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☆ Rev. Cecil Murray, Leader Amid Los Angeles Riots, Dies at 94
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Clay Risen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Cecil Murray, a minister who turned a struggling church in Los Angeles into one of the country’s largest congregations, then made it a base to combat the many ills facing the city’s Black population — most notably during and after the 1992 riots — died on Friday at his home in the View Park-Windsor Hills section of Los Angeles. The death was announced by the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, where he had taught after retiring from the church. When Mr. Murray arrived at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1977, it was both storied and troubled: It was the oldest Black church west of the Mississippi, but it was loaded in debt and attracted just a few hundred congregants. Mr. Murray, known as Chip, brought new life to the church. Within a decade he had retired the church’s debt and brought attendance up to about 7,000.

Persons: Cecil Murray, —, Murray Organizations: Center for Religion, University of Southern, First African Methodist Episcopal Church Locations: Los Angeles, Windsor, University of Southern California, Mississippi

☆ Why some Christians are angry about Trump’s ‘God Bless the USA’ Bible
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Aj Willingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

He says things like the “God Bless America” Bible overlook the many, many Christians who do not agree with Trump’s politics or the blending of patriotism with faith. He was among the imprint’s writers who tried to discourage them from publishing the “God Bless the USA” Bible when the idea was first introduced. “I am reminded of how we closed every Marine Corps boot camp chapel service with Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’,” he told CNN. The FAQ section of the “God Bless America” Bible website clarifies that no proceeds from the sales of the Bible will go towards Trump’s presidential campaign. CNN has reached out to EliteSource Pro, the marketing company behind the “God Bless the USA” Bible, for more information.

Persons: Donald Trump, Lee Greenwood’s, ”, ” Trump, Jesus, It’s, Lee Greenwood, Benjamin Cremer, X, Jason Cornwall, it’s, Jemar Tisby, “, ” Tisby, —, Trump, MARK RALSTON, Guthrie Graves, Fitzsimmons, ’, ” Graves, pushback, James, Tisby, we’re, ” Singer Lee Greenwood, Marsha Blackburn, Alex Wong, David W, Peters, Donald J, ” televangelist, Pat Robertson Organizations: CNN, Christian, Reformed Theological Seminary, Getty, BJC Center for Faith, Justice, Reconciliation, Union Theological Seminary, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, HarperCollins, Trump, Zondervan, Marine Corps, Corps, Republican, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures, EliteSource, Episcopal Locations: Independence, South Carolina, America, Jackson , Mississippi, AFP, United States, New York City, Franklin , Tennessee, Pflugerville , Texas, Iraq, Trump's

☆ George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Another key component was DNA from a living descendant of Samuel Washington. Samuel Washington, George Washington's younger brother, was buried in an unmarked grave at the cemetery at his Harewood estate (an interior view is pictured above) near Charles Town, West Virginia. Fortunately for the authors of the new study, “DNA analysis has come a long way since the early 2000s,” Cavagnino said. Further details came from 95,000 SNPs, an enormous volume of data targeting autosomal DNA (DNA that isn’t attached to sex chromosomes). “The search for Samuel Washington’s grave is no longer underway,” Marshall said.

Persons: George Washington’s, Samuel, Samuel Washington, ”, Charla Marshall, George, Courtney L, George Washington, Cavagnino, George Washington's, Harewood, Frances Benjamin Johnson, Samuel Washington’s, ” Cavagnino, Lucinda “ Lucy ” Payne, George Steptoe Washington Jr, Samuel Walter Washington, Dr, Lucy Payne, Connie J, Mulligan, —, ” Mulligan, “, that’s, — “, Augustine Washington, ” Marshall, Marshall, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, US Department of Defense DNA, West Virginia . Records, US Armed Forces DNA, Library, Zion Episcopal Church, Genomics, University of Florida, Scientific Locations: Washington, Harewood, Charles Town, West Virginia, Mount Vernon , Virginia, Zion

