NORTH KOREA-FREED DETAINEES
American freed by North Korea wanted pizza
SEATTLE (AP) — American missionary Kenneth Bae (bay) has arrived home in Seattle after years of imprisonment in North Korea, expressing his gratitude to the U.S. government for securing his release and revealing that his time there offered lessons.
And his sister said he had one stipulation for his first meal back home: No Korean food. Terri Chung told reporters outside her Seattle church on Sunday that she and her brother had late night pizza.
Bae and Matthew Miller, another American who had been held captive in North Korea, landed Saturday night at a Washington state military base after a top U.S. intelligence official secured their release.
Bae, who has health problems, says he learned a lot, grown a lot and lost a lot of weight.
Bae, surrounded by family members, spoke briefly to the media after the plane carrying him and Miller landed. He thanked President Barack Obama and the people who supported him and his family. He also thanked the North Korean government for releasing him.
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205-a-04-(Terri Chung, sister of freed detainee Kenneth Bae (bay), with reporters outside Seattle church)-“in good spirits”-Terri Chung, sister of freed American Kenneth Bae, says her brother seems great. (9 Nov 2014)
< 201-w-31-(Norman Hall, AP correspondent, with Terri Chung, sister of freed detainee Kenneth Bae)–A relative of an American, back in the U.S. after being held in North Korea for two years, says he seems to be doing well. AP’s Norman Hall reports. (9 Nov 2014) < 204-a-10-(Terri Chung, sister of freed detainee Kenneth Bae (bay), with reporters outside Seattle church)-“that country, still”-Terri Chung, sister of freed American Kenneth Bae, says her brother has no bitterness about being detained in a labor camp for two years. (9 Nov 2014) < 203-a-05-(Terri Chung, sister of freed detainee Kenneth Bae (bay), with reporters outside Seattle church)-“we had expected”-Terri Chung, sister of freed American Kenneth Bae, says her brother has health challenges after two years in a labor camp. (9 Nov 2014) < 202-a-10-(Terri Chung, sister of freed detainee Kenneth Bae (bay), with reporters outside Seattle church)-“something you know”-Terri Chung, sister of freed American Kenneth Bae, says the first order of business was getting Bae something to eat. (9 Nov 2014) < BISHOPS-CONFERENCE American bishops conference BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. Roman Catholic bishops are gathering for a conference in Baltimore at a moment of turbulence for them and the American church. Pope Francis is moving toward crafting new policies for carrying out his mission of mercy — a prospect that has conservative Catholics and some bishops in an uproar. Francis removed an outspoken critic, U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, as head of the Vatican’s highest court and named him to a largely ceremonial post for a chivalric religious order. The assembly, which starts today, comes less than a month after Francis ended a dramatic Vatican meeting on how the church can more compassionately minister to Catholic families. The gathering in Rome was only a prelude to a larger meeting next year which will more concretely advise Francis on church practice. Still, the open debate at the event, and the back and forth among bishops over welcoming gays and divorced Catholics who remarry, prompted stunning criticism from some U.S. bishops. VATICAN-POPE-BERLIN WALL Pope: we need bridges, not more walls VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has hailed St. Pope John Paul II’s role in the fall of the Berlin Wall and urged people to build bridges by opening hearts. Francis marked the 25th anniversary Sunday of the destruction of the wall symbolizing the Cold War by appealing to all those of good will to foster a “culture of coming together” to bring down all barriers still dividing the world. Greeting people in St. Peter’s Square, he paid tribute to those who worked for the Berlin Wall’s end, including those paying with their lives. John Paul II’s championing of the Solidarity union in his native Poland is credited with helping bring the demise of Soviet bloc communism. Francis prayed that “never again may innocent persons be persecuted or killed for their belief or religion.” REID-MORMON-BISHOP Mormon bishop under fire for Reid criticism SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Mormon bishop in Los Angeles is under fire for his assertion that Sen. Harry Reid is unworthy to enter the faith’s temples because of his support of Democratic Party positions. Mark Paredes, in a Wednesday blog titled “Good Riddance to Harry Reid, the Mormon Senate Leader,” expressed his belief that Democrats’ support of same-sex marriage, abortion rights and gambling runs contrary to church stances. He called Reid an “embarrassment” who isn’t “a man of serious religious faith.” Church spokesman Dale Jones told The Salt Lake Tribune that Mormons are entitled to express their political opinions, but publishing their views while using a church title is “entirely inappropriate.” Reid will lose his Senate majority leader position after Republicans took control of the Senate in Tuesday’s election. MENNONITE PASTOR-GAY WEDDING LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A retired Mennonite pastor from Pennsylvania who lost his credentials after officiating at his gay son’s wedding says he hopes the church will someday be more accepting of gays and lesbians. Chester Wenger, of East Lampeter Township, wrote in a Mennonite Church USA publication that he happily agreed to officiate at the June 21 wedding. The former pastor says he knows people will accuse him of a transgression but that he acted in love. The moderator for the Lancaster Mennonite Conference said Wenger’s retired ministerial credential was terminated Sept. 10 based on church guidelines stating that “pastors holding credentials in a conference of Mennonite Church USA may not perform a same-sex covenant.” Wenger’s son, Phil, said he would never have requested that his father officiate at the simple backyard wedding if he had foreseen the repercussions. He said his father is worried that Mennonite Church USA may splinter over acceptance of gay members and pastors. ISRAEL-ARABS Israeli police up alert level after Arab protests JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police remain on heightened alert following weekend protests across the country over the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old Arab Israeli who appeared in video footage to be retreating from police. Thousands of Arabs took to the streets to protest the shooting, with many hurling rocks and firebombs at police. The protests continued Sunday with a general strike called by Arab Israeli community leaders and demonstrations outside universities and other institutions. The tensions add to those already raging in Jerusalem, where Palestinians from the eastern part of Jerusalem have been clashing almost daily with police over access to a disputed holy site. CHURCH RADIO STATION Small Iowa church founds own radio station KENSETT, Iowa (AP) — A small country church in northern Iowa has found a new way to reach followers: The church just launched its own radio station. Elk Creek Lutheran Church in rural Kensett will soon celebrate its 150th anniversary. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the church has started broadcasting nightly at 91.7 FM under the call letters KWGH. The “K” is standard for most radio stations west of the Mississippi. The “WGH” stands for “With God’s Help.” The signal reaches a 15- to 20-mile radius around the church; sometimes more depending on the weather. Broadcasting is from 5 to 11 p.m. each night. The 10:30 a.m. Sunday service also is broadcast live. The evening broadcast currently consists of recorded music and syndicated religious programming. However, church officials want to expand that to include live local programming.
