CARDINAL GEORGE-FUNERAL
Catholics say final farewell to Chicago’s Cardinal George
CHICAGO (AP) — Top elected officials, clergy members and Chicago-area Catholics have attended the funeral for Cardinal Francis George, who was remembered as a vigorous defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy.
About 1,200 people attended Thursday’s funeral Mass at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, which followed three days of visitation.
Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said Cardinal George “was so utterly a Christian that no circumstance seemed inappropriate for him to give witness to Christ.”
George died last Friday at age 78 after a long fight with cancer. He retired last fall and was replaced by Archbishop Blase Cupich (blayz SOO’-pich).
George played a key role in the church’s response to the clergy sex abuse scandal and led the U.S. bishops’ fight against the Affordable Care Act, arguing that President Barack Obama’s health insurance law would allow taxpayer money to fund abortion.
CARDINAL GEORGE-PERSECUTION
Late cardinal foresaw persecution of U.S. Catholics
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cardinal Francis George has been eulogized at his funeral in Chicago — and in Washington, where a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops recalled his forecast of persecution if the nation’s growing secularization continues.
Cathy Ruse recalled that in 2010 George told priests, “I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square.” George added that the martyred bishop’s successor “will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history.”
Ruse, who is now a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, spoke at an FRC news conference on what is likely to follow the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on gay marriage. The justices will hear arguments in the case next week.
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264-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Cathy Ruse, senior fellow, Family Research Council)–Cardinal Francis George has been eulogized at his funeral in Chicago, and in Washington, where a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops recalled his forecast of persecution if the nation’s growing secularization continues. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (23 Apr 2015)
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265-a-14-(Cathy Ruse, senior fellow, Family Research Council, at FRC news conference)-“meaning of marriage”-Cathy Ruse, a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops, the church has lost a champion for doctrinal orthodoxy. (23 Apr 2015)
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266-a-17-(Cathy Ruse, senior fellow, Family Research Council, at FRC news conference)-“in human history”-Cathy Ruse, a former spokeswoman for U.S. Catholic bishops, recalls what Cardinal George told priests would happen if America’s secularization continues. ((cut used in wrap)) ((note length of cut)) (23 Apr 2015)
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SAN FRANCISCO ARCHBISHOP-MARRIAGE RALLY
Archbishop to skip national rally opposing gay marriage
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who has become the focus of controversy for upholding Catholic teachings, will miss an annual march in Washington, D.C., on Saturday opposing same-sex marriage.
Cordileone led prayer outside the Supreme Court at last year’s March for Marriage, but the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s says he will remain home this year while being with the marchers “in spirit and prayer.”
Cordileone received both support and opposition from local Catholics earlier this year when he required some church staffers to sign statements condemning gay relations.
He also called for teachers and staff at four high schools in the archdiocese to refrain from publicly contradicting church teachings on abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, birth control and artificial insemination.
About 100 parishioners took out a newspaper ad last week asking Pope Francis to remove Cordileone.
TALK CANCELED
Charlotte bishop cancels gay ministry talk at church
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, has canceled a talk at a local church by a nun who advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The Charlotte Observer says Bishop Peter Jugis canceled the May 16 address planned at St. Peter Catholic Church by Sister Jeannine Gramick.
Gramick is the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, which describes itself as a gay-positive ministry that encourages justice for LGBT Catholics and for reconciliation with Christian and civil communities.
Diocese spokesman David Hains says the Vatican has determined that Gramick opposes church teaching, which says homosexual acts are sinful, so she should not be “teaching in a Catholic diocese.”
RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-LOUISIANA
Jindal blasts companies opposed to religious objections bill
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says businesses that oppose religious objection laws are entering an “unholy alliance” with liberal elites who support more taxes and regulation and demonize profit-making.
In a meeting with reporters Thursday, the Republican governor said he was alarmed when business groups united with LGBT advocates to oppose religious objection laws in Indiana and Arkansas. Critics of those laws say they could allow discrimination against same-sex couples.