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Haley waves to the crowd during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013. Alex Wong/Getty Images Haley hugs her husband after his Army National Guard unit returned in 2013. Haiyun Jiang/Bloomberg/Getty Images Haley takes the stage at her election night watch party in Charleston, South Carolina, in February 2024. Haley “won’t just go away,” said Katon Dawson, a longtime Haley ally and former chair of the South Carolina Republican Party.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Haley, Trump, eked, “, ” Haley, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Haiyun Jiang, Nicole Craine, Anna Moneymaker, Kimberly Rice, ”, Haley’s, Ron DeSantis, Charles Koch, ‘ Won’t, “ I’m, Koch, Haley “ won’t, Katon Dawson, Ebony Davis, David Wright, Jennifer Agiesta Organizations: CNN, New, GOP, Trump, Republican Party, State House, New York Times, Twitter, South, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention, Republican, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Former South Carolina Gov, Granite State, Super, Florida Gov, Prosperity, New Hampshire, South Carolina, SFA Fund, South Carolina Republican Party Locations: New Hampshire, South Carolina, California, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, New York, Syrian, United States, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami, Concord , New Hampshire, Granite, MAGA, Utah, Super, Costa Mesa , California, Texas , Massachusetts, North Carolina , Virginia , Texas

☆ Prominent Black Church Leaders Call for End of U.S. Aid to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Audra D. S. Burch | Maya King | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Black churches and other faith groups have pushed for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war for months in advertisements, open letters and social media campaigns. Black faith leaders across denominations have amplified their calls as the number of dead rises. More than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials there, many of them women and children. But the A.M.E. council’s statement goes further than a cease-fire demand, insisting that the United States immediately stop its financial support of Israel. It came as Israeli forces pushed into southern Gaza and prepared for a ground assault on Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are trapped.

Persons: Bishop Stafford J Organizations: African Methodist Episcopal Church, church’s, of Bishops Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, Rafah

☆ Black Churches in Georgia Unite to Mobilize Voters in a Key Battleground
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | Maya King | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two of the largest Black church groups in Georgia are formally uniting for the first time to mobilize Black voters in the battleground state ahead of the November presidential election. The two congregations, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, plan to combine their resources and their more than 140,000 parishioners in the state for the get-out-the-vote program, which they are set to announce on Monday at the Georgia Capitol. Their efforts, which for now will be concentrated only in Georgia, are meant to reinvigorate the Black church as a powerful driver of voter turnout at a time when national polls point to lagging political energy among Black Americans — and slipping enthusiasm for President Biden, who owes his 2020 rise to the White House to their support. The two churches have long broadly pushed to expand and protect civil rights and voting rights across the country, but they have generally not coordinated their messages or shared resources.

Persons: —, Biden Organizations: Black, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgia Capitol Locations: Georgia

☆ Nikki Haley goes after Trump and Biden as ‘grumpy old men’ even as she courts older voters in South Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Aaron Pellish | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

But the Haley campaign is also courting the support of South Carolina retirees, a growing portion of the Republican primary voter pool. She said on Twitter that this was her first Christmas card when she announced she would be running for the South Carolina state legislature. Nikki Haley/Twitter Haley celebrates with her family after being elected governor of South Carolina in November 2010. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images Haley visits a farm during a campaign stop in Grand Mound, Iowa, in September 2023.

Persons: Hilton, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Haley, Maureen Bulger, intently, ” Bulger, “, ”, Biden, NBC’s, Ron DeSantis, Anna Memmo, it’s, ” Memmo, Ray Makalous, he’s, ” Makalous, Laura Holtzman, “ Trump, ” Holtzman, ” ‘, ’ Haley, aren’t, Larry Greenwold, ” Greenwold, Greenwold, he’d, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Ed Spears, Spears, ” Spears, Carol Carty, ” Carty, “ It’s, that’s, “ I’ve, Trumper Organizations: , South Carolina CNN, South, Republican, Census Bureau, Biden, Hilton Head, New, Democratic, Republican Party, Trump, Florida Gov, Washington Post, Monmouth University, United Nations, CNN, State House, New York Times, Twitter, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention Locations: , South Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, United States, New Hampshire, Trump, Iowa, Virginia, Hilton Head, Kansas, New York, CNN’s New Hampshire, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, Syrian, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami

