CP World Report: Southern Baptist President, Iraq Violence, 'God Bless the USA' Song Banned
Southern Baptists are set to elect their first black President next week, since the founding of the denomination in 1845. It's seen as a big step for an organization that was formed out of a pre-Civil War split with Northern Baptists over slavery. And for much of the last century the Southern Baptist Convention had a reputation for supporting segregation. Many Southern Baptists believe the charismatic 55 year old Reverend Fred Luter is the man who can lead the nation's largest Protestant denomination forward at a time of diminishing numbers. Convention delegates vote next week in New Orleans. Luter spent his early years involved in street ministry. His leadership and creativity eventually allowed him to turn a struggling inner-city church of 50 members into the largest Southern Baptist church in Louisiana .
An outbreak of sectarian violence in Iraq has killed at least 70 people and injured dozens more. They included the car bombings of Shiite religious processions at 22 different locations across Baghdad.The attack was targeting the annual pilgrimage commemorating the 8th century death of a revered Imam. Shiite pilgrims have been frequent targets of attack by Sunni radicals, some with links to Al Qaeda.
Democrat Ron Barber defeated Republican Jesse Kelly in an Arizona special election for the House seat given up by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords. She resigned a year after she was shot in the head while meeting with constituents at a shopping center. Barber had this message for Southern Arizona….
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It's the ultimate in reality T-V. Nik Wallenda will attempt to cross a tightrope over Niagara Falls on the New York side on Friday. And a national audience will be watching him on prime time TV, as it's being covered on major networks. So what motivates Wallenda to take such a risky walk on the wire, two inches in diameter? Take a listen…..
A New York City principal has pulled the plug on singing "God Bless the USA" at their graduation. Five classes spent months learning the patriotic song which was to be the rousing finale of their musical show at PS 90, the Edna Cohen School. Greta Hawkin's refused to let students sing "God Bless the USA" at the June 20th commencement. Her decision has sparked fireworks at a school filled with proud immigrants….from Mexico, Pakistan and Equador, with many of them…stunned and upset. Hawkins said quote: "We don't want to offend other cultures.
Bob Rae will not seek the permanent leadership of the Liberal party. Rae was expected to enter the race and to be a top contender. He will continue on as interim leader until the new leader is chosen.
A Nova Scotia man is the proud owner of this blue lobster. Bobby Stoddard says he and his crew caught it last month. He says this is the first time he's ever seen a bright blue lobster in his 33 years on the job.
But his dad has though ... 45 years ago! The University of Maine Lobster Institute says blue lobsters are a 1 in 2-million phenomenon.
