UNBROKEN-BILLY GRAHAM
Graham ministry tells the rest of Louis Zamperini’s story
BOONE, N.C. (AP) β The Rev. Franklin Graham says the film “Unbroken,” which opens Christmas day, dramatically portrays the early life of Louis Zamperini, from his troubled youth to an Olympic medal and amazing survival at sea and in a brutal Japanese prison camp during World War II.
But Graham says the movie fails to show what happened next: how the traumatized veteran became broken by hatred for his captors, alcoholism and a failing marriage.
The book “Unbroken” also described Zamperini’s conversion at a 1949 Billy Graham crusade, and the healing and forgiveness that followed.
Zamperini, who died this year at the age of 97, emphasized that turning point in his life in an interview at Graham’s ministry when the book was published.
Franklin Graham says excerpts of that interview can be seen in the video “Louis Zamperini: Captured By Grace,” which also will be released on Christmas day. It will be broadcast on Fox and also will be viewable online at www.billygraham.org.
Sound:
270-a-06-(The Reverend Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in AP interview)-“his own words”-The Reverend Franklin Graham says a documentary describing Zamperini’s brokenness after the war and his conversion at a Billy Graham crusade will be released Christmas day. ((cut used in wrap)) (23 Dec 2014)
< 268-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Franklin Graham)–The Reverend Franklin Graham says the film “Unbroken,” which opens Christmas day, leaves out the most important part of Louis Zamperini’s story. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (23 Dec 2014) < 269-a-15-(The Reverend Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in AP interview)-“changed his life”-The Reverend Franklin Graham says the film “Unbroken” leaves out the rest of Louis Zamperini’s story. (23 Dec 2014) < SATANIC DISPLAY-ARREST Satanic display at Florida Capitol damaged TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) β Authorities say a woman is in custody after a Satanic Temple holiday display at the Florida Capitol was damaged. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement didn’t immediately release the woman’s name or the charges against her. Authorities say she damaged the Satanic display Tuesday, a day after an atheist group put it up as a counter to a nativity scene that was set up by a Christian group. The display shows an angel falling into a pit of fire with the message “Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple.” John Porgal (POHR’-gul), the regional director of American Atheists, said he’ll leave the display in its damaged state “as a sign of what the religious rights’ idea of tolerance is.” Pam Olsen, who organized the manger display, said the Satanic display was offensive, but she doesn’t approve of the attack. The state allowed the display following threats of legal action from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Sound: 249-a-06-(Pam Olsen, who organized the Nativity scene at Florida’s state Capitol, in AP interview)-“disagree with it”-Pam Olsen, who organized the Nativity scene at Florida’s state Capitol, says she disapproves of the attack on the Satanic temple’s holiday display. (23 Dec 2014) < 250-a-05-(Pam Olsen, who organized the Nativity scene at Florida’s state Capitol, in AP interview)-“the Satanic Temple”-Pam Olsen, who organized the Nativity scene at Florida’s state Capitol, says free speech has made room for opposing views. (23 Dec 2014) < ZOMBIE NATIVITY Ohio township orders ‘Zombie Nativity’ taken down CINCINNATI (AP) β A suburban Cincinnati township wants a man to kill off his “Zombie Nativity” scene. Sycamore Township has sent Jasen Dixon two notices of zoning violations. Officials have told news outlets that they received complaints, and they concluded the structure violates rules on size and placement of yard structures. Dixon was also told to remove debris. Dixon faces legal action if he doesn’t comply by Friday. Dixon manages a haunted house attraction and decided to create a zombie nativity. It has a small creature with all-white eyes sitting up in the manger where the baby Jesus would be in traditional Christmas nativities. There’s a Facebook page for the scene and Dixon says he considers it a holiday decoration. BETHLEHEM-TAMING TRAFFIC Jesus’ birthplace grapples with modern traffic challenges BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) β It’s Christmas season and the little town of Bethlehem is jammed with traffic, including around the church marking the spot where tradition says Jesus was born. The Palestinian city is considering a dramatic solution to the problem β digging a tunnel under Manger Square. With a tunnel ensuring the flow of traffic, Manger Square would be closed to cars entirely and turned into a pedestrian expanse. The project would take about two years to complete. If the plan is approved, construction could start next fall. But the project could run aground before even breaking ground. The municipality would need to get a stamp of approval from