Throughout her career, the South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants has generally called out acts of individual prejudice and the people responsible. But Haley, now a Republican presidential candidate, has avoided denouncing society or groups of people as racist. Haley, who was Trump's U.N. ambassador, has described facing prejudice in her upbringing in rural Bamberg. “My parents never wanted us to think we lived in a racist country,” Haley told reporters recently. When asked by reporters whether Trump's criticisms of her are racist, Haley has instead portrayed him as “desperate to stop our momentum," using any means necessary to attack his opponents.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Haley, Glenn Beck, Donald Trump's, ”, Emanuel, “, ” Haley, Trump, Trump's U.N, Hajar, “ Nikki Haley, ” Yazdiha, “ She’s, Terry Holyfield, Haley’s, Holyfield, ” Holyfield, Sen, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Scott, Ramaswamy, Haley “ Nimbra ”, Nimarata Nikki Randhawa, “ Nikki, Trump's, Barack Obama, we’ve, Jake Tapper, ” Tapper, Holly Ramer, Noreen Nasir, ___ Meg Kinnard, Matt Brown Organizations: COLUMBIA, Washington Post, Republican, GOP, Methodist Episcopal Church, Southern, University of Southern, Confederate, ”, Trump, CNN, Associated Press Locations: South Carolina, Columbia, Charleston, Washington, United States, Bamberg, University of Southern California, North Charleston, U.S, Iowa, Mexico, New Hampshire, America, India, Indian, Hollis , New Hampshire, New York

☆ Pope Francis says Africa’s criticism of same-sex blessing a “special case”
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Pope Francis has addressed criticism over his consent to priests to bless same-sex couples, saying the pushback from African bishops was “a special case” influenced by culture. African Catholic bishops said in a letter the pope’s endorsement “caused a shockwave” on the continent and “has sown misconceptions and unrest in the minds of many”, including pastors. Kazakhstani bishops Tomash Peta and Athanasius Schneider jointly described blessings for same-sex unions as a contradiction to the age-long practice and doctrine of the Catholic Church. “To bless couples in an irregular situation and same-sex couples is a serious abuse of the most Holy name of God,” said the preachers who head the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in the country’s capital Astana. French Archbishop Hervé Giraud said last month he could bless a gay couple as he believed such a blessing was not an acceptance of a same-sex union.

Persons: Pope Francis, “, Francis, ”, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Tomash Peta, Athanasius Schneider, of Saint Mary, Hervé Giraud, ” Giraud Organizations: CNN, Italian, Stampa, Catholic Church, of, “, Catholic, La Croix Locations: Africa, Madagascar, Uganda, Asia, of Saint, Astana, Europe, France, Austria, Germany, Sens

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Sunday extolled the existence of Black churches, saying the world would be a different place if they were not around to show people the “power of faith” during times of darkness. The Democratic president spoke at St. John Baptist Church on the final day of a two-day visit to South Carolina designed to rally Black voters before the party's primary on Feb. 3. Biden visited a predominantly Black barbershop and spoke at a state Democratic Party dinner after he flew in on Saturday. A practicing Roman Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday, Biden praised Black churches in his appearance before the Baptist congregation, saying the churches teach the “power of faith.”Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesHe asked the worshippers to imagine “what would have happened if there had been no Black church” to turn to in times of darkness. “Your prayers mean everything,” Biden said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Black, ”, Martin Luther King Jr, ” Biden, Darlene Superville Organizations: COLUMBIA, Democratic, St, John Baptist Church, Democratic Party, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Associated Press Locations: South Carolina, Jordan, Syrian, Iran, Charleston, Washington

☆ Nikki Haley wants a two-person race. New Hampshire’s independents just might give her one
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Arit John | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Tim Dominick/The State/MCT via Getty Images Haley campaigns for presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Haley waves to the crowd during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013. Alex Wong/Getty Images Haley hugs her husband after his Army National Guard unit returned in 2013. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images Haley visits a farm during a campaign stop in Grand Mound, Iowa, in September 2023.

