IN GOD WE TRUST-SHERIFF DECALS
‘In God We Trust’ decals on sheriff’s cars prompt debate
ATLANTA (AP) β Spurred by confrontations between police and the public, some sheriff’s departments in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas have affixed their vehicles with decals that say “In God We Trust.”
The phrase, which is also on U.S. currency, has been the national motto since 1956.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent out more than two dozen letters last week to law enforcement agencies asking them to remove the words. The foundation’s leader, Annie Laurie Gaylor, says the words “In God We Trust” on law enforcement vehicles make some citizens uncomfortable.
But Gaylor concedes there’s not much that can be done legally. She says, “It’s really hard to sue over this because it’s our national motto.”
Participating law enforcement agencies insist that the decals don’t infringe on anyone’s rights, especially taxpayers. Many of the officers paid for the decals themselves or the sheriffs picked up the tab.
Sound:
306-w-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Matt Sharp, legal counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom)–The Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking sheriff’s departments in at least 5 states to remove decals from their squad cars that say “In God We Trust.” AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (28 Sep 2015)
< 307-a-14-(Matt Sharp, legal counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, in prepared statement)-“of these groups”-Matt Sharp, legal counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, says “In God We Trust” is the national motto. (28 Sep 2015) < SUPREME COURT-PROTESTER Protester who disrupted gay marriage case takes plea deal WASHINGTON (AP) β A protester who disrupted historic arguments at the Supreme Court over gay marriage earlier this year has agreed to plead guilty in the case, and prosecutors will ask that he spend a month in jail. Rives (reevz) Miller Grogan of Mansfield, Texas, pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Washington. Grogan was arrested on April 28 after he yelled in the courtroom that the Bible says gay marriage supporters “could burn in hell for eternity.” The offense Grogan pleaded guilty to carries the potential penalty of up to a year in jail, but prosecutors said in a court document that they would ask for 30 days. In June, the Supreme Court announced the outcome of the case Grogan disrupted, ruling 5-4 that same-sex couples have a right to marry nationwide. Sound: 308-v-26-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–A protester who disrupted historic arguments at the Supreme Court over gay marriage earlier this year has agreed to plead guilty in the case, and prosecutors will ask that he spend a month in jail. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (28 Sep 2015) < POPE-CONSCIENCE RIGHTS Pope: Rights of conscientious objectors should be respected ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) β Pope Francis says the conscience rights of officials who object to same-sex marriage should be respected. In a wide-ranging press conference en route to Rome from his first-ever visit to the United States, Francis was asked about the case of Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk jailed for several days after she refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples despite the Supreme Court’s ruling making same-sex marriage legal nationwide. Davis said such marriages violate her Apostolic Christian faith. Francis said he didn’t know the case in detail, but he upheld conscientious objection as a human right. He said, “If a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right.” During his U.S. visit, the pope visited with the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of nuns who have challenged the Obama administration’s health care insurance mandate. In New York Sunday, President Barack Obama told a gay rights group that religious liberty isn’t reason enough to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. Sound: 184-c-22-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“violating a human right”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports Pope Francis has stood up for government workers who have religious objections to certain duties such as issuing marriage licenses for same-sex marriages. ((note audio quality and length)) (28 Sep 2015) < POPE-PHILADELPHIA-ARCHBISHOP Critics slam Philadelphia ex-archbishop’s role in pope visit PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Philadelphia’s archbishop is defending his predecessor from critics who say his appearance at Pope Francis’ events over the weekend “rubs salt into deep wounds” of clergy sexual abuse victims. Cardinal Justin Rigali retired in 2011 after a grand jury accused the archdiocese of sheltering more than three dozen credibly accused priests and lying about it to victims and others. Current Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo) told reporters Monday that Rigali did nothing wrong and is “always welcome to be here.” The 80-year-old Rigali sat to Chaput’s left and stood with the pope as he consecrated the Eucharist during Saturday’s Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. Rigali says it was an honor to be involved in the papal events and thanks Chaput for his supportive comments. CHURCH FIRES Officials suspect arson in 2 Mohave County church fires DOLAN SPRINGS, Ariz. (AP) β Authorities suspect arson in two Arizona fires that left one church completely destroyed and another with extensive damage. The Kingman Daily Miner reports that firefighters responded to the two churches located across from each other in Dolan Springs after reports of the blazes Saturday night. The fires completely destroyed Mt. Tipton Community Church and caused heavy damage to Dolan Springs Baptist Church. No one was inside when the fires broke out, and no injuries were reported. Fire officials say the incident is suspicious. An investigation is ongoing. MORMON LEADER-FUNERAL Mormon leader honored