MEMORIAL DAY
US honors veterans over Memorial Day weekend
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Marine Corps’ chaplain has reminded a New York City congregation of the sacrifice made by fallen soldiers around the world.
Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben addressed parishioners Sunday at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. She said veterans have “allowed us to be here.”
Active duty service members in town for Fleet Week were among the roughly 200 in attendance.
Kibben’s sermon came as President Barack Obama traveled to Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan in a surprise trip to speak to troops and visit those being treated at an army hospital. Obama also proclaimed this Memorial Day “a day of prayer for permanent peace,” and designated 11:00 a.m. local time Monday as a time to unite in prayer.
He also ordered government agencies in the United States to fly their flags at half-staff Monday in observance of Memorial Day.
Sound:
252-r-25-(Excerpt of bugler performing “Taps”, during the National Memorial Day Concert)–Excerpt of bugler performing “Taps,” during the National Memorial Day Concert. COURTESY: National Memorial Day Concert/PBS ((mandatory on-air credit)) (25 May 2014)
< 250-a-17-(Dianne Wiest (weest), actress portraying Ruth Stonesifer (stohn-SY’-fur), the mother of the Kris Stonesifer, the first U.S. casualty in Afghanistan, during National Memorial Day concert)-“which is dead”-Actress Dianne Wiest, portraying Ruth Stonesifer, reads aloud the words of the mother, as she recalls being notified at work about her son Kris Stonesifer’s death in Afghanistan. (25 May 2014) < 249-a-11-(General Martin Dempsey, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, during National Memorial Day Concert)-“may live free”-Joint Chiefs Of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey says Americans should grieve for those lost in battle, but then try to do more to support the veterans who do come home. COURTESY: National Memorial Day Concert/PBS ((mandatory on-air credit)) (25 May 2014) < 247-r-21-(Excerpt of Jennifer Nettles, Sugarland vocalist, performing “America the Beautiful,” during the National Memorial Day Concert)–Excerpt of Jennifer Nettles, Sugarland vocalist, performing “America the Beautiful,” during the National Memorial Day Concert. COURTESY: National Memorial Day Concert/PBS ((mandatory on-air credit)) (25 May 2014) < 182-a-12-(Jim Buchanan, Vietnam war veteran who was at a special service at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, in AP interview)-“to remember them”-Vietnam war veteran Jim Buchanan, who attended a special service at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, says Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember those who gave their lives for America. (25 May 2014) < 183-a-09-(Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben, chaplain of the United States Marine Corps, who spoke at a special service at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, in AP interview)-“we enjoy today”-Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben, who spoke at a special service at Marble Collegiate Church, says Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor all those who have died serving America. (25 May 2014) < 185-r-32-(Sound of choir, at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan)–Sound of choir, at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan for a special service for members of the military. (25 May 2014) < 184-a-14-(Kim Sebastian-Ryan, membership director, Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, in AP interview)-“everyone to see”-Kim Sebastian-Ryan, who’s with the Marble Collegiate Church, says the yellow ribbons on the fence signify those who’ve died fighting for America since 2006. (25 May 2014) < POPE-MIDEAST Pope, patriarch pray in Holy Sepulcher church JERUSALEM (AP) — Pope Francis and the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians have prayed together inside the Jerusalem church that symbolizes their divisions, calling their historic meeting a step toward healing the centuries-old Catholic-Orthodox schism. Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embraced one another on Sunday in the stone courtyard outside the 12th century Church of the Holy Sepulcher and recited the “Our Father” prayer together once inside. It was an unprecedented moment of solemnity at the spot where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Earlier Sunday, Pope Francis visited the Church of the Nativity and said Mass in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. He also voiced support for a Palestinian state and arranged a meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian presidents at the Vatican next month. Before leaving the Holy Land Monday evening, Francis was to visit Judaism’s holiest site, the Western Wall, and the Islamic holy sites on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Sound: 192-a-12-(Israeli President Shimon Peres, at Pope Francis’s arrival ceremony in Israel)-“peace beyond them”-Israeli President Shimon Peres says different religions and nationalities live together in Israel. (25 May 2014) < 194-a-14-(Orthodox Christian Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with Pope Francis at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher)-“and other confessions”-Orthodox