SUPREME COURT-BIRTH CONTROL
Supreme Court to hear another religious challenge to Obama health law
WASHINGTON (AP) β The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the health care law’s revised contraceptive coverage mandate still violates the religious rights of faith-based groups.
At issue is the arrangement the Obama administration worked out to spare faith-based hospitals, colleges and charities from paying for contraceptives for women covered under their health plans, while still ensuring that those women can obtain birth control at no extra cost as the law requires.
The groups complain that the requirement that they declare their religious objection makes them complicit because their insurers or insurance administrators then assume responsibility for providing birth control. The government may impose fines on groups that do not comply.
Arguments on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other faith-based groups will take place in late March.
Sound:
218-a-07-(Gregory Baylor, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, in prepared statement)-“employees or students”-Gregory Baylor, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, says the Supreme Court will consider his clients’ challenge to the health care law’s contraceptive coverage mandate. (8 Nov 2015)
< 217-v-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the health care law’s revised contraceptive coverage mandate still violates the religious rights of faith-based groups. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (8 Nov 2015) < 219-a-06-(Gregory Baylor, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, in prepared statement)-“paying financial penalties”-Gregory Baylor, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, says faith-based groups face fines unless they accept the government accommodation leading to birth control coverage. (8 Nov 2015) < 220-a-15-(Josh Earnest, White House spokesman, at briefing)-“of religious freedom”-White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the Obama administration believes the Supreme Court will uphold its contraceptive coverage accommodation for faith-based groups. (8 Nov 2015) < BILLY GRAHAM-EXHIBIT History museum opens exhibit on Billy Graham RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β A new exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History chronicles the life of the Rev. Billy Graham, who turned 97 on Saturday. The exhibit, “North Carolina’s Favorite Son: Billy Graham and His Remarkable Journey of Faith,” opened on Friday in Raleigh and will continue until July 10, 2016. The 5,000-square-foot exhibit explores his life as well as a ministry that has spanned seven decades. It includes personal memorabilia, interactive displays, and multimedia that help bring Graham’s story to life. The exhibit also provides glimpses into Graham’s family life, his leadership and influence in the Cold War and in the battle against segregation. Also included in the exhibit is a look at each of Graham’s 12 crusades in North Carolina and other appearances in the U.S. and overseas. HAITI-KIDNAPPED BOY US church says Haiti finds boy taken in missionary’s killing SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) β A U.S.-based church group says Haitian authorities have found a 4-year-old boy who was kidnapped during the killing of a missionary last month and two suspects are in custody. Jonathan “JoJo” Paul was snatched by gunmen after they fatally shot long-time Haiti-based missionary Roberta Edwards in a late night attack near the foster care home and food distribution site she ran on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. Two teenagers escaped after the 55-year-old Edwards told them to run for their lives. The child’s recovery was reported by the Tennessee-based Estes Church of Christ on its Facebook page. Church officials have said Edwards was aware of the dangers of working in Haiti and considered leaving recently but stayed on because of her devotion for the foster children at the Sonlight Children’s Home. KENTUCKY GOVERNOR-TRANSITION Bevin to alter marriage licenses FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) β Kentucky Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has vowed to protect a county clerk’s religious objections to same-sex marriage. Bevin spoke publicly about his plans Friday after winning the Kentucky governor’s election with more than 52 percent of the vote. He will take office next month. One lingering issue is Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who is locked in a legal battle over issuing same-sex marriage licenses. State law requires county clerks to issue marriage licenses to all legally qualified couples. That now includes same-sex couples. But Davis believes it would be a sin for her to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. After she refused to do so, a federal judge threw her in jail for five days in September. She now wants to be able to keep her name off of marriage licenses. Davis has sued current Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for not accommodating her beliefs. Beshear has said he lacks the authority to remove the names of the county clerks from marriage licenses, arguing only the state legislature can do that. But Bevin disagrees and says he will do it by executive order as soon as he takes office. MORMONS-GAYS Mormon church issues rules aimed at gay members, their kids SALT LAKE CITY (AP) β Mormon church officials have issued a rule change that says members in same-sex marriages can be kicked out and their children must wait until they’re 18 and disavow homosexual relationships to be baptized. The revisions triggered a wave of anger, confusion and sadness for a growing faction of LGBT-supportive Mormons who were buoyed in recent years by church leaders’ calls for more compassion and understanding for LGBT members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints disseminated the handbook changes last week to leaders of local Mormon congregations around the world. The handbook revisions for the first time list being in a same-sex relationship as an offense that can lead to being ousted from