OBAMA-IMMIGRATION
Obama to faith leaders: No immigration fix planned
WASHINGTON (AP) β President Barack Obama has told religious leaders that he has no plans to make unilateral changes to the nation’s immigration laws.
That’s according to the Rev. Luis Cortes, president of the Hispanic faith-based organization Esperanza. He was among six religious leaders who met with Obama in the Oval Office Tuesday. Wesleyan, Baptist and Mormon leaders also were there.
Cortes says Obama told them that “he would not be doing anything to change the law as it currently exists.” The president’s comments come as advocates press the White House to take executive actions to halt some deportations given that immigration reform efforts on Capitol Hill are stalled.
The White House says Obama told the religious leaders that while his administration can take steps to administer immigration laws, only Congress can permanently fix the broken system.
Sound:
199-w-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Rev. Luis Cortes, president of Esparanza)–President Barack Obama has told religious leaders that he has no plans to make unilateral changes to the nation’s immigration laws. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (15 Apr 2014)
< 202-a-08-(Dieter Uchtdorf, a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking to reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama)-“wherever they are”-Dieter Uchtdorf, a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says the religious leaders agreed with President Barack Obama that immigration reform is a moral issue. (15 Apr 2014) < 200-a-10-(The Rev. Luis Cortes, president of Esparanza, speaking to reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama)-“get immigration reform”-The Rev. Luis Cortes, president of Esparanza, says the appeal for immigration reform crosses religious lines. (15 Apr 2014) < 201-a-10-(The Rev. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, speaking to reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama)-“blue state divide”-The Rev. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says he agrees with President Barack Obama on the need for immigration reform. (15 Apr 2014) < 186-a-14-(Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Developoment Association, speaking to reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama)-“to our policy”-Christian Community Developoment Association CEO Noel Castellanos says the faith leaders told President Obama that deportations are tearing families apart. (15 Apr 2014) < 185-a-06-(Luis Cortes, president, Esperanza, speaking to reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama)-“it currently exists”-Esperanza President Luis Cortes says the president told immigration activists he has no plans to make unilateral changes to immigration laws. (15 Apr 2014) < RELIGIOUS TAX BREAK Senate approves religious tax breaks PHOENIX (AP) β The Arizona Senate has approved a bill that would grant tax breaks to private property owners who lease to churches. The Senate approved the House-passed bill on Tuesday with a 16-14 vote. It will now go to the governor. The bill grants property owners who lease to churches but aren’t themselves religiously affiliated similar tax breaks to the ones churches get when they own property. The tax break applies only to space used for worship services. It would affect about one half of one percent of commercial property owners, according to the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. Still, that could cost the state between $300,000 and $2.1 million in fiscal year 2016. Proponents say the bill helps small churches that don’t yet have the income to build their own establishments. AMISH UNDERCOVER Male cop dresses as Amish woman to stop flasher PITTSBURGH (AP) β A western Pennsylvania police officer says he went undercover dressed as an Amish woman in hopes of scaring off a man suspected of exposing himself to Amish children. Pulaski Township Sgt. Chad Adams spent much of December and January in Amish attire. The group agreed to lend the police women’s bonnets, aprons and dresses to catch or scare away the suspect because they don’t want their children to testify in court. A female officer dressed as an Amish woman also worked with Adams. Adams says police haven’t been able to charge the man because of a lack of evidence, but believe he is the same person who was sentenced to house arrest in January for similar incidents in another county. VATICAN-UN-ABUSE Vatican responds to next round of UN abuse inquiry VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican has responded to the latest round of U.N. sex abuse inquiries by suggesting it is only responsible for implementing a U.N. treaty against torture within the confines of the tiny Vatican City State. The Vatican issued a statement Tuesday ahead of a May 5-6 hearing that will likely delve into the Vatican’s failures to stop clergy sex abuse around the globe. Another U.N. committee interrogated the Holy See about abuse in January. In an indication that it will seek to limit its responsibility, the Vatican said it signed the torture treaty in 2002 “exclusively in the name of and on behalf of” the 110-acre Vatican City State, where fewer than 1,000 people live. The Vatican said it will “undertake its obligations on behalf of that state.” BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING-ANNIVERSARY Moment of silence marks Boston Marathon bombings BOSTON (AP) β Survivors, first-responders and public officials have observed a moment of silence near the Boston Marathon finish line to mark the moment two pressure cooker bombs exploded a year ago. Three people were killed and 260 others injured in the attacks. MIT police officer Sean Collier was killed several days later, allegedly by the bombing suspects. In opening remarks, the Rev. Liz Walker echoed a passage from the Bible’s book of Isaiah. The pastor of Boston’s Roxbury Presbyterian Church said, “We are learning again to walk without fainting, to run without growing weary, and some have even learned to dance, soaring on wings like eagles.” About 2,500 people attended an invitation-only tribute, and then walked in the rain to the finish line for the moment of silence. Bells were rung and a flag was raised by Officer Richard Donohue, who was badly injured during a shootout