ABORTION PROTEST LAWSUIT
Lawsuit challenges city’s restriction on abortion protests
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Christian legal advocacy group has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a pastor arrested for protesting outside an abortion clinic in Columbus, Mississippi.
The lawsuit, filed in Jackson by Liberty Counsel, alleges that the First Amendment rights of the Rev. Stephen Joiner were violated when he was jailed for protesting. The suit contends that Joiner was holding a sign stating that abortion kills children.
The suit names the city of Jackson and a police captain. Liberty Counsel attorney Mat Staver (STAY’-vehr) says his client was charged with violating a parade ordinance, even though he was alone.
Staver says the pastor is being harassed because of an apparent dislike of his client’s message.
Sound:
399-a-10-(Mat Staver (STAY-ver), attorney, Liberty Counsel, in AP interview)-“of his arrest”-Liberty Counsel attorney Mat Staver says his client, a pastor, was jailed by a police officer on multiple charges. (15 May 2014)
< 398-a-10-(Mat Staver (STAY-ver),, attorney, Liberty Counsel, in AP interview)-“of abortion clinics”-Liberty Counsel attorney Mat Staver says the federal lawsuit against the city of Columbus, Mississippi, and a police officer is on behalf of a pastor who was jailed for demonstrating outside an abortion clinic. (15 May 2014) < 400-a-09-(Mat Staver (STAY-ver),, attorney, Liberty Counsel, in AP interview)-“first amendment rights”-Liberty Counsel attorney Mat Staver says the purpose of the litigation is to protect the pastor and other protesters. (15 May 2014) < ABORTION BUFFER ZONES New Hampshire House approves 25-foot abortion buffer zone CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire House has voted to establish a buffer zone of up to 25 feet around reproductive health facilities where abortions are offered. The House voted 162-100 after critics argued for hours that the bill singles out a special interest group for protection at the expense of the free speech rights of abortion opponents. The amended bill goes back to the Senate for review. The Senate bill was filed in response to protests and picket activity at Planned Parenthood’s health center in Manchester. Bill supporters say more than 60 patient complaints have been logged since the beginning of 2013. Supporters argued the buffer zone will ensure the privacy and dignity of people using the clinics and will improve public safety. They said the buffer zone still allows protesters to demonstrate. GAY MARRIAGE-IDAHO Appeals court puts Idaho gay marriages on hold SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Idaho residents planning to gather at courthouses across the state to celebrate same-sex marriages saw their plans put on hold Thursday by a federal appeals court. Idaho’s gay marriage ban was overturned Tuesday when a federal judge said the law unconstitutionally denied gay and lesbian residents their fundamental right to marry. The judge ruled that Idaho must begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting Friday morning. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay while it considers whether a longer stay is needed. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden both asked that the lower court ruling be placed on hold while they appeal. CYPRUS GAY PRIDE Cyprus to hold first gay pride festival NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ Orthodox Christian Church HAS lashed out against homosexuality after activists announced the country’s first gay pride festival. The Holy Synod, the Church’s highest decision-making body, said it looks upon efforts to give homosexuality social and legal acceptance with “concern and grief.” A statement said “The Church and science consider homosexuality to be the human being’s fall from grace and an illness and not a natural way of life or choice.” It said although the Church condemns homosexuality, it loves and supports the “fallen” and prays that they seek God’s mercy. The statement came after activists said a two-week festival would culminate in a May 31 parade in the capital, Nicosia. MUSLIMS RESPONSE AD Muslim advocacy group to place ads in response to anti-Muslim ad WASHINGTON (AP) — A Muslim civil rights and advocacy group says it will counter anti-Muslim advertising in Washington D.C.’s transit system. The Council on American-Islamic Relations — CAIR — says it will also offer a free copy of the Quran to anyone who wants to “verify the inaccuracy” of the ads. The ad says that the Quran encourages Muslims to hate Jews. It was sponsored by a group called Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA). CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper says the sponsoring organization has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Hooper says the Quran states repeatedly that “Muslims are taught to live in peace and harmony with people of all faiths.” Sound: 403-a-11-(Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman, Council on American Islamic Relations, in AP interview)-“a door stop”-Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim Hooper says activist Pamela Geller of Stop the Islamization of America seeks to provoke and gain attention. (15 May 2014) < 401-a-08-(Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman, Council on American Islamic Relations, in AP interview)-“of all faiths”-Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim Hooper says copies of the Muslim Holy book will be made available to those who have doubts because of the anti-Muslim