PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN-RYAN
Ryan condemns contraception requirement in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan says the Obama administration's requirement that employers, including Catholic ones, be required to offer contraception coverage is an "assault on religious liberty."
Ryan promised at a town hall meeting in Orlando that GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney would reverse the birth control mandate on "Day 1" if he's elected president. The mandate requiring all insurance plans to include access to contraception is part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Ryan's comments came in a response to a woman's question about whether he would ask Vice President Joe Biden in a debate how he reconciles his views as a Roman Catholic with the Democratic Party platform.
Ryan and Biden are both Catholics.
Sound:
058-a-12-(Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Republican vice presidential candidate, at campaign rally)-"build that, maam"-Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan says he and Mitt Romney will help entrepreneurs succeed. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *058 (09/23/12)>> 00:12 "build that, maam"
055-a-12-(Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Republican vice presidential candidate, at campaign rally)-"their station in life"-Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan says he and Mitt Romney believe that Americans have the tools to succeed. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *055 (09/23/12)>> 00:12 "their station in life"
057-a-16-(Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Republican vice presidential candidate, at campaign rally)-"debt under control"-Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan says the GOP ticket has a concrete plan to cut spending and balance the budget. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *057 (09/23/12)>> 00:16 "debt under control"
056-a-14-(Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Republican vice presidential candidate, at campaign rally)-"it with pride"-Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan says his running mate Mitt Romney is a successful businessman who can put the country back on the right track. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *056 (09/23/12)>> 00:14 "it with pride"
FREE CAMPUS
Ariz. school lands free Mass. Christian campus
BOSTON (AP) — The owners of an historic campus in the hills of western Massachusetts say they'll give it to Grand Canyon University, a Christian college from Arizona that plans to eventually host 5,000 students there.
Grand Canyon was the choice after more than 100 organizations expressed interest in the free 217-acre property along the Connecticut River, which its owners value at about $20 million.
Steve Green, president of the Hobby Lobby craft store chain, whose family owns the campus, says Grand Canyon's financial strength, growth and vibrant Christian life made it a great choice.
The campus once housed the Northfield Mount Herman prep school, founded by 19th-century evangelist D.L. Moody. The Greens bought it in 2009 and later offered to give it away to group that would honor Moody's commitment to traditional Christian teachings.
The school expects to spend up to $150 million on infrastructure and other improvements in Northfield, with students arriving in 2014.
MUSIC-OWL CITY
Owl City artist recalls Christian upbringing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Owl City's Adam Young isn't widely viewed as a Christian artist.
The pop star whose hits include "Good Time" and "Fireflies" describes himself as "a Christian who makes music."
Growing up in Owatonna, Minn., Young says he and his parents were in church "whenever the doors were open."
Young, who's now 26, says he was a big fan of dcTalk, so he was thrilled recently to meet TobyMac at a festival where they both performed. Young says he thanked TobyMac for being such a great influence in his life.
Young says he hopes to be as faithful in his Christian walk as TobyMac has been throughout a long music career.
Sound:
297-a-16-(Owl City's Adam Young, in AP interview)-"want to do"-Owl City's Adam Young says he strives to remain faithful in the music business. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *297 (09/23/12)>> 00:16 "want to do"
298-a-05-(Owl City's Adam Young, in AP interview)-"lifestyle growing up"-Owl City's Adam Young says he was brought up in a Christian family. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *298 (09/23/12)>> 00:05 "lifestyle growing up"
299-a-27-(Owl City's Adam Young, in AP interview)-"in my career"-Owl City's Adam Young says he recently got to meet one of his musical heroes. ((note length of cut)) (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *299 (09/23/12)>> 00:27 "in my career"
NIGERIA-VIOLENCE
Suicide attack on Catholic church kills 2
BAUCHI, Nigeria (AP) — Officials say at least two people are dead and 45 wounded in an attack on a Catholic church in northern Nigeria.
Police say a suicide car bomber pulled up to the church's gate during Mass and detonated his explosives.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack took place in a region that's been under assault by a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.
The sect is blamed for other suicide car bombings, including a deadly attack on a Catholic church near Nigeria's capital last Christmas.
Nigeria's military has increased its presence in northern cities in recent weeks and last week said it had killed Boko Haram's spokesman and one of its commanders.
