STATE OF THE FAMILY
Christian group sees government threat to families
WASHINGTON (AP) β A Christian lobbying group has delivered a bleak State of the Family assessment.
On the eve of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins cited perceived threats to the religious liberties of American families and businesses.
Perkins noted the penalties imposed on some business owners who have religious objections to gay marriage or funding contraceptive coverage.
He said religious freedom is fundamental to human dignity and is nurtured in children raised by their mother and father.
Perkins said, “The state of our union is only as strong as the state of our families.”
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211-a-14-(Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council of, in State of the Family speech)-“choose to stand”-Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says Christians should oppose threats to religious freedom. (19 Jan 2015)
< 206-a-05-(Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council of, in State of the Family speech)-“of our families”-Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says families are the nation’s foundation. (19 Jan 2015) < 209-a-16-(Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council of, in State of the Family speech)-“do for themselves”-Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says Americans don’t need government to do everything for them. (19 Jan 2015) < 210-a-18-(Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council of, in State of the Family speech)-“and religious practice”-Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says faith and families are more important than government programs. ((note length of cut)) (19 Jan 2015) < 207-a-12-(Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council of, in State of the Family speech)-“to everyone’s freedom”-Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says Americans with religious objections to gay marriage or contraceptive coverage can face penalties. (19 Jan 2015) < 208-a-20-(Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council of, in State of the Family speech)-“and their children”-Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says human rights are nurtured in families grounded in faith. ((note length of cut)) (19 Jan 2015) < 216-w-35-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins)–A Christian lobbying group has delivered a bleak State of the Family assessment. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (19 Jan 2015) < BISHOP-SAME-SEX BENEFITS Springfield bishop objects to hospital’s same-sex benefits SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) β The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has expressed deep concern at the decision of a Catholic-based hospital group to extend benefits to same-sex spouses of employees. The Mercy Health System, which has about 9,000 employees in Springfield, Missouri, said last week that it plans to offer benefits to legally married same-sex spouses beginning this spring. The benefits will not be extended to domestic partners. The hospital said it made the decision because of recent changes in government regulations for same-sex couples, according to the Springfield News-Leader. But in a statement, Bishop James Johnston said Catholics should reject the view that “marriage is whatever the government says it is.” He added, “No believing Christian worthy of the name should violate God’s law because of ‘regulations.'” HEAVEN BOOK PULLED Best-seller about journey to heaven is pulled NEW YORK (AP) β A best-selling account of a 6-year-old boy’s journey to heaven and back has been pulled after the boy retracted his story. A spokesman for Tyndale House, a leading Christian publisher, says Alex Malarkey’s “The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven” is being withdrawn. Last week, Malarkey acknowledged in an open letter that he had lied to get attention. He added that “people should read the Bible” instead. “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven” told of a 2004 auto accident which left Malarkey in a coma. According to the book, co-written by Alex’s father, Kevin Malarkey, he had visions of angels and of meeting Jesus. Many Christians have challenged the claims in Malarkey’s book and other best-sellers such as “Heaven is for Real.” Last June, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution declaring “the sufficiency of biblical revelation over subjective experiential explanations to guide one’s understanding of the truth about heaven and hell.” Sound: 252-v-36-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–A best-selling account of a 6-year-old boy’s journey to heaven and back has been pulled by its Christian publisher after the boy retracted his story. