GOP 2016-CRUZ-RELIGION
Cruz is first major candidate to jump into 2016 race
WASHINGTON (AP) — Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz will become the first major candidate for president when he launches his campaign in front of thousands of Christian college students at their Monday convocation.
Cruz will enter the race with a speech at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, choosing to begin his campaign at the Christian college founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell rather than in his home state of Texas or the early voting states of Iowa or New Hampshire.
He tweeted his intentions today, just after midnight saying, “I am running for president and I hope to earn your support.”
The conservative Christian school is a fitting setting for Cruz, a 44-year-old tea party favorite whose father is a pastor.
But other Republicans are expected to compete for evangelical support. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is also a pastor’s son, Mike Huckabee is a former Southern Baptist pastor, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry have both spoken at Christian prayer rallies.
Sound:
196-a-08-(Professor Larry Sabato (SA’-buh-toh), director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, in AP interview)-“attend Liberty University”-Professor Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, says Texas Senator Ted Cruz is virtually guaranteed a large, young enthusiastic audience for his campaign announcement. (22 Mar 2015)
< 198-a-11-(Professor Larry Sabato (SA’-buh-toh), director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, in AP interview)-“Republicans these days”-Professor Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, says Liberty University’s student convocation is a smart place for Senator Ted Cruz to launch his presidential campaign. (22 Mar 2015) < 197-a-12-(Professor Larry Sabato (SA’-buh-toh), director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, in AP interview)-“and Mike Huckabee”-Professor Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, says Senator Ted Cruz is smart to launch his campaign in front of thousands of young Christians. (22 Mar 2015) < 195-v-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz will become the first major candidate for president Monday when he launches his campaign in front of thousands of Christian college students. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Mar 2015) < PRESBYTERIANS-GAY ORDINATION Lesbian couple ordained jointly in Presbyterian church WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A Presbyterian church in Delaware has held a joint ordination ceremony for a lesbian couple. Kaci Clark-Porter and her wife, Holly Clark-Porter, were ordained Sunday afternoon at First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. Church members believe the two women are the first same-sex couple to be ordained jointly by the Presbyterian Church USA. Earlier this month, the denomination’s regional presbyteries gave final approval to a measure expanding the PCUSA’s definition of marriage and recognizing gay marriage as Christian in the church constitution. The denomination has about 1.8 million members and 10,000 congregations, and is the largest Protestant group to authorize gay weddings church-wide. The change comes four years after the Presbyterians authorized gay ordination. Sound: 211-w-34-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend Holly Clark-Porter, newly ordained minister)–A Presbyterian church in Wilmington, Delaware, has held a joint ordination ceremony for a lesbian couple. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Mar 2015) < 206-a-12-(The Reverend Holly Clark-Porter, newly ordained Presbyterian minister, with reporters)-“you are together”-The Reverend Holly Clark-Porter says she and her wife, Kaci Clark-Porter, are excited about their ordination Sunday. COURTESY: NBC 10 Philadelphia ((Mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Mar 2015) < BROOKLYN FATAL FIRE Use of hot plates eyed after Brooklyn fire kills 7 siblings NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has held a funeral for seven siblings, a day after a hot plate left on for the Sabbath is believed to have sparked the fire that killed them. The tragedy has some Brooklyn Jews reconsidering the practice of keeping hot plates on for the Sabbath, a common modern method of obeying a tradition prohibiting the use of fire on the holy day. The bodies of the children from the Sassoon family, ages 5 to 16, were to be flown to Israel after the funeral for a prompt burial. They died early Saturday when flames engulfed their home. Investigators believe the hot plate left on a kitchen counter set off the fire that trapped the children and badly injured their mother and another sibling. The children’s father, Gabi Sassoon, delivered a tearful eulogy, but declared that he still believes God is good. Sound: 201-w-32-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with Gabi Sassoon, father of seven children killed in a house fire, via loudspeaker at funeral service)–One day after seven brothers and sisters died in a house fire in Brooklyn, New York, their family held an emotional funeral. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. ((watch for pause as father speaks)) (22 Mar 2015) < 182-a-06-(Brooke Salma, cousin of the family who attended funeral, in AP interview)-“words. Absolute tragedy”-Brooke Salma, who is a cousin of the family, says she is completely distraught over the deaths of the seven children. (22 Mar 2015) < 181-w-33-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent, with Gabi Sassoon, father of seven children who died in fire, via loudspeaker at funeral service)–Several hundred people attended a funeral in Brooklyn, New York for seven children, all from the same family, who were killed in a house fire started by a hot plate left on for the Sabbath. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (22 Mar 2015) < 175-a-12-(Rabbi Yeruchim (yah-ROOK”-uhm) Silber, executive director, Boro Park Jewish Community Council, in AP interview)-“about his wife”-Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, who attended the funeral, says he was deeply moved by the father who lost his seven children. (22 Mar 2015) < 176-a-13-(Chiam (hy-UHM’) Indig, Brooklyn resident who attended the funeral of the seven children, in AP interview)-“was very touching”-Chiam Indig, who attended the funeral, says the service was emotional. (22 Mar 2015) < 174-a-08-(Gabi Sassoon, father of the seven children who perished in an early-morning fire Saturday, via loudspeaker at funeral service)-“counts. Understand that”-Gabi Sassoon, the father of the seven children who perished in an early-morning fire Saturday, urges mourners to appreciate their children. (22 Mar 2015) < 172-a-10-(Gabi Sassoon, father of the seven children who perished in an early-morning fire Saturday, via loudspeaker at funeral service)-“I love them”-Gabi Sassoon, the father of the seven children who died, says they were precious. (22 Mar 2015) < 173-a-14-(Gabi (GAB’-ee) Sassoon, father of the seven children who perished in an early-morning fire Saturday, via loudspeaker at funeral service)-“was so fine”-Gabi Sassoon, the father of the seven children who perished in an early-morning fire Saturday, cries out as he remembers them. (22 Mar 2015) < PACQUIAO-TEBOW Manny Pacquiao welcomes Tim Tebow to his training camp LOS ANGELES (AP) — Boxer Manny Pacquiao has welcomed a high-profile visitor to his training camp with ties to his native Philippines: Tim Tebow. Pacquiao is preparing for his much-anticipated fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 in Las Vegas. The former Denver Broncos quarterback posted photos on Instagram of the two together in Pacquiao’s gym in Los Angeles. In the posting, Tebow said it was “awesome being with my Filipino and Christian brother.” Tebow, who is known for being open about his Christian faith, was born in the Philippines to missionary parents. Pacquiao spokesman Fred Sternburg said Tebow and Pacquiao know each other and embraced when Tebow came to the gym on Saturday. CLOSED CHURCH-DEMOLITION 19th century church in Philadelphia to be demolished PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Catholic archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced plans to demolish a church that dates to the late 19th century despite efforts by neighbors and former parishioners to save the building. The archdiocese said it would cost nearly $3.5 million to repair and restore Saint Laurentius church, including rebuilding its soaring towers, and that doing so would “seriously jeopardize the fiscal welfare of the parish as well as its future existence.” Demolishing the structure is estimated to cost about $1 million. Officials noted that the adjacent Saint Laurentius School would remain open. The church closed a year ago. Parishioners, who say the church erected in the late 1880s was the first Polish Roman Catholic church in the city, have disputed the amount that it would take to restore the structure, saying their estimates total only $700,000. They earlier appealed the closure decision to the Vatican but said they had received no response. BYU-FAITH EXPULSION COMPLAINT Group says BYU shouldn’t expel ex-Mormon students SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A group of Brigham Young University graduates is protesting a policy that makes students face expulsion from the Mormon church-owned school if they leave the faith. The group FreeBYU says in the complaint filed this month that the policy hurts academic and intellectual freedom at the university by forcing students to censor themselves if they question The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The group sent a letter to Mormon church President Thomas Monson in November urging leaders to update the school’s honor code. This month, FreeBYU complained to the accrediting board that evaluates the university for the U.S. Department of Education. The school is up for a seven-year review in April. Though Brigham Young University is owned and operated by the church, its students don’t have to be Mormon. FreeBYU organizer Brad Levin told the Salt Lake Tribune that students who leave the faith should have the same protections as those who follow other religions. VANUATU-CYCLONE PAM Vanuatu Christians worship days after deadly cyclone PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AP) — Christians have gathered for worship services on Vanuatu, a week after Cyclone Pam killed at least 17 people in the Pacific island nation. Pam’s winds of 168 mile per hour winds left tens of thousands homeless and devastated the tourist-based economy, but the Presbyterian church in the capital, Port