BORDER-CATHOLIC LEADERS
Bishops celebrate Mass along Mexico border
NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — A delegation of Roman Catholic leaders has celebrated Mass on Arizona’s border with Mexico to mourn those who have died trying to enter the U.S. and to pray for immigration reform.
Several hundred people attended the ceremony Tuesday and a few dozen people peered through the border fence from Mexico to watch the Mass. Catholic clergymen offered Holy Communion through the fence to people in Mexico.
The Catholic leaders earlier did a tour of Nogales to see spots where immigrants come into the country. The church leaders on Monday walked along a notorious section of border, an area that once was one of the most popular crossing points for drug and immigrant smugglers.
Sound:
228-a-09-(Unidentified girl, at bishops’ news conference)-“release my sister”-This unidentified girl asked the bishops to help free her sister who she says has been detained for 6 months by immigration officers. (1 Apr 2014)
< 226-a-08-(Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, at news conference)-“God given rights”-Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, says Congress must pass immigration reform. (1 Apr 2014) < 229-r-15-(Choir singing, at Catholic bishops’ border Mass)–Sound of choir singing at Catholic bishops’ border Mass. (1 Apr 2014) < 225-a-11-(Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, in homily at border Mass)-“are not forgotten”-Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, says many people die trying to illegally enter the United States. (1 Apr 2014) < 227-a-11-(Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, at news conference)-“of this wall”-Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, says the U.S. immigration system is inhumane. (1 Apr 2014) < 325-a-11-(Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, in homily at border Mass)-“are not forgotten”-Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, says many people die trying to illegally enter the United States. (1 Apr 2014) < 328-a-09-(Unidentified girl, at bishops’ news conference)-“release my sister”-This unidentified girl asked the bishops to help free her sister who she says has been detained for 6 months by immigration officers. (1 Apr 2014) < 329-r-15-(Choir singing, at Catholic bishops’ border Mass)–Sound of choir singing at Catholic bishops’ border Mass. (1 Apr 2014) < 326-a-08-(Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, at news conference)-“God given rights”-Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, says Congress must pass immigration reform. (1 Apr 2014) < LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-LARRY NORMAN Christian rock pioneer’s album added to National Recording Registry WASHINGTON (AP) — A 1972 album by Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman has been added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. “Only Visiting This Planet” included two of the controversial singer’s best-known songs. “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” was about someone who missed the Rapture, while “The Great American Novel” harshly critiqued modern culture. A statement by the Library calls the album “the key work in the early history of Christian rock.” It says Norman, who died in 2008 at the age of 60, “commented on the world as he saw it from his position as a passionate, idiosyncratic outsider to mainstream churches.” Each year, Library of Congress officials select 25 recordings that are at least 10 years old that they judge to be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Other new additions to the National Recording Registry include Linda Ronstadt’s “Heart Like A Wheel” and U2’s “The Joshua Tree.” Sound: 331-r-32-(Larry Norman, Christian rock pioneer)–Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman singing “The Great American Novel” from his 1972 album “Only Visiting This Planet.” (1 Apr 2014) < 330-r-38-(Larry Norman, Christian rock pioneer)–Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman singing “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” from his 1972 album “Only Visiting This Planet.” (1 Apr 2014) < GAY SCOUT LEADER OUSTED Boy Scouts removes gay troop leader in Seattle SEATTLE (AP) — The Boys Scouts of America has removed an openly gay troop leader in Seattle, saying he made an issue out of his sexual orientation. The organization told Geoff McGrath in a letter Monday that it “has no choice” but to revoke his registration after he said he was gay while being profiled by NBC News. McGrath, who is married to another man, has been leading Seattle Troop 98 since its formation was approved last fall. He said the pastor of Rainier Beach United Methodist Church, the chartering organization, asked him to lead the troop. The Boy Scouts began accepting openly gay members for the first time this year, over the objections of some participants who eventually left the organization. Gay-rights groups applauded the move, but it angered people who consider