FORT HOOD SHOOTING-MUSLIM-AMERICAN REACTION American Muslim group condemns Fort Hood shooting

Washington (AP) The Council on American-Islamic relations is condemning Thursday's shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas.

CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper admits his heart sank when he saw the alleged gunman's Islamic name.

Hooper says when he first heard about the shootings, he was "just hoping and praying that no Muslim had anything to do with it." A law enforcement official identified the shooting suspect as Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

Hooper says, "We believe that no political or religious ideology could ever justify such wanton violence." And he emphasizes that American Muslims are serving loyally throughout U.S. armed forces.

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00:14 "unpatriotic or anti-military" Ibrahim Hooper Ibrahim Hooper says American Muslims are loyally serving in all branches of the military.

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00:07 "such wanton violence" Ibrahim Hooper Ibrahim Hooper says the American Muslim community condemns the Fort Hood shootings.

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00:06 "do with it" Ibrahim Hooper Ibrahim Hooper says his heart sank when he saw that the suspected gunman had an Islamic name.

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00:04 "this cowardly act" Ibrahim Hooper Ibrahim Hooper says no political or religious ideology could justify the Fort Hood shootings.

BIBLE BEE Youngsters compete for $260,000 in prizes in Bible Bee

WASHINGTON (AP) Children and teens from around the nation are in Washington, competing for $260,000 in prizes in the first annual National Bible Bee.

Executive Director Mark Rasche (RUH'-shee) says more than 17,000 youngsters between the ages of seven and 18 took part in local Bible Bees to earn a shot at today's top prizes.

But he says the greatest benefit will be the Scripture they've stored in their hearts and minds.

In Thursday's preliminaries, 300 contestants in three age groups were tested on both their Bible knowledge and memorization of Scripture. Sixty will take part in this morning's semifinals, and 21 three from each age group will compete in the finals this afternoon.

The winner in the top age bracket will be awarded $100,000.

On the Net: www.biblebee.org Sound:

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00:11 "bring that back" Mark Rasche (RUH'-shee) Mark Rasche says organizers of the National Bible Bee believe the competition will have lifelong benefits.

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00:08 "recitation of passages" Mark Rasche (RUH'-shee) Mark Rasche says winners in three age groups will share $260,000 in prizes.

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00:10 "it's memorizing Scripture" Mark Rasche (RUH'-shee) Mark Rasche says the finals of the National Bible Bee are being held in Washington Friday.

HUCKABEE-BILLY GRAHAM Huckabee praises Billy Graham, who turns 91 Saturday

WASHINGTON (AP) Pastor-turned-politician Mike Huckabee says, "There's no one living today who has had a greater influence in all of Christendom than Dr. Billy Graham." The Rev. Graham will be 91-years-old Saturday, and is expected to celebrate his birthday at home in Montreat, N.C., with visiting family members.

Huckabee, who was in Washington to promote his new book, "A Simple Christmas," says Christians everywhere can thank God that Graham was an evangelist whose life was as pure as his message.

The former ArKansas governor says he doesn't know if he'll run for president again, but he's "not ruling anything out."


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00:15 "to God for" Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee says the Reverend Billy Graham kept the focus on his message rather than himself.

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00:08 "and faithful servant" Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee says Billy Graham's life was as pure as his gospel message.

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00:11 "has been pure" Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee says Billy Graham is perhaps the greatest evangelist in church history.

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00:11 "of his ministry" Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee notes the Reverend Billy Graham is celebrating another birthday Saturday.

GAY RIGHTS-RELIGION Impact of bill banning anti-gay bias in hiring debated

WASHINGTON (AP) A National Religious Broadcasters official says a proposed ban on workplace discrimination against gays would unconstitutionally burden Christian businesses and organizations.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would outlaw making decisions about hiring, firing or wages based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It would exempt religious organizations.

But at a Senate hearing Thursday, NRB Senior Vice President Craig Parshall suggested that a Christian book store that refused to hire a homosexual might be told that its objection was invalid because it was based on sexual orientation rather than religion.

Parshall said ENDA might also require Christian schools and broadcasters to hire gays and lesbians.