ads. (15 May 2014) < 402-a-09-(Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman, Council on American Islamic Relations, in AP interview)-“of the Book”-Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim Hooper says the anti-Muslim ads are false for charging that the Quran teaches hate of other faiths. (15 May 2014) < SUDAN DEATH SENTENCE Pregnant Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — A pregnant Sudanese woman who married a Christian man has been sentenced to death after she refused to recant her Christian faith. That’s according to a lawyer for the woman, Meriam Ibrahim. Her father was Muslim but mother was an Orthodox Christian from Ethiopia. Ibrahim was convicted of “apostasy” on Sunday and given four days to repent and escape death. The 26 year old, who is eight months pregnant, was sentenced after that grace period expired. Amnesty International immediately condemned the sentence, calling it “abhorrent.” The U.S. State Department said it was “deeply disturbed” by the sentencing and called on the government to respect the right to freedom of religion. Sudan’s penal code criminalizes the conversion of Muslims into other religions, which is punishable by death. As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith. By law, children must follow their father’s religion. CHURCH-SEX ABUSE Church youth leader convicted of sex abuse ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A Las Vegas man has been convicted of sexually abusing boys while he was a youth leader at a church in Maryland in the 1980s. Fifty-six-year-old Nathaniel Morales was convicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court. A jury found him guilty on three counts of sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of sexual offense. Prosecutors say Morales worked with youth ministries and conducted Bible studies for Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, a Washington suburb. He was accused of abusing three boys from 1983 to 1991 at group sleepovers and in their homes. One of the victims reported the abuse to Montgomery County Police in 2009. Morales faces up to 85 years in prison at sentencing Aug. 14. CATHOLIC-BROTHER ABUSE 19 reporting abuse at Pittsburgh Catholic school PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh says 19 former students at one of its high schools have now leveled sex abuse allegations at eight Marianist brothers who once worked at the school — one as long ago as 1940. The revelations began when the diocese learned earlier this year that Brother Bernard Hartman was being prosecuted by Australian authorities on charges he molested four students at a Catholic school there in the 1970s and 80s. The diocese sent a letter to North Catholic High School alumni because Hartman used to teach at the school, and learned of abuse allegations against four other Marianist brothers, three of whom are known to be dead. Publicity about those allegations has prompted allegations against three more brothers who worked at the school, all of whom are also dead. SAUDI-MERS IN MECCA Saudis question Mecca preparedness as MERS spreads Officials in Saudi Arabia are urging the kingdom’s Health Ministry to do more to control the spread of an increasingly prevalent and often deadly respiratory virus in Mecca, where millions of Muslims from around the world converge year-round to perform pilgrimage and visit Islam’s holiest site. The calls have taken on greater urgency in recent weeks as Saudi Arabia struggles to contain a surge in infections from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. The country has seen the most infections worldwide by far. Daily official reports now frequently record multiple deaths and new confirmed infections often numbering in the double digits. Health experts fear that the large number of international visitors passing through Mecca could play a growing role in exporting the virus if more precautions are not taken. Many pilgrims visiting the holy city now wear surgical masks to help prevent infection. VATICAN-HOLY LAND Jew, Muslim join pope’s delegation in Holy Land VATICAN CITY (AP) — A rabbi and a Muslim leader will join Pope Francis on his upcoming trip to the Holy Land. According to the Vatican, it will be the first time an official papal delegation has included members of other faiths. Francis’ two longtime friends and collaborators from his days as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Omar Abboud, a leader of Argentina’s Islamic community, are on the official delegation for the May 24-26 trip to Jordan, the West Bank and Israel. A Vatican spokesman says their presence on the delegation was an “absolute novelty” desired by Francis to show the “normality” of having friends of other faiths. IMMIGRANT SANCTUARY ICE says it won’t deport man living in church TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Immigration officials have announced they will not deport a Mexican man who was ordered to leave the country but has taken sanctuary in a Tucson, Arizona, church. U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement accepted an administrative request to close the order against Daniel Neyoy Ruiz, a 36-year-old man who has lived in the states since 2000. Neyoy Ruiz was supposed to leave the country by the end of Tuesday after being caught by immigration authorities following a traffic stop in Tucson. He refused to leave and instead took sanctuary at Southside Presbyterian Church. The decision by ICE on Thursday essentially means Neyoy Ruiz is not a priority for the agency and that it won’t actively seek to deport him.