homosexuality a sin and a violation of Scouting values. The Rev. Monica Corsaro at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church said she and her congregation are standing by McGrath as troop leader. RELIGIOUS PRACTICES Religious-practices bill headed to Miss. governor JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi lawmakers have passed a bill that says state and local governments cannot put a substantial burden on religious practices. The Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act passed the House and Senate on Tuesday and was sent to Gov. Phil Bryant after debates about whether it could lead to discrimination against gays or other groups. The bill also would add “In God We Trust” to the state seal, as Bryant requested. Supporters say the legislation mirrors a federal law signed by President Bill Clinton more than 20 years ago. Opponents say they worry it could clear the way for some to cite their religious beliefs to discriminate against gays, blacks, women or those of other faiths. BRITAIN-RUSSELL CROWE-ARCHBISHOP Crowe meets Anglican leader after ‘Noah’ premiere LONDON (AP) — The pope said no but the leader of the world’s Anglicans was happy to meet Russell Crowe, star of the Biblical epic “Noah.” Crowe was denied a private audience with Pope Francis when he was promoting the movie in Rome last month. But Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby met the actor at the cleric’s Lambeth Palace home Tuesday, the day after the movie’s British premiere, to discuss faith and spirituality. Director Darren Aronofsky’s film is a box-office hit in the U.S. but some Christian conservatives have complained it takes liberties with the Biblical account of the flood. It has been banned in parts of the Muslim world where it’s taboo to depict a prophet. Welby’s office said the archbishop had seen “Noah” and found it “interesting and thought-provoking.” ANGEL FUND ENDING Once-secret ‘Angel Fund’ for Detroiters ending DETROIT (AP) — A once-secret fund that allowed an anonymous donor to give $17 million since 2005 toward helping poor people in the Detroit area is ending this month, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit. Msgr. Michael Bugarin told the Detroit Free Press that the “Angel Fund,” which is run by the archdiocese and backed by a single donor, is ending April 30. Bugarin said in an email that the donor indicated that his family’s philanthropic plans had shifted. The fund paid for necessities such as rent, medicine and overdue utility bills for people in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. Details of the fund were made public earlier this year after a Roman Catholic priest and an acquaintance were charged with stealing money from the fund. Bugarin says the donor’s decision had nothing to do with the criminal case. UNPROTECTED PENSIONS Courts question law leaving pensions unprotected NEW YORK (AP) — New rulings against Catholic hospital chains on both coasts have intensified a faceoff between religiously affiliated employers and workers who are alarmed by the companies’ efforts to avoid insuring or funding their pensions. A federal judge in New Jersey ruled Monday that a loophole in federal pension law exempting churches does not extend to hospitals and other employers not directly controlled by religious orders. The opinion, echoing one issued in December in a case involving a California hospital chain, allows an employee’s lawsuit to move forward against the New Jersey operator, St. Peter’s Healthcare System. Federal law requires most private employers with pension plans to contribute to them and insure them in case they can’t meet their obligations. But Congress crafted an exemption for churches to protect them from government interference in their finances. Hospitals and other religiously affiliated employers have cited that exemption to convert their pensions to “church plans,” including some that have let retirement funds dwindle. NYPD-PASSOVER SECURITY NYPD: No credible terrorist threat during holiday NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials say no credible terrorist threat has been detected in New York City ahead of the Jewish holiday. But NYPD counterterrorism official John Miller told members of the Jewish community Tuesday they should remain alert nonetheless. Miller and other officials gave the intelligence update at a pre-Passover briefing for religious and community leaders. Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. It begins on Monday April 14 and ends Tuesday April 22. In the briefing, NYPD Director of Intelligence Analysis Rebecca Weiner detailed terrorist organizations’ media and recruitment campaigns. She said images of New York City buildings and traffic scenes are often displayed in propaganda material. ISRAEL-MONASTERY VANDALIZED Israel: Vandals spray hate graffiti on monastery JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police say they’re searching for the vandals who scrawled hate graffiti on a Catholic monastery and slashed the tires of nearby cars a few weeks before Pope Francis is to visit the Holy land. Slogans against peace talks with the Palestinians as well as graffiti disparaging Jesus and Mary were found on the outer walls of the Deir Rafat monastery near Jerusalem. Some radical Israeli settlers, mostly teenagers and young men, have been carrying out acts of vandalism in recent years to protest what they perceive as the Israeli government’s pro-Palestinian policies and to retaliate for Palestinian attacks. The vandals have targeted mosques, churches, dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases in so-called “price tag” assaults. Francis will be the fourth pope to visit the Holy Land. He is set to visit Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan in May. Sound: 255-a-11-(Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Catholic clergyman in the region, in AP interview)-“praying for peace”-Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal denounces the vandalism against a monastery of Catholic nuns near Jerusalem. (1 Apr 2014) < 254-a-05-(Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Catholic clergyman in the region, in AP interview)-“the Holy Land”-Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal says vandalism to a monastery near Jerusalem makes Israel look bad a few weeks before Pope Francis’s scheduled visit. (1 Apr 2014) < ISRAEL ANCIENT MONASTERY Ancient monastery, large mosaics, found in Israel JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Antiquities Authority has unveiled a monastery dating back some 1,400 years in the south of the country with impressive mosaic floors that shed light on life in the region during the Byzantine period. Excavation director Daniel Varga calls the find “spectacular.” He says the monastery, which was discovered this week, is from the sixth century and the detailed mosaics are unusual in the area. Colorful designs of flora and animals along with inscriptions in Greek and Syriac are depicted in the designs. Names of the monastery’s abbots also are inscribed. Pottery and glass artifacts and coins from the Byzantine period were also found at the site. The church is believed to have been a center for Christian worship at the time. Sound: 248-a-09-(Daniel Varga, archaeologist with Israel’s Antiquities Authority, in AP interview)-“a major settlement”-Daniel Varga, an archaeologist with Israel’s Antiquities Authority, says they’ve uncovered a 1,400 year old Byzantine monastery. (1 Apr 2014) < 247-a-04-(Daniel Varga, archaeologist with Israel’s Antiquities Authority, in AP interview)-“6th Century A.D.”-Daniel Varga, an archaeologist with Israel’s Antiquities Authority, says an ancient Byzantine monastery has been found in southern Israel. (1 Apr 2014) < BRITAIN-MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD UK’s Cameron orders probe of Muslim Brotherhood LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron has told the country’s intelligence agencies to investigate the Muslim Brotherhood, amid reports the group is using London as a base after a crackdown on its activities in Egypt. Cameron’s office said Tuesday “the prime minister has commissioned an internal government review into the philosophy and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and the government’s policy toward the organization.” Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi was ousted as Egypt’s president last year, and Egypt has declared it a terrorist organization. The group says it is peaceful, but opponents accuse it of orchestrating a wave of deadly attacks on Egyptian police and military. The Brotherhood has long had a presence in Britain, but the government is investigating whether its ranks have been swelled by members fleeing Egypt. Sound: 184-c-16-(Zerya Shakely (ZEHR’-yuh SHAK’-eh-lee), correspondent)-“crackdown in Egypt”-Zerya Shakely reports British Prime Minister David Cameron has told intelligence agencies to investigate the British wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. (1 Apr 2014) < 183-v-32-(Zerya Shakely (ZEHR’-yuh SHAK’-eh-lee), correspondent)–British Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered an investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities in Britain. Zerya Shakely reports. (1 Apr 2014) < MYANMAR-ROHINGYA-HEALTH CRISIS Aid agencies see looming crisis in western Myanmar YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — International relief organizations forced to flee western Myanmar after being targeted by Buddhist mobs say it will be difficult to return to camps holding 140,000 Rohingya (roh-HEENG’-ah) Muslims unless there is strong diplomatic pressure on the government to depoliticize the distribution of aid. Humanitarian aid workers who gathered with colleagues in the country’s main city of Yangon to discuss the spiraling crisis warned Monday in the next two weeks food stocks will run out and at least 20,000 people will be without clean water in 10 days. The health situation is even more dire, they said, with almost no life-saving services such as emergency hospital referrals.
