TEXAS-MUSLIM STUDENT-CLOCK
Outcry after Muslim teen is detained over homemade clock
DALLAS (AP) β A 14-year-old Muslim boy has become a sensation on social media after he was placed in handcuffs and suspended for coming to his suburban Dallas school with a homemade clock that teachers thought resembled a bomb.
Police declined to seek any charges against Ahmed Mohamed, but that did little to tamp down criticism of police and school officials or suspicions that they had overreacted because of the boy’s religion.
Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd said the clock looked “suspicious in nature,” but there was no evidence the boy meant to cause alarm at MacArthur High School.
The White House weighed in. In a tweet, President Barack Obama called Ahmed’s clock “cool” and said more kids should be inspired like him to enjoy science. The boy was invited to participate in an astronomy night the White House is organizing sometime next month with premier scientists.
Ahmed told reporters during a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he plans to transfer to a private school.
324-q-07-(Ahmed Mohamed, freshman at MacArthur High School who was suspended and arrested over a homemade clock, at news conference)-“all my supporters”-Ahmed Mohamed, a high school freshman who is Muslim and was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school that authorities feared was a bomb, was asked if he’s disappointed that the school didn’t apologize. (16 Sep 2015)
< 322-a-05-(Ahmed Mohamed, freshman at MacArthur High School who was suspended and arrested over a homemade clock, at news conference)-“later that day”-Ahmed Mohamed, a high school freshman who is Muslim, says he was trying to impress his teacher with his homemade clock, but instead, was arrested. (16 Sep 2015) < 290-w-34-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with Josh Earnest, White House press secretary)–President Obama is inviting a young Muslim boy to the White House after school authorities in Texas put him in handcuffs for in a clock they thought could be a bomb. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (16 Sep 2015) < 293-a-08-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference)-“form they take”-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says this incident is another illustration of the dangers of religious and ethnic stereotyping. (16 Sep 2015) < 280-a-13-(Ahmed Mohamed, student clock maker, in interview)-“it to school”-Student clock maker Ahmed Mohamed says one of the police officers told him his clock looked like a bomb that might be seen in the movies. COURTESY: KFDW ((mandatory on-air credit)) (16 Sep 2015) < 281-a-06-(Ahmed Mohamed, student clock maker, in interview)-“was a criminal”-Student clock maker Ahmed Mohamed describes how the incident made him feel. COURTESY: KFDW ((mandatory on-air credit)) (16 Sep 2015) < BRITAIN-ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY Archbishop of Canterbury calls Anglican leaders to meeting LONDON (AP) β The Archbishop of Canterbury has summoned Anglican leaders from throughout the world for a meeting in Canterbury next year as he struggles to keep the global fellowship together. Justin Welby announced on his website yesterday that he had summoned all 37 Primates to a special meeting to be held in January. Welby said the meeting would deal with a number of issues including a review of the structure of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion is a global fellowship with more than 80 million members in churches with roots in the Church of England. The fellowship has been splintering for years between liberals and conservatives over how to interpret the Bible. The rift broke wide open in 2003 when the U.S. Episcopal Church elected the first openly gay Anglican bishop. LEGO VATICAN Vatican built from Legos on display in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (AP) β As they prepare for next week’s visit by Pope Francis, residents of Philadelphia can visit a replica of the Vatican built entirely out of Lego bricks. The Vatican model is now on display at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia’s science museum. The Rev. Bob Simon spent about 10 months building it, and used half-a-million Legos. His Lego Vatican includes a pope on a balcony overlooking the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. He said the toughest challenge was building the basilica’s curved dome out of Lego bricks. Simon has been a Lego fan since he was a boy. He now serves as pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic church in northeastern Pennsylvania. The model Vatican is being displayed alongside two related exhibits. “The Art of the Brick” features Lego sculptures. “Vatican Splendors,” which opens Saturday, includes treasured art and religious relics from the Holy See. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) CAPE MAY-POPE STREAM NJ town backs out of pope live stream event after complaint CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) β The New Jersey shore city of Cape May has nixed plans to sponsor a live stream of Pope Francis’ public Mass in Philadelphia amid threats of legal action. The Press of Atlantic City reports that Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a formal complaint Sept. 10. The complaint said the papal Mass viewing party planned for Sept. 27 at Cape May Convention Hall violated constitutional law prohibiting government bodies from communicating a message of endorsement of religion. The group declared a Tuesday deadline for the city to back out of its plans or prepare for legal action. The Cape May Ministerium, a collective of priests representing churches of various denominations, will now sponsor the event. POPE-ABUSE-PHILADELPHIA Advocates for victims seek Vatican inquiry of Rigali, Burke PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Advocates for victims of clergy sex abuse are asking Pope Francis to investigate the child protection records of the former archbishop of Philadelphia and another cardinal. The advocates said yesterday they want the pope to look at Cardinal Justin Rigali, who was archbishop of Philadelphia from 2003 to 2011. Rigali retired amid an uproar over grand jury allegations that he was keeping about three dozen suspected abusers in ministry. The advocates also want a review of Cardinal Raymond Burke, who led the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Critics say he used such a strict standard to evaluate abuse claims that he left dangerous priests in ministry. Francis arrives in the U.S. next Tuesday and will visit Philadelphia on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27. POPE-PHILADELPHIA-CROSS BLESSING Pope to bless Hispanics’ wooden cross at Independence Hall PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Pope Francis will bless a 5-foot-tall wooden cross of special importance to Hispanics when he visits Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia says the Sept. 26 blessing of the Cross of the Encuentros (en-KWEN’-trohs) will symbolize the journey of faith of Hispanic Catholics in the United States. Encuentros is Spanish for meetings or encounters. Catholic officials say the cross will be taken to dioceses across the U.S. to symbolize an ongoing national pastoral movement called Encuentro, which has spurred Hispanic ministry in the country. The movement features three years of missionary activity, consultation, leadership development and pastoral discernment in parishes, dioceses and episcopal regions. MALONE-FUNERAL Malone’s funeral on Saturday in Houston HOUSTON (AP) β Basketball Hall of Famer Moses Malone will be remembered at a funeral service on Saturday in the Houston arena which is now a church but used to be the arena where he played. Malone, a three-time NBA MVP, died Sunday at age 60. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. CDT at Houston megachurch Lakewood. The church is in the same building where the Houston Rockets played during Malone’s time with the team from 1976-1982 when it was called The Summit. CONVENT EXPANSION McHenry County rejects order’s request to expand convent WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) β The McHenry County Board has rejected a French Christian religious order’s request to expand its convent in northern Illinois, siding with neighbors who argued the project didn’t fit the rural area. The Northwest Herald reports that the board voted 21-2 against granting a conditional-use permit for the Fraternite of Notre Dame. The order’s request involved adding a boarding school, nursing home, winery, brewery and gift shop to its 95 acres in Coral Township. Several members of the order said during a public hearing before the vote that not allowing the expansion amounted to religious discrimination. One member said the lawmakers were “hindering God’s work.” But board member Chuck Wheeler said the additions would be “a commercial development plopped right into a residential neighborhood.” COUNCIL PRAYERS Council limits prayer proposal to only Christian faiths COOLIDGE, Ariz. (AP) β Prayer before council meetings could be allowed in Coolidge, Arizona, but only if the prayer is Christian. The Casa Grande Dispatch reports that the Coolidge City Council voted 4-2 with one member absent on Monday to amend a resolution so that it no longer allows prayers from a variety of faiths before council meetings. Councilman Rob Hudelson moved to amend the proposal, saying Christianity is part of American history. Councilman Gilbert Lopez voted to reject the amended version. He is a member of the St. James Catholic Church’s Knights of Columbus. Mayor Jon Thompson is a Christian, and he also voted against the resolution. He said during the meeting that the council is knowingly heading toward litigation that it can’t afford. INDIA-RAHMAN FATWA Indian composer: Music for Prophet film done in good faith NEW DELHI (AP) β Indian music composer A.R. Rahman says he meant no offense when he composed the music for an Iranian film on Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. A Muslim organization has issued a religious edict, or “fatwa,” against Rahman and the Iranian director of the film. The Mumbai-based Raza Academy has ordered Rahman to reaffirm his faith. It has also demanded that the Indian government ban the screening of the film. The film, “Muhammad: The Messenger of God,” has stirred controversy in several Arab countries on account of its theme. Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of Muhammad, even favorable ones, for fear it could lead to idolatry. In a message on his Facebook page, Rahman says his decision to compose the music was made in good faith and with no intention of causing offense. Rahman has composed music for about 130 Indian films. He received Academy awards for best song and original score for the film “Slumdog Millionaire.” NEPAL-CONSTITUTION Nepal steps up security amid protests over constitution vote KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) β Security has been stepped up in Nepal after explosions hit two churches and a police station amid ongoing protests against a draft of the country’s new constitution being voted on this week. Home Ministry official Laxmi Dhakal says no one was hurt in the church blasts, which happened around midnight Monday in the eastern town of Jhapa. The protests, however, have left 40 people dead over the past month. Officials boosted security around religious buildings and key infrastructure after lawmakers rejected demands that secular Nepal again be a Hindu nation. Another blast occurred Tuesday morning after police brought a homemade explosive device to the station. Three officers were injured.