Jindal is backing a religious objections proposal before the Louisiana Legislature. Computer giant IBM opposes it, and the governor says other corporations have asked him to oppose the bill. Jindal calls the measure a “religious liberty” bill and says its supporters are natural allies of the business community because both support “economic liberty.”
RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS-NORTH CAROLINA
Speaker: No action on “religious freedom” bill this year
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore says the chamber won’t act this year on a bill that supporters promoted as protecting religious liberties but others criticized as legalizing discrimination against gays and lesbians.
The announcement by Moore could help North Carolina avoid for now the level of negative attention received by Indiana when it passed a similar law last month.
But it also may anger social conservatives who worry business owners or individuals may lack a stronger defense for refusing to carry out laws that would violate their religious beliefs, particularly opposition to gay marriage.
There’s an identical “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” in the North Carolina Senate, where Republicans also in charge haven’t completely given up on the measure. But the unwillingness of the House to go along could signal the death of the idea this year. Legislators are expected to adjourn this summer.
SUSPECT DIES-BALTIMORE
Man’s death after arrest exposes tensions in Baltimore
BALTIMORE (AP) — The death of Freddie Gray, a Baltimore man who suffered a severe spinal-cord injury while in police custody, has sparked demonstrations across the city that touch on the fears many from his neighborhood say they feel about their everyday interactions with police.
After about 30 minutes of speeches interspersed with prayer Thursday afternoon, protesters at a Freddie Gray rally near City Hall marched through downtown.
Police say Gray was arrested April 12 after officers “made eye contact” with him and another man in an area known for drug activity and both men started running. Gray was handcuffed and put in a transport van. He died a week later in a hospital of what police described as “a significant spinal injury.”
Exactly how he was injured remains under local and federal investigation. The six officers involved in the arrest have been suspended with pay.
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295-a-16-(Bishop Kevin Daniels, Pastor, St. Martin’s Church of Christ, at vigil service for Freddie Gray held at Sharon Baptist Church)-“grow and flourish”-Bishop Kevin Daniels says that the religious community in Baltimore will continue to push for change in the city. (23 Apr 2015)
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296-a-12-(Bishop Kevin Daniels, Pastor, St. Martin’s Church of Christ, at vigil service for Freddie Gray held at Sharon Baptist Church)-“afflict the comfortable”-Bishop Kevin Daniels says that the eventual loss of media attention won’t stop the effort to change Baltimore. (23 Apr 2015)
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297-a-18-(Rev. Alfred Vaughn,senior pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, at vigil service for Freddie Gray)-“of the Lord (applause fades)”-Rev. Alfred Vaughn recites a prayer for the city of Baltimore. ((note length of cut)) (23 Apr 2015)
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251-r-08-(Crowd chanting, at protest against the police custody death of Freddie Gray)–Sound of crowd chanting at protest against the police custody death of Freddie Gray. (23 Apr 2015)
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250-r-11-(Crowd chanting, at protest against the police custody death of Freddie Gray)–Sound of crowd chanting at protest against the police custody death of Freddie Gray chanting “all night, all day, we gonna fight for Freddie Gray.” (23 Apr 2015)
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249-a-08-(Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor, Empowerment Temple AME church, in AP interview)-“of any repercussion”-Rev. Jamal Bryant says the Baltimore police department has been heavy handed for years. (23 Apr 2015)
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247-a-08-(Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor, Empowerment Temple AME church, in AP interview)-“burying Freddie Gray”-Rev. Jamal Bryant says he wants Baltimore city officials to explain why no charges haven’t yet been filed against the police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s arrest. (23 Apr 2015)
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248-a-05-(Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor, Empowerment Temple AME church, in AP interview)-“the camel’s back”-Rev. Jamal Bryant says Freddie Gray’s death shows that the Baltimore police department has serious problems. (23 Apr 2015)
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252-r-10-(Crowd chanting, at protest against the police custody death of Freddie Gray)–Sound of crowd chanting at protest against the police custody death of Freddie Gray chanting “no justice, no peace.” (23 Apr 2015)
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EUROPE-MIGRANTS
Europe buries migrants as lawyer defends suspected captain
VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Europe has buried the dead of the Mediterranean’s worst-ever migrant disaster after a memorial service on the island of Malta.
