CONGRESS-IRAQI CHRISTIANS
Nun seeks more aid for Iraqi Christians
WASHINGTON (AP) β An Iraqi nun is urging Congress to send more aid to Christians displaced by the Islamic State group.
Sister Diana Momeka (moh-MEH’-kah), told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that religious minorities have received virtually no government help since fleeing to Iraq’s Kurdish region last August.
She said more than 120,000 of the displaced are living in containers and decrepit buildings without jobs or adequate assistance.
Momeka said she and other Christians don’t want to leave Iraq, but would return to their homes in Mosul and the Nineveh plain when Islamic State militants are driven out.
Sound:
269-a-06-(Sister Diana Momeka (moh-MEHK’-uh), Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, testifying at House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing)-“need for help”-Sister Diana Momeka, an Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, says she’s among 120,000 religious minorities who were driven from their homes last August. (13 May 2015)
< 270-a-10-(Sister Diana Momeka (moh-MEHK’-uh), Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, testifying at House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing)-“enough for them”-Sister Diana Momeka, an Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, says Christians who fled to Iraq’s Kurdish region are in dire need. ((cut used in wrap)) (13 May 2015) < 268-w-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Sister Diana Momeka, Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group)–An Iraqi nun is urging Congress to send more help to Christians displaced by the Islamic State group. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (13 May 2015) < 272-a-14-(Sister Diana Momeka (moh-MEHK’-uh), Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, testifying at House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing)-“to our lives”-Sister Diana Momeka, an Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, says Iraqi Christians need help to survive and return home someday. (13 May 2015) < 271-a-15-(Sister Diana Momeka (moh-MEHK’-uh), Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, testifying at House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing)-“have we done?”-Sister Diana Momeka, an Iraqi nun displaced by the Islamic State group, says Christians who fled to the Kurdish region hope to return home someday. (13 May 2015) < RELIGIOUS FREEDOM-OKLAHOMA Oklahoma House OKs resolution to reaffirm religious freedom OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β The Oklahoma House has passed a resolution calling on President Barack Obama and Congress to reaffirm the nation’s commitments to protecting religious freedom and condemning the deaths of Christians around the world. The measure’s author, Republican Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma City, says the Christian faith is restricted and even banned in some parts of the world and a growing number of Christians are being persecuted and killed for practicing their faith. The resolution notes that the human rights organization Open Doors USA estimates that an average of 322 Christians are killed for their faith each month. Kern says the resolution does not establish an official government policy on religion and does not promote the use of military force. SKID ROW-KARAOKE Church reaches out to lost souls on Skid Row with karaoke LOS ANGELES (AP) β Every Wednesday, a church on Skid Row in Los Angeles hosts a “Karaoke Night.” A couple of hundred battered souls typically gather for a night of amateur song and dance at the Central City Community Church of the Nazarene. For Pastor Tony Stallworth, Wednesday’s Karaoke Night was a natural for a minister who loves to sing and was once a homeless drug addict. Stallworth says these are the kind of people Jesus “hung out with in the Bible.” For his guests, the music locks out the ugliness outside, where a misdirected look can launch a knife fight, where the streets reek of urine, and where some 1,700 people lay their heads on dirty sidewalks every night to sleep. Some of the singers, of course, are awful: They croak off key, lose the beat, stumble over the lyrics. But others leave the audience shaking its collective head, wondering why they’re not in a recording studio. Sound: 300-a-14-(Mickey Gagnon, who lives in a homess shelter, in AP interview)-“you are non-judged”-Mickey Gagnon, who lives in a homeless shelter, says she loves Karaoke Night at the church. (13 May 2015) < 301-r-14-(Sound of homeless Skid Row residents, singing at church’s Karaoke Night)–Sound of homeless Skid Row residents singing at a church’s Karaoke Night. (13 May 2015) < 298-a-08-(Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene, in AP interview)-“to come out”-Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene says he used to be a homeless drug addict. (13 May 2015) < 297-a-11-(Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene, in AP interview)-“out of trouble”-Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene says Karaoke Night is a hit on Skid Row. (13 May 2015) < 296-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene)–Every Wednesday, a church on Skid Row in Los Angeles hosts a “Karaoke Night.” AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. ((opens with sound)) (13 May 2015) < 299-a-06-(Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene, in AP interview)-“in that shape”-Pastor Tony Stallworth of Central City Community Church of the Nazarene says he