Persons: Hollis, Hollis , New Hampshire CNN — Danielle Brown, John McCain, Barack Obama, Nikki Haley, ” Brown, Haley, “ Haley, Chris Sununu, Trump, Trump . Sen, Tim Scott of, ”, ” Haley, Sununu, “ Nikki Haley, ” Trump, Greg Moore, Charles Koch, Moore, “, ” Moore, Susan Rice, Trump . Rice, “ I’m, ” Rice, ” Michael Lewis, Donald Trump, ” Lewis, “ There’s, “ MAGA, GOP Sen, J.D, Vance of, Sylvia, ” Bill Jackson, “ She’s, She’s, we’ve, they’re, Trump –, Biden, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Nikki Haley Prev, CNN’s KFile, “ You’re, Nancy Protzmann, ” Protzmann, –, don’t, Ebony Davis, Ali Main Organizations: Hollis , New Hampshire CNN, New Hampshire Republican, Democratic, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Hampshire GOP, Republican Party coalesces, Trump ., Republicans, Republican, AFP, White House, Republican Party, Hollis, NATO, Republican National, Convention, Fox News, GOP, Vance of Ohio, “ Republican, Marist, Biden, Florida Gov, State House, New York Times, Twitter, South, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention, CNN, Washington Post, Social Security, Social Locations: Hollis , New Hampshire, Granite, New Hampshire, Haley’s, Hampshire, South Carolina, Trump, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Concord, Washington, Newfields, Hampton, Manchester, Portsmouth, Rochester, Maine, Kingston, Nashua, she’s, Iowa, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, New York, Syrian, United States, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami, Hollis

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Funeral services for former first lady Melania Trump's mother, Amalija Knavs, are scheduled for Thursday at a church not far from the family's Mar-a-Lago estate. Amalija Knavs was at a 2018 ceremony where the first lady debuted her “Be Best” public awareness campaign to help children. Amalija Knavs was a textile worker and homemaker, while her husband worked as chauffeur before becoming a car dealer. The former first lady, 53, attended high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modeling. Their lawyer said at the time that they applied for citizenship on their own and didn’t get any special treatment.

Persons: Melania, Amalija, Donald Trump, Knavs, Jan, Viktor Knavs, Amalija Knavs, Melanija, Ines, Trump, didn’t Organizations: Episcopal, of Bethesda, Trump, White, Communist Locations: PALM BEACH, Fla, Lago, Knavs, Miami, New York, Sevnica, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Slovenian, Ljubljana, United States, New York City

☆ Atlanta D.A. Defends Qualifications of Outside Lawyer She Hired for Trump Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Rick Rojas | Sean Keenan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga., pushed back on Sunday against the criticism and questions about her judgment that have followed a court filing accusing her of being romantically involved with the outside lawyer she hired to lead the racketeering case against former President Donald J. Trump. Ms. Willis emerged from almost a week of silence to address the congregation at Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Atlanta, which had invited her to be the keynote speaker for a service dedicated to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She did not address the allegation that she was in a relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired in 2021, who has earned more than $650,000 in the job to date. Instead, she said that Mr. Wade had “impeccable credentials” for the role and suggested that the accusations were just the latest thing to make her job hard to bear. Ms. Willis, 52, said she was “as flawed as they come,” but that she was also subjected to an added level of scrutiny and even to personal danger as a Black woman in such a high-profile role, taking on arguably the most powerful figure in the Republican Party.

Persons: Willis, Donald J, Trump, Martin Luther King Jr, Nathan Wade, Wade Organizations: Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Republican Party Locations: Fulton County ,, Big, Atlanta

☆ How to Donate to Charity, Get a Tax Break and Have Income for Life
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Laura Saunders | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Jarred BriggsTax breaks for charitable donations come in many flavors, and this year Congress has a new one for seniors called an IRA charitable gift annuity. It allows older owners of traditional IRAs to donate account funds to a charity and get tax breaks plus income payments for life. Brian and Deborah Smith of Park City, Utah, plan to try this option next year. That’s when Deborah Smith turns 73 and has to begin required withdrawals from her traditional IRA. She will donate $53,000 of her $550,000 account to the Episcopal church where the couple is active and Deborah serves on the board.

Persons: Jarred, Brian, Deborah Smith, That’s, Deborah Organizations: Episcopal Locations: Park City , Utah

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) — Rosalynn Carter will make her final journey to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center on Monday as her family begins three days of memorials for the former first lady and global humanitarian who died Nov. 19 at the age of 96. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, longtime friends of the Carters, lead the dignitaries expected to attend the Atlanta service. Some well-wishers began honoring Rosalynn Carter soon after her death, including an uptick in visitors to the Presidential Center campus. At the campus's Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony attended by the current leadership of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving. A brief service of repose is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. — before public access — once her remains arrive at Carter Presidential Center.