University of Colorado law professor Helen Norton responded that churches and religious schools would be exempt from the law, although it could apply to secular businesses owned by Christians.

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00:12 "ENDA as well" Helen Norton Helen Norton says the Employment Non-Discrimination Act exempts religious institutions.

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00:14 "to be effective" Craig Parshall Craig Parshall says the bill's religious exemption probably wouldn't cover a Christian book store that refuses to hire a homosexual.

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00:11 "pursuing their mission" Craig Parshall Craig Parshall says religious organizations would be hurt if the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) becomes law.

TV-WINFREY-WINANS Winfrey takes gospel singer off her show

NEW YORK (AP) Oprah Winfrey says she's keeping singer BeBe Winans (WY'-nunz) off her show until domestic violence charges against him are resolved.

The gospel singer had taped appearances on Winfrey's "karaoke challenge" and was on last Friday. Following the show, some bloggers questioned whether Winfrey was guilty of a double standard by including Winans when she took a strong stand against domestic violence following Chris Brown's assault of then-girl friend Rihanna.

Winans was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault last winter for allegedly pushing ex-wife Debra Winans to the ground. He has a court date set for Jan. 20.

Winfrey spokesman Don Halcombe says Winans is off the karaoke segment.

BRITAIN-BLAIR-RELIGION BBC series on faith to feature Dolly Parton, Tony Blair

LONDON (AP) Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and country music singer Dolly Parton will be featured in a new BBC series exploring how faith shapes lives.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu also will be interviewed on the program, which explores the role religious belief plays in the lives of high-profile figures.

Blair will talk about his conversion to Catholicism, while Parton will explain how she balances her faith with her flirtatious stage image.

The series begins on BBC in late November and runs for four consecutive weeks.

SLAIN NUN Suspect arrested in nun's slaying on Navajo reservation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Federal agents have made an arrest in connection with the slaying of a nun on the Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico.

The body of 64-year-old Sister Marguerite Bartz was discovered in her home after she didn't show up as scheduled for Sunday Mass.

Investigators offered few details on Thursday's arrest, but said the suspect would be held overnight.

Diocese officials say the community has questions about whether the crime could have been the result of a robbery, if it was gang-related or possibly connected to a break-in at the parish last month.

Parishioners said Bartz served Navajo and surrounding communities for a decade and had success converting people through her work.

CHURCH LIEN Judge orders lien on Vermont diocese's investments

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) A Vermont judge has ordered that a lien be placed on investments of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington to cover a $2.2 million jury award to a former altar boy.

The Burlington Free Press says Judge Helen Toor signed the order last week.

Last month a jury awarded the money to the former altar boy who was molested by a priest in the 1970s. The diocese didn't dispute the plaintiff's claim that the church didn't protect him from the priest.

Diocese attorney Thomas McCormick says the lien will limit the church's programs and operations.

Liens were also placed on the church following two earlier judgments.

PREACHER INDICTED Alabama preacher charged in church fire

GROVE HILL, Ala. (AP) Federal agents say they're searching for an Alabama preacher who's facing arson charges in connection with a fire at his church.

An indictment issued by a federal grand jury in Mobile charges 42-year-old Ron Bordelle Williams with setting fire to the Miracles of Prayer Church/Word of Life Center four years ago.

The indictment also charges Williams with filing false tax returns, using another person's Social Security number and falsely stating on a federal loan application that he had not filed for bankruptcy within the previous seven years.

ARMAGEDDON CHURCH Founder's death leaves doomsday church's future in doubt

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) As many as 1,000 followers of a New Age spiritual leader and doomsday prophet are expected to attend her memorial service this weekend at the Montana ranch she used as a headquarters.

Elizabeth Clare Prophet died last month in Bozeman after a decade-long decline caused by Alzheimer's disease. She was 70.

It's uncertain whether the Church Universal and Triumphant and its publishing business can survive without its founder, since she left no clear successor.

In the 1980s, Prophet convinced followers to donate their life savings to build underground shelters against a coming nuclear apocalypse. When it didn't happen in 1990 as she predicted, many quit. But the church still maintains a network of bomb shelters in a mountainside near Yellowstone National Park.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-06-09 0231CST | save this article / add to your favorites list