“own scouting-type program”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that the Mormon Church’s decision prevents what would have been a thundering blow to the Boy Scouts. (26 Aug 2015) < 218-v-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The Mormon Church says it will maintain its longtime affiliation with the Boy Scouts despite the organization’s decision to allow gay troop leaders. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (26 Aug 2015) < PLANNED PARENTHOOD-CONSERVATIVES Conservatives target bust of Planned Parenthood founder WASHINGTON (AP) β Some black pastors are opening a new offensive against Planned Parenthood. They want a Washington museum to remove its bust of the organization’s founder, Margaret Sanger. The National Portrait Gallery says it won’t do it. Sanger was a pioneer of the birth-control movement. She also supported eugenics, a now-condemned effort to discourage reproduction by criminals and others with undesirable traits. The group called Ministers Taking a Stand and other conservatives say Sanger favored using eugenics to limit the population of blacks. That claim has been contested. Portrait Gallery spokeswoman Bethany Bentley says Sanger’s bust will not be removed and that the museum displays portraits and paintings of important Americans, including some with objectionable qualities. Online: http://standamerica.us/pp-press-conference/ JOSH DUGGAR-REHAB Josh Duggar in rehab after admitting to pornography habit NEW YORK (AP) β Josh Duggar has entered rehab. Days after he confessed to cheating on his wife and being addicted to pornography, the ex-reality star checked into a long-term treatment center, according to his parents. On the family’s website, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar say they are “deeply grieved” by actions that have “brought great insult to the values and faith we hold dear.” Last week, their 27-year-old son apologized online following reports he once belonged to the cheating website AshleyMadison.com. His admission came weeks after he acknowledged molesting five underage girls as a teenager, including two of his sisters. Those revelations led to the cancellation of “19 Kids and Counting,” the TLC reality show on which he appeared with his 18 younger siblings and his parents in a portrait of wholesome family life. His parents say, “We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change.” The couple also say Josh’s wife, Anna, with whom he has four children, is receiving “counsel and help for her own heart and future.” ARKANSAS FAITH SUMMIT Arkansas governor says work to continue after faith summit LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) β Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he wants the state to continue working with faith leaders to address a shortage of foster homes and the need for re-entry programs for prisoners. The Republican governor wrapped up a two-day summit Wednesday aimed at increasing church involvement in those areas. Hutchinson also said he wants the event’s steering group to consider how to help combat drug abuse in the state. The head of the state Division of Children and Family Services urged summit participants to help Arkansas expand the number of homes available for foster children. The state has more than 4,300 foster children, but less than 3,000 available beds. SACRAMENT SERVICE-WOMAN Diocese punishes group that let woman preside at Communion DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β The bishop of Des Moines has told a Catholic group in Iowa’s capital city that it may no longer host Masses because it let a woman administer the sacrament of Holy Communion in December. The Des Moines Register reports that Bishop Richard Pates ordered the Catholic Worker House to cease holding Masses in May after the diocese’s council of priests voted to revoke the group’s authorization. An article explaining the ruling appears in the August issue of the diocese newspaper. The Rev. Janice Sevre-Duszynska had presided over the Eucharist service. She was ordained in Lexington, Kentucky, by the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests in 2008. The independent group is not recognized by the Vatican. Canon law says only men may be ordained as priests and perform such rites. Frank Cordaro, a co-founder of the Catholic Worker House in Des Moines, called the bishop’s actions “bullying.” BACKYARD BODY Santeria spiritualist sought over backyard body LA PUENTE, Calif. (AP) β Authorities are looking for a Santeria (san-teh-REE’-yuh) spiritualist after digging up the body of his former lover in a California backyard. Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said the skeletal remains found on Aug. 7 in unincorporated Valinda are those of 40-year-old Maria Chavez, who disappeared in 2009. City News Service reports that she texted a friend that night saying that she might be in danger. Investigators say an arrest warrant for murder was issued last week for 46-year-old Pablo Pinto Mata, who was the woman’s spiritual adviser, onetime business partner and lover, even though Mata was married. Authorities say they had a daughter together. Officials say Mata claimed to be a priest of Santeria, a religion based on Roman Catholic and African beliefs, and performed cleansing rituals. UNITED NATIONS-PALESTINIANS Palestinians could raise flag at UN before pope visit UNITED NATIONS (AP) β In a move likely to upset Israel’s government, the Palestinians are seeking to raise their flag, along with the Vatican flag, at U.N. headquarters β just in time for Pope Francis’ visit next month. Supporters of the idea hope the U.N. General Assembly will adopt a resolution on the flag-raising shortly before the pope arrives. They’re betting that the United States or other allies of Israel will not block the plan and risk offending the Holy See on Francis’ first U.S. visit. The Palestinians’ proposal has been tabled, and a draft of the resolution has been seen by The Associated Press. It would allow non-member observer states β there are only two β to display their flags with the 193 member states. While the Vatican’s mission to the U.N. earlier expressed support for the idea, it circulated a letter this week distancing itself from the draft, asking the Palestinian mission “kindly to remove in its draft resolution any reference to the ‘Holy See’ and any generic reference ‘on behalf of the Observer States.'” INDIA-KUMBH MELA Thousands bathe at Hindu festival in India NASIK, India (AP) β Thousands of devout Hindus are bathing in an Indian river at one of the country’s largest religious festivals. Hindus believe taking a dip in the waters of a holy river during the Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, will cleanse them of their sins. Wednesday marked the first day of bathing for those attending this year’s festival on the banks of the Godavari River in Maharashtra state. Millions are expected to attend this year’s two-month festival, which began in mid-July and runs until the end of September. The Kumbh Mela derives its name from a mythical fight over a pitcher of holy nectar. According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons waged a furious battle over the nectar they needed to achieve immortality. Four drops spilled, landing in the four Indian cities that alternatively host the festival.
