FIERY ACCIDENT
Multiple fatalities in church van crash near Washington
HYATTSVILLE, Md. (AP) β The pastor of 16 people in a church van involved in a fiery crash says they were headed to a Sunday evening service in suburban Washington.
Jose Santos Jimenez, the pastor of Iglesia Ministerio de Dios Unido, says an elderly couple and a 6-year-old girl who were riding in the van were killed and another passenger, who was in the late stages of pregnancy, lost her baby. Police said the driver of a pickup truck that veered across the center line into the path of the van was also killed.
Santos was leading a service at his church in the Maryland suburbs when he got a phone call about the crash, and he rushed to the hospital. He spent most of Sunday night and all of Monday visiting and praying with the injured members of his small congregation, which has members from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama.
Santos identified the couple who died as Santiago Merche and his wife, Elba Merche, both in their 70s. He said they were natives of El Salvador. Speaking through a Spanish-language translator, he described the 6-year-old who died as a “good girl” who “prayed for other kids” and “danced for the Lord.”
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254-v-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The pastor of 16 people involved in a fiery church van crash says they were headed to a Sunday evening service in suburban Washington. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (9 Nov 2015)
< CHILD ABUSE REPORTING-LAWSUIT Judge mulls constitutionality of child abuse reporting law WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) β A state lawsuit against elders of a Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation has prompted a judge to question the constitutionality of a Delaware law mandating the reporting of suspected child abuse. The Delaware attorney general’s office is suing elders of the Sussex County congregation for not reporting an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were congregation members. State law requires anyone who knows or in good faith suspects that a child is being abused or neglected to call a 24-hour hotline. But the law contains exemptions for attorney-client conversations and communications “between priest and penitent in a sacramental confession.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ lawyer argues that they are covered by the clergy exemption, which the judge suggested seems to give special protection, as written, to Catholics. MILWAUKEE ARCHDIOCESE BANKRUPTCY Judge approves Milwaukee archdiocese bankruptcy plan MILWAUKEE (AP) β A federal bankruptcy judge in Milwaukee has approved a reorganization plan for the city’s Roman Catholic archdiocese that calls for $21 million to be paid to clergy abuse victims. The plan approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan Kelley on Monday splits most of that money among 355 people. Another class of 104 victims will get about $2,000 each. Several victims testified that they wished the settlement amounts had been larger, and some said they wanted to see deeper investigation of abuse claims. Shortly before the deal was approved, Archbishop Jerome Listecki addressed the court and repeated his apology to victims as well as his hope that “we have turned the corner in the history of the archdiocese.” At several points as he spoke, however, a packed gallery of victims and advocates coughed, groaned and even quietly booed. The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2011 to address its sex abuse lawsuit liabilities, and is among a dozen nationally to do so in the past decade. Sound: 218-c-07-(Greg Moore, AP correspondent)-“of these victims”-AP correspondent Greg Moore reports a federal bankruptcy judge has approved a plan for Milwaukee’s Roman Catholic archdiocese to pay clergy abuse victims. (9 Nov 2015) < 219-c-07-(Greg Moore, AP correspondent)-“to go through”-AP correspondent Greg Moore reports Archbishop Jerome Listecki spoke at Monday’s bankruptcy hearing. (9 Nov 2015) < 220-c-16-(Greg Moore, AP correspondent)-“show their displeasure”-AP correspondent Greg Moore reports some in the courtroom didn’t appear to accept the archbishop’s apology. (9 Nov 2015) < JUDGE-GAY MARRIAGE Oregon judge goes before disciplinary commission SALEM, Ore. (AP) β A judicial disciplinary commission is hearing accusations against an Oregon judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages. The two-week hearing that started Monday will determine whether Marion County judge Vance Day should face sanctions. The Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability says Day committed several ethics violations. They include screening marriage applicants to exclude same-sex couples, hanging a portrait of Adolf Hitler in the courthouse, asking lawyers for money and allowing a convicted felon to handle a gun. Day