can relate to the folks on Skid Row. (13 May 2015) < TEACHER-GAY COMMENTS Teacher suspended for gay comments drops reinstatement bid NEWARK, N.J. (AP) β A former New Jersey high school teacher who was suspended for posting anti-gay comments online has dropped her bid to be reinstated, but her discrimination lawsuit against the school district continues in federal court. Jenye Viki Knox was accused of posting comments on her Facebook page in 2011 saying homosexuality was a “perverted” sin that “breeds like cancer.” She was suspended without pay from her tenured position as a special education teacher at Union Township High School in late 2011 and resigned several months later, citing health problems caused by the suspension. Knox then sued the school district in 2013 claiming religious and racial discrimination, free speech and other civil rights violations. Among other claims, Knox, who is black, said school officials didn’t condemn alleged racist online comments posted in response to her Facebook posts. The suit also contends that her comments were an expression of her personal religious beliefs made during non-school hours and not using school equipment. VATICAN-PALESTINIAN VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican has officially recognized the state of Palestine in a new treaty finalized Wednesday, immediately sparking Israeli ire and accusations that the move has hurt peace prospects. The treaty, which concerns the activities of the Roman Catholic church in Palestinian territory, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic recognition from the Palestine Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine. The United States and Israel oppose recognition, arguing that it would undermine efforts to negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian deal on Palestinian statehood. The treaty was finalized days before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visits Pope Francis at the Vatican. Abbas is heading to Rome to attend Francis’ canonization Sunday of two new saints from the Holy Land. Sound: 182-c-09-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“are not pleased”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports Israel says the Vatican’s decision will make it more difficult to reach a lasting peace with the Palestinians. (13 May 2015) < 180-c-15-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“state of Palestine (second reference)”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports a new Vatican treaty refers to Palestine as a state. (13 May 2015) < 181-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“state of Palestine (second reference)”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the Vatican has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestine Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine. (13 May 2015) < PALESTINIANS-SAINTS Holy Land Christians celebrate sainthood of Arab nuns JERUSALEM (AP) β The Holy Land’s Christians are excitedly preparing for next week’s canonization of two Arab nuns. Mariam Bawardy and Marie Alphonsine Ghattas, who lived in what was Ottoman-ruled Palestine in the 19th century, will be the first from the region to receive sainthood since the early days of Christianity. They will also be the first Arabic-speaking Catholic saints. The nuns were born in Jerusalem and a town in what is now Israel, but come from an Arabic-speaking Christian community that has mainly identified itself as Palestinian for decades. President Mahmoud Abbas, a Muslim, will attend the canonization festivities at the Vatican on May 17, according to an adviser to the Palestinian leader. In the birthplace of Christianity, Christians are a tiny minority, making up less than 2 percent of the population of Israel and the Palestinian territories. MUSIC VENUE HACKED Music venue’s website hacked by possible IS supporters NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) β Authorities in Tennessee say a group said to support the Islamic State militant group hacked the website of a popular Nashville music venue. Multiple news outlets report the website for the Douglas Corner Cafe was hacked by Team System DZ, which posted a message reading “I am Muslim and I love jihad” Monday. The group has reportedly hacked dozens of websites across the country, flaunting messages in support of the Islamic State. The FBI was made aware of the cyberattack and is warning business owners to secure their websites. Authorities cannot say if the group is actually part of the Islamic State group. Since January, the group has hacked the websites of the Autism Foundation of Tennessee and Stewart County’s government server. The Douglas Corner Cafe’s website has since returned to normal. VATICAN-SECURITY Massive security at pope’s audience as police test new plan VATICAN CITY (AP) β Police have been out in force and streets around the Vatican were closed as authorities test out a new, beefed-up security plan to protect Pope Francis. Police said they decided to use Francis’ Wednesday general audience as a dry run for the new plan, given that huge crowds are expected starting in December when Francis opens a special Jubilee year. The main boulevard leading to St. Peter’s Square was closed to traffic, as were side streets leading to it. Police were everywhere and traffic on both sides of the nearby Tiber River was at a standstill. Pilgrims who managed to get to the square had to have their bags searched. The Vatican has said it is taking prudent precautions to guard the pope, but that there were no specific threats.
