PLANNED PARENTHOOD-VIDEOS
A 2nd covert video targets Planned Parenthood on fetal parts
NEW YORK (AP) — Anti-abortion activists have released a second undercover video seeking to discredit Planned Parenthood’s procedures for providing researchers with intact organs retrieved from abortions.
The video shows a woman identified as Dr. Mary Gatter, a Planned Parenthood medical director in California, meeting with people posing as potential buyers of fetal body parts. Much of the conversation on the video deals with how much money the buyers should pay.
Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says the new video, and one released last week, make it clear that “Planned Parenthood is involved in the selling of baby body parts.”
Federal law prohibits the commercial sale of fetal tissue, but allows not-for-profit donation if the women who undergo abortions give their consent. Planned Parenthood contends that the payments discussed in the videos involve the legal reimbursement of costs.
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
241-w-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life)–Anti-abortion activists have released a second undercover video exposing Planned Parenthood’s procedures for providing researchers with fetal organs that are retrieved from abortions. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jul 2015)
< 242-c-14-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“reimbursement of costs”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that Planned Parenthood insists that no laws were broken. (21 Jul 2015) < 231-a-05-(Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, in prepared statement)-“baby body parts”-Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says the new video released by abortion opponents underlines what the first video revealed. (note nature) (21 Jul 2015) < 232-a-11-(Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, in prepared statement)-“baby for money”-Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says the recorded statements by Planned Parenthood officials are shocking but not surprising. (note nature) (21 Jul 2015) < 233-a-08-(Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, in prepared statement)-“practice vice virtuously”-Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says donated fetal organs shouldn’t be sold for medical research. (21 Jul 2015) < GOP 2016-KASICH-FAITH Ohio Gov. Kasich cites faith in campaign launch COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) has declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, saying he believes that God “put us on this Earth to make things a little bit better.” The 63-year-old Kasich launched his campaign Tuesday at Ohio State University, asking a crowd of 2,000 for their prayers and support in a nomination race now packed with 16 notable Republicans. Kasich cites his Christian faith in public policy decisions such as championing Medicaid expansion under the federal health care law and increasing spending on government anti-poverty efforts. He told the crowd that “the Lord wants our hearts to reach out to those that don’t have what we have.” Kasich cited his extensive experience as a congressman as well as governor, but added, “I’m just a flawed man, a flawed man trying to honor God’s blessings in my life.” Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 225-w-36-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Governor John Kasich, R-Ohio)–Ohio Gov. John Kasich has declared his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, saying he believes God “put us on this Earth to make things a little bit better.” AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. ((Kasich is pronounced KAY’-sik)) (21 Jul 2015) < 209-a-13-(Governor John Kasich (KAY’-sik), R-Ohio, at presidential campaign launch)-“little bit better”-Ohio Governor John Kasich says his policies are guided by his Christian faith. (21 Jul 2015) < 210-a-07-(Governor John Kasich (KAY’-sik), R-Ohio, at presidential campaign launch)-“what we have”-Ohio Governor John Kasich says God expects people to show compassion for the poor. (21 Jul 2015) < 211-a-14-(Governor John Kasich (KAY’-sik), R-Ohio, at presidential campaign launch)-“good to me”-Ohio Governor John Kasich says God has given him skills and experience to offer for public service. (21 Jul 2015) < 212-a-15-(Governor John Kasich (KAY’-sik), R-Ohio, at presidential campaign launch)-“the United States (applause fades)”-Ohio Governor John Kasich says he’ll need help to win the presidency. ((longer version of cut 172)) (21 Jul 2015) < EASTERN MENNONITE-SAME SEX Va. faith-based school drops same-sex marriage hiring ban HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Eastern Mennonite University says it will no longer discriminate against job prospects who are in same-sex marriages. Previously, the private liberal arts university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, said that people in same-sex relationships violated the faith-based principles of the university. The Daily News Record newspaper reports that the school announced Monday that its decision followed a “listening process” that began in the 2013-14 academic year. The process included students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. The new policy was approved last week by a majority vote of the university’s board trustees. It states that Eastern Mennonite does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status. Board chairwoman Kay Brenneman Nussbaum said in a statement that Eastern Mennonite’s education “is grounded in Mennonite/Anabaptist values, and we believe people in same-sex covenanted relationships are valued members of our learning community with equal rights to standard benefits.” CHURCH VANDALISM Ga. church with gay pastor vandalized with spray paint AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia church with a gay pastor who plans to get married has been vandalized with spray paint. The