GAY MARRIAGE-KENTUCKY
Supreme Court rules against clerk in gay marriage case
MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) β The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to stay a court order requiring a Kentucky county clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses despite her religious convictions.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis must now choose whether to issue marriage licenses, defying her Christian beliefs, or continue to refuse them, defying a federal judge who could pummel her with fines or order that she be hauled off to jail.
Davis stopped issuing all marriage licenses after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide. Two gay couples and two straight couples sued her, arguing that she must fulfill her duties as an elected official despite her personal religious faith. A federal judge ordered her to issue the licenses, and an appeals court upheld that decision.
Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees the district that includes Kentucky, referred Davis’ request to the full court, which denied her request for a stay without comment.
Mat Staver, whose law firm represents Davis, said before the Supreme Court decision that she’s aware of the potential consequences and would pray about what to do next.
Sound:
270-v-36-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to stay a court order requring a Kentucky county clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses despite her religious convictions. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (31 Aug 2015)
< BIRTH CONTROL LAWSUIT Judge sides with anti-abortion group in birth control suit WASHINGTON (AP) β A federal judge has sided with an anti-abortion group that challenged a key birth control provision of the Obama administration’s health care overhaul. March for Life, which stages an annual protest to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, sued the Obama administration last year over a requirement that its health insurance cover the cost of contraceptive services. The organization said the mandate violated its strongly held moral convictions against abortion. Some religious organizations are exempt from the requirement. But U.S. District Judge Richard Leon (LEE’-ahn) ruled that groups don’t need to voice religious objections to challenge the mandate. There have been about 100 lawsuits from businesses and religiously affiliated colleges, hospitals and other not-for-profit organizations challenging the law’s requirement that contraceptives for women be included among a range of cost-free, preventive benefits. Sound: 244-a-08-(Matt Bowman, senior legal counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“a religious organization”-Attorney Matt Bowman with the Alliance Defending Freedom says March for Life objects to contraceptives that destroy a human embryo. (31 Aug 2015) < 245-a-09-(Matt Bowman, senior legal counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“in the womb”-Attorney Matt Bowman with the Alliance Defending Freedom says March for Life’s objections to the federal birth control mandate are based on science rather than religion. (31 Aug 2015) < 243-a-14-(Matt Bowman, senior legal counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“under this decision”-Attorney Matt Bowman with the Alliance Defending Freedom says the anti-abortion group maintains that some contraceptives destroy human life. (31 Aug 2015) < 242-a-11-(Matt Bowman, senior legal counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom, in AP interview)-“destroy human life”-Attorney Matt Bowman with the Alliance Defending Freedom says a federal judge properly exempted the March for Life from providing contraceptives. (31 Aug 2015) < 233-v-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–A federal judge has sided with an anti-abortion group that challenged a key birth control provision of the Obama administration’s health care overhaul. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (31 Aug 2015) < MOUNTAIN JESUS STATUE Appeals court rejects challenge to Jesus statue PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) β A federal appeals court has ruled that a six-foot statue known as Big Mountain Jesus can remain on U.S. Forest Service property in Montana. The statue was erected on a ski slope in the Flathead National Forest in 1954 by the Knights of Columbus to honor World War II veterans who fought in the Alps. It’s included in the National Register of Historic Places. In the decision released Monday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The court ruled that a government permit allowing the statue to remain served “a primarily secular purpose” and was not an unconstitutional establishment of religion. When the case was argued in July, U.S. Justice Department attorney Joan Pepin argued that Big Mountain Jesus has cultural and historical significance for veterans, tourists and Montana residents. Sound: 260-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with U.S. Justice Department Attorney Joan Pepin)–A federal appeals court has ruled that a six-foot statue known as Big Mountain Jesus can remain on U.S. Forest Service property in Montana. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (31 Aug 2015) < CHURCH VANDALISM 2 more Tahoe churches latest hit in string of vandalism INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (AP) β Authorities investigating a string of vandalism at a half dozen churches in Nevada over the past five months say there were two more attacks at Lake Tahoe over the weekend, and the vandals are becoming more destructive. The two churches, one Catholic and one Presbyterian, are located about a mile apart in Incline Village about 30 miles southwest of Reno. Washoe County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Clark said The Village Church and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church sustained considerable damage, including broken windows and equipment. The vandals also apparently tried to cut down an outdoor wooden cross at The Village Church late Saturday or early Sunday. The Rev. Jeff Ogden, pastor at The Village Church, told the Sun newspaper that his congregation would be praying for whoever’s responsible. Donna Caravelli, a parishioner at St. Francis, said the parish is “sickened and shocked” at the vandalism there, which includes broken stained glass windows and a smashed-in front door. But she said, “We forgive them, as they must be truly troubled souls to do such a hateful thing.” JEWISH SITE SHOOTINGS The Latest on Jewish shootings: Nazi salute after conviction OLATHE, Kan. (AP) β A jury has convicted a white supremacist of killing three people at Kansas City-area Jewish sites last year. It wasn’t a tough decision. Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., admitted that he killed the three in April 2014, but argued that he was compelled to do it because Jewish people are trying to wipe out the white race. None of the victims was Jewish. It took the jury just over two hours to reach its verdict. Miller gave jurors a Nazi salute after they convicted him of capital murder and other charges. He faces the death penalty. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled to begin Tuesday. Sound: 255-r-18-(Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan, Tenth Judicial District in Kansas, in court)–After Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan reads a guilty verdict on the first murder count against him, Frazier Glenn Miller interrupts and says the Nazi salute, Sieg Heil. ((Sieg Heil is pronounced SEEG HYL)) (31 Aug 2015) < 254-r-08-(Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan, Tenth Judicial District in Kansas, in court)–Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan says the jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Frazier Glenn Miller. (31 Aug 2015) < 256-r-11-(Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan, Tenth Judicial District in Kansas, in court)–Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan reads the verdict on the seventh and final charge against Frazier Glenn Miller. (31 Aug 2015) < VATICAN-DOMINICAN-ABUSE-FUNERAL Silence at Vatican funeral for ex-envoy in sexual abuse case VATICAN CITY (AP) β Eight minutes of silence instead of a homily has marked the funeral of a former Vatican diplomat, whose trial on charges of possession of child pornography and sexual abuse of minors had begun this summer in a Holy See courtroom. A Vatican spokesman said time for silent reflection followed the Gospel reading at Jozef Wesolowski’s funeral. During the funeral, a ritual prayer was recited so God might “cancel the sins” that Wesolowski committed. Wesolowski was accused of sexually abusing teenage boys while serving as papal envoy in the Dominican Republic. His trial in a Vatican courtroom began on July 11, but was hastily adjourned because he had taken ill and was hospitalized in intensive care. The Holy See, citing preliminary autopsy results, has said the 67-year-old Wesolowski died of a heart attack in his room at the Vatican on Aug. 27. EGYPT-FACEBOOK PRAYERS Alleged Facebook mention in prayer call sparks Egypt outcry CAIRO (AP) β Some Egyptians have expressed outrage after a Muslim cleric allegedly changed a line in the traditional Islamic call to prayer to mention Facebook. Instead of saying “prayer is better than sleep” twice during the dawn prayer, Sheikh Mahmoud Maghazi allegedly said: “Prayer is better than Facebook.” The issue drew nationwide attention when he defended himself against shouted accusations on one of Egypt’s most-watched television talk shows. Talk show hosts play a major role in leading public opinion in Egypt, where a quarter of the population is illiterate. The Religious Endowments Ministry announced an investigation after receiving complaints last week. That prompted Maghazi to go on hunger strike and deny that he made the reference. He told the talk show host, “I don’t know what Facebook is and I don’t know how it is spelled.” INDIA-SCHOLAR KILLED Indian scholar who criticized idol worship murdered at home NEW DELHI (AP) β An Indian scholar has been shot in the head and the chest, becoming the third critic of religious superstition to be killed in the country in three years. The attack on Malleshappa Kalburgi sent a chill through Indian civil society, stoking worries about religious extremism and intolerance and prompting an outpouring of condemnation as the 77-year-old author and academic was cremated Monday. Police are investigating whether Kalburgi’s murder is connected to death threats he received last year from angry Hindu groups after he criticized idol worship and superstitious beliefs by Hindus. He was provided police security after the threats but police say it was removed about two weeks ago at the scholar’s request. India has long held secularism to be a keystone of its constitution β and a necessity for keeping the peace among its cacophony of cultures defined by caste, clan, tribe or religion, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. POPE SINGING GIRL Pope Francis asks bullied Chicago girl to sing for him NEW YORK (AP) β Pope Francis, speaking Monday from the Vatican via satellite to people in three American cities, asked a teenage girl to sing for him as he sought prayers for his upcoming trip to the United States. The pope spoke with people in Los Angeles, Chicago and McAllen, Texas, in an event arranged by ABC News. The 17-year-old girl in Chicago, Valerie Herrera, wept as she told Francis she’d been bullied because of a rare skin condition and had turned to music for comfort. He said in English, “I would like to hear your singing. May I ask of you to sing a song for me?” When Valerie hesitated, he said, “Be courageous.” She then sang in Spanish, and he smiled and thanked her. Francis will make his first visit to the United States starting Sept. 22 in Washington, then moving to New York and Philadelphia. “I’m praying for all of you, the people of the United States, and I ask you to pray for me,” Francis said.