at funeral that draws thousands SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β Thousands of people have paid their respects to Mormon leader Richard G. Scott, who was remembered as a loving husband, beloved teacher and faithful church leader at his funeral. The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, said Monday that Scott was an honorable man who loved people, his family, and God. Scott died Sept. 22 from natural causes at the age of 86. He is the third member of a top church governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to die this year. After a career as a nuclear engineer, Scott was chosen for the quorum in 1988. His death leaves the church with three vacancies in the quorum for the first time since 1906. HINDU CELEBRATION-DEATHS Hindu celebration: 2 dead, 1 missing off US coastal island TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (AP) β Authorities say two people have died and a third is missing after Hindu worshippers became stranded in waters off the Georgia coast during a religious celebration. Tybee Island Police Chief Bob Bryson said dozens of Hindus were celebrating the birthday of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, when they became stuck Sunday between shore and a sandbar off the island during the onset of high tide. The Savannah Morning News reports that rescuers pulled five people from the water and rushed four of them to the hospital. Fire Chief Ashley Fields said two of the victims died. The names of the victims were not immediately released. Authorities were still searching Monday for a missing man in waters off Tybee Island, on Georgia’s Atlantic coast. ASIAN CULTURE-LESSONS Pennsylvania district removes religion from elementary Asian curriculum SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (AP) β Parents are expected to confront a central Pennsylvania school board for changing how second-graders will learn about Asian culture. WHTM-TV reports that the Shippensburg School District announced that younger students won’t learn about “Asian culture through the religious beliefs of that region.” Some parents are criticizing the decision as “xenophobic” or “bigoted” while others pushed for and applauded the change. School Superintendent Beth Bender says the change is being made because educators feel younger students aren’t able to fairly compare religious views, because they’re still being taught their own family’s faith. She says elementary students don’t learn Pennsylvania culture from a religious perspective, either. The district determined that it makes more sense to wait until students are in middle and high school to teach the religious aspects of any culture. ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS Palestinians clash with Israeli riot police at holy site JERUSALEM (AP) β Palestinians have clashed with Israeli riot police at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site during a major Jewish holiday. The compound is sacred to Jews and known as the Temple Mount, site of the two biblical Jewish temples. Muslims revere it as the Noble Sanctuary where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. It is a frequent flashpoint of violence, and Israel has beefed up security following multiple clashes in recent weeks. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said Palestinians threw rocks and firebombs from within the Al-Aqsa mosque at the site. She said protesters had stockpiled rocks and other projectiles at the mosque overnight. It was the second day in a row of violence at the site. Monday’s unrest occurred on the first day of the weeklong Jewish festival of Sukkot (soo-KOHT’), also known as the biblical Feast of Tabernacles. Sound: 225-r-08-(Sound of firecrackers and rocks being thrown by Palestinians, at Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount)–Sound of Palestinian protesters throwing rocks and firing firecrackers from inside the Al-Aqsa mosque at Israeli riot police during a major Jewish holiday. (28 Sep 2015) < 224-r-21-(Sound of firecrackers exploding as Palestinians tossed them at Israeli police, at Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount)–Sound of Palestinians barricaded inside the Al-Aqsa mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount throwing firecrackers at Israeli police. (28 Sep 2015) < 180-r-10-(Sound of Muslim men and women chanting “Allahu Akbar” in Arabic, which means “God is great”, outside Jerusalem’s holy site)–Sound of crowd of Muslim men and woman chanting “God is great” outside the holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City. (28 Sep 2015) < 181-r-07-(Sound of Israeli police pushing and shouting at Palestinian man, outside Jerusalem’s holy site)–Sound of Israeli riot police pushing, and shouting at, a Palestinian man after Palestinians barricaded themselves in a mosque at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. (28 Sep 2015) < 179-r-12-(Sound of stun grenades and tear gas being fired, outside Jerusalem holy site)–Sound of Palestinians running away from stun grenades and tear gas as they clash with Israeli police outside the most holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City. (28 Sep 2015) < UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT-IRAN Iran’s president says thousands died in hajj tragedy UNITED NATIONS (AP) β Iran’s president is blaming Saudi “incompetence” for the mass deaths of Muslim pilgrims last week during the hajj in Saudi Arabia, comments that stoked already high tensions between the two Middle East rivals. Iran’s Mission to the United Nations said President Hassan Rouhani was cancelling events and would return to Tehran after addressing the U.N. gathering because of “the tragic events” at the annual pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. The Saudi Health Ministry’s latest figures, released Saturday, put the toll at 769 people killed and 934 injured in Mina. The largest number of casualties identified thus far is from Iran. Tehran already has accused Riyadh of mismanaging the annual pilgrimage and has vowed to take legal action.