Persons: — Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter's, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Jimmy Carter's, ”, Kim Fuller, we’re, Rosalynn Carter, Brendan Green, ” Green, Carter's, Carter, Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Glenn, Carters, Fuller, ” Fuller, Sudhin Thanawala Organizations: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Maranatha Baptist Church, White House, Maranatha, “, Presidential Center, Medical, Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Southwestern College, Carter Health, Human Sciences, Carter Institute for Caregiving, Carter, Luke’s Episcopal Church, Peachtree, Glenn Memorial Church, Emory University, Emory, Methodist, Plains Methodist Church, Associated Press Locations: AMERICUS, Ga, Sumter County, Georgia, Atlanta, Plains, caregiving, Maranatha, Chicago, Americus, St, Luke’s, Peachtree St

“We thank God for the release of Mr. Luis Díaz!” the conference posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-State relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating his release.”Ceballos was on board a UN-funded helicopter that picked up Díaz’s father, Luis Manuel Díaz, from a forest area along the Colombian border with Venezuela. “We are delighted by the news of Luis Díaz’s father’s safe return and we thank all those involved in securing his release,” the club said in a statement. The Colombian government’s Peace Delegation and the ELN both welcomed the release of Díaz’s father. In addition, the Colombia Football Federation thanked all of the forces “that made possible the release of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of our player Luis Díaz.”

Persons: Luis Díaz, “, Francisco Ceballos, Héctor Henao, ” Ceballos, Luis Manuel Díaz, Díaz, Stéphane Dujarric, Caitlin Hu, ” Luis Manuel Díaz, Colombia Dujarric, Cilenis Marulanda, Marulanda, Luis Díaz’s father’s, Carlos Camargo Assis, ” Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Catholic Church, Episcopal, Church, State, UN, National Liberation Army, Liverpool, Sunday, Premier League, Luton Town, Liverpool’s Europa League, Toulouse, Colombian, United, Colombia’s, Colombia Football Federation Locations: Liverpool, Colombian, Valledupar, Colombia, Riohacha, Mons, Venezuela, Conferencia, Barrancas, France, United Nations

☆ ‘Watch Night’ Review: For Spacious Skies, for Rancorous Waves of Hate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Elisabeth Vincentelli | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some of them are imprinted with the text of the Second Amendment, others a rallying cry: “We fight fascists.” Among the most eye-catching is an ad for N.R.A. memberships, with its promise of “$5,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.”But what about intentional deaths? “Watch Night,” a new multigenre hybrid show, is interested in those, specifically the ones fueled by homegrown prejudice. He wrote the libretto for “We Shall Not Be Moved” (2017), an opera inspired by the police bombing in 1985 of a Philadelphia house occupied by Black activists, with an artistic team that included Jones and Lauren Whitehead, the “Watch Night” dramaturg. Unfortunately, those experiences have not helped focus this new production.

Persons: Perelman, Bill T, Jones, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Tamar, kali, Joseph, Carlos Simon, “, George Floyd, Lauren Whitehead Organizations: Perelman Performing, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Minnesota Orchestra, Black Locations: Charleston, S.C, Pittsburgh, “ brea, Philadelphia

☆ The Strange Omission of Slavery from a Charleston Ghost Tour - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Colin Dickey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

(The church discourages these stories; a plaque on the grounds reads: “The only ghost at St. Philip’s is the Holy Ghost.”)Leaving race out of any history is a striking blind spot — even in a ghost tour. Born into slavery, Vesey had purchased his freedom in 1799 after winning a lottery, and became a prosperous carpenter. Some websites will tell you to look for Vesey’s ghost at the Old Charleston Jail, a structure that’s stood since 1802. Long after my own tour, I tracked down two longtime ghost tour guides, Joy Watson and Randy Johnson, who regularly take visitors up to the old jail. They told me that they had never heard of any Vesey ghost sightings there.

