OBAMA-GAY RIGHTS
Obama extension of gay rights may not include religious exemption
WASHINGTON (AP) β The White House says President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but it’s unclear if there will be a religious exemption.
Obama hoped that Congress would pass a broader non-discrimination measure that would apply to nearly all employers. Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch called on the White House to include the same religious exemptions in the executive order that are included in legislation the Senate passed but which is stalled in the House. The bill includes exemptions for churches and other houses of worship, as well as religiously affiliated organizations.
Nathan Diament, Executive Director for Public Policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, says if there’s no religious exemption, some Christian and Jewish charities will have to either violate their faith or withdraw from federal contracts.
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290-a-05-(Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, in AP interview)-“of the contract”-Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, says some religious charities with federal contracts believe that homosexuality is sinful. (16 Jun 2014)
< 291-a-05-(Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, in AP interview)-“of religious rights”-Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, says religious groups should be exempt from the executive order. (16 Jun 2014) < 292-a-11-(Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, in AP interview)-“his executive order”-Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, says gay rights should not be advanced at the expense of religious rights. (16 Jun 2014) < 289-a-07-(Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, in AP interview)-“kinds of contracts”-Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, says there should be a religious exemption in President Barack Obama’s executive order. (16 Jun 2014) < 214-v-33-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent)–President Obama is poised to sign an executive order barring discrimination against gays and lesbians by federal contractors. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (16 Jun 2014) < 215-c-21-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent)-“a limited order”-AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports the president is once again acting to bypass congressional gridlock. (16 Jun 2014) < 216-c-20-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent)-“and lesbian fundraiser”-AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports it’s not clear when Obama will act. (16 Jun 2014) < GAY MARRIAGE FOES-SAN FRANCISCO ARCHBISHOP Archbishop spurns appeals to skip marriage rally SAN FRANCISCO (AP) β The Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco is responding to a coalition of liberal politicians, fellow clergy and gay-rights leaders who are urging him to skip this week’s March for Marriage event in Washington. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ subcommittee on the promotion and defense of marriage and is one of the scheduled speakers at Thursday’s march and rally. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is among the supporters of same-sex marriage who have asked Cordileone to cancel his appearance. The archbishop says in a letter his office made public Monday that it’s his duty to uphold traditional views of marriage even if such views are unpopular. He also challenged his critics to practice what they preach, writing that Americans who oppose same-sex unions have become targets of discrimination and intolerance. SUPREME COURT-CHURCH GRADUATIONS Justices reject appeal over graduations in church WASHINGTON (AP) β The Supreme Court has left in place a court decision that said public high school graduations in a church adorned with religious symbols violated separation of church and state. The justices’ action Monday comes more than a month after the court upheld Christian prayer at the start of town council meetings. The justices did not explain their denial of the appeal from the Elmbrook School District in southeastern Wisconsin. Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas said they would have heard the case, but at least four justices must agree for a case to be heard. In 2012, the federal appeals court in Chicago found that a giant cross on the wall of Elmbrook Church and other religious symbols that were visible during graduation ceremonies conveyed a message that government was endorsing a particular religion. The district no longer holds graduations there. Sound: 259-c-22-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-“house religious activities”-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that the issue was whether a public school graduation held in a church was unconstitutional. (16 Jun 2014) < 258-v-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The Supreme Court has left in place a court decision that said public high school graduations in a church adorned with religious symbols violated separation of church and state. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (16 Jun 2014) < SCHOOLS-RELIGION Religion rules at school approved by NC lawmakers RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β A bill heading to North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk attempts to make clear how public school students and staff can express religious beliefs. The state Senate gave final legislative approval Monday in a 48-1 vote to the measure explaining how schools should comply with federal law and guidance on constitutionally protected prayer. The measure says students may share religious views and distribute religious literature, with reasonable restrictions. It says they can pray silently or aloud to the same extent students meditate or speak on non-religious matters. The bill also says school personnel and coaches involved in extracurricular activities “may adopt a respectful posture” during voluntary student-led prayer. The bill was prompted after a McDowell County student was told to remove a reference to God in a poem for a Veterans Day observance. PRIESTS ATTACKED Police identify suspect in Phoenix priest attacks PHOENIX (AP) β Authorities have identified a 54-year-old convict who’s been arrested in the killing of a Roman Catholic priest and the beating of a second priest at a downtown Phoenix church. Booking records show Gary Michael Moran is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, burglary and armed robbery, among others charges. Court records show Moran was released from prison in April after serving about eight years for aggravated assault and other charges. Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia says Moran then “immediately went back to business β his business β the business of criminal activity.” The priests were attacked at the Mother of Mercy Mission Wednesday night. The Rev. Kenneth Walker was shot and killed. The Rev. Joseph Terra was badly beaten, but was able to attend Walker’s memorial Mass on Monday. Sound: 255-a-10-(Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia, at news conference)-“of criminal activity”-Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia says 54-year-old Gary Michael Moran was released from prison less than two months ago. (16 Jun 2014) < 256-a-10-(Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, at news conference)-“of all faiths”-Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton says he attended the memorial Mass for Father Kenneth Walker. (16 Jun 2014) < 254-a-05-(Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia, at news conference)-“violent felony offender”-Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia says the suspect who was arrested in the killing of one priest and the beating of another has a long criminal record. (16 Jun 2014) < 257-a-08-(Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski, at news conference)-“released from jail”-Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski says the priest who was killed had compassion toward people like the suspect. (16 Jun 2014) < MUSLIM GROUP-THREATS Authorities: NYC man threatened Muslim advocate NEW YORK (AP) β A New York City man has been charged with sending emails threatening to kill the leader of a Muslim civil rights group. According to a criminal complaint, Bernhard Laufer began sending the emails last year to the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. The group identified the recipient as its national executive director, Nihad Awad. Laufer, who’s 56, was already facing attempted murder charges alleging he stabbed a man at a Queens mosque in 2012 while yelling, “I will kill you Muslim.” Court papers say Laufer was out on $200,000 bail when he sent emails threatening to destroy CAIR and kill Awad. In a statement, CAIR called the case “another incident demonstrating the actual, imminent harm that can result from Islamophobia.” IRAQ-FLEEING CHRISTIANS Iraqi Christians flee homes amid militant push ALQOSH, Iraq (AP) β Iraqi Christians are fleeing to the Nineveh plain and the largely autonomous region of Kurdistan after fighters belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant swept over the city of Mosul and a broad swath of the country in the past week. The chaos is destroying Chaldean, Armenian and Assyrian communities that date back to Christianity’s earliest days. Iraq was estimated to have more than 1 million Christians before the U.S.-led invasion and toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Now, church officials estimate only 450,000 remain within Iraq’s borders. Militants have targeted Christians in repeated waves in Baghdad and the north. The Chaldean Catholic cardinal was kidnapped in 2008 by extremists and killed. Churches around the country have been bombed repeatedly. The Vatican for years has voiced concern about the flight of Christians from the Middle East, driven out by war, poverty and discrimination. Sound: 300-a-05-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“hour I’m told”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, says Christians who have fled Mosul may have only a few days worth of food. (16 Jun 2014) < 302-a-16-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“any time soon”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, says thousands of Christians have fled Mosul in the past week. (16 Jun 2014) < 303-a-13-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“their future is”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, recalls what an Iraqi Christian leader said about his community’s survival six months ago. (16 Jun 2014) < 301-a-10-(Nina Shea (NEE’-nah SHAY), director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, in AP interview)-“for 2,000 years”-Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, says Christianity was in Iraq centuries before Islam. (16 Jun 2014) < KENYA-HOTEL ATTACK Gunmen singled out non-Muslims in Kenya attack NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) β The Islamist group Al-Shabab is claiming responsibility for the attack on a Kenyan coastal town that killed 48 people. Al-Shabab, a Somali al-Qaida-linked group, said on Monday that it carried out the hours-long assault on Mpeketoni. The attack began Sunday night as residents watched World Cup matches on TV and lasted until early Monday, with little resistance from Kenya’s security forces. The group said the attack was in response to Kenya’s “brutal oppression of Muslims in Kenya,” including the killings of Muslim scholars in Mombasa, an apparent reference to recent deaths of Muslim leaders in that city on Kenya’s coast. Witnesses said the gunmen went door to door in the Kenyan costal town, demanding to know if the men inside were Muslim and if they spoke Somali. If the extremists did not like the answers, they opened fire. Al-Shabab warned tourists to stay away from Kenya, saying that the once peaceful East Africa nation “is now officially a war zone.” VATICAN-TRAFFICKING Pope, archbishop of Canterbury battle trafficking VATICAN CITY (AP) β Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury have denounced human trafficking as a crime against human dignity and have pledged both of their churches to combatting it. The pope and Archbishop Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the 80-million-strong Anglican Communion, met privately Monday at the Vatican and then prayed together. Francis called trafficking an “intolerable crime against human dignity,” and Welby said it urgently needs to end. Despite deep opposition to the ordination of female Anglican bishops, the Vatican has sought to find areas of agreement where Catholics and Anglicans can work together. The fight against modern-day slavery is one such area, and a joint initiative involving Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the world’s foremost seat of Sunni Islamic learning, has become a high-profile initiative. MORMON ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG Archaeologists seek site of Mormon founder’s home NAUVOO, Ill. (AP) β An archaeological dig is underway in a tiny western Illinois community for the possible location of a home built for the one-time patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Quincy Herald-Whig reports that the search is on in Nauvoo for the one-time dwelling of Joseph Smith Sr. and his wife Lucy Mack. They’re the parents of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church. The newspaper says recent discoveries suggest that the site being sought is just south of the community’s historic Joseph and Emma Smith Mansion House. Volunteers are discovering what appears to be a structural support for the house that research indicates was a double log cabin. The elder Smith died in 1840.
