AP-Religion Roundup
     
Update on the latest in religion news:

Tiller-Shooting
     
Abortion doctor gunned down in church

     
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The family of Dr. George Tiller calls his
slaying "particularly heart-wrenching" because he was "shot down
in his house of worship."
     
The 67-year-old Tiller, one of the few U.S. doctors to perform
late-term abortions, was killed as he served as an usher during
Sunday morning services at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita,
Kan.
     
His wife was in the choir at the time.
     
The gunman fled, but a 51-year-old suspect was arrested near
Kansas City three hours later. A Johnson County sheriff's spokesman
identified the detained man as Scott Roeder.
     
Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz said it looked like the
gunman acted alone, although authorities were investigating whether
he had any connection to anti-abortion groups.
     
The clinic run by Tiller has long been the site of protests. A
protester shot Tiller in both arms in 1993.

Tiller-Reaction
     
Abortion foes denounce Tiller slaying, fear backlash

     
WASHINGTON (AP) - Anti-abortion groups are condemning the
killing of Dr. George Tiller, whose late-term abortion clinic has
been the scene of numerous protests.
     
The Family Research Council, The American Life League, Operation
Rescue and Priests for Life are among those denouncing Tiller's
shooting Sunday inside his church in Wichita, Kan.
     
The Reverend Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense
Coalition, says "The pro-life community condemns violence on every
level. That's why we're pro-life."
     
But Mahoney and others worry that abortion rights groups will
use the killing to try to demonize and silence the anti-abortion
movement. He says, "No one should use this tragedy for political
gain."
     
Anti-abortion activist Randall Terry says that while he doesn't
rejoice at the killing, he believes Tiller was an "evil man whose
hands were covered with blood."

Tiller-Vigil
     
Slain abortion provider remembered at church where he died

     
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A special service has been held at
Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan., where Dr. George
Tiller was shot to death Sunday morning while he served as an
usher.
     
About 200 people attended the Sunday evening vigil for the
late-term abortion provider.
     
Dr. Michael Bates, who has known Tiller for more than 25 years,
attended and described it as a simple service featuring Bible
readings. Bates said Tiller's family is "still in shock."
     
At a vigil in downtown Wichita, about 10 people from the
Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., held signs emblazoned with
such messages as "Abortion is bloody murder" and "Baby killer in
hell." The church is known for picketing military funerals.
     
The protesters and about 20 Tiller supporters shouted at each
other. A large number of police officers stood by to make sure the
scene stayed under control.

     
Automakers-Prayers
      Worshippers pray for GM as bankruptcy looms

    
DETROIT (AP) - The plight of General Motors is in the thoughts
and prayers of Michigan residents.
     
GM is expected to seek reorganization in bankruptcy court and
announce the closing of more than a dozen of its plants.
     
After Sunday Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church in Warren, Mich.,
worshipper Helen Zolna said, "You sit in church and pray to God
that this will help."
     
Outside the church, Conrad Cornelius said he worries about his
neighbors, that "if there is no General Motors they are not going
to have any jobs."
     
Worshipper Rosemarie Fantin said her thoughts are with the
people trying to save General Motors -- "that they make the right
decision and people will stick by them so our auto company will
come back."

Vatican-Pope
     
Pope: focus on pleasure poisons spiritual life

     
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI says products that promote
pleasure and violence are a kind of pollution that "poisons"
spiritual life.
     
At a Mass Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica to mark Pentecost,
Benedict said, "What the air is to biological life, the Holy
Spirit is to spiritual life." But he said, "there is a pollution
of the heart and spirit that kills and poisons spiritual
existence."
     
Just as the world is fighting environmental pollution with new
ecological initiatives, the pope said more must be done to fight
products and images "that make a show of pleasure, violence or the
disregard for man and woman."

Priest Photos-Sermon
     
Ex-Catholic priest preaches first sermon as Episcopalian

     
BISCAYNE PARK, Fla. (AP) - A popular Miami priest has preached
his first sermon since leaving the Roman Catholic Church to become
Episcopalian after photos of him kissing his girlfriend were
published.
     
The Rev. Alberto Cutie (KOO'-tee-ay) told worshippers at the
Episcopal Church of The Resurrection in Miami that "church is
about forgiveness."
     
When Cutie and his girlfriend became members of the Protestant
denomination last week, the Episcopal bishop described her as
Cutie's fiance. Episcopal priests can marry, but it will take Cutie
at least a year to become a priest in his new church.
     
Cutie received a standing ovation Sunday and told supporters
that his "stuff is in storage."
     
The photos rocked South Florida's Spanish-speaking community, in
which he had become known for his good looks and as host of a TV
show on relationships.

Israel Parade
     
Thousands march in New York to celebrate Israel's birthday

     
NEW YORK (AP) - Tens of thousands of supporters of Israel have
celebrated the Jewish state's 61st birthday with a parade Sunday
down New York's Fifth Avenue.
     
This year's Salute to Israel parade also commemorated the 100th
birthday of the city of Tel Aviv.
     
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson led off the
parade, followed by floats blasting Israeli pop music and teenagers
from yeshivas and Jewish day schools.
     
A handful of anti-Zionist protesters said Judaism should not be
linked to modern Israel. Orthodox Jew Levi Goldenburg said, "The
religious way is not the way of occupying and killing."

Black Roman Rabbi
     
Black woman to become a rabbi this week

     
CINCINNATI (AP) - A Cleveland native will soon become what's
believed to be mainstream Judaism's first black female rabbi.
     
Forty-five-year-old Alysa (uh-LIS'-uh) Stanton will be ordained
June 6 in Cincinnati after completing rabbinical studies there.
     
She will become the rabbi at Congregation Bayt Shalom in
Greenville, N.C., in August.
     
Experts say her ordination is a first and could help draw more
women and blacks to Jewish leadership roles.
     
Stanton says the road to her spiritual home has been a journey
with many twists and turns.
     
She says she didn't always feel accepted by Jewish congregations
or some friends when she converted during her 20s.

     
Islam Day
     
Legislative Islam Day measure generates criticism

     
HONOLULU (AP) - A resolution in Hawaii's Legislature designating
Sept. 24 as "Islam Day" is generating criticism from some
mainland residents who say they will not travel to Hawaii because
of it.
     
The resolution's author, Democratic state Representative Lyla
Berg, says it's meant to foster awareness of and education about
Islam. She notes that Hawaii recognizes similar dates, including
those relating to Buddhism, Baha'i and Christianity.
     
But some mainland residents reacted to news of the Islam
resolution by sending e-mails criticizing it and declaring they
would not visit Hawaii.
     
Governor Linda Lingle calls the measure unnecessary, and says
it's drawing the wrong kind of attention to Hawaii.

Egypt-Nuclear Fatwa
     
Egypt cleric: No nukes for militias

     
CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's top government-appointed Muslim leader says
the use of weapons of mass destruction by armed groups or
individuals against non-Muslim states is not religiously
sanctioned.
     
According to the state news agency, Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa's
fatwa, or religious edict, came in response to reports that some
groups have sanctioned the use of weapons of mass destruction
against non-Muslim nations. Gomaa said those edicts were false,
"and a slander of religion."
     
In his fatwa, Gomaa said it's legitimate for Muslim nations to
have nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons as a deterrent, and
only the leaders of those countries have the right to decide when
to use them.
     
The use of these weapons by groups against non-Muslim nations
would violate Islamic teachings, he said, because it would harm
Muslims living in those nations, noncombatants, and neighboring
countries who are not involved.

     
     
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
     
AP-NY-06-01-09 0330EDT