with the bombing suspects. This year’s running of the Boston Marathon, expected to be the second-largest in history, will take place on Monday. Sound: 184-r-30-(Sound of ‘God Bless America’, being performed near the Boston Marathon finish line)–Sound of ‘God Bless America’ being performed near the Boston Marathon finish line. (15 Apr 2014) < 183-r-30-(Sound of church bells ringing after a moment of silence, near the Boston Marathon finish line)–Sound of church bells ringing after a moment of silence near the Boston Marathon finish line. (15 Apr 2014) < 180-a-06-(Patrick Downes, bombing survivor and newlywed who lost his lower left leg, at commemoration of the Boston Marathon bombing anniversary)-“for each other”-Bombing survivor Patrick Downes says there’s an incredible sense of support among the survivors of the bombing. (15 Apr 2014) < 173-a-10-(Vice President Joe Biden, speaking at commemoration of the Boston Marathon bombing anniversary)-“facing right now”-Vice President Joe Biden says the courage of the survivors and those who lost loved ones is an inspiration to Americans dealing with loss and tragedy. (15 Apr 2014) < 177-a-15-(Adrianne Haslet-Davis, bombing survivor and dancer who lost her lower left leg, at commemoration of the Boston Marathon bombing anniversary)-“Boston Strong today”-Bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a dancer who lost her lower left leg, says the support she and other survivors have gotten has been tremendous. (15 Apr 2014) < 181-a-13-(Patrick Downes, bombing survivor and newlywed who lost his lower left leg, at commemoration of the Boston Marathon bombing anniversary)-“this last year”-Bombing survivor Patrick Downes says the city of Boston has embraced and supported those who were injured. (15 Apr 2014) < 182-r-30-(Sound of the Boston Children’s Chorus and Boston Pops, performing ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth’)–Sound of the Boston Children’s Chorus and Boston Pops performing ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth.’ (15 Apr 2014) < 147-w-32-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent, with Erica Nash, marathon runner)–Solemn ceremonies and determination mark the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (15 Apr 2014) < NYPD-INTELLIGENCE New York police end Muslim surveillance program NEW YORK (AP) β The New York Police Department says it has disbanded a special unit whose efforts to try to detect terror threats in Muslim communities through secret surveillance sparked outrage. The NYPD confirmed the decision on Tuesday. The surveillance program by the NYPD Intelligence Division had come under fire by community activists who accused the department of abusing civil rights. The program relied on plainclothes officers to eavesdrop on people in bookstores, restaurants and mosques. The tactic was detailed in a series of stories by The Associated Press and became the subject of two federal lawsuits. Sound: 230-q-20-(Donna Lieberman, executive director, New York Civil Liberties Union, in AP interview)-“it needs to”-New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman was asked what she would say to those who feel the dismantling of NYPD’s demographics unit will make the city less safe. ((note length of cut)) (15 Apr 2014) < 229-a-17-(Donna Lieberman, executive director, New York Civil Liberties Union, in AP interview)-“with the NYPD”-New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman says even though the demographics unit has been dispanded, the lawsuits filed against the New York City Police Department will continue. ((note length of cut)) (15 Apr 2014) < 228-a-20-(Donna Lieberman, executive director, New York Civil Liberties Union, in AP interview)-“York’s Muslim community”-New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman says Mayor Bill de Blasio will be called on to make further reforms within the city’s police department. ((note length of cut)) (15 Apr 2014) < 227-a-11-(Donna Lieberman, executive director, New York Civil Liberties Union, in AP interview)-“York’s Muslim community”-New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman says she is pleased that the NYPD had disbanded it’s demographics unit. (15 Apr 2014) < NYC TERROR NY judge: Jury can hear imam praise 9/11 attacks NEW YORK (AP) β A New York judge says jurors at the trial of an Egyptian Islamic preacher can hear his statements that “everybody was happy” when the World Trade Center was hit by airplanes. Judge Katherine Forrest made the ruling Tuesday, a day after selecting a jury to hear the case against Mustafa Kamel Mustafa. Mustafa has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired to support al-Qaida by trying to set up a terrorist training camp in 1999 in Oregon. He also is accused of helping abduct two American tourists and 14 others in Yemen in 1998. Four hostages died. Defense lawyers had argued that the Sept. 11 statement was unduly prejudicial. The judge said they are prejudicial but not unfairly prejudicial. NIGERIA-VIOLENCE Violence surges from Islamic uprising in Nigeria LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) β Suspected Muslim extremists have kidnapped about 100 girls from a school in northeastern Nigeria. The abductions Tuesday came less than a day after militants bombed a bus station and killed 75 people in Nigeria’s capital, raising new doubts about the military’s ability to contain an Islamic uprising. The Boko Haram terrorist network has targeted schools, mosques, churches, villages and agricultural centers in assaults that are increasingly indiscriminate. In the latest attack, gunmen killed a soldier and a police officer guarding a school and abducted the teenage girls after midnight. Islamic extremists have been abducting girls to use as cooks and sex slaves. FATAL SHOOTING-KANSAS-HOLDER Holder to deliver remarks in Overland Park at interfaith memorial WASHINGTON (AP) β The Justice Department says Attorney General Eric Holder will travel to Overland Park, Kan., on Thursday to pay tribute to the victims in the shootings at Jewish community sites. The interfaith memorial ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EDT. The white supremacist charged in shootings Sunday that left three people dead at two Jewish community sites in suburban Kansas City made his first court appearance Tuesday.