the U.N.’s cultural agency UNESCO, which has listed the Nativity Church as a world heritage site and would want to ensure its protection. VATICAN-MIDEAST CHRISTIANS Pope pens letter to comfort, encourage Mideast Christians VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis is urging Mideast Christians to remain in the land of Christ’s birth, despite the attacks against them by Muslim extremists. In a Christmas greeting released Tuesday, Francis said the mere presence of the tiny Christian community in the Middle East is more important than any service the church could provide there. The pope said he hopes to visit in person, but that for now he wants to write to them with words of comfort and solidarity. Francis said: “May the trials which you are presently enduring strengthen the faith and the fidelity of each and all of you!” He also demanded that Muslim religious leaders clearly condemn attacks against religious minorities and the use of Islam to justify them. GAY MARRIAGE-RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS Church-based institutions ponder same-sex benefits SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) β The spread of gay marriage is forcing universities and hospitals affiliated with conservative churches to face whether they’re now obligated to offer health benefits to spouses of gay and lesbian employees. Some faith-based institutions have extended benefits, to the dismay of their church hierarchy and religious conservatives. But many are making no changes or are waiting to see if the Supreme Court will settle whether gay couples should be able to marry in every state. Other church-affiliated institutions are considering a “plus-one” plan that has been adopted in recent years by several Catholic Charities organizations and hospitals around the nation. Those benefit plans offer health care to an employee and any adult living with an employee. Sound: 239-v-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The spread of gay marriage is forcing universities and hospitals affiliated with conservative churches to face whether they’re now obligated to offer health benefits to spouses of gay and lesbian employees. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (23 Dec 2014) < CHILD ABUSE-CHURCH Abuse case upheld for boy kept in church bathroom JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) β Missouri’s high court has upheld the child abuse convictions of a man who confined his son to a church bathroom and limited his food. In a unanimous ruling Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected assertions by Peter Hansen that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove that he knowingly inflicted cruel and unusual punishment on his teenage son. The court had heard arguments in the case on Oct. 1. Hansen had been living with his wife, son and daughter at a Seventh-day Adventist church after being evicted from their Springfield home in 2009. Child-abuse investigators responding to a hotline call found the boy being kept in a small, cold, dark bathroom as punishment. EXCESSIVE FORCE CLAIM-NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Police mistreat California Muslim man, group says SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) β A civil rights group is calling for an independent probe into allegations that police mistreated a California man because he’s a Muslim. The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Tuesday says that Santa Clara police acted improperly when they stormed Mohammad Moneeb’s home and raided it in search of an allegedly stolen dash camera. The San Jose Mercury News reports that heavily armed officers stormed Moneeb’s front yard in March and used a battering ram to break into his house. They ransacked it looking for a $400 camera they never found. Moneeb was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property. The charges were later dropped. The anti-discrimination group claims the raid was based on a fear of Muslims among police. Police defend the raid as appropriate. It’s calling for internal affairs review. TSUNAMI-MOSQUE AS REFUGE Tsunami survivors recall how mosques stood firm BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) β When a powerful tsunami smashed into the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh (AH’-cheh) 10 years ago, the only structures left standing in many neighborhoods were mosques. For the hundreds who found refuge within their walls, the buildings’ lifesaving role has not been forgotten β and for many, that experience strengthened their faith. Architectural experts say the mosques in Banda Aceh survived because they were sturdily built and had stronger foundations than surrounding structures, many of which were likely constructed of shoddier materials. But many survivors believe the mosques were spared by divine intervention. Many residents of Aceh, the most predominantly Muslim province in all of Indonesia, viewed the disaster as punishment for their lack of devotion to God. Faisal Ali, a prominent cleric, says the tsunami has actually made many more devout.
