OBAMA-GOSPEL
Obamas host White House celebration of gospel music
WASHINGTON (AP) β President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have welcomed top recording artists to the White House for a celebration of gospel music.
Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Shirley Caesar, Emmylou Harris and Darlene Love were among the artists participating in Tuesday night’s concert, which the president said would “bring some church to the White House.”
Obama said gospel music was born out of slavery and became the music of the black church. He said it “has an unmatched power to strike the deepest chord in all of us, touching people of all faiths and no faith.”
The event was the latest in the “In Performance at the White House” series that is broadcast by PBS television stations nationwide.
It will be broadcast nationwide by PBS on June 26.
Sound:
313-w-28-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with President Barack Obama, gospel singe Shirley Caesar and the Morgan State University Choir)–President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have welcomed top recording artists to the White House for a celebration of gospel music. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. ((opens and closes with sound)) (14 Apr 2015)
< 309-a-14-(President Barack Obama, at White House gospel concert)-“the black church”-President Barack Obama says gospel music originated with slaves. (14 Apr 2015) < 312-r-13-(Shirley Caesar, gospel singer, with the Morgan State University Choir, at White House gospel concert)–Sound of gospel singer Shirley Caesar with the Morgan State University Choir at White House gospel concert. COURTESY: PBS / In Performance at the White House ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 Apr 2015) < 310-a-13-(President Barack Obama, at White House gospel concert)-“of no faith”-President Barack Obama says gospel music was born in slavery and grew up in the black church. (14 Apr 2015) < 311-a-04-(President Barack Obama, at White House gospel concert)-“the White House”-President Barack Obama says the gospel concert is a special occasion. (14 Apr 2015) < WHITE HOUSE-GOSPEL Singers hail their gospel roots at White House workshop WASHINGTON (AP) β Michelle Williams, who sang with Beyonce in the group Destiny’s Child, says gospel music was her first love. Williams, who took part in a gospel music workshop at the White House Tuesday, said “I don’t know how I got in a group and we sang ‘Bootylicious.'” She remembers how uncomfortable she felt performing that song one night when her uncle, a church bishop, was in the audience. But Williams said Destiny’s Child always included a gospel song in their concerts. She told students at the workshop, “When you have a platform and if you know God, I think you should share it no matter what.” Singer Darlene Love, whose pop music career spans 50 years, said her father was a pastor whose congregants charged that she had switched to “the devil’s music.” But Love says she loves the old gospel hymns and is asked to sing whenever she visits her church. Sound: 297-a-14-(Michelle Williams, singer formerly with Destiny’s Child, at White House gospel music workshop)-“no matter what”-Singer Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, says some gospel music was in their repertoire. (14 Apr 2015) < 295-a-10-(Michelle Williams, singer formerly with Destiny’s Child, at White House gospel music workshop)-“Bootylicious, but man (laughter fades)”-Singe Michelle Williams says the music she performed with Beyonce in Destiny’s Child wasn’t her favorite genre. (14 Apr 2015) < 300-a-08-(Darlene Love, pop singer, at White House gospel music workshop)-“me to sing”-Pop singer Darlene Love says she loves gospel songs. (14 Apr 2015) < 299-a-11-(Darlene Love, pop singer, at White House gospel music workshop)-“the devil’s music (laughter fades)”-Pop singer Darlene Love says her father was a pastor so her secular career was controversial. (14 Apr 2015) < 296-a-08-(Michelle Williams, singer formerly with Destiny’s Child, at White House gospel music workshop)-“the first chorus (laughter fades)”-Singer Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, says she remembers one occasion when she was particularly uncomfortable singing “Bootylicious.” (14 Apr 2015) < 298-a-13-(Michelle Williams, singer formerly with Destiny’s Child, at White House gospel music workshop)-“it absolutely does”-Singer Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, says even unchurched people respond to gospel music. (14 Apr 2015) < BIBLE-OFFICIAL BOOK Tennessee House bogs down over making Bible official book NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β A small-town Republican’s proposal to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee is being opposed by leaders of his own party, including Gov. Bill Haslam, with the House delaying a scheduled vote on the measure. A sometimes raucous floor debate Tuesday followed a legal opinion by state Attorney General Herbert Slatery saying the bill would violate separation of church and state provisions in the state and federal constitutions. The legislation’s sponsor, freshman Rep. Jerry Sexton, disputed Slatery’s opinion. Sexton insisted that his bill would memorialize the Bible’s role in