has denied that he violated judicial ethics rules, and says the rules are unconstitutional. He says he’s being targeted because of his Christian beliefs. Day is a former chairman of the Oregon Republican Party. ISLAMIC STATE Activists say IS group releases 37 Syrian Christian captives STOCKHOLM (AP) β Activists report that Islamic State militants on Saturday released 37 Syrian Christians, mostly women, who were among more than 200 people from the Assyrian minority group abducted in February. The Stockholm-based Assyrian Human Rights Network posted pictures on its Facebook page of the newly freed Christians arriving in the predominantly ethnic Assyrian village of Tal Tamr, in northeastern Syria. The photos show a woman kissing the hand of an elderly woman in tears, and a priest greeting the former captives in a church ceremony. The group said in a statement that negotiations continue for the release of another 124 people who remain in captivity. Edmond Gabriel, chairman of the Assyrian Charitable Association in Syria’s Hassakeh province, said 27 of the released are women. He said another group of captives was expected to be released within days. The Islamic State group shot and killed three Assyrians in October but has previously released others through negotiations. 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Johnson said, “I cannot think of anything more foolish” than to boycott “a country that when all is said and done is the only democracy in the region, the only place that has in my view a pluralist open society.” He said the boycotters are “a very small minority.” Sound: 233-a-18-(London Mayor Boris Johnson, in AP interview)-“in the region”-London Mayor Boris Johnson denounces international efforts to economically punish Israel. (9 Nov 2015) < 234-a-16-(London Mayor Boris Johnson, in AP interview)-“large, lefty academics”-London Mayor Boris Johnson says those calling for punishing Israel economically are few and ineffective. (9 Nov 2015) < CHINA-TAIWANESE PASTOR DETAINED Church group: Police detain Taiwanese pastor on China visit BEIJING (AP) β The pastor of an unauthorized church in China says a Taiwanese pastor was detained for 15 days by Chinese police after visiting the church last month. Li Jia’en, who leads the church group in the central Chinese city of Luoyang, says Shen Zhenguo returned to Taiwan after being released on Oct. 29. Li himself also was detained for the same length of time on the charge of holding an illegal religious gathering. Luoyang police declined to confirm the case over the phone, and the local government propaganda official said he was unaware of the matter. Congregations that refuse to pledge loyalty to China’s ruling Communist Party are banned under Chinese law. Pastor Li says Shen visited the underground congregation on Oct. 13, when police raided their meeting place. Li said the congregation had been harassed in the past, but this was the first time he and other church members were detained. ANGLICAN DIOCESE-BISHOP RETIRING Head of Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh to retire SEWICKLEY, Pa. (AP) β The head of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh β who during his 20 year-tenure led conservative Episcopal congregations to split from the church throughout North America β has announced he will retire. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Bishop Robert Duncan made the announcement over the weekend during the diocese’s annual convention. The 67-year-old Duncan says he feels the work he was called to do is complete. His retirement will be effective on June 30. Duncan previously led conservative churches in the area and throughout North America to break from the more liberal Episcopal Church and its Canadian counterpart. Duncan says the church faces continuing challenges of discipleship and evangelization “in a hostile and needy” world. The Pittsburgh diocese’s standing committee will oversee the transition and search for a new bishop. A vote on the nominees is expected in April. SOUTH BEND-CHURCH BURGLARIES Police look into string of South Bend-area church burglaries SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) β Police in northern Indiana are looking into a string of church break-ins over the past two months. The South Bend Tribune says at least 17 burglaries or attempted break-ins have been reported at church properties in South Bend and unincorporated St. Joseph County since the beginning of September. Items stolen from churches, sheds and garages include cash, computers and lawn equipment. St. Joseph County police Assistant Chief Bill Thompson says it’s unusual to have this many churches targeted in that timespan. He says it appears likely that some of the burglaries were committed by the same person or group. South Bend police Capt. Robert Hammer says there aren’t obvious clues linking the burglaries, aside from the targets and items taken.
