US-IRAN-PASTOR DETAINED
Franklin Graham: Iran’s detention of pastor shames Islam
WASHINGTON (AP) β The Rev. Franklin Graham is condemning Iran’s imprisonment of American Pastor Saeed Abedini and charges that it disgraces the religion of Islam.
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have called for the release of the Iranian-born pastor, who was starting an orphanage in Iran when he was arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison for undermining state security. He has been confirmed for two years.
At a rally attended by hundreds outside the White House, Franklin Graham charged that by continuing to imprison Abedini, Iran’s leaders are “proving to the world that Islam does not want justice and that Islam is not peaceful.”
Graham was joined at the rally by Abedini’s wife and children, who led the singing of a hymn their father taught them.
Sound:
283-a-11-(Naghmeh Abedini (NAHG’-meh ab-eh-DEE’-nee), wife of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini (sah-EED’ ab-eh-DEE’-nee), speaking at rally outside the White House)-“his Christian faith”-Naghmeh Abedini, wife of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini, says faith helps her endure the absence of her husband. (25 Sep 2014)
< 282-a-17-(The Reverend Franklin Graham, speaking at rally outside the White House)-“in Jesus Christ”-The Reverend Franklin Graham says Iran’s detention of Saeed Abedini makes Islam look neither just nor peaceful. ((Saeed Abedini is pronounced sah-EED’ ab-eh-DEE’-nee)) (25 Sep 2014) < 281-a-07-(The Reverend Franklin Graham, speaking at rally outside the White House)-“York this week”-The Reverend Franklin Graham says Pastor Saeed Abedini is serving an eight year sentence. ((Saeed Abedini is pronounced sah-EED’ ab-eh-DEE’-nee)) (25 Sep 2014) < 279-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Franklin Graham)–The Reverend Franklin Graham says Iran’s two-year imprisonment of American Pastor Saeed Abedini disgraces the religion of Islam. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. ((Saeed Abedini is pronounced sah-EED’ ab-eh-DEE’-nee)) (25 Sep 2014) < 284-r-29-(Imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini’s Pastor Saeed Abedini (sah-EED’ ab-eh-DEE’-nees) young son and daughter, helping lead singing at rally outside the White House)–Sound of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini’s young son and daughter helping lead singing at a rally outside the White House. (25 Sep 2014) < 280-a-09-(The Reverend Franklin Graham, speaking at rally outside the White House)-“is not peaceful”-The Reverend Franklin Graham says Iran’s detention of American Pastor Saeed Abedini puts Islam in a bad light. ((Saeed Abedini is pronounced sah-EED’ ab-eh-DEE’-nee)) ((cut used in wrap)) (25 Sep 2014) < EBOLA-AMERICANS 3rd US Ebola patient released from hospital OMAHA, Neb. (AP) β The third American medical missionary who contracted Ebola in Africa has been released from a Nebraska hospital. An elated Dr. Rick Sacra (SAY’-krah) said at a news conference Thursday that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cleared him of the Ebola virus. He left the isolation unit at the Nebraska Medical Center on Thursday morning. Sacra thanked everyone who prayed for him and told the hospital staff, “God has used you to restore my life to me.” The 51-year-old doctor from Massachusetts said he’ll likely return to Liberia someday to help. But Sacra said he’s still “extremely weak” and expects a long recovery ahead based on what his friend and fellow Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly told him. Debbie Sacra spent most of the news conference watching her husband of 29 years. The two shared their first hug in roughly two months. Sound: 229-a-05-(Dr. Rick Sacra (SAY’-krah), medical missionary and Ebola survivor, at news conference)-“life to me”-Dr. Rick Sacra thanks the staff at the Nebraska Medical Center. (25 Sep 2014) < 230-a-14-(Dr. Rick Sacra (SAY’-krah), medical missionary and Ebola survivor, at news conference)-“been especially generous”-Dr. Rick Sacra says the disease has brought him closer to God. (25 Sep 2014) < 227-w-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Dr. Rick Sacra, Ebola survivor)–The third American medical missionary who contracted Ebola in Africa has been released from a hospital in Omaha. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (25 Sep 2014) < 228-a-09-(Dr. Rick Sacra (SAY’-krah), medical missionary and Ebola survivor, at news conference)-“have been answered”-Dr. Rick Sacra says he appreciates the outpouring of concern since he contracted Ebola. (25 Sep 2014) < 169-a-10-(Dr. Rick Sacra (SAY’-krah), third American aid worker who contracted Ebola in Africa, at news conference about his release from hospital)-“love you all (cheers fade)”-Dr. Rick Sacra says being cured of Ebola fills him with love and joy. 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CHICAGO ARCHBISHOP Archbishop designate says poor must be focus LINCOLNSHRE, Ill. (AP) β Chicago’s archbishop-designate has told Roman Catholic leaders at a conference on helping poor church communities that Pope Francis is less concerned about ideas than helping the poor. Spokane, Washington’s Bishop Blase Cupich (BLAYZ’ SOO’-pihch) told fellow bishops at the Catholic Extension Mission Bishops Conference that Pope Francis is “concerned that leaders and policy makers are stuck in the realm of pure ideas.” Cupich says if that’s true, it may mean those people are disconnected from realities. Cupich said ideas are important, “but realities call us to action.” Cupich’s appearance at the Illinois conference was planned prior to the recent announcement that he will succeed Cardinal Francis George as the next Archbishop of Chicago on November 18. 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VATICAN-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Vatican details charges against ex-Dominican envoy VATICAN CITY (AP) β The Vatican says its former ambassador to the Dominican Republic is accused of possessing child pornography as well as sexually abusing minors. The Vatican on Thursday released details about the accusations against Josef Wesolowski (wes-LOW’-skee), who was placed under house arrest earlier this week when he was officially informed of the accusations against him. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the restrictive measures were taken because the Polish prelate represented a flight risk and because Vatican prosecutors feared he might tamper with evidence. The Holy See recalled Wesolowski last year after the archbishop of Santo Domingo told Pope Francis about rumors that Wesolowski had sexually abused teenage boys. Lombardi says an indictment and trial could take months. VATICAN-PARAGUAY Pope removes divisive bishop in Paraguay VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis has removed a conservative bishop from a Paraguayan diocese after he clashed with his fellow bishops by opening his own seminary and promoting an Argentine priest accused of inappropriate sexual behavior. The Vatican said Thursday that Francis took action for the good of the diocese and for the sake of the unity among bishops in Paraguay. Bishop Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano, a member of the conservative Opus Dei movement, has defended the establishment of his seminary, which follows a more orthodox line than the main one in the capital Asuncion. But the Vatican investigated it amid reports of problems. 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