Christian Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew says the site where Jesus rose from the dead is a place to celebrate life. (25 May 2014) < 190-r-18-(Sound of Pope Francis, in Italian, at arrival ceremony in Israel)–Pope Francis, in Italian, says Israel has a right to exist in peace and security and Palestinians have a right to a sovereign state. (25 May 2014) < 193-a-16-(Suzanne Dowell, pilgrim from Texas, in AP interview)-“care of children”-Suzanne Dowell, a pilgrim from Texas, says Pope Francis brings the hope of peace to the Holy Land. (25 May 2014) < 191-a-15-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at Pope Francis’s arrival ceremony in Israel)-“Muslims and Jews”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is tolerant toward all religions. (25 May 2014) < 195-a-16-(Orthodox Christian Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with Pope Francis at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher)-“of religious hatred”-Orthodox Christian Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew says religion should never be an excuse for violence. (25 May 2014) < 127-r-30-(Sound of Pope Francis, speaking Italian, at Mass celebrated in Manger Square)–Sound of Pope Francis, speaking in Italian at a mass in Manger Square, saying in “the birthplace of the Prince of Peace” he wishes to invite Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to a “prayer meeting” at the Vatican. (25 May 2014) < 128-r-23-(Sound of Pope Francis, speaking Italian, at Mass celebrated in Manger Square)–Sound of Pope Francis, speaking in Italian at a mass in Manger Square, saying that there are too many children living in inhumane situations as refugees “at times lost at sea, especially in the waters of the Mediterranean.” (25 May 2014) < MIDEAST-POPE-LEBANESE CARDINAL Lebanese cardinal makes rare Jerusalem visit JERUSALEM (AP) — The leader of Lebanon’s largest Christian sect has travelled to Jerusalem despite fierce criticism in Lebanon, which remains at war with Israel. Cardinal Bechara Rai, head of the Maronite Catholic Church, is the first Lebanese religious leader to set foot in Jerusalem since Israel captured the traditionally Arab eastern sector in 1967. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, confirmed that the cardinal had come to Jerusalem as part of a group of senior clergy accompanying Pope Francis on his Holy Land pilgrimage. Earlier, Rai told the official Palestinian news agency WAFA that he supports demands for a Palestinian state and had come to pray for peace. Lebanon bans its citizens from visiting Israel or having business dealings with Israelis. The Lebanese media have called the visit a “historic sin.” BIBLE COLLEGE-FORCED LABOR Bible college president faces forced labor charge FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — The president and founder of Cathedral Bible College faces federal charges that he made international students work long hours with little pay by threatening their legal status. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and WBTW reported that bond was set at $250,000 at a hearing Friday for Reginald Wayne Miller. Under the terms of his bond, he is not allowed to visit the college’s campus in Marion or communicate with current or former foreign students. Miller’s attorney said his friends and family would try to raise the bond money. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations filed a criminal complaint against Miller this week, saying they have probable cause to charge him with forced labor, a felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for each count. SIOUX CITY PARK Iowa board to discuss grant for Bible-themed park SIOUX CITY (AP) — The board of directors of an Iowa economic development group will meet next month to discuss concerns over a state grant awarded to help create a Christian park in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that the Vision Iowa board will meet June 11 to discuss whether it should take any action after the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained about funding the Christian-themed park with public money. The group says the $140,000 grant to The Shepherd’s Garden violates the U.S. and Iowa constitutions. Iowa Economic Development Authority spokeswoman Tina Hoffman has said the state grant money would pay only for green space at the park and not for any of the project’s religious elements. CHURCH-FINAL SERVICE Ga. church holds final service before demolition ATLANTA (AP) — Members of Atlanta’s Friendship Baptist Church have held their last worship service in a building that will be torn down to make room for the new Atlanta Falcons football stadium. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday the theme of Rev. William Guy’s sermon was that change is inevitable and the church is made of the people who attend it, not the building it occupies. Friendship Baptist Church agreed last year to sell its building for $19.5 million to make room for the Falcons’ new retractable roof stadium. The nearby Mount Vernon Baptist Church also agreed to sell its building for $14.5 million to make room for the new stadium. CATHOLIC-SCHOOLS-MORALITY CLAUSE Oakland Diocese criticized over teacher contract OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, California, is coming under fire for a new contract clause that requires teachers to conform to church teachings in their private lives. Some parents, teachers and students worry that teachers could be fired for being gay or engaging in behavior the Church condemns, such as having sex outside marriage. Diocese of Oakland spokesman Mike Brown told the San Francisco Chronicle that several teachers have refused to sign the new contract. Parents and teachers plan to protest at the diocese’s offices on May 30. The diocese runs more than 50 schools and employs about 1,000 teachers, many of them non-Catholics. Brown says the new language is not a witch hunt, but an attempt to be clearer about the contract. BIRTH CONTROL-ATLANTA ARCHDIOCESE Feds appeal judge’s order in contraception fight ATLANTA (AP) — The federal government is appealing an order by a federal judge in Atlanta that certain nonprofit organizations in Georgia affiliated with the Catholic Church are not subject to a contraception mandate included in the president’s health care law. U.S. District Judge William Duffey in March permanently barred the federal government from enforcing the mandate against a nonprofit that operates Catholic schools in Georgia and a nonprofit Catholic charity group. Duffey wrote that enforcing the mandate and a related rule against those entities would violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which prohibits the government from imposing a substantial burden on a person’s religious practice. Lawyers for the federal government filed a notice of appeal Friday. ATHEISTS-IRS LAWSUIT Judge dismisses atheists’ challenge to IRS LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed a lawsuit brought by an atheist group challenging tax exemptions for churches and religious groups in the federal tax code. U.S. District Judge William O. Bertelsman ruled that American Atheists Inc. was speculating about being potentially injured by the tax code or treated differently from other organizations because it has never sought to be classified as a religious organization with the attendant tax benefits. The New Jersey-based American Atheists sued the IRS in federal court in northern Kentucky in 2013 saying the tax-exempt status granted to religious organizations is discriminatory and should be ruled unconstitutional. Bertelsman found that the regulations for tax-exempt organizations don’t favor any group over another. American Atheists President Dave Silverman says the organization will appeal. BELGIUM-SHOOTING Belgium hunts for suspect in Jewish attack; 4 dead BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium has launched a nationwide hunt Sunday for a lone gunman who walked into the Jewish Museum in Brussels, unpacked a Kalashnikov rifle, killed four people with a short burst of fire, packed up and briskly walked away. Saturday’s attack led Belgian officials to immediately raise anti-terror measures and increase the protection for Jewish sites for what was widely seen as an anti-Semitic attack. It happened on the eve of Belgium’s nationwide election and as voters across the continent picked a new European Parliament. Video of the attack showed an athletic man with cap walking determinedly into the small Jewish Museum, clearly bent on quickly carrying out a pre-planned attack. The whole assault took a minute at most. The fourth victim died Sunday afternoon, according to a government official. Sound: 159-a-10-(Ine Van Wymersch (EE’-nah vahn WAY’-mehrsh), Brussels deputy prosecutor, at news conference)-“he was armed”-Ine Van Wymersch, a deputy prosecutor in Brussels, says because of closed-circuit camera images, a nation-wide manhunt is on for the perpetrator, referred to in Belgium as an “author.” (25 May 2014) < 160-a-10-(Joel Rubinfeld (ROO’-bihn-fehld), president, Belgian League against anti-Semitism, in AP interview)-“one more time”-Joel Rubinfeld of the Belgian League against anti-Semitism says it’s important for all of Europe that the shooter gets caught. (25 May 2014) < 171-v-32-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)–At least three people are dead and one seriously injured in a shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports. (24 May 2014) < 172-c-19-(Kyle McKinnon, correspondent)-“behind the shooting”-Correspondent Kyle McKinnon reports at least three people have been killed and one seriously injured in a burst of gunfire at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. (24 May 2014) < FRANCE-SYNAGOGUE ATTACK 2 Jewish youth attacked near Paris-area synagogue PARIS (AP) — French officials say two Jewish brothers dressed in “traditional” clothes were attacked near a synagogue in the Paris area. The assault came hours after a deadly shooting Saturday at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. French Interior Minister Bernard Caseneuve ordered police around France to increase security at Jewish houses of worship and other Jewish establishments. The young men were attacked by two others near the synagogue in Creteil, a southeast Paris suburb, on Saturday evening, according to Albert Elharrar, president of the Jewish Community of Creteil. He told BFM-TV that one of them was hospitalized after being struck in the eye with brass knuckles. The Interior Ministry had said earlier the young men were leaving the synagogue when they were attacked. French President Francois Hollande offered his solidarity to neighboring Belgium, and vowed that the perpetrators of the Creteil attack would be caught.
