NATIONAL CATHEDRAL-TRANSGENDER PRIEST
Transgender priest preaches at National Cathedral
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington National Cathedral has welcomed a transgender priest into its pulpit for the first time.
The Rev. Cameron Partridge, the Episcopal chaplain at Boston University, was the guest preacher on Sunday. Partridge recalled being an openly gay woman 13 years ago before transitioning to a male identity, and said transgendered people often have suffered “intense oppression, isolation and despair.”
The Right Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, presided at the service. It was part of the cathedral’s celebration of LGBT pride month. Robinson said “the cathedral has come out to the world in new and bold ways.”
The service included readings and prayers from members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the cathedral, says he hopes Partridge’s appearance “will send a symbolic message in support of greater equality for the transgender community.”
Sound:
176-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Cameron Partridge, a transgendered priest, and the Reverend Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop)–Washington National Cathedral has welcomed a transgender priest into its pulpit for the first time. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Jun 2014)
< 174-a-06-(The Reverend Gene Robinson, former Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, at Washington National Cathedral service)-“in our midst”-The Rev. Gene Robinson, the former Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, says he’s glad the church is welcoming transgendered people. (22 Jun 2014) < 175-a-12-(The Reverend Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral, at Washington National Cathedral service)-“of LGBT equality”-The Reverend Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral, says he has sensed a mission. (22 Jun 2014) < 171-a-08-(The Reverend Cameron Partridge, Episcopal chaplain of Boston University, at Washington National Cathedral service)-“with being trans”-The Reverend Cameron Partridge, the Episcopal chaplain of Boston University, recalls life 13 years ago before transitioning to a male identity. (22 Jun 2014) < 173-a-13-(The Reverend Gene Robinson, former Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, at Washington National Cathedral service)-“and bold ways”-The Reverend Gene Robinson, the former Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, says Washington National Cathedral has become a beacon for gay rights. (22 Jun 2014) < 172-a-11-(The Reverend Cameron Partridge, Episcopal chaplain of Boston University, at Washington National Cathedral service)-“of intense oppression”-The Reverend Cameron Partridge, the Episcopal chaplain of Boston University, says many lesbian, gay and transgendered people feel rejected. (22 Jun 2014) < ISRAEL-PRESBYTERIANS Israeli leader criticizes Presbyterians JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the decision by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to divest from U.S. companies that operate in the Israeli-occupied West Bank “should trouble all people of conscience and morality because it’s so disgraceful.” Netanyahu told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Christians are viciously persecuted in other parts of the Middle East, while the Jewish state protects religious minorities. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Friday to sell church stock in Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions, three companies whose products Israel uses in the occupied West Bank. The PCUSA is the most prominent religious group in the U.S. to endorse divestment in a sign of protest against Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. Netanyahu said Presbyterians should come see Israel for themselves, and then take a bus tour of war-torn Muslim nations like Libya, Syria and Iraq. But if they do, he said the Presbyterians should “make sure it’s an armor-plated bus” and they shouldn’t tell anyone they’re Christians. Sound: 221-a-04-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in interview)-“it’s so disgraceful”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) should not have voted to divest in firms that operate in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. COURTESY: NBC’s “Meet the Press” ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Jun 2014) < 224-a-06-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in interview)-“that you’re Christians”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Presbyterians should visit Israel, and then take a bus tour of war-torn Libya, Syria and Iraq. COURTESY: NBC’s “Meet the Press” ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Jun 2014) < 222-a-06-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in interview)-“civilization and moderation”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Presbyterian divestment decision was disgraceful and misguided. COURTESY: NBC’s “Meet the Press” ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Jun 2014) < 223-a-15-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in interview)-“see the difference”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a tour of the Middle East would show where the real oppression is. COURTESY: NBC’s “Meet the Press” ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Jun 2014) < GOP 2016-SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES Jindal says rebellion brewing against Washington WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana Gov. 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While he was there he asked one of the doctors to remove a bothersome wooden splinter from his finger. Sound: 017-c-17-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“from the church”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio reports Pope Francis, traveling to the heartland of Italy’s biggest crime syndicate, denounced mobsters and their ‘adoration of evil.’ (22 Jun 2014) < 019-c-18-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“to some mobsters”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio was asked if members of the Mafia would really care what the pope thinks of them. (22 Jun 2014) < 020-c-08-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“you and God”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio reports that some excommunications are very public when the person is well-known, while others aren’t. (22 Jun 2014) < 018-c-09-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“drug turf war”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio reports Pope Francis used a mass, in Calabria, to declare that mobsters are automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church. ((Calabria is pronounced kuh-LAH’-bree-uh)) (22 Jun 2014) < 035-r-16-(Excerpt of Pope Francis, saying in Italian: “Those who go down this evil path, the path of evil – as the Mafiosi do – are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated.”)–Excerpt of Pope Francis, saying in Italian: “Those who go down this evil path, the path of evil – as the Mafiosi do – are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated.” (22 Jun 2014) < 225-c-09-(Frances D’Emilio, AP correspondent)-“drug turf war”-AP correspondent Frances D’Emilio reports Pope Francis used a mass, in Calabria, to declare that mobsters are automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church. ((Calabria is pronounced kuh-LAH’-bree-uh)) (22 Jun 2014) < VATICAN-POPE-TORTURE Pope seeks an end to all kinds of torture VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is urging Christians to work together to abolish every form of torture, and has condemned the practice as a grave sin. Francis told the public in St. Peter’s Square Sunday that he wished to reiterate his “firm condemnation of every kind of torture.” He sought united efforts to work for torture’s end and to support victims and their families. Francis said it was a “mortal sin, a very grave sin, to torture people” and noted that Thursday marks the United Nation’s day for torture victims. Torture was a powerful tool of the military regime that ruled his native Argentina from 1976 to 1983. The local church hierarchy then openly sided with the junta. Francis has been credited with saving lives of political dissidents as a Jesuit priest in Argentina. Sound: 106-r-24-(Sound of Pope Francis addressing the public, in Italian, at St. Peter’s Square)–Speaking in Italian to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis repeated his condemnation of every form of torture. (Thursday is designated a United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture.) (22 Jun 2014) < 107-r-22-(Sound of Pope Francis addressing the public, in Italian, at St. Peter’s Square)–Sound of Pope Francis, in Italian, urging Christians to work together to abolish every form of torture, and condemning torture as a grave sin. (22 Jun 2014) < BIBLE STUDY-SLAYING Dallas man sentenced to life for killing neighbor DALLAS (AP) — A Dallas man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a neighbor he invited over for Bible study but then stabbed her more than 30 times. A judge in Dallas on Friday sentenced 23-year-old Randy Torres. Torres in May pleaded guilty to murder in the 2010 death of 55-year-old Cathy Wilder. Investigators say Torres invited the woman to his mobile home on the premise of studying the Bible and praying, but then he attacked her. Police say Torres left a note on the victim’s body that read “Satan’s son.” His mother testified that Torres since his arrest and incarceration has been getting mental health treatment and taking medication. PAKISTAN-DOCTOR KILLED Ohio memorial honors US doctor killed in Pakistan GROVEPORT, Ohio (AP) — An American cardiologist who was killed last month in Pakistan in front of his wife and toddler has been honored at a memorial in Ohio. Police say two gunmen riding a motorcycle shot Mehdi Ali Qamar as his family left a cemetery May 26 after visiting relatives’ graves. His wife and son were not harmed. The 51-year-old Qamar was from the minority Ahmadi sect. Members of the sect consider themselves Muslims, but are forbidden from presenting themselves as such by Pakistan’s blasphemy law. Ahmadis are banned from declaring their faith publicly, calling their places of worship mosques or performing the Muslim call to prayer. About 100 relatives, friends and colleagues gathered Saturday in Groveport, Ohio, to remember Qamar at an Ahmadiyya mosque. The Columbus Dispatch reports that speakers at the memorial remembered Qamar as a man dedicated to serving humanity. 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An icon of Britain, it remains one of the nation’s most popular tourist attractions. SRI LANKA-VIOLENCE Sri Lankan police ban rallies inciting hatred COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan police say they won’t allow rallies or marches that incite religious and communal hatred. Sunday’s announcement came a week after a mob led by a Buddhist group hurled gasoline bombs and looted Muslim homes and businesses south of the capital, Colombo. The attacks killed three people and injured more than 50. On Sunday, a group of Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders urged the Sri Lankan government to identify and punish the perpetrators of last week’s violence and to take measures to prevent similar violence in the future. Sri Lanka’s president has promised an impartial investigation and the arrest of those responsible “irrespective of race or religious differences.”
