ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE MARCH
Foes of gay marriage rally near US Capitol in DC
WASHINGTON (AP) β Opponents of same-sex marriage have held a rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, with some speakers suggesting civil disobedience to protest laws related to the continuing spread of gay marriage.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says federal and state judges had exceeded their powers in recent rulings striking down state bans on gay marriage. He says “there’s a time to stand up against laws that have become unjust.”
Other speakers at Thursday’s event included former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, the Rev. Bill Owens of the Coalition of African-American Pastors, and the Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone.
Sound:
284-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., and the Rev. Bill Owens, president of the Coalition of African American Pastors)–Opponents of same-sex marriage have held a rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, with some speakers calling for civil disobedience. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (19 Jun 2014)
< 250-a-04-(Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., at March for Marriage rally)-“has become unjust”-Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee says government has no right to redefine marriage. (19 Jun 2014) < 252-a-07-(The Rev. Bill Owens, Sr., president of the Coalition of African American Pastors, at March for Marriage rally)-“go to jail (second reference)”-The Rev. Bill Owens, Sr., president of the Coalition of African American Pastors, says bakers and florists who don’t believe in same-sex marriage should take a stand. (19 Jun 2014) < 253-a-09-(The Rev. Bill Owens, Sr., president of the Coalition of African American Pastors, at March for Marriage rally)-“making it wrong”-The Rev. Bill Owens, Sr., president of the Coalition of African American Pastors, says he was in the original civil rights movement. (19 Jun 2014) < 251-a-05-(Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., at March for Marriage rally)-“to obey you”-Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee says people should deliver a message to officials who make unjust laws and court rulings. (19 Jun 2014) < 254-a-11-(San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (kohr-dih-lee-OH’-nee), at March for Marriage rally)-“an outright injustice (applause fades)”-San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone says children need their natural parents. (19 Jun 2014) < PRESBYTERIANS-GAYS Presbyterians move toward recognizing gay marriage DETROIT (AP) β The top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has taken major steps toward recognizing gay marriage. The General Assembly voted Thursday in favor of redefining Christian marriage in the church constitution as the union of “two people” instead of “a man and a woman.” The redefinition will take effect only if most of the 172 regional Presbyteries approve it in voting over the next year. The Presbyterian delegates in Detroit also voted to immediately allow pastors to preside at gay weddings in states that recognize same-sex marriage. In 2011, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) eliminated barriers to ordaining clergy with same-sex partners. Since then, 428 of the denomination’s more than 10,000 churches have left for other more conservative denominations or have dissolved. The church now has about 1.8 million members. Sound: 265-a-10-(Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, in AP interview)-“as being married”-Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, says he’s pleased that leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have voted to recognize gay marriage. (19 Jun 2014) < 267-a-10-(Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, in AP interview)-“that same question”-Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, says the denomination’s pro-gay initiatives will alienate some congregations. (19 Jun 2014) < 266-a-04-(Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, in AP interview)-“helping that happen”-Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, says Presbyterians who disagreed on gay marriage debated the issue respectfully. (19 Jun 2014) < 237-v-31-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–The top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has taken major steps toward recognizing gay marriage. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (19 Jun 2014) < GOP 2016-RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES Religious conservatives to judge top Republicans WASHINGTON (AP) β Some of the Republican Party’s most ambitious leaders are courting religious conservatives as evangelical officials claim new momentum in their fight for the GOP’s soul. The Faith and Freedom Coalition, led by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, launched its annual conference Thursday with appearances by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Almost every other top-tier prospective presidential hopeful is appearing at the three-day gathering in Washington. More than 1,000 evangelical voters are attending. Organizers hope the event mobilizes religious conservatives ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and 2016 presidential contest. While polls suggest social conservatives are losing their fight against gay marriage, Republican officials say evangelical voters continue to play a critical role in GOP politics. Sound: 268-a-11-(Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at Faith and Freedom Coalition conference)-“of human history”-Senator Marco Rubio of Florida says biblical values are good for America. (19 Jun 2014) < 269-a-11-(Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at Faith and Freedom Coalition conference)-“are being crucified”-Senator Ted Cruz