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BIBLE MARATHON
Entire Bible being read aloud on US Capitol steps
WASHINGTON (AP) — On the west steps of the U.S. Capitol this week, the entire Bible is being read aloud, non-stop, from Genesis to Revelation.
The 25th annual U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon began Sunday evening with the opening words of Genesis and will continue day and night until the last Amen of Revelation is read on Thursday, the National Day of Prayer.
The Rev. Rob Schenck (SHANK), president of Faith and Action, the event's co-sponsor, says it takes about 90 hours to read the Bible aloud cover to cover, with volunteers stepping up to the podium and taking turns, sometimes under umbrellas in pouring rain.
The readers have no microphone or speakers to amplify their message, so tourists often give the readers a curious look and pass by.
But the marathon's director, the Rev. Michael Hall, says foreign visitors are often surprised that Americans can read the Scriptures aloud at their seat of government.
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211-c-19-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)-"seat of government"-AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports that the U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon doesn't attract a great deal of attention. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *211 (04/27/14)££ 00:19 "seat of government"
213-a-11-(The Reverend Rob Schenck (SHANK), president of Faith and Action, with Peggy Nienaber (NEE'-nay-bur), chief of program for Faith and Action, in video statement)-"right, no commentary"-The Reverend Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action, says he and Faith and Action's chief of program, Peggy Nienaber, are among those taking part in the U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *213 (04/27/14)££ 00:11 "right, no commentary"
210-w-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Peggy Nienaber, co-sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon)--On the west steps of the U.S. Capitol this week, the entire Bible is being read aloud, non-stop, from Genesis to Revelation. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (27 Apr 2014)
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212-a-06-(Peggy Nienaber (NEE'-nay-bur), chief of program for Faith and Action, in video statement)-"Day of Prayer"-Peggy Nienaber, chief of program for Faith and Action, says the 25th annual U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon started Sunday evening. ((cut used in wrap)) (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *212 (04/27/14)££ 00:06 "Day of Prayer"
VATICAN-POPES-SAINTS
Pope Francis makes John XXIII, John Paul II saints
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in an unprecedented canonization ceremony made even more historic by the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI.
Francis recited the saint-making formula in Latin, saying that after deliberating, consulting and praying for divine assistance "we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church."
Benedict sat off to the side with cardinals in St. Peter's Square during the rite at the start of Sunday's Mass. He and Francis briefly greeted one another after Francis arrived.
Sound:
120-c-14-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-"never before happened"-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports that never before has an acting and retired pope celebrated Mass together in public, much less at an event honoring two of their most famous predecessors. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *120 (04/27/14)££ 00:14 "never before happened"
119-c-13-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-"streets and piazzas"-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports that the pope has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints before hundreds of thousands of people in a historic ceremony. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *119 (04/27/14)££ 00:13 "streets and piazzas"
121-c-21-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-"the universal church"-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports that for such a momentous occasion, the canonization ritual is actually quite short and surprisingly straightforward. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *121 (04/27/14)££ 00:21 "the universal church"
088-r-14-(Pope Francis,, presiding over sainthood ceremony at the Vatican)--Sound of Pope Francis presiding over sainthood ceremony at the Vatican. (27 Apr 2014)
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089-r-29-(Choir,, during papal canonization.)-"music fades"-Sound of singers just before Pope Francis declares John XXIII and John Paul II saints in first-ever dual papal canonization. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *089 (04/27/14)££ 00:29 "music fades"
006-r-32-(Sound of Pope Francis, at canonization ceremony)--Sound of Pope Francis declaring his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in a Mass made even more historic by the presence of retired Pope Benedict. (27 Apr 2014)
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078-a-05-(Malgorzata Mazurek, Polish pilgrim, in AP interview)-"from our country"-Malgorzata Mazurek is a pilgrim from Poland, the homeland of the late Pope John Paul II. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *078 (04/27/14)££ 00:05 "from our country"
POPE-SAINTS-WASHINGTON SHRINE
Catholics rename shrine for St. John Paul II in DC
WASHINGTON (AP) — Catholics in Washington D.C. are celebrating the sainthood of Pope John Paul II by renaming a shrine devoted to his legacy.
On Sunday, the U.S. shrine dedicated to John Paul II was renamed the National Shrine of Saint John Paul II. A ceremony was held just hours after Pope Francis celebrated the canonization of two 20th century popes, John Paul II and John XXIII, in Rome.
The Knights of Columbus purchased the former Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in 2011 to establish the shrine. It includes exhibits on the pope's legacy and about Catholic heritage in North America.
In March, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the center a national shrine. It's located next to the Catholic University of America.
The center was created in 2001 by Detroit's archdiocese, but it required millions in subsidies and was closed for years, open only by appointment. Now it's open for tours Mondays through Saturdays.
TONY BLAIR-FAITH
Ex-British leader cites faith's role in leadership
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tony Blair says his Christian faith grew stronger during his decade as Britain's leader.
The former prime minister told NBC's "Meet the Press" that for people bearing great responsibilities, religious faith can provide them with mental and spiritual "backbone," if not specific answers to prayer.
Blair said faith also gives leaders a sense of their own humility as decision makers. He said, "Even though you are called upon to take these decisions, you should always be, I think, humble before God in taking them."
After stepping down as prime minister in 2007, Blair left the Church of England and became a Roman Catholic.
