CHARLESTON SHOOTING
Federal charges including hate crimes for accused shooter
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man accused of killing nine black church members in Charleston, South Carolina, was motivated by racial hatred and a desire to commit a “notorious attack” when he opened fire inside a historic house of worship last month, according to a federal grand jury indictment that makes him eligible for the death penalty.
The 33-count federal indictment charges 21-year-old Dylann Roof with hate crimes, firearms violations and obstructing the practice of religion in the June 17 shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The charges announced Wednesday by Attorney General Loretta Lynch are in addition to state murder charges brought against Roof days after the shooting.
Lynch said Roof took advantage of his victims’ generosity when they welcomed him into their Bible-study group. She said, “The parishioners had Bibles. Dylann Roof had his .45-caliber Glock pistol, and eight magazines loaded with hollow-point bullets.”
Sound:
212-a-11-(Attorney General Loretta Lynch, at news conference)-“in this case”-Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the indictments against Dylan Roof could result in the maximum penalties. (22 Jul 2015)
< 213-a-13-(Attorney General Loretta Lynch, at news conference)-“vindicates their purpose”-Attorney General Loretta Lynch says there are no domestic terrorism statutes that could be used in this case. (22 Jul 2015) < 211-w-35-(Ed Donahue, AP correspondent, with Attorney General Loretta Lynch)–Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine people at a South Carolina church last month, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 33 counts. The AP’s Ed Donahue reports. (22 Jul 2015) < 194-a-10-(Attorney General Loretta Lynch, at news conference)-“Crime Prevention Act”-Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the 33 count indictment against Dylann Roof includes hate crimes. (22 Jul 2015) < 193-a-12-(Attorney General Loretta Lynch, at news conference)-“to his actions”-Attorney General Loretta Lynch says Dylann Roof’s plan was to seek out and kill African-Americans because of their race. (22 Jul 2015) < 192-a-12-(Attorney General Loretta Lynch, at news conference)-“against white people”-Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the federal charges against Dylann Roof include hate crimes. (22 Jul 2015) < 191-a-12-(Attorney General Loretta Lynch, at news conference)-“Charleston, South Carolina”-Attorney General Loretta Lynch says a federal grand jury in South Carolina has indicted Dylann Roof on 33 counts. (22 Jul 2015) < CONGRESS-PLANNED PARENTHOOD Dem senator withdraws fertility bill amid abortion controversy WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington has withdrawn a bill expanding fertility services for wounded veterans, blaming Republican amendments she views as part of an attack on women’s health care. The Senate fight came after an anti-abortion group released secretly recorded videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing how much to charge for organs harvested from aborted fetuses. Those videos have prompted many Republicans to call for an end to federal aid to the organization. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said one of his amendments to Murray’s bill would prevent the Veterans Administration from working with organizations that “take aborted babies’ organs and sell them.” Planned Parenthood says the payments it receives for intact organs are legal reimbursements for costs. Murray said she was withdrawing her bill because Republicans decided “to leap at the opportunity to pander to their base.” In the House, Texas Republican Jeb Hensarling accused Planned Parenthood of violating the sanctity he said “every child created in the very image of God is entitled to.” Sound: 264-a-09-(Congressman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, in floor speech)-“is entitled to”-Congressman Jeb Hensarling says Planned Parenthood’s handling of fetal organs raises moral as well as legal issues. ((cut used in wrap)) (22 Jul 2015) < 265-a-07-(Congressman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, in floor speech)-“my mother’s womb”-Congressman Jeb Hensarling quotes a Bible passage about God’s care for life in the womb. (22 Jul 2015) < 262-w-36-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Congressman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas)–Democratic Senator Patty Murray has withdrawn a bill expanding fertility services for wounded veterans, blaming Republican amendments she views as part of an attack on women’s health care. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Jul 2015) < 263-a-08-(Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., in floor speech)-“health care options”-Senator Patty Murray says she’s withdrawing a bill to block amendments following the release of undercover videos about the sale of fetal organs. ((cut used in wrap)) (22 Jul 2015) < CANDY FROM PLANE-CRASH Plane dropping candy on church event crashes, killing 2 AUBURN, Wyo. (AP) — Officials in Wyoming say a small plane that had been dropping candy on a church gathering crashed Tuesday night, killing two men on board. The wreck killed 22-year-old Brad Lefevre and 64-year-old Chad Burton, both residents of western Wyoming’s Star Valley. The plane went down near homes, but officials say nobody on the ground was hurt. Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson says the single-engine plane crashed about a half-mile from the church event being held in a park. He says he believes people at the event saw the impact. Johnson says there’s no indication it hit anything before crashing about 5 miles northwest of Afton, Wyoming. JACKSON ANTI-DISCRIMINATION Religious exemptions requested for possible Jackson LGBT law JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A pastor wants religious exemptions included in any anti-discrimination law that’s passed in Jackson, Wyoming. The Jackson Hole News and Guide reports that town officials are considering a measure that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace, housing and public places. Rev. David Bott of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jackson said during a Monday forum that religious exemptions for churches and individuals should be included in the law. Lander pastor Tim Senter also spoke at the meeting and voiced his overall opposition. But a supporter of the measure said exempting people because of religion would be a “slippery slope.” Town council members will be presented with research on a possible law by the end of the year. POPE FRANCIS-APPROVAL Poll: US views of Francis dim; a plunge in approval ratings NEW YORK (AP) — Pope Francis’ rock-star popularity appears to be dimming in the United States. In a Gallup survey released Wednesday, 59 percent of Americans said they thought favorably of the pope, compared to 76 percent last year. The most dramatic decline was among political conservatives. Only 45 percent gave the pope high marks, a drop of 27 percentage points. Among Catholics, Francis’ approval rating dropped by 18 percentage points to 71 percent. However, liberals also seemed to sour on the pope. Sixty-eight percent viewed him favorably, a drop of 14 percentage points since last year. The survey of just over 1,000 adults was conducted July 8-12. That’s three weeks after the pope’s encyclical that said climate change is largely man-made and that unfettered capitalism exploits the poor. Sound: 199-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–Pope Francis’s rock-star popularity appears to be dimming in the United States. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Jul 2015) < 200-c-19-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“Philadelphia in September”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that a new poll finds Pope Francis’s popularity down sharply from last year among Americans. (22 Jul 2015) < VATICAN-MAYORS Mayors endorse UN sustainability goals at Vatican VATICAN CITY (AP) — Mayors emboldened by an appeal from Pope Francis are committing themselves to a new set of U.N. goals to end poverty and promote sustainable development over the next 15 years. At the end of a two-day Vatican summit on Wednesday, several dozen mayors from around the world unanimously adopted a declaration pledging to endorse the goals and work to implement them in their home cities. World leaders are set to adopt the 17 “sustainable development goals” at a U.N. summit in September that will be opened by Francis. Among other things, the goals commit leaders to end extreme poverty and hunger by 2030, ensure health care, education, access to water, sustainable energy and growth for all — and take urgent action to combat climate change and protect the Earth. POPE-WASHINGTON Archdiocese asks DC to pledge prayer, service with pope WASHINGTON (AP) — The Archdiocese of Washington and Catholic Charities are challenging Washington-area residents to pledge to pray, serve the community or take action for social justice to prepare for Pope Francis’ visit to the nation’s capital. Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl says the “Walk With Francis” campaign will ask more than 100,000 area residents to make pledges. The pledges will be gathered through social media and on the website WalkWithFrancis.org. During his visit to Washington, Pope Francis will be presented with a book full of the pledges made on social media as a gift by Cardinal Wuerl. The pledge is modeled on the pope’s ministry that emphasizes serving the poor, caring for human life and being good stewards of the environment. POPE-PHILADELPHIA-BRIDGE Bridge may be closed to cars when pope comes to Philadelphia CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A major bridge connecting Philadelphia and New Jersey may be closed to cars when the pope visits in September. The Secret Service tells The Philadelphia Inquirer that the decision has not been made yet on whether cars will be allowed on the Ben Franklin Bridge when Pope Francis is in town in September. The Delaware River Port Authority says a closure is possible though it’s not in the plan currently. One possibility is keeping cars off the bridge but leaving it open to pedestrians who could walk from southern New Jersey into Philadelphia. Officials are planning for hundreds of thousands of people to cram into Philadelphia to see the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Mass transit schedules are being modified to accommodate the crowds. CHURCH CLOSING DISPUTE Appeals court hears arguments in 11-year church occupation BOSTON (AP) — Parishioners occupying a long-closed Catholic church south of Boston have had their day before the state Appeals Court. The Friends of St. Frances X. Cabrini Church presented arguments Wednesday seeking to overturn a judge’s order that they end their nearly 11-year, round-the-clock protest vigil. They said the judge wrongly prevented them from presenting arguments referencing church law, denied them the right to a jury trial and abused his judicial discretion. But the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, which sued to evict the protesters in March, counters that the case is a simple question of property rights and the lower court judge was right to focus solely on who legally owns the church. A three-judge appeals panel heard the arguments and is expected to issue a written decision at a later date. ISRAEL-JEWISH FEUD Israeli government clashes with liberal Jewish streams JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s narrow coalition government, propped up by two ultra-religious parties, is butting heads with liberal streams of Judaism that dominate Jewish life in the United States — widening a rift that risks further alienating American Jews at a time of growing U.S.-Israel estrangement. The dispute is forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a balancing act in which he must at once please American Jews and placate the Orthodox members of his government. American Jews comprise the world’s second largest Jewish community and have provided Israel with moral support, lobbying and fundraising for decades. But while most observant American Jews identify with the Reform and Conservative movements, Israeli religious affairs are dominated by stricter Orthodox law. Reform and Conservative rabbis are not recognized, and their movements are largely marginalized. Most Jews in Israel, while secular, follow Orthodox traditions 215-a-12-(Tzipi Livni (TSIH’-pee LIHV’-nee), opposition Israeli lawmaker, in AP interview)-“be embracing them”-Opposition lawmaker Tzipi Livni says Israel’s Orthodox Jewish parties shouldn’t disdain more liberal American Jews. (22 Jul 2015) < 216-a-10-(Tzipi Livni (TSIH’-pee LIHV’-nee), opposition Israeli lawmaker, in AP interview)-“the American Jewry”-Opposition lawmaker Tzipi Livni says Israel’s Orthodox Jewish parties shouldn’t reject America’s more liberal branches of Judaism. (22 Jul 2015) < BRITAIN-QURAN University of Birmingham says Quran parchment among oldest LONDON (AP) — In England, the University of Birmingham says scientific tests on a Quran parchment place it close to the time of Muhammad. The university said Wednesday that radiocarbon dating has put the parchment among one of the oldest known manuscripts of the Muslim holy book known to survive. The analysis dated the parchment close to the time of Muhammad, who is generally believed to have lived between 570 and 632. The manuscript has long been part of the university’s Cadbury Research Library. But it had not been bound properly and was attached to the leaves of a similar manuscript that was not as old. Professor David Thomas says the finding could well “take us back to within a few years of the actual founding of Islam.”