Tennessee’s history and would not establish any religion. The House is expected to take up the measure again when it meets in its next floor session on Wednesday. Sound: 266-a-07-(State Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Tenn., in floor debate)-“in Tennessee’s history”-Republican state Rep. Jerry Sexton says he isn’t seeking to establish a state religion. (14 Apr 2015) < 264-a-07-(State Rep. Steve McManus, R-Tenn., in floor debate)-“mode of worship”-Republican state Rep. Steve McManus quotes a portion of the Tennessee Constitution on separation of church and state. (14 Apr 2015) < 263-a-05-(State Rep. Steve McManus, R-Tenn., in floor debate)-“church and state”-Republican state Rep. Steve McManus says it would be unconstitutional to declare the Bible Tennessee’s state book. (14 Apr 2015) < 265-a-07-(State Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Tenn., in floor debate)-“it does not”-Republican state Rep. Jerry Sexton says his bill wouldn’t violate the state or federal constitution. (14 Apr 2015) < 267-a-12-(Matthew Cooke, teaching elder at Maynardville Fellowship, delivering opening prayer before Tennessee House Tuesday)-“stand in those”-Matthew Cooke, teaching elder at Maynardville Fellowship, asks God to guide Tennessee lawmakers. (14 Apr 2015) < CIRCUMCISION FIGHT Civil rights case filed to stop Florida boy’s circumcision WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) β The battle over a Florida boy’s circumcision has moved to federal court. A federal civil rights complaint was filed late Monday on behalf of the 4-year-old by his mother Heather Hironimus after her efforts failed in state courts. Hironimus fled with her son despite a judge’s order to appear in court and to allow the procedure favored by the child’s father to go forward. The new filing says forcing the circumcision amounts to child abuse and violates the boy’s constitutional rights. The mother is seeking to stop the surgery from going forward as well as voiding an order to arrest her. She initially agreed to the circumcision in a parenting agreement filed in court, but later changed her mind, leading to a drawn-out legal fight. POPE-CLIMATE CHANGE UN chief to open Vatican climate change conference NEW YORK (AP) β U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will open a key Vatican meeting this month on Pope Francis’ highly anticipated teaching document on climate change. The U.N. chief will join American economist Jeffrey Sachs and the pope’s top representative on the environment, Cardinal Peter Turkson, at the April 28 event. Turkson helped write the first draft of the pope’s upcoming encyclical on global warming and the environment. Organizers say this month’s “Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity” event will highlight the moral dimensions of environmental protection ahead of the encyclical’s release this summer. Organizers say they aim to build a global religious movement to battle climate change. The conference was announced on the websites for the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and the Vatican’s “End Slavery” initiative. VATICAN-REFORM Pope’s finance czar moves out of Vatican bank VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis’ finance minister is on the move, literally. Four months after he took up residence in the Vatican bank, Cardinal George Pell is moving out and into the permanent offices of his new economy secretariat. The move coincides with a major reorganization of the Vatican’s financial structures ordered by Pope Francis as part of his reform of the Vatican’s administration. It also removes any question of Pell’s direct authority over the bank, which is governed by a separate commission of cardinals who report to the pope. Francis tapped the straight-talking Australian to bring order and efficiency to the Vatican’s complicated finances. Pell has promised a new era of transparency, budgeting accountability and internationally accepted accounting standards, and has been given broad oversight powers. STARVED TODDLER-TEXAS Police: Texas woman helped starve boy to rid him of ‘demon’ DALLAS (AP) β Authorities say a woman who operated a church in her Dallas-area home helped starve a 2-year-old boy to rid him of a “demon,” then held a ceremony to try to revive him. Balch Springs police said Tuesday that Araceli Meza (ar-uh-SEL’-ee MAY’-suh) encouraged the boy’s parents to feed him only water for 25 days, then tried to “resurrect” him during a ceremony. Investigators believe the boy died but that his parents returned home to Mexico for the burial. Lt. Mark Maret (MAYR’-et) says the 49-year-old Meza was charged Monday with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission. She’s being held on $100,000 bond and has no listed attorney. Police say they received a tip about a March 22 ceremony at the home to revive the American-born child. Sound: 324-a-07-(Lt. Mark Maret (MEHR’-eht), Balch Springs Police Dept., in AP interview)-“Mexico for burial”-Balch Springs Police Lt. Mark Maret says after the failed resurrection ceremony, the 2-year-old’s parents took his remains to Mexico. (14 Apr 2015) < 322-a-12-(Lt. Mark Maret (MEHR’-eht), Balch Springs Police Dept., in AP interview)-“water each day”-Balch Springs Police Lt. Mark Maret says