Bible giveaways end at Kansas elementary school after constitutional complaints

A Kansas public elementary school is ending the free distribution of Bibles to students after complaints that the practice violates the constitutional separation of church and state, the school superintendent said Tuesday.

“Our district respects all religious beliefs and the constitutional rights of every student,” said Herington school Superintendent Ron Wilson. “We will no longer allow distribution of religious materials.”

The legal arm of the American Humanist Association demanded an end to the Bible giveaway at Herington Elementary School after receiving complaints from parents who have children there, according to a letter to the school district.

“The district’s actions in assisting the Gideons in distributing Bibles to elementary students represents a clear breach of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution and we hereby demand assurances that this practice will discontinue immediately,” said the letter by Monica L. Miller, a lawyer with the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

Read more - http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article192656399.html

Bible giveaways end at Kansas elementary school after constitutional complaints

A Kansas public elementary school is ending the free distribution of Bibles to students after complaints that the practice violates the constitutional separation of church and state, the school superintendent said Tuesday.

“Our district respects all religious beliefs and the constitutional rights of every student,” said Herington school Superintendent Ron Wilson. “We will no longer allow distribution of religious materials.”

The legal arm of the American Humanist Association demanded an end to the Bible giveaway at Herington Elementary School after receiving complaints from parents who have children there, according to a letter to the school district.

“The district’s actions in assisting the Gideons in distributing Bibles to elementary students represents a clear breach of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution and we hereby demand assurances that this practice will discontinue immediately,” said the letter by Monica L. Miller, a lawyer with the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

Read more - http://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article192656399.html

Trump lashes out at Pakistan, Iran in his first 2018 tweets

US President Donald Trump apparently decided not to start the New Year with a clean slate, opting to re-ignite old disputes instead. In his first 2018 tweets, the US leader hit out at Iran and Pakistan.

Islamabad was the first to attract the anger of the US leader, as Trump accused it of giving the US “nothing but lies & deceit” in exchange for billions of dollars worth of aid. The president also accused Pakistan of providing safe haven to terrorists that the US is fighting in neighboring Afghanistan.

read more RT - https://www.rt.com/usa/414761-trump-twitter-pakistan-iran/

Trump lashes out at Pakistan, Iran in his first 2018 tweets

US President Donald Trump apparently decided not to start the New Year with a clean slate, opting to re-ignite old disputes instead. In his first 2018 tweets, the US leader hit out at Iran and Pakistan.

Islamabad was the first to attract the anger of the US leader, as Trump accused it of giving the US “nothing but lies & deceit” in exchange for billions of dollars worth of aid. The president also accused Pakistan of providing safe haven to terrorists that the US is fighting in neighboring Afghanistan.

read more RT - https://www.rt.com/usa/414761-trump-twitter-pakistan-iran/

Israeli minister plans to name Western Wall train station after Trump

Yisrael Katz wants to name stop on new rail line after US president for his ‘brave decision to recognise city as Israel’s capital’

Israel’s transport minister is pushing ahead with a controversial plan to extend Jerusalem’s soon-to-open high-speed rail line to the Western Wall, where he wants to name a station after the US president, Donald Trump.

Yisrael Katz’s proposal for the “Donald John Trump” station, which is in the initial planning stage, involves constructing two underground stations and excavating more than two miles (3km) of tunnel 50 metres beneath central Jerusalem and under the politically and historically sensitive Old City. 

The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray, and the new station would be located near the Jewish Quarter’s “Cardo”, an ancient thoroughfare a few dozen metres from the wall. 

The Cardo – meaning “heart” – was Jerusalem’s main street 1,500 years ago, paved in the 2nd century by Hadrian and later extended south to the area of today’s Jewish Quarter in the 6th century by Justinian.

Read more - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/27/israeli-minister-plans-name-western-wall-train-station-donald-trump

Pope prays for two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Pope Francis used his annual Christmas Day message to pray for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking just days after members of the United Nations condemned US President Donald Trump's move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Pope prayed for the "peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders."

"We see Jesus in the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians," Francis said in his "Urbi et Orbi" message Monday. "Urbi et Orbi" is Latin for "to the city (Rome) and to the world."

"On this festive day, let us ask the Lord for peace for Jerusalem and for all the Holy Land. Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached.

"May the Lord also sustain the efforts of all those in the international community inspired by good will to help that afflicted land to find, despite grave obstacles, the harmony, justice and security that it has long awaited."

The Pope also urged followers to pray for peace in Syria and Iraq while highlighting the struggles of the children of Yemen, an ongoing conflict "that has largely been forgotten," he said.

Read more CNN - http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/25/europe/pope-christmas-eve-immigrants-intl/index.html

Pope prays for two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Pope Francis used his annual Christmas Day message to pray for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking just days after members of the United Nations condemned US President Donald Trump's move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Pope prayed for the "peaceful coexistence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders."

"We see Jesus in the children of the Middle East who continue to suffer because of growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians," Francis said in his "Urbi et Orbi" message Monday. "Urbi et Orbi" is Latin for "to the city (Rome) and to the world."

"On this festive day, let us ask the Lord for peace for Jerusalem and for all the Holy Land. Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached.

"May the Lord also sustain the efforts of all those in the international community inspired by good will to help that afflicted land to find, despite grave obstacles, the harmony, justice and security that it has long awaited."

The Pope also urged followers to pray for peace in Syria and Iraq while highlighting the struggles of the children of Yemen, an ongoing conflict "that has largely been forgotten," he said.

Read more CNN - http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/25/europe/pope-christmas-eve-immigrants-intl/index.html