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (19 Jan 2015) < GOP 2016-JINDAL Jindal: Muslims establish ‘no-go zones’ outside civic control WASHINGTON (AP) β Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is standing by refuted claims that some European countries have allowed Muslims to establish autonomous neighborhoods where they govern by a harsh version of Islamic law and where police decline to patrol. The Republican delivered his remarks Monday about “no-go zones” during a speech to a London think tank. Jindal, who is considering a presidential campaign in 2016, later defended the statements after facing questions about his facts. The claims about “no-go zones” are similar to those a Fox News guest author made last week about places where non-Muslims were not welcome in the United Kingdom. The author and Fox News later apologized for issuing the comments after British Prime Minister David Cameron called author Steven Emerson a “complete idiot.” UNITED NATIONS-NIGERIA-BOKO HARAM UN condemns escalating attacks by Nigerian group Boko Haram UNITED NATIONS (AP) β The U.N. Security Council is condemning the recent escalation of attacks by the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram in the strongest terms and is expressing deep concern that its activities undermine peace and stability in central and West Africa. The Security Council demanded Monday that the Islamic militant group halt all hostilities and release all its captives, including the 276 schoolgirls it abducted last April. The council warned that some acts by Boko Haram “may account to crimes against humanity.” The militant group seeks to impose Islamic law across Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, and is increasing its territory under a self-proclaimed Islamic caliphate. NIGER-FRANCE-PROTESTS Niger: 45 churches burned in protests that killed 10 NIAMEY, Niger (AP) β The Niger (nee-ZHEHR’) government says at least 45 churches have been set on fire in the predominantly Muslim West African nation in protests over French cartoons lampooning Islam’s prophet. In a statement issued Monday, the government also declared three days of national mourning for the 10 people who died amid the violent protests that first began on Friday. Authorities have said that the victims were inside churches and bars that were set ablaze by protesters angry about the portrayal of Muhammad in the French news weekly Charlie Hebdo. The publication was the subject of a terror attack that left 12 dead earlier this month. Niger’s government in the statement promised that those responsible for the arson and deaths will be sought and punished. FRANCE ATTACKS-POPE Pope: Charlie Hebdo ‘punch’ not a justification of violence ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) β Pope Francis says he wasn’t justifying violence when he said a friend who had cursed his mother could “expect a punch” in return. Rather, he says he was only expressing a very human response to a provocation, and that greater prudence would have avoided such offense. Francis clarified his comments about the limits of freedom of speech made last week in response to the terrorist attack against the French magazine Charlie Hebdo. Speaking to reporters Monday en route home from the Philippines, Francis said: “In theory we can say a violent reaction to an offense or provocation isn’t a good thing … In theory we can say that we have the freedom to express ourselves. But we are human. And there is prudence, which is a virtue of human coexistence.” VATICAN-CONTRACEPTION Pope denounces outside pressure for contraception, gay rights ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) β Pope Francis is denouncing what he calls the “ideological colonization” of families and the developing world, where he says Western ideas about birth control and gay rights are increasingly being imposed, often as a condition for development aid. Speaking to reporters on his flight back to Rome from the Philippines, Francis said no outside institution should impose its views on families. On the Asian trip, Francis reiterated the church’s opposition to artificial birth control, insisting that “openness to life is a condition of the sacrament of matrimony.” He also warned against “insidious attacks” against the family β a reference to gay marriage proposals. During the Vatican’s recent meeting on the family, African bishops denounced how aid groups and lending institutions often condition their assistance on a country’s compliance with their ideals: allowing health care workers to distribute condoms, or withdrawing assistance if legislation discriminating against gays is passed. POPE-NEW YORK CITY Pope Francis confirms plans to visit New York City NEW YORK (AP) β New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he’s “excited and delighted” to host Pope Francis during the pontiff’s visit to the United States this year. On Monday, Francis said he plans to speak at the United Nations during his three-city trip to the U.S. in September. He made the disclosure at an in-flight news conference on the way home from the Philippines. De Blasio called Francis “the leading global voice on issues of social justice and income inequality” and said New York will “welcome him with open arms.” During the U.S. trip, Francis is also expected to visit the White House, address Congress and participate in a massive Catholic rally for families in Philadelphia. Francis also said he hopes to visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay this year, as well as the Central African Republic and Uganda. BYU BEARD BAN BYU makes clear there are 3 exceptions to beard ban PROVO, Utah (AP) β Muslims studying at Brigham Young University in Provo are pleased that they are allowed to have beards after the school clarified exceptions to the ban on facial hair for men. The Daily Herald of Provo reports that Hamad Javed and a handful of others Muslims are celebrating the recent decision by the Mormon-owned university. School officials say the ban on beards remains, but add that there are three exceptions to the rule. Students with a medical condition, students taking part in a theatrical production, or students who want a beard for religious reasons, like Muslims or Sikhs, can seek permission. In the past, BYU made exceptions for beards on a case-by-case basis with no specific outline of exemptions. Some people still want the beard ban lifted for all students.