Sound:
127-c-16-(Jon Gambrell, AP correspondent)-"of their injuries"-AP correspondent Jon Gambrell reports an Associated Press journalist heard the blast go off around 9 a.m. local time and rushed over to the scene of the attack. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *127 (09/23/12)>> 00:16 "of their injuries"
128-c-16-(Jon Gambrell, AP correspondent)-"across the country"-AP correspondent Jon Gambrell reports the attack bears all the hallmarks of previous assaults carried out by a radical Islamist group Boko Haram. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *128 (09/23/12)>> 00:16 "across the country"
126-c-13-(Jon Gambrell, AP correspondent)-"46 were injured"-AP correspondent Jon Gambrell reports a suicide bomber has targeted a Catholic church in northern Nigeria. ((watch for dating)) (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *126 (09/23/12)>> 00:13 "46 were injured"
300-c-06-(Jon Gambrell, AP correspondent)-"city of Bauchi"-AP correspondent Jon Gambrell reports that there's been another deadly church attack in northern Nigeria. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *300 (09/23/12)>> 00:06 "city of Bauchi"
PAKISTAN-CHRISTIANS
Pakistan police: No evidence of girl's blasphemy
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani police official says no incriminating evidence has been found that a young Christian girl desecrated Islam's holy book.
But Munir Jaffery said his final report filed with an Islamabad court Saturday showed there is indication that the cleric of a nearby mosque tampered with evidence by putting pages of a Quran into a shopping bag the girl had been carrying.
The case gained huge attention because of the girl's age and questions about her mental capacity.
It was also a rare instance where someone was held responsible for an apparently false accusation of blasphemy.
Officials arrested the imam, and the girl was freed on bail. The final police report backs earlier revelations and will likely bolster the defense's plans to have the entire case thrown out.
MINISTER'S MILLIONS
AP IMPACT: Tragedy meant big money for NY minister
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City minister who raised millions of dollars for relief efforts after the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina used some of that money to help himself.
Records and correspondence obtained by The Associated Press show that the Rev. Carl Keyes blurred the lines between his two charities, his ministry and his personal finances while promoting himself as an international humanitarian.
Documents show that large sums donated for disaster relief went instead to his cash-starved church.
One of the minister's accountants accused him of using a charitable donation to pay off his mortgage.
Another accountant accused Keyes of using charity and church money to pay personal credit card bills.
A lawyer for Keyes says none of his spending was improper and that his accusers are not credible.
Sound:
177-v-32-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent)--A New York City minister who raised millions of dollars for 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts is accused of using some of that money to help himself. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (23 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *177 (09/23/12)>> 00:32
NO PREACHING AFTER DARK
For now Bourbon Street preaching limits blocked
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge has set an Oct. 1 hearing for a New Orleans city ordinance restricting religious or political speech on Bourbon Street after dark.
The Times-Picayune reports that Judge Eldon Fallon issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the law for now.
Under the law, Christian evangelists were arrested earlier this month for preaching on Bourbon Street during Southern Decadence, an annual celebration of gay culture.
The restraining order came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed the suit on behalf of Kelsey Nicole McCauley, a member of the Raven Ministries religious congregation.
The ordinance was adopted in October 2011 and violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.
CHRISTIAN MOVIES-ALABAMA
Films may launch Christian movie industry in Ala.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Two recent movies filmed in Alabama may be the start of a Christian film industry centered in Birmingham.
The movie "Grace Unplugged," filmed mostly in Birmingham over the past month to take advantage of Alabama's incentives for filming in the state, wrapped up production in Los Angeles recently.
Birmingham-based filmmakers Jon and Andy Erwin, who co-produced and co-directed the surprise hit movie "October Baby." It's the story of a college freshman who learns from her adoptive parents that she's a survivor of a failed abortion attempt.
"October Baby" was filmed in Alabama on a budget of about $800,000 and has grossed more than $5 million at the box office.
Jon Erwin was the second unit director for the Christian film "Courageous," by church-based Sherwood Pictures in Georgia.
OKLAHOMA CHURCH-UNREPORTED RAPE
Okla. pastor tells congregants to talk about abuse
(Not for online use in Tulsa market.)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The pastor of an Oklahoma megachurch where five employees reportedly waited two weeks to report the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl is encouraging congregants to speak up about sexual abuse.
The Tulsa World reports that Pastor Sharon Daugherty brought up the topic during weekend services at Victory Christian Center.
Daugherty's comments come after two former church employees were arrested this month on sex-related charges. Prosecutors also charged five church employees — including Daugherty's son and daughter-in-law, who are both youth pastors — for failing to report the alleged assault between Aug. 15 and Aug. 30. Authorities say the 13-year-old is among at least three victims.
Police say Daugherty knew about the abuse allegations, but trusted ministry employees to follow in-house policies on reporting such incidents. She has not been charged.
