CLINTON-CHARLESTON SHOOTING
Clinton says Confederate flag has no place in US
FLORISSANT, Mo. (AP) β Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton says last week’s slaughter of nine black church members in Charleston, South Carolina, was “an act of racist terrorism perpetrated in a house of God.”
In the wake of those shootings, she said the Confederate battle flag is a “symbol of our nation’s racist past” that “shouldn’t fly anywhere.”
Clinton met Tuesday with church members in the St. Louis suburbs, near the violent protests touched off last year in nearby Ferguson after the death of Michael Brown, a young black man who was shot by a white police officer. She urged church members to find ways to turn their grief, anger and despair into purpose and action.
Quoting Scripture, she said, “Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.”
Clinton noted that relatives of those slain in Charleston publicly forgave the accused gunman in obedience to Jesus Christ’s command to forgive “70 times 7.”
She said the families’ “act of mercy was as stunning as his act of cruelty.”
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229-a-07-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, speaking at church community meeting)-“shouldn’t fly anywhere (applause fades)”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says she appreciates actions by leaders in South Carolina toward taking down the Confederate flag and recognizing it as a symbol of racism. (23 Jun 2015)
< 231-a-12-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, speaking at church community meeting)-“evil with good”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says the nine victims of the Charleston shooting, who welcomed a stranger into their midst and whose families offered forgiveness, offer us an example for a way forward. (23 Jun 2015) < 230-a-09-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, speaking at church community meeting)-“communities they serve (applause fades)”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says improving public-police relations can help the country move toward a better climate for opportunity. (23 Jun 2015) < 228-a-16-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, speaking at church community meeting)-“and change them”-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says recent events show how important civil rights are to the health of the nation. (23 Jun 2015) < RIGHT TO DIE-CALIFORNIA Vote on California right-to-die bill delayed as support lags SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) β A California lawmaker who wants to allow terminally ill patients to take life-ending drugs is postponing a vote on the contentious legislation as support lags and religious opposition continues. Democratic Sen. Lois Wolk of Davis says she’s still trying to secure votes for SB128 to pass the Assembly Health Committee. The issue gained traction nationally after 29-year-old Brittany Maynard moved from California to Oregon to end her life in November. Wolk’s bill allowing doctors to prescribe fatal drugs has already advanced out of the state Senate. The California Medical Association dropped its opposition to SB128, but the Catholic Church and other religious groups are still fighting it. The first of four remaining votes on the bill is now scheduled for July 7. Gov. Jerry Brown, a former Jesuit seminarian, has not taken a position. SPRINGFIELD-RELIGIOUS MOTTO Springfield council tables talk of ‘In God We Trust’ motto SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) β The City Council of Springfield, Missouri, has tabled a proposal to post the national motto “In God We Trust” inside City Hall. With dozens of people waiting to testify, the council voted Monday night to instead send the issue to the plans and policies committee. Councilman Justin Burnett proposed posting the motto as a way to recognize the nation’s heritage and not to promote a specific religion. Mayor Bob Stephens had suggested “E Pluribus Unum” as an alternative. That phrase means “Out of many, one.” Opponents of “In God We Trust” said posting the national motto in a public government building would violate separation of church and state. Burnett opposed tabling the issue, saying he wanted to hear audience members’ opinions. But other council members voted to delay action and consult with legal advisers. CHURCH FRAUD INDICTMENT Winthrop woman charged with embezzling from church AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) β A former office manager and treasurer at a church in Maine has been indicted on charges that she embezzled church funds. Tricia Day, of Winthrop, was indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. According to the indictment, funds from the United Methodist Church were stolen over a two year period in 2013 and 2014. The case was investigated by Winthrop police. Capt. Ryan Frost said as much as $30,000 in church funds is missing. Pastor Ned Crockett tells the Kennebec Journal that the 33-year-old Day had worked for the church for 4 Β½ years and was fired in December. He says the whole church is saddened. VATICAN-FAMILY Vatican sets stage for family debate with working document VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican has set the stage for another round of debate on hot-button issues like gays, divorced Catholics and unmarried couples living together by publishing the working document for its upcoming October synod on family issues. The document released Tuesday says there’s “common agreement” among a broad array of Catholics about the need to offer divorced and civilly remarried Catholics a path of reconciliation to better integrate them into the life of the church, but stresses they can only receive Communion if they refrain from sex. It considers couples who live together not as sinners but as potential candidates for church marriage. The document says gays should be respected and welcomed, as church teaching requires, but goes no further. On the issue of contraception, the document says “natural” family planning should be taught to ensure “responsible procreation.” But it adds that the conscience of each believer also should be taken into account. ARGENTINA-POPE’S HOMELAND Pope to stay away from homeland during South American visit BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) β Pope Francis’ homeland of Argentina is not on the itinerary for his South American tour next month. The pontiff hasn’t been back since he became pope more than two years ago, and the Vatican says he doesn’t want to influence October’s presidential election by visiting now. Francis has complained in recent months that he has felt “used” by Argentine politicians who take their picture with him in Rome. Instead, the pontiff will tour Ecuador and two countries that border Argentina: Bolivia and Paraguay. Much of what Francis says and does has an impact in Argentina, a majority Catholic nation of 41 million people where the church wields great influence. Earlier this month, he received President Cristina Fernandez at the Vatican for the fourth time, drawing the ire of some opposition leaders. INDIA-OBIT-SISTER NIRMALA Nun who took on Mother Teresa’s India charity mission dies KOLKATA, India (AP) β Sister Nirmala Joshi, the Indian nun who replaced Mother Teresa as head of the Missionaries of Charity, has died at the age of 81. The charity says her health had been declining in recent days. Sister Nirmala was selected to lead the Roman Catholic charity six months before the death of its founder, Mother Teresa, in 1997. She remained its leader, or superior general, until stepping down in 2009. That year, she also received India’s second-highest civilian award in honor of her service to the nation. Born to Hindu parents in 1934, Nirmala reportedly converted to Roman Catholicism after being educated by Christian missionaries and learning of Mother Teresa’s work. The Vatican newspaper, l’Osservatore Romano, paid homage to Nirmala in a long obituary, noting that she was elected superior of the order even though she had an incurable form of malaria that gave her constant fevers. MONK ATTACKS MONK-ARREST California monk charged in knifing of fellow monk OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Authorities say a Buddhist monk has been charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of another monk in a San Francisco Bay Area monastery. The Oakland Tribune reports that authorities say 30-year-old Sokphanna Phen acknowledged stabbing 66-year-old Mahamonirath Pinn in the face and head with two kitchen knives at an East Oakland monastery on June 16. Pinn was being treated at an Oakland hospital. Officer Bradley Miller says Phen told police he was angry with the head monk for his disciplinary tactics. Police say Phen has also been identified by the victim. Phen was jailed without bail.