of Texas says Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria are targeting non-Muslims. (19 Jun 2014) < 271-a-11-(Rabbi Aryeh Spero, president of Caucus for America, at Faith and Freedom Coalition conference)-“which is holy”-Rabbi Aryeh Spero, president of Caucus for America, says religious conservatives are like David fighting Goliath. (19 Jun 2014) < 270-a-10-(Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at Faith and Freedom Coalition conference)-“such as this”-Senator Ted Cruz says religious conservatives are like the Bible’s Queen Esther. (19 Jun 2014) < 143-v-23-(Sandy Kozel, AP correspondent)–Religious conservatives will be hearing from possible GOP White House contenders. AP correspondent Sandy Kozel reports. (19 Jun 2014) < 144-c-15-(Sandy Kozel, AP correspondent)-“early next year”-AP correspondent Sandy Kozel reports the Faith and Freedom Coalition will be hearing from GOP presidential hopefuls this week in Washington. (19 Jun 2014) < CONGRESS-HINDU PRAYER House opens peacefully with Hindu prayer WASHINGTON (AP) β It’s been almost seven years since protesters interrupted the first Hindu prayer to open a U.S. Senate session. On Thursday, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed, was back on Capitol Hill to deliver the House invocation, but this time there was no disruption. House speaker John Boehner introduced Zed, who opened and closed his recitation from the Hindu scriptures with “Om,” which his web site says is “the mystical syllable containing the universe.” Democratic Rep. Mike Honda of California says opening the House session with a Hindu prayer shows a respect for “the diversity of spirituality and cultures.” When Zed opened the Senate with a Hindu prayer in 2007, Christian protesters shouted prayers and Bible verses from the gallery and were arrested by Capitol Police. Sound: 277-a-14-(House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio and Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, opening Thursday’s House session)-“Reno, Nevada. Om”-House Speaker John Boehner introduces a Hindu to deliver Thursday’s invocation. (19 Jun 2014) < 278-a-13-(Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, delivering Thursday’s opening prayer in the U.S. House)-“us not, Om”-Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, prays for enlightenment. (19 Jun 2014) < 279-a-07-(U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., in House floor speech)-“our great institution”-U.S. Representative Mike Honda of California says it was good to open the House’s proceedings with a Hindu prayer. (19 Jun 2014) < 276-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism)–A Hindu on Capitol Hill has shown that you can go “Om” again. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (19 Jun 2014) < MCCRORY-BILL SIGNINGS McCrory signs 4 bills into NC law RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β Gov. Pat McCrory has signed into law a bill laying out the activities students and staff can perform while exercising their constitutional rights for religious expression and prayer in North Carolina’s public schools. 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 legislation resulted from a public school student being told to remove a reference to God in a poem for a Veterans Day observance. VATICAN-POPE Pope skips procession, takes it easy ahead of trip ROME (AP) β Pope Francis has skipped an annual procession to a Roman basilica as he takes it easy ahead of a grueling 1-day trip to Calabria this weekend. The Vatican has denied media speculation that the 77-year-old Francis is sick. News reports have zeroed in on the fact that Francis, who only has one full lung, canceled his general audiences for July. Francis canceled his audiences in July last year as well, as have popes for years during the hot summer months. That said, Francis appears to have taken to heart the advice expressed privately by some aides that he should cut back his frantic work pace, particularly before big events. On Thursday, he decided to skip the mile-long procession from one Roman basilica to another. AUSTRALIA-CHAPLAINS Court stops Australian funding of school chaplains CANBERRA, Australia (AP) β An Australian atheist campaigning to keep religion out of the education system has won his second victory. The nation’s highest court ruled Thursday that it’s unconstitutional for the federal government to fund a program that provides chaplains to schools. Ron Williams began his legal battle against the multimillion-dollar program after his 6-year-old son came home from school singing gospel songs in 2010. Williams won in 2012 when the High Court ruled that the government had exceeded its constitutional powers by funding the program, which began in around 2,700 schools five years earlier. The Australian government kept the program going by amending federal legislation to address the court’s ruling. But five High Court judges on Thursday unanimously agreed with Williams that the federal funding of a chaplain contractor remained unconstitutional despite the change. FRANCE-ISRAEL-MIGRATION French Jews leave for Israel in increasing numbers PARIS (AP) β Increasing numbers of French Jews are leaving for Israel, citing dim economic prospects and a sense of being caught between an increasingly influential far right and militant Islam. More than 5,000 are on track to leave this year, the most since after the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel, seeing the influx as a success, is doubling down on its efforts to attract Europeans, planning to dedicate $29 million over two years to bring in new immigrants. France has the world’s third-largest Jewish population after Israel and the United States β about 500,000, according to rough estimates. The country has banned any official documentation of a person’s religion since the Holocaust in a law with roots in French shame over its collaboration with the Nazis.
