GOP 2016-RUBIO-PRAYER
Rubio candidacy launched with jubilant prayer
MIAMI (AP) β The opening prayer at a political event isn’t usually interrupted by wild applause, but supporters of Sen. Marco Rubio couldn’t contain their enthusiasm.
Evangelist Greg Laurie prayed, “We’ve come here tonight to support a man that we believe loves you and loves this country, Senator Marco Rubio.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, perhaps sensing a divine endorsement, until a chuckling Laurie reminded them, “You’re not supposed to clap in a prayer.”
When Rubio took the stage, he told the crowd that he would need their prayers, their support and their votes.
Noting that his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination would be long and difficult and require time away from his family, the Florida senator quoted a Bible verse that he said gives him comfort: “Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
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245-a-19-(The Rev. Greg Laurie, Christian evangelist, pastor and author, delivering opening prayer at Rubio campaign announcement)-“in a prayer (laughter fades)”-Evangelist Greg Laurie asks God to guide Senator Marco Rubio, but is interrupted by applause. ((cut used in wrap)) ((note length of cut)) (13 Apr 2015)
< 246-a-14-(The Rev. Greg Laurie, Christian evangelist, pastor and author, delivering opening prayer at Rubio campaign announcement)-“him to succeed”-Evangelist Greg Laurie asks God to give the nation the president it needs. (13 Apr 2015) < 244-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Rev. Greg Laurie, evangelist, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.)–The opening prayer at a political event isn’t usually interrupted by wild applause, but supporters of Senator Marco Rubio couldn’t contain their enthusiasm. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (13 Apr 2015) < 248-a-07-(Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at presidential campaign announcement)-“ultimately your vote”-Senator Marco Rubio says it won’t be easy to win the presidency. ((cut used in wrap)) (13 Apr 2015) < 247-a-14-(Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at presidential campaign announcement)-“wherever you go (applause and cheers fade)”-Senator Marco Rubio says prayer and a Bible passage have paved the way for his presidential campaign. Updated: 04/13/2015-08:31:47 PM ET (13 Apr 2015) < RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-CONVENTION Church recommits to 2017 Indy convention after law flap INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β A denomination that pulled a convention from Indianapolis amid the furor over a new Indiana religious objections law that raised the specter of discrimination against gays is bringing the meeting back to the city after the law was amended. The General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) announced Monday that the amendments signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence on April 2 addressed its concerns and it has selected Indianapolis for its 2017 General Assembly. The Indianapolis-based denomination’s general minister and president, Sharon Watkins, says its decision to move the meeting “helped get Indiana on the road to full protection for all people.” The meeting was among several that were canceled or placed in jeopardy after the passage of the original law. RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-SEXUAL IDENTITY Lawmaker looks to spur Indiana gay rights protections debate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β A Democratic lawmaker is looking to force Republicans to vote on whether to extend protections for gays, lesbians and others under Indiana’s non-discrimination laws less than two weeks after the backlash over the religious objections law. The proposal calls for adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the non-discrimination sections of numerous state laws, including the Indiana civil rights law covering education, employment and housing. Democratic Rep. Ed DeLaney of Indianapolis says his proposal would get Indiana past the uproar over whether the religious objections law could have allowed discrimination. The Indiana House faces a Tuesday deadline to act on two bills that DeLaney wants non-discrimination language added to. Republican legislative leaders say not enough time is left in the legislative session to tackle such a policy change. RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-LOUISIANA Controversial religious objections bill hits snag in House BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) β A religious objections bill similar to laws that have ignited a political firestorm in Arkansas and Indiana has run into a roadblock in the Louisiana Legislature on the first day of the legislative session. Though it is supported by Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, the “Marriage and Conscience Act” is opposed by Senate President John Alario, who said “it puts Louisiana in a light of hatred and bigotry and discrimination.” As lawmakers gaveled in the spring session Monday, the bill wasn’t sent to a House committee, stalling the measure, at least temporarily, from getting a public hearing or legislative vote. In fact, of the hundreds of bills introduced Monday, the proposal sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Johnson was the only bill that was not sent to committee. The legislation would ban the state from denying any resident business licenses, benefits or tax deductions because of actions A person takes “in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction.” Affected businesses could include florists, photographers and bakers who object to same-sex weddings but fear state retribution. CONVERSION THERAPY-LAWSUIT Court upholds decision to dismiss suit on gay conversion ban PHILADELPHIA (AP) β A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s ban on gay conversion therapy. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled that U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson was right to reject the claims of a couple who said their constitutional rights were violated because the law prevents them from seeking treatment for their teenage son. Republican Gov. Chris Christie signed a law in 2013 banning the therapy in New Jersey, saying that the potential health risks trumped concerns over the government setting limits on parental choice. California passed a similar law in 2012, and the U.S. Supreme Court turned aside a challenge to that law last year. The couple claimed in their suit that the state’s law violated their rights to free speech and freedom of religion, as well as their 14th Amendment right to equal protection. NEBRASKA RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DAY Gov. Pete Ricketts proclaims Nebraska Religious Liberty Day LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) β Gov. Pete Ricketts has proclaimed April 13 Nebraska Religious Liberty Day in what he says is a call to action to publicly exercise religious beliefs without fear of legal repercussions. Rickets signed the proclamation Monday while speaking to a crowd of about 250 people gathered at the Capitol for a service titled “Religious Liberty in the Public Square.” Leaders from the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said people of faith have rare moral, political and charitable roles in the state, and urged the crowd to continue speaking out. Ricketts said the proclamation is not in response to any particular legislation and he does not believe Nebraska needs new religious freedom laws at this time. INTERFAITH PROJECT Omaha church congregation votes to join interfaith site OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β A church in Omaha, Nebraska, will relocate to a planned interfaith site for Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Omaha World-Herald reports that more than 70 percent of the congregation of Countryside Community Church voted Sunday to move to a 35-acre site. The relocation is part of a plan by the nonprofit Tri-Faith Initiative organization to have all three faiths represented at one location. The Rev. Eric Elnes, Countryside’s pastor, said community service and education are being considered by interfaith leaders as potential areas of collaboration. If the site becomes a reality, Countryside’s new church would have 71,100 square feet of space, based on a preliminary design. The project’s cost, including the land, is estimated to be about $25 million. According to Elnes, $16.1 million in financial commitments has already been secured for construction. BIBLE-OFFICIAL BOOK Tennessee AG says Bible can’t be state’s official book NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Tennessee’s attorney general says a bill seeking to make the Holy Bible the state’s official book would violate separation of church and state provisions in the federal and state constitutions. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the legal opinion issued by Attorney General Herbert Slatery on Monday, a day before the full House was scheduled to vote on the measure sponsored by freshman Republican Rep. Jerry Sexton. Slatery in the opinion says “the Bible is undeniably a sacred text of the Christian faith,” and he cites the provision in the Tennessee Constitution that states that “no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religion establishment or mode of worship.” Slatery says other state symbols, such as the designation of milk as the official state beverage, “inherently carry the imprimatur and endorsement of the government.” Similar proposals to make the Bible the state book failed in Mississippi earlier this year and in Louisiana last year. TV-HBO-SCIENTOLOGY HBO scientology film proves popular for network NEW YORK (AP) β The Church of Scientology was mistaken if it hoped HBO’s withering documentary on the religion’s practices would pass by with little notice. “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” has been seen by more than 5.5 million people since its debut two weeks ago. The Church of Scientology ran a full-page advertisement in The New York Times denouncing the film before it ran. Sheila Nevins, who heads HBO’s documentary unit, says although “Going Clear” details the church’s aggressive responses to critics and those who leave Scientology, she was surprised that church lawyers and officials challenged the film and HBO before it aired. Nevins says, “I really thought they would be smart to keep their mouths shut and let it go by.” ISRAEL-KIM AND KANYE Kim Kardashian and Kanye have baby baptized in Jerusalem JERUSALEM (AP) β Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West have visited a centuries-old Armenian church in Jerusalem to baptize their daughter, North West. The Kardashians fended off swooning fans Monday as they entered the Saint James Cathedral in Jerusalem’s Old City. Kardashian, appearing overwhelmed, clutched the tiny girl as she was escorted by West, her sister Khloe and hooded clergymen. Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, an Armenian church official, said the family was there so the child could “be baptized and become a Christian officially and a member of the Armenian Church.” The celebrities arrived in Jerusalem after a high-profile visit to Armenia, where the Kardashian family traces its roots. Sound: 210-r-13-(Crowd screaming outside church, as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West enter)–Sound of crowd screaming outside church as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West enter with their daughter. (13 Apr 2015) < 209-a-09-(Armenian Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, in AP interview)-“the Armenian church”-Armenian Archbishop Aris Shirvanian says the Kardashians visited Jerusalem’s St. James Cathedral for a special occasion. (13 Apr 2015) < 208-a-10-(Armenian Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, in AP interview)-“with her family”-Armenian Archbishop Aris Shirvanian says he wasn’t familiar with the Kardashians. (13 Apr 2015) < DENMARK-QUEEN-IMMIGRATION Denmark’s queen urges immigrants to adapt STOCKHOLM (AP) β Denmark’s Queen Margrethe says immigrants don’t have to change religions, but they must respect the country’s core values. The figurehead monarch made national headlines by entering a tense debate about immigration ahead of her 75th birthday this week. Speaking to reporters Monday in Copenhagen, Margrethe said immigrants should be “adapting to the country they have come to.” She was commenting on a weekend newspaper interview in which she urged newcomers to accept Denmark’s “mental climate” and cited the Jewish community as a “beautiful example” of a minority adapting to Danish society. Denmark’s immigration debate intensified after February shooting attacks against a free speech event and a synagogue by a gunman with Palestinian roots.