the religion. This is a category known as apostasy, which until now has been reserved primarily for people who practice polygamy, teach inaccurate doctrine or publicly defy guidance to church leaders. RABBI GATHERING Thousands of Orthodox rabbis from 86 countries gather in NYC NEW YORK (AP) β Thousands of Orthodox rabbis from around the world have gathered in New York City for a leadership convention. On Saturday, the more than 4,000 Lubavitch (loo-BAH’-vich) rabbis met at their headquarters in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. One focus of the conference was the growth of Jewish life on college campuses, and how to further expand activities. Participants also marked the year of Hakhel (hah-KELL’), promoting Jewish unity and learning. At Sunday’s gala dinner, Rabbi Shlomo Chein (SHLOY’-mee KAYN’), a rabbi at the University of California Santa Cruz, said every Jew should be “a divine ambassador.” On Friday, the rabbis visited the grave of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, who had spearheaded a global Jewish revival. Sound: 221-a-09-(Rabbi Shlomo Chein (SHLOY’-mee KAYN’), rabbi at the University of California Santa Cruz, addressing rabbis at gala dinner)-“a divine garden”-Rabbi Shlomo Chein, rabbi at the University of California Santa Cruz, says many people oppose their faith. (8 Nov 2015) < 222-a-04-(Rabbi Shlomo Chein (SHLOY’-mee KAYN’), rabbi at the University of California Santa Cruz, addressing rabbis at gala dinner)-“a divine ambassador”-Rabbi Shlomo Chein, rabbi at the University of California Santa Cruz, says every Jew should try to spread and strengthen Judaism. (8 Nov 2015) < NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRST MOSQUE A mosque grows slowly amid opposition in New Hampshire MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) β Muslim leaders trying to build New Hampshire’s first mosque face many of the same struggles other houses of worship contend with: Lack of funds and shrinking attendance. The Islamic Society of New Hampshire also had to overcome another hurdle: Opposition from people afraid that a mosque will attract dangerous extremists. A decade after work began, the Islamic society has raised about $2 million for the project. That’s less than half of what it needs to complete the domed mosque they say will help break down barriers. The main obstacle has been funding, which relies on donations from a tiny local Muslim community. Society leaders are casting a wider net β to Muslims around the world β hoping to raise enough to finish the building before it deteriorates past the point of saving. KAPAUN SAINTHOOD Wichita bishop to make case for sainthood for Kapaun WICHITA, Kan. (AP) β The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita is preparing to make the case that an Army chaplain from Kansas who died in a North Korean prisoner of war camp deserves to be granted sainthood. The Wichita Eagle reports that Bishop Carl Kemme is addressing the leadership of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome on Monday. It is the most significant moment yet in the push to have the Rev. Emil Kapaun declared a saint. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints evaluates evidence in sainthood investigations and makes recommendations to the pope. Kapaun is a U.S. Army chaplain and priest who grew up on a Kansas farm. Fellow prisoners of war said Kapaun was a source of inspiration and faith during their captivity. VATICAN-SCANDAL Pope pledges to continue reforms in face of leaks VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has told followers gathered in St. Peter’s Square that the theft of documents from the Vatican was a crime, but he pledged to push ahead with reforms. It was the first time the pope directly commented on two books published last week that were based on leaked documents, which detailed how greedy Vatican prelates are resisting his efforts to reform Holy See finances and administration. The pope said Sunday that “this sad fact will certainly not distract me from the reform work.” He called stealing the documents “a crime” and said that publishing them was “a deplorable act that doesn’t help.” He stressed that the documents were the result of a reform course that he instituted and that measures had already been taken to address the problems which have started to show results. Sound: 108-c-20-(Colleen Barry, AP correspondent)-“all of you”-AP correspondent Colleen Barry reports Pope Francis calls the leak of private documents a crime but not a matter which is likely to hinder his reform drive. (8 Nov 2015) < 109-c-10-(Colleen Barry, AP correspondent)-“inside the Vatican”-AP correspondent Colleen Barry reports that the pope is commenting on books published last week which detailed alleged mismanagement and other wrongdoings in the Vatican. (8 Nov 2015) < 110-c-13-(Colleen Barry, AP correspondent)-“been results already”-AP correspondent Colleen Barry reports that Pope Francis pledges to continue reforms in the face of the leaks. (8 Nov 2015) < 111-r-29-(Sound of Pope Francis, speaking in Italian, during the traditional Angelus blessing in St Peter’s Square)–Sound of Pope Francis saying that the theft of documents from the Vatican was a crime and a deplorable action, but he pledges to continue his reform drive. (8 Nov 2015) < KENYA-POPE VISIT Kenyan officials: 1.4 million expected to attend Pope’s mass NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) β Catholic church officials and Kenyan authorities say they expect 1.4 million people to attend a mass officiated by Pope Francis when he visits this month in his first trip Africa. Presidential spokesman Manoah Esipisu said Sunday the pope’s visit to Kenya on Nov. 25 to 27 β the first stop in his three-state visit of Africaβ will see the pontiff talk about strengthening families, inter-ethnic tolerance and inclusivity. Esipisu said the pope will also discuss climate change when he meets with diplomats at the U.N. Environment Program headquarters in Nairobi, which will come a few days before the U.N. climate change conference in Paris. Pope Francis will also visit Uganda and the Central African Republic Nov. 28 through 30.