Sound:
264-a-11-(Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, in interview)-"in taking them"-Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says religious faith can provide leaders with mental and spiritual backbone. COURTESY: NBC's "Meet the Press" ((mandatory on-air credit)) (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *264 (04/27/14)££ 00:11 "in taking them"
HILLARY CLINTON
For Hillary Clinton, faith means caring for others
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton has told thousands of Methodist women that her faith in God was shaped by her grandmother's hymns, the bedtime prayers of her father and the Methodist church she attended growing up in Illinois.
Speaking Saturday at the quadrennial United Methodist Women's Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky, Clinton said she struggled as a young woman between her father's insistence on self-reliance and her mother's concern for compassion.
She reconciled those in the Biblical story of Jesus instructing his disciples to feed 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Clinton said, "The disciples come to Jesus and suggest they send away the people to find food and fend for themselves. But Jesus said, 'No. You feed them.'"
Clinton said that while she was secretary of state, faith led her to start initiatives that fought human trafficking and promoted maternal health care in developing countries.
Sound:
051-a-10-(Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a speech to about 7,000 members of the United Methodist Church)-"dreams and potential"-Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says women need to be given more opportunties to pursue their dreams. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *051 (04/27/14)££ 00:10 "dreams and potential"
050-a-11-(Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a speech to about 7,000 members of the United Methodist Church)-"lead the way"-Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged a conference of Methodist women to continue to make a difference in the world. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *050 (04/27/14)££ 00:11 "lead the way"
052-a-09-(Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a speech to about 7,000 members of the United Methodist Church)-"of its people (applause fades)"-Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says holding back women isn't just unfair, it's not smart. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *052 (04/27/14)££ 00:09 "of its people (applause fades)"
265-a-13-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, addressing United Methodist women's conference)-"altar before services"-Hillary Rodham Clinton says she grew up attending a Methodist church in the Chicago suburbs. (27 Apr 2014)
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266-a-15-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, addressing United Methodist women's conference)-"of social gospel"-Hillary Rodham Clinton says her Methodist upbringing became the foundation of her life and public service. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *266 (04/27/14)££ 00:15 "of social gospel"
267-a-15-(Hillary Rodham Clinton, addressing United Methodist women's conference)-"them, he said"-Hillary Rodham Clinton says Jesus told his disciples to feed the 5,000 and not send them away. (27 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *267 (04/27/14)££ 00:15 "them, he said"
FAITH HEALING-DEATH
Prosecutors: Religion central to girl's death
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon judge will soon decide whether a family's religious beliefs are relevant to the death of their daughter.
Twelve-year-old Syble Rossiter died of complications from diabetes and endured such a dramatic weight loss in the month before she died that a teacher confronted her mother about the issue. Her parents, Travis and Wenona Rossiter, face manslaughter charges.
The Albany Democrat-Herald reports that the family is part of the Church of the First Born, which rejects traditional medical treatment and trusts God to heal sickness.
Defense attorneys want to exclude evidence of the couple's beliefs from the trial, arguing that such evidence would be prejudicial.
Prosecutors say the family's beliefs are the reason they failed to seek medical care.
CHURCH CLOSING
Sit-in fizzles, but faithful fight church closure
MONONGAHELA, Pa. (AP) — A group of parishioners has abandoned their sit-in protesting the closing of a Roman Catholic church outside Pittsburgh.
About 25 people had refused to leave St. Anthony's church in Monongahela (muh-nahn-guh-HAYL'-uh) after its final Mass on Saturday evening.
However, protester Laura Magone says only she and two others remained by Sunday morning. She says security guards wouldn't allow them to open windows to receive food and water.
Magone says parishioners are leaving their church "with heavy hearts." She says they plan to appeal the closing to the Vatican.
A diocesan spokesman says there isn't enough money to support the building, and that its closure has been planned for a long time.
St. Anthony has been merged into a new parish called St. Damien of Molokai.
FOOD AND FARM-RELIGIOUS DIETS
Law aims to boost halal, kosher food for poor
DETROIT (AP) — For the first time, the federal government is required to purchase and provide food banks emergency supplies of kosher or halal products, serving a population whose survival could otherwise be at odds with strictures of faith.
The void was first revealed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, which wreaked havoc on the East Coast in the fall of 2012 and led to food shortages.
A Jewish philanthropic organization in New York alerted lawmakers to the rising number of people coming to its food banks and often finding shelves devoid of kosher offerings. That led to legislation aimed at boosting emergency supplies for food prepared in accordance with Jewish and Muslim dietary rules.
After some unsuccessful attempts at passage, the measure was tucked into the sweeping federal farm bill signed into law in February.
The law requires federal agriculture officials to buy food prepared in accordance with the faiths' dietary rules but isn't more expensive than regularly produced food. Then, it must be tracked through the distribution chain and properly labeled to ensure it gets to food bank operators and meets the needs of their clients.
TOBACCO BAN
Court finds tobacco ban violates inmates' rights
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — An appellate court says a tobacco ban in South Dakota prisons violates the religious rights of Native American inmates.
The decision affirms the ruling of South Dakota District Judge Karen Schreier. It was appealed by the state's Department of Corrections last year.
The ruling means the Department of Corrections cannot ban tobacco altogether in state prisons. Inmates may use a mixture of red willow bark and 1 percent tobacco in sweat lodge ceremonies under a plan approved by Schreier last fall. The Department of Corrections objected to the plan.
The court found in the ruling that the across-the-board ban on all tobacco use constituted a violation of religious liberty not outweighed by the state's interest in maintaining order and security within the prison.
The Argus Leader reports that Lakota spiritual leaders testified during the district court trial that tobacco has been smoked for generations in sweat lodge ceremonies.
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