Persons: Stede Bonnet, Harriet Mackie, Sue Howard, Philip’s, Denmark Vesey, Vesey, Emanuel ”, Long, Joy Watson, Randy Johnson Organizations: Old, Philip’s, African Methodist Episcopal Church Locations: Holy, St, Charleston, Denmark, Haiti

“There aren’t that many Russian Orthodox followers (anymore), but it’s part of our heritage and we do want to see it preserved." The Russian Orthodox church was established in Alaska on Kodiak Island in 1794 and missionaries spread the faith, baptizing an estimated 18,000 Alaska Natives. Experts estimate about 80 historic Orthodox churches exist across Alaska, but weather and time are taking a toll, making restoration efforts even more critical. Deacon Thomas Rivas, the episcopal secretary to the Alaska Orthodox bishop. “However, its primary function is sacred and that’s important to all of us, even those of us that are not Russian Orthodox.”

Persons: Romanov, Nicholas Church, ”, Charlene Shaginaw, “, Aaron Leggett, Peter the Great, Vitus Bering, Bering, baptizing, Richard Nixon, Deacon Thomas Rivas, Leggett, Gina Ondola, Rivas, Romanov czars, Jobe Bernier Organizations: Alaska Natives, National Park Service, Church, National Register of Historic Places, Mission Society Locations: EKLUTNA, Alaska, Alaska's, Anchorage, Eklutna, Eklutna’s, Russian, Danish, Russia, Unalaska, United States, U.S, Kodiak, Kenai, Sitka, ”, Cook, St, Siberia

☆ Operator of Gaza Hospital Declines to Assign Blame for Blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, which runs the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, said the hospital’s parking lot, and not the hospital building itself, was directly hit in Tuesday’s explosion. Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, declined to assign blame for the blast during a news conference Wednesday. The church initially put out a statement on Tuesday saying it had been struck “during Israeli airstrikes.”Naoum declined to discuss a death toll, but said up to 5,000 people at various points in recent days had taken refuge on the grounds of the hospital, which was founded in the 1880s and is funded largely by the European Union and the Episcopal Church. “We know the casualties were many,” said the archbishop, without elaborating. He called on President Biden to push for justice and peace.

Persons: Naoum, ” Naoum, “, ”, Biden Organizations: Episcopal, Ahli Arab Hospital, European Union, Episcopal Church Locations: Jerusalem, Ahli

Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq issued statements condemning Israel and accusing its military of bombing the hospital. People gather in Tahrir Square to protest the Gaza hospital blast in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 17. One group made an attempt to “reach it,” but a security source told CNN that security forces dealt with them and pushed them away. Jordanian security forces also used tear gas to disperse the protesters, according to two activists and videos posted to social media. TAP said “mass protests were held on Tuesday night,” in several areas “in solidarity with the Palestinian people” and against Israeli bombardment of Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Jihad, Murtadha, CNN’s Ben Wedeman, Protesters, Zohra Bensemra, Tayyip Erdogan, Joe Biden, Ayman Safadi, Safadi, “ can’t Organizations: CNN, Al, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Islamic, United Arab, West, Anadolu Agency, US State Department, Security, Reuters, TAP, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Jordan’s Foreign Affairs, IDF, UN, Episcopal, Al Ahli Baptist Hospital Locations: Israel, East, North Africa, Gaza City, Ahli, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, West Bank, Ramallah, Gaza, Tahrir, Baghdad, Amman , Jordan, Jordanian, Beirut, Iran, Tehran, France, England, America, Esfahan, Qom ., Tunis, Istanbul, Turkish, ”, Jerusalem, Al Ahli, Al

In video clips verified by The New York Times, scores of Palestinian bodies were filmed strewn across the courtyard of the Ahli Arab Hospital, some bloodied, charred, mangled or in pieces. The explosion at the hospital came a day after Iran warned that “other multiple fronts will open” if Israeli attacks continued to kill civilians in Gaza. Hundreds of families had fled to the hospital in search of refuge after 11 days of Israeli strikes elsewhere in Gaza. Image Two Palestinian children injured in the explosion at Ahli Arab Hospital were taken to another hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa, for treatment. The Health Ministry in Gaza said that Ahli Arab Hospital was also struck on Sunday.