a local woman encouraged the parents of a 2-year-old boy to starve him to rid him of a “demon.” (14 Apr 2015) < 325-a-16-(Julia Contreras, neighbor, in AP interview)-“just very awkward”-Julia Contreras says she never knew why there was so much activity at the neighborhood home that Araceli Meza was apparently using as a church of sorts. ((Araceli Meza is pronounced a-ruh-SEH’-lee MAY’-suh)) (14 Apr 2015) < 323-a-12-(Lt. Mark Maret (MEHR’-eht), Balch Springs Police Dept., in AP interview)-“was a resurrection”-Balch Springs Police Lt. Mark Maret says police received a tip about a March 22 ceremony at which attempts were to be made to revive the 2-year-old boy who had died. (14 Apr 2015) < NIGERIA-CHIBOK GIRLS Nigeria president-elect: Can’t promise to find Chibok girls LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) β Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari (moo-HAH’-mah-doo boo-HAH’-ree) says in a statement that he can’t promise to find the 219 Chibok (chee-BOHK’) schoolgirls abducted by Islamic extremists one year ago. He says their whereabouts are unknown and “We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued.” Activists marked Tuesday’s anniversary of the mass abduction from a school in Chibok, a town in northeast Nigeria, with a change in their slogan from “Bring Back Our Girls β Now and Alive” to “Never to be Forgotten.” Boko Haram (BOH’-koh hah-RAHM’) has kidnapped hundreds more since then. Sound: 241-a-07-(Enoch (EE’-nuhk) Mark, father of two abducted girls, in AP interview)-“see our daughters”-Enoch Mark, the father of two schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram, says he has new hope because Nigeria has a new president. (14 Apr 2015) < 210-c-19-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ fawl), AP correspondent)-“find the girls”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports the president-elect of Nigeria will put new resources into finding the missing girls, but he’s already admitting it might not be possible. (14 Apr 2015) < 209-c-18-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ fawl), AP correspondent)-“to be forgotten”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports emotions are high in Nigeria on this first anniversary of the kidnappings, but hope has fallen. (((note “today” refers to Tuesday)) (14 Apr 2015) < 211-c-19-(Michelle Faul (mee-SHEHL’ fawl), AP correspondent)-“their missing daughters”-AP correspondent Michelle Faul reports an estimated 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram since the start of 2014, and many have been forced into sexual slavery, trained to fight, died or been killed. (14 Apr 2015) < 156-a-16-(Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in recorded message to kidnapped girls)-“a top priority”-In a recorded message meant for the kidnapped girls, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai encourages them to stay strong. (14 Apr 2015) < 157-a-12-(Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in recorded message to kidnapped girls)-“you courageously sought”-In a recorded message meant for the kidnapped girls, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai encourages them not to lose hope. (14 Apr 2015) < 154-a-18-(Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in recorded message to kidnapped girls)-“with your families”-In a recorded message meant for the kidnapped girls, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai says she’s been pushing for more to be done to rescue them. (14 Apr 2015) < 155-a-11-(Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in recorded message to kidnapped girls)-“touched our hearts”-In a recorded message meant for the kidnapped girls, Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai says she and her father met with their families. (14 Apr 2015) < UNITED NATIONS-SEXUAL VIOLENCE UN report: 2014 saw extremists use of rape, sexual slavery UNITED NATIONS (AP) β A new U.N. report says 2014 was marked by harrowing accounts of rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage being used by extremists including the Islamic State group and Boko Haram. The report by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expresses “grave concern” at sexual violence perpetrated by armed groups, including those promoting extremist ideologies in Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Libya and Yemen. It said efforts “to degrade or destroy” the Islamic State group, Boko Haram, al-Shabab, Ansar Dine and al-Qaida affiliates “are an essential part of the fight against conflict-related sexual violence.” CONSTRUCTION-FAMILY KILLED Couple killed by falling concrete slab were youth ministers BONNEY LAKE, Wash. (AP) β A Washington state couple who died when a large concrete slab fell from a highway overpass onto their pickup truck were youth ministers in their 20s and parents to a 6-month-old baby also killed in the freak accident. Josh and Vanessa Ellis and their baby, Hudson, died Monday when a chunk of concrete weighing thousands of pounds fell onto the cab of their truck as they drove underneath the span. That’s according to James Ludlow, their pastor at EastPointe Foursquare Church. Ludlow said “In the blink of an eye, inhale and exhale, and they’re in the presence of God.”