Augusta Chronicle reports that vandals spray painted references to Bible verses and the words “You’ll Burn” on the front doors and steps of the Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer, near Augusta’s City Hall. Vandals spray painted a reference to Leviticus 18:22 on the church’s doors. The Bible verse says “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” The newspaper reports that the Rev. Rick Sosbe and his fiance were the first gay couple in Richmond County, Georgia, to apply for a marriage license after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide. Weeks ago, a rainbow flay flying outside the church was also stolen. CROSS DISPUTE Sale of Mt. Soledad memorial cross to private group complete SAN DIEGO (AP) — The half-acre plot of land under San Diego’s Mount Soledad veterans memorial and cross has been sold, resolving a decades-long church-and-state conflict. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the title to the property beneath the 43-foot cross was transferred from the federal Department of Defense to the Mount Soledad Memorial Association for $1.4 million. The private association already maintains the site. Congress approved the sale of the land containing more than 3,700 plaques honoring veterans from various wars in December. Federal courts have ruled that the cross is an unconstitutional effort by the government to endorse a religion, and a judge ordered the cross’s removal. Transferring the land to a private group aims to eliminate that conflict, but it’s uncertain whether it will end the litigation. VATICAN-CLIMATE World mayors at Vatican seek ‘bold climate agreement’ VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has told political leaders gathered at the Vatican that they’re “the conscience of humanity” on issues of climate change and human trafficking. Dozens of mayors from around the world demanded Tuesday that their national leaders take bold steps at the Paris climate talks this year, saying it could be the last chance to keep the Earth’s warming at levels safe for humanity. California Gov. Jerry Brown, a former Jesuit seminarian, denounced what he called “troglodytes and other deniers of the obvious science.” Pope Francis told the gathering that while he has high hopes about the Paris climate negotiations, he also wants the United Nations to focus more on human trafficking, saying both are scourges that harm and exploit the world’s poor. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 213-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Pope Francis and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio)–Pope Francis has told political leaders gathered at the Vatican that they’re “the conscience of humanity” on issues of climate change and human trafficking. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (21 Jul 2015) < 199-a-06-(New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, at news conference)-“can think of”-New York Mayor Bill de Blasio says Pope Francis is offering crucial support to efforts to combat climate change. (21 Jul 2015) < 200-a-09-(Governor Jerry Brown, D-Calif., at news conference)-“the clear science”-California Governor Jerry Brown denounced skeptics of human-induced climate change. (21 Jul 2015) < 201-r-03-(Pope Francis, addressing political leaders in Spanish at Vatican climate summit)–Pope Francis, speaking Spanish, says “The ecology is total. It is human.” (21 Jul 2015) < IMMIGRATION SANCTUARY-DENVER CHURCH Mexican man leaves Denver church sanctuary after 9 months DENVER (AP) — A Mexican man who has been living in a Denver church’s basement for nine months to avoid deportation has walked away, saying immigration officials told him he is no longer a priority for deportation. Arturo Hernandez Garcia claimed sanctuary in October at the First Unitarian Society. According to the Denver Post, Hernandez says he got a letter from immigration officials informing him of their decision. Hernandez and his family came to the United States on a tourist visa in 1999 and stayed after Hernandez got work as a contractor. Hernandez said he got into a scrape with another contractor while laying tile. He was arrested and acquitted when he went to trial. The deportation order came after his arrest, and he was ordered expelled from the country last fall. CHILD LEFT IN CAR 2-year-old girl critical after being left unattended in car CASA GRANDE,Ariz. (AP) — A 2-year-old Arizona girl is hospitalized in critical condition after being left unattended in a car for over two hours. Police said the girl was left unattended Sunday after her parents and their seven children returned home from church in two different vehicles. The girl, Hadley Sellaro, was breathing but unresponsive in a car in the driveway when found by the family, who tried to lower her body temperature with cool water while calling 911. Police say the girl remained in critical condition Tuesday. Police said the Pinal County Attorney’s Office will be asked to consider whether to charge the parents with child abuse. HEADSTONE LAWSUIT Church challenge’s New Jersey headstone law NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A Roman Catholic archdiocese in New Jersey and two parishioners are suing the state over a new law that makes it illegal for the archdiocese to sell headstones and monuments at its 11 cemeteries. The federal suit was filed Monday by the Institute for Justice on behalf of the Newark archdiocese and parishioners Emilio Mazza of Edison and Dennis Flynn of Emerson. In court papers, the group’s lawyers argue the law is unconstitutional because they say it is economic protectionism that stemmed from lobbying by the Monument Builders Association of New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed the bill, saying parishioners needed more time to make alternative plans. Lawmakers later agreed with Christie and this year delayed the law’s implementation until 2016. The suit seeks to block its enforcement.
