QATAR-ADOPTION CASE
Couple cleared of daughter’s death attend church
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) β An American couple detained in Qatar before being cleared in the death of their 8-year-old daughter has attended a Sunday church service in Southern California.
Worshippers at Pasadena’s Lake Avenue Church stood, clapped and cheered when Matthew and Grace Huang and their two surviving children were called up to the dais.
Matthew Huang told the congregation he and his wife were thankful to be home. He said the two years they spent in Qatar were extremely difficult, but had taught them to be patient and trust in God.
The Huangs gained international attention when Qatari authorities arrested them in January 2013 on charges of starving their African-born daughter to death.
The Huangs spent nearly a year in jail and were convicted of child endangerment. An appeals court judge overturned their conviction last week and let them return to the U.S.
Sound:
168-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Matthew Huang, American who was jailed in Qatar, and the Reverend Greg Waybright, pastor of Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California)–An American couple freed from the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar after being cleared in the death of their 8-year-old daughter has attended a Sunday church service in California. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (7 Dec 2014)
< 153-a-09-(Matthew Huang, American who was jailed in Qatar, at Sunday worship service)-“for so long”-Matthew Huang, an American who was jailed in Qatar, says he and his wife are relieved to be home. (7 Dec 2014) < 156-a-13-(The Reverend Greg Waybright, senior pastor, Lake Avenue Church, at Sunday worship service)-“here with us (applause fades)”-The Reverend Greg Waybright, senior pastor of Lake Avenue Church, says it’s great to have the Huang family back with the congregation. (7 Dec 2014) < 157-a-13-(The Reverend Greg Waybright, senior pastor, Lake Avenue Church, at Sunday worship service)-“ever could have”-The Reverend Greg Waybright, senior pastor of Lake Avenue Church, says the entire congregation is relieved at the couple’s release. (7 Dec 2014) < 154-a-08-(Matthew Huang, American who was jailed in Qatar, at Sunday worship service)-“and trusting God”-Matthew Huang, an American who was jailed in Qatar, says prosecution and detention was difficult for him and his wife. (7 Dec 2014) < 155-a-11-(Matthew Huang, American who was jailed in Qatar, at Sunday worship service)-“care for us”-Matthew Huang, an American who was jailed in Qatar, says he and his wife are thankful their detention is over. (7 Dec 2014) < ANIMALS-BLESSING Animals blessed in holiday ritual at NYC church NEW YORK (AP) β Dogs, cats, horses, llamas and even a pig have gone to church for a holiday ritual. The animals were blessed Sunday by Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a rabbi and ministers at the Christ Church United Methodist parish on Park Avenue in Manhattan. After the annual animal blessing, workers sprayed the pews with disinfectant – to make sure they were ready for human worshippers. The furry faithful included five members of the New York Police Department’s canine unit and several police horses. They were led in by New York Police Commissioner William Bratton. Most of about 100 animals came with their owners, starting with a procession up the center aisle. But some arrived looking for love – and a home. They were offered for adoption, waiting in back of the church. FLORIDA CHURCH SHOOTING Prosecutor: Suspect in triple slaying confessed BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) β A prosecutor says a Florida man charged with going on a killing spree, slaying his wife, a neighbor and then going to the church where his wife worked and killing the pastor, has confessed to authorities. The Bradenton Herald reports that during a brief court appearance Sunday state attorney Art Brown said that 33-year-old Andres “Andy” Avalos gave a full confession to Manatee County Sheriff investigators. The newspaper says that during the hearing Judge Peter Dubensky also ordered that Avalos be held without bond on three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of his wife Amber Avalos, 45-year-old neighbor Denise Potter, and 31-year-old pastor James “Tripp” Battle. Avalos was taken into custody without incident Saturday at a mobile home park in the Bradenton area of Florida’s Gulf Coast. CROSS DISPUTE-CONGRESS Congress takes another crack at war memorial cross WASHINGTON (AP) β The Senate this week is expected to approve a House-passed bill that could save a 43-foot cross overlooking the city of San Diego. The bill would authorize the defense secretary to transfer the federal parcel of federal land containing the cross and a veterans memorial to a private group β the Mount Soledad Memorial Association. Federal courts have ruled that the cross is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. The federal government has owned the land since 2006 when Congress stepped in to acquire the parcel from the city, which was facing court-ordered fines. A cross in California’s Mojave Desert was preserved two years ago when a federal judge allowed the National Park Service to turn over the acre on which it stands to veterans groups in exchange for five acres of property elsewhere. Sound: 169-v-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The Senate this week is expected to approve a House-passed bill that could save a 43-foot cross overlooking San Diego. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (7 Dec 2014) < STOLEN CRUCIFIX 5-foot crucifix stolen from NYC church during Mass NEW YORK (AP) β Police say a 5-foot-tall wooden crucifix was stolen from the entryway of a church during Mass in New York City. Police say the $5,000 cross was reported missing Wednesday night from the lobby of Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in the Bronx. Pastor Josu Iriondo told the New York Post that the crucifix must have been unscrewed from the wall and that his parishioners may have mistaken the heist for renovations. The 75-year-old pastor added that congregants are praying for its safe return. SAME SEX MARRIAGE-MUSICIAN FIRED Ex-Inverness church employee files complaints CHICAGO (AP) β The former music director of a suburban Chicago parish has filed human rights complaints against the Catholic church that fired him after he announced his engagement to another man. Colin Collette, who worked at Holy Family Catholic Church in Inverness, filed the complaints with the Chicago division of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights. Collette says Holy Family Pastor Terry Keehan asked him to resign in July, and he was later fired. Collette says the church discriminated against him based on his sex, sexual orientation and marital status. Collette says he’s taking legal action because he wants to be reinstated as the music and worship director at the church. The Archdiocese of Chicago had no immediate comment, saying it hadn’t seen the complaints. LEGION OF CHRIST RI court hears $60M dispute with Catholic order PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) β The niece of a woman who gave more than $60 million to a now-disgraced Catholic order is asking the Rhode Island Supreme Court to let her sue. The court is due to hear arguments Tuesday in lawsuits brought by Mary Lou Dauray against the Legion of Christ, whose founder secretly molested seminarians and fathered three children. Dauray’s aunt, Gabrielle Mee, died in 2008 and left everything she owned to the order. A Superior Court judge ruled in 2012 that that the niece did not have standing to sue and he threw her lawsuits out. Tuesday’s hearing is for the appeal on that ruling. Judge Michael Silverstein wrote at the time there was evidence that the Legion had exerted undue influence on the widow. GERMANY-POPE BENEDICT Report: Retired pope wanted ‘Father Benedict’ name BERLIN (AP) β A German newspaper is reporting that retired Pope Benedict XVI says he would have liked to be known after his resignation as “Father Benedict” β a title that would have distinguished him more clearly from the current pontiff. The German-born Benedict has been known as Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI since retiring last year. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper reported Sunday that Benedict said during a recent visit he’d have preferred to be addressed as “Padre Benedetto” but was too tired to push that through. The paper reports that Benedict, who said he’s trying to be “as quiet as possible,” now appears to be in better shape. He says he has “very good contact” with Pope Francis and it’s clear to the faithful “who the real pope is.” SRI LANKA-POPE Some Sri Lankans want Pope’s visit postponed COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) β Some Roman Catholic priests and lay people in Sri Lanka are seeking the postponement of Pope Francis’ visit to the island nation in January, citing its closeness to a presidential election and possible violence linked to the polls. Catholic leader the Rev. Leo Perera wrote to the country’s bishops saying that the days after previous elections have been marked by violence and Francis’ presence in a period of turmoil could “sully the image of the papacy.” President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his former ally Maithripala Sirisena are locked in an acrimonious campaign for the Jan. 8 election. Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive just five days later. The Christian Solidarity Movement says it will urge the Vatican not to let the pope become “trapped” in politics. VATICAN-BANK Vatican probes 2 ex-bank managers for embezzlement VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican says two former managers of its bank have been put under investigation by the Holy See for suspected embezzlement in connection with real estate deals from 2001-2008. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi gave no details in his statement Saturday. A separate statement by the bank said that the investigation of the two ex-managers and a lawyer was launched months ago. It described the probe as reflecting the bank’s resolve to achieve transparency as internal housekeeping continues, and gave no further details. Getting the Holy See’s financial operations in order is a priority of Pope Francis’ papacy.