Two dozen caskets containing the only bodies recovered from the weekend capsizing that left an estimated 800 dead were laid out for a memorial service on the grounds of Malta’s main hospital. They were later buried at the island nation’s largest cemetery.
The service included Christian and Muslim prayers and was punctuated by the wails of members of Malta’s African community.
Malta’s president and prime minister, Italy’s interior minister and the European Union’s migration commissioner attended.
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175-a-15-(Father Hayden Williams, Catholic priest, in AP interview)-“and their suffering”-Father Hayden Williams says there’s little he can do to ease the grief at the funeral for 24 of the estimated 800 migrants who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Africa on Sunday. (23 Apr 2015)
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177-r-07-(Sound of trumpet, at multi-faith funeral service)–Sound of trumpet at a multi-faith funeral service for 24 of the estimated 800 migrants who died in the Mediterranean Sea. (23 Apr 2015)
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181-a-12-(European Council President Donald Tusk (toosk), with reporters)-“illegal migration flows”-European Council President Donald Tusk says saving the lives of migrants should be Europe’s top priority. (23 Apr 2015)
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184-a-16-(British Prime Minister David Cameron, with reporters)-“with these operations”-British Prime Minister David Cameron says Britain will use its aid budget to help solve the migration crisis. COURTESY: Europe by Satellite ((mandatory on-air credit)) (23 Apr 2015)
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186-r-06-(Sound of African migrants chanting, at commemorative march in Brussels)–Sound of African migrants chanting as they march in solidarity with migrants who lost their lives in the Mediterranean. (23 Apr 2015)
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179-a-12-(Edmond (no last name given), migrant from Congo, in AP interview)-“hard for us”-A migrant from Congo who gave his name only as Edmond says it’s painful to see so many fellow migrants die seeking a better life. ((note accent)) (23 Apr 2015)
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178-r-02-(Sound of Imam chanting “Allahu Akbar” which means “God is great” in Arabic, at multi-faith funeral service)–Sound of Imam praising God at a multi-faith funeral service for 24 of the estimated 800 migrants who died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. (23 Apr 2015)
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182-a-14-(European Council President Donald Tusk (toosk), with reporters)-“situation in Mediterranean”-European Council President Donald Tusk says he has no illusion that the European Union, alone, can solve the migration tragedy. (23 Apr 2015)
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POPE-MARADONA
Maradona meets the pope again: ‘I’m Francis’ top fan’
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona says he’s Pope Francis’ top fan.
Maradona met with the pope on Thursday to help promote an education charity that Francis started in Argentina when he was the archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Maradona, who also met Francis in September, said, “The Holy Father treats me like a brother and he treats everyone the same way. He kisses everyone and he hugs everyone. He doesn’t have much free time, and he works a ton, but he always finds time for everyone.”
OLDEST SYNAGOGUE FIGHT
Judge lets Rhode Island intervene in oldest synagogue suit
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has allowed the state of Rhode Island to intervene in a fight over the future of the nation’s oldest synagogue.
The lawsuit pits the nation’s first Jewish congregation in New York City against the congregation that worships at the historic Touro Synagogue in Newport.
Leaders of New York’s Congregation Shearith Israel say it owns the Rhode Island synagogue and property worth millions of dollars. They also want to evict the congregation that worships there. The case is due for trial next month.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell is allowing the Rhode Island state attorney general’s office to intervene, because it has a role in overseeing charitable trusts.
Lawyers for both sides said Thursday that they welcomed the intervention. They say multiple attempts at mediation have failed.
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