Persons: ”, Ali Jadallah, Israel, Biden’s, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Jordan, Biden, Jadallah, Mr, Ghassan Abu, Dr, Abu, Sitta, Abed Khaled, Ahmed Hijazi, “ I’ve, Hijazi, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Abu Bakr Bashir, Haley Willis, Euan Ward, Yousur, Abu Hweila Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, The New York Times, Ahli Arab Hospital, Anadolu Agency, Shifa, Lebanese, Palestinian, Islamic, Palestinian Authority, Israel, ”, West Bank, West Bank . Video, The Times, Arab Hospital, Episcopal, Health Ministry, World Health Organization, Twitter Locations: Gaza City, Palestinian, Ahli, Al, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Egypt, Zeitoun, Jerusalem, ”, Canterbury, London, Berkeley, Calif, Beirut, Cairo

☆ I'm a 23-year-old gay man training to be a priest. Though I'm living on only $740 a month, I don't regret it one bit.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He says he had considered the idea ludicrous as someone who's gay and used to be an atheist. And it was also a big shift for someone who was living abroad in the Hague, who's openly gay, and who was heavily invested in a different career. I thought it was completely ludicrous, as someone who used to be quite atheist as a teen, who's gay, and who'd been preparing for an entirely different career. By January, I'd started working there as a pastoral assistant. Though it hasn't been the easiest time — I get a stipend of 600 pounds a month, or about $740 — I don't regret it one bit.

Persons: Peter Banks, —, I've, It's, who's, Banks, who'd, Little, I'd, hasn't, We're, you've Organizations: Service, UK's Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Hague, University of Cambridge's Trinity College, Episcopal Church, Episcopal, of Locations: Cambridge, England, Hague, Netherlands, Winchester, Mary's, United States, Scotland, of Wales

They’re the atheists, the agnostics, the “nothing in particular.” Many are “spiritual but not religious,” and some are neither or both. “I grew up Methodist, but I don’t follow any religion,” said John, 32. But nones said in interviews they were happy to leave religion behind, particularly in toxic situations, and find community elsewhere. While they don’t describe their explorations as spiritual, they aim to inspire wonder and purpose in their children. ___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Persons: Mike Dulak, ”, Dulak, “, Ryan Burge, they’re, Emma Komoroski, Alric Jones, —, Jones, ’ ”, he’ll, I’m, ” Jones, agnostics, ” Burge, ” Dulak, “ It’s, Burge, It’s, I’ve, Mia Vogel, I’ll, Alcoholics Anonymous, Jay Geisler, “ there’s, Geisler, GUS, Guy, ‘, ’ ” Geisler, John, Linda, nones, ” Marjorie Logman, doesn’t, Logman, hadn’t, “ I’m, Ashley Miller, Miller, Linley Sanders, Emily Swanson, Jessie Wardarski Organizations: Catholic, Southern Baptist, Eastern Illinois University, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, AP, Christianity, University of Missouri, Alcoholics, Episcopal, Pittsburgh Recovery Center, Methodist, Lilly Endowment Inc Locations: Southern California, Rocheport , Missouri, Catholic, Southern, “, U.S, Ozark, Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan, Mt . Vernon , Illinois, Aurora , Illinois, Adria

☆ Actor Viola Davis to join US African diaspora council
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] FiILE PHOTO: Viola Davis attends the world premiere of "AIR" at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Lauren Justice/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the first members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement, including actor Viola Davis, who will advise Washington on deepening ties with African communities. Washington has sought to stress the region's importance and counter challenges posed by China and Russia to the United States' interests in the increasingly important region. In addition to Viola Davis, members include: Patrick Gaspard, the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress think tank; C.D. Glin, president of the PepsiCo Foundation and global head of social impact for PepsiCo; and Almaz Negash, founder of the African Diaspora Network, among others.

Persons: Viola Davis, Lauren Justice, Joe Biden, Judd Devermont, Silvester Beaman, Patrick Gaspard, Glin, Davis, Tony, Wagner, Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis, Don Durfee, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Regency Village Theatre, REUTERS, Rights, Tuesday, Africa, Summit, National Security, African Affairs, African Methodist Episcopal, Center for American Progress, PepsiCo Foundation, PepsiCo, African Diaspora Network, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, President’s, Washington, China, Russia, United States, States, Africa, Ukraine

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