Vila, was packed Sunday with worshippers singing hymns of praise. Pastor Barry Phillips told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Christians on Vanuatu “are still happy. They have joy because they know that God is with us.” Relief has started arriving and rebuilding has begun, but the task is enormous. Many of the outlying islands still don’t have any way to communicate with the outside world, and many people remain worried about the most basic necessities: water, shelter and food. Sound: 170-a-10-(Prime Minister of Vanuatu Joe Natuman, in remarks during a meeting with Australian foreign minister)-“given to us”-Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman told Australia’s foreign minister that he’s grateful for the financial and humanitarian aid that Austalia has sent. COURTESY: Australian Broadcasting Corporation ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Mar 2015) < 168-a-08-(Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, in remarks during meeting with prime minister of Vanuatu)-“time of need”-While meeting with Vanuatu’s prime minister, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop pledged to help the island nation recover from Cyclone Pam, which left thousands homeless. COURTESY: Australian Broadcasting Corporation ((mandatory on-air credit) (22 Mar 2015) < 171-a-08-(Pastor Barry Phillips, Presbyterian Church, in interview)-“is with us”-Pastor Barry Phillips, of the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, says the small nation remains hopeful that life will get back to normal soon. COURTESY: Australian Broadcasting Corporation ((mandatory on-air credit)) (22 Mar 2015) < VATICAN-POPE-WATER Pope: Earth’s water must be protected, available to everyone VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is calling for protection of the world’s water so that it’s clean and available to everyone. Speaking Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, the pope called water “the most essential element for life” and said “humanity’s future depends on our ability to care for it and share it.” Francis noted that the United Nations was marking Sunday as an occasion to draw attention to water’s importance. He quoted St. Francis of Assisi, who inspired his choice of name as pope, as praising water for its usefulness and purity. Francis intends to detail his views on the environment soon in an encyclical, a Vatican position paper reserved for important matters. He encouraged governments to ensure that water supplies are protected and accessible to all. AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan buries woman beaten to death by mob KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan women’s rights activists, performing a ritual usually reserved for men, have carried the coffin of a woman who was beaten to death by a mob in the capital Kabul over allegations she had burned a Quran. Hundreds of people then gathered Sunday at a graveyard near the victim’s home. A mob of men beat 27-year-old Farkhunda before throwing her body off a roof, running over it with a car, setting it on fire and throwing it into a river near a mosque. The attack was apparently sparked by allegations that Farkhunda, who like many Afghans has just one name, had set fire to a Quran. But Afghanistan’s most senior detective said no evidence had been found to support those claims. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told reporters before leaving for Washington that the killing was a “heinous attack” and he ordered an investigation. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC-MOSQUES 10 mosques in C. African Republic, shut by violence, reopen BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Ten mosques have reopened in Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, as Muslims begin to trickle back home after months of sectarian violence. The country exploded into violence in December 2013 that left at least 5,000 people dead and forced tens of thousands, mostly Muslims, to flee. The vast majority of the country’s mosques — 417 out of 436, according to a top American diplomat — were destroyed in the violence between Christians and Muslims. But with U.N. and French troops working to stabilize the country, the violence is subsiding. Aliou Ousseini, one of the country’s most influential imams, says 10 mosques that survived the fighting have reopened in recent weeks. A spokesman for Muslims in the capital says about 3,000 Muslims who fled the violence have returned. BRITAIN-RICHARD III Richard III remains pass site of 1485 death before burial LONDON (AP) — In England, hundreds of people have watched a procession carry the remains of medieval King Richard III to a cathedral where a proper burial ceremony will be held more than 500 years after his death in battle. Richard, who was killed in 1485, had been buried hastily without a coffin in a church that was later demolished. His bones weren’t found until 2012, when archaeologists excavated them from a parking lot. DNA tests, bone analysis and other scientific scrutiny established that the skeleton belonged to the king. On Thursday, organizers plan to lower the coffin into a tomb at Leicester Cathedral. The monarch was portrayed as a hunchbacked villain in Shakespeare’s play “Richard III,” though some historians claim he was a relatively enlightened monarch whose name was besmirched by his opponents.
