AMTRAK CRASH
Train crash victims mourned at memorial service
PHILADELPHIA (AP) β U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says the eight people killed in last week’s train derailment “did not make it to their earthly homes on Tuesday night, but they were called home.”
Foxx was joined by other public officials and clergy Sunday in a service of reflection in Philadelphia. Mayor Michael Nutter asked families of the victims to “please accept our heartfelt prayers and expressions of sympathy.”
Amtrak President Joseph Boardman pledged that the rail service resuming Monday in the Northeast Corridor will be “a safer service.”
Before derailing, the train had accelerated to more than twice the 50 mph speed limit. Federal regulators on Saturday ordered Amtrak to expand use of a speed-control system long in effect for southbound trains near the crash site to northbound trains in the same area. The agency also ordered the company to examine all curves along the Northeast Corridor and determine if more can be done to improve safety.
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213-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and Amtrak President Joseph Boardman)–A service of reflection in the wake of last week’s deadly train derailment has been held in Philadelphia. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (17 May 2015)
< 214-r-1:25-(Sound of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, reading off the names of the eight Amtrak derailment victims, at service of reflection)–Sound of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, reading off the names of the eight Amtrak derailment victims, at service of reflection. ((note length of cut)) (17 May 2015) < 196-a-06-(Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, at service of remembrance)-“expressions of sympathy”-Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says his city mourns with the families of the victims of last week’s train crash. (17 May 2015) < 199-a-07-(The Reverend Thomas Higgins, pastor of Holy Innocents Parish, at service of remembrance)-“lost loved ones”-The Reverend Thomas Higgins, pastor of Holy Innocents Parish, prays for families of the victims. (17 May 2015) < 198-a-15-(The Reverend Thomas Higgins, pastor of Holy Innocents Parish, at service of remembrance)-“this dark moment”-The Reverend Thomas Higgins, pastor of Holy Innocents Parish, prays for comfort amid the sorrow. (17 May 2015) < 197-a-09-(U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, at service of remembrance)-“were called home”-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx says those who died in last week’s train crash expected a routine trip. (17 May 2015) < 200-r-43-(Sound of The Philadelphia Heritage Chorale, at service of remembrance)–Sound of The Philadelphia Heritage Chorale singing “Amazing Grace.” (17 May 2015) < SAN FRANCISCO ARCHBISHOP Hundreds attend ‘family picnic’ for San Francisco archbishop SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β Hundreds of Catholics have attended a “family support picnic” for a San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who is the subject of heated debate over policy changes for Catholic high school teachers. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Cordileone blessed the faithful and accepted the gratitude of the picnickers who gathered Saturday in a city park. The archbishop has been the target of demonstrations organized by teachers, students, parents and others who disagree with the proposed morality clauses in teacher handbooks against promoting homosexuality, birth control and premarital sex. Cordileone is also proposing that teachers “affirm and believe” that marriage is restricted to a man and woman, a position that has upset many in gay-friendly San Francisco. A group calling itself Concerned Parents and Students called on Cordileone to drop his attempts to alter the teachers’ handbooks and contracts with the new policies. ISRAEL-SETTLER LEADER DIES Leading Israeli settler figure Moshe Levinger dies at age 80 HEBRON, West Bank (AP) β Rabbi Moshe Levinger, a leading figure in Israel’s settler movement, has been laid to rest in the West Bank city of Hebron, where he helped establish a controversial Jewish community after Israel captured the territory from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war. Thousands attended his funeral on Sunday outside Hebron’s holiest site, known to Jews as the Tomb of the Patriarchs and to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque. Relatives said Levinger died Saturday after an illness. Levinger led the first settlers to Hebron, where Jews lived for centuries until dozens were massacred in Arab riots in 1929. Tensions still run high in Hebron, where about 800 settlers now live in heavily guarded areas amid 180,000 Palestinians. Sound: 130-c-21-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)-“obstacle to peace”-Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports the leader of Israel’s settlement movement has died, leaving behind a controversial legacy. (17 May 2015) < 129-v-34-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)–A leading figure in Israel’s controversial settler movement has been laid to rest. Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports. (17 May 2015) < ISRAEL-JERUSALEM DAY Clashes erupt in Jerusalem as Israel marks ‘Jerusalem Day’ JERUSALEM (AP) β Under heavy police guard, thousands of Israeli demonstrators on Sunday marched through Arab sections of Jerusalem’s Old City to celebrate Israel’s capture of the area nearly 50 years ago. Police reported clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in parts of east Jerusalem as Israel marked its annual “Jerusalem Day.” No serious injuries were reported. Jerusalem Day commemorates Israel’s capture of the Old City in the 1967 Mideast war. The Old City is home to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy sites. In the main event, thousands of Israelis marched into the Old City’s Muslim Quarter and made their way to the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish prayer site. In the official ceremony, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to “keep Jerusalem united forever under the sovereignty of Israel.” VATICAN-PALESTINIANS Pope canonizes 2 saints from 19th century Palestine VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has canonized two nuns from what was 19th century Palestine in hopes of encouraging Christians across the Middle East who are facing a wave of persecution from Islamic extremists. Sisters Mariam Bawardy and Marie Alphonsine Ghattas were among four nuns who were declared Roma Catholic saints Sunday at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and an estimated 2,000 pilgrims from the region, some waving Palestinian flags, were on hand for the canonization of the first saints from the Holy Land since the early years of Christianity. Church officials are holding up the new saints as a sign of hope and encouragement for all Christians in the Mideast at a time when violent persecution and discrimination have driven many Christians from the region of Christ’s birth. Sound: 110-c-07-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“Christian presence there”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the church is worried about the exodus of large numbers of Christians in recent decades from the Middle East. (17 May 2015) < 111-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“very important models”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the Palestinian president was in attendance at the Mass, and Israel sent a delegation. (17 May 2015) < 108-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“hands of extremists”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the canonization was meant, in part, to bolster Christians in the Middle East who are facing a wave of violence and discrimination from Islamic militants. (17 May 2015) < 107-c-10-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“years of Christianity”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the Mass in St. Peter’s Square was historic. (17 May 2015) < 109-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“find opportunity elsewhere”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports Christians in Syria and Iraq have faced persecution head-on in the past year especially, but Christians across the region have been leaving in huge numbers over recent decades. (17 May 2015) < 057-r-29-(Sound of choir singing, at canonization ceremony during Mass in St. Peter’s Square via Vatican TV)–Sound of a men’s choir singing in St. Peter’s Square during the Mass in which four women were made saints. (17 May 2015) < 058-r-28-(Sound of choir singing, at canonization ceremony during Mass in St. Peter’s Square via Vatican TV)–Sound of a choir singing in St. Peter’s Square during the Mass in which four women were made saints. (17 May 2015) < 056-r-25-(Sound of Pope Francis, speaking Italian, at canonization ceremony during Mass in St. Peter’s Square via Vatican TV)–Sound of Pope Francis speaking Italian during his homily at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square in which four women, including two from what was 19th century Palestine, were canonized as saints. (17 May 2015) < VATICAN-BURUNDI Pope urges sense of responsibility to prevail in Burundi VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has called for a sense of responsibility to prevail in Burundi following an attempted coup. Francis made the appeal during his Sunday noon blessing from St. Peter’s Square. He said: “I would like to invite you to pray for the dear people of Burundi, which is undergoing a delicate moment: May the Lord help all to avoid violence and act responsibly for the good of the country.” Military and police officials announced a coup Wednesday after weeks of street protests against the Burundian president’s bid for a third term in office. Soldiers loyal to the president stopped the rebellion. CANNES WATCH-JUDE LAW CANNES WATCH: Jude Law to play fictional pope for HBO CANNES, France (AP) β Actor Jude Law will portray the fictional Pope Pius XIII in “The Young Pope,” a miniseries directed by Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino. The series β a co-production of HBO, Sky and France’s Canal Plus β was announced Sunday in Cannes, where Sorrentino’s film “Youth” is competing for the Palme d’Or. Filming is due to begin this summer. Law will play Lenny Belardo, who is thrust into the role of pope and must grapple with his faith and the powerful structures of the church. Sorrentino, who will co-write the eight-part series, said it would explore “the inner struggle between the huge responsibility of the Head of the Catholic Church and the miseries of the simple man that fate (or the Holy Spirit) chose as pontiff.” ELVIS AND THE NUN Nun who kissed Elvis helps answer abbey’s prayers BETHLEHEM, Conn. (AP) β Mother Dolores Hart finds it miraculous that she was able to turn one kiss with Elvis Presley into the spark that helped save an abbey. The former starlet who walked away from Hollywood in 1963 to become a nun spun her tale into a fundraising campaign for her crumbling monastery in rural Connecticut. But the pot boiler about Presley’s first on-screen kiss and the girl who turned from the screen to sisterhood has done more than keep open the doors of Abbey of Regina Laudis. It has inspired new interest in its monastic work. Now she and the other nuns hope to raise up to $9 million to restore the order’s former brass factory for future generations. Mother Dolores, now 76, first shared her story in 2011 as she and about 40 other members of her Benedictine order faced the possibility that their abbey would close. Mother Dolores went on to write an autobiography. Shortly after it was published, the monastery began receiving letters and donations from across the world.
