LITTLE ROCK — Nun who breached nuke plant thanked
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An 82-year-old Roman Catholic nun accused of breaching security at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Tennessee with two fellow peace activists appeared at a congressional hearing Wednesday on the intrusion.
Sister Megan Rice and her co-defendants face federal charges that could carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison if convicted. Authorities said the activists cut through security fences July 28 surrounding the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility at Y-12 and defaced the building with blood and spray paint.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, asked Rice to stand in the audience at Wednesday’s hearing of the House Energy and Commerce oversight and investigations subcommittee in Washington.
“While I don’t totally agree with your platform that you were espousing, I do thank you for bringing out the inadequacies in our security system,” Barton said.
“That young lady there brought a Holy Bible,” he added.
“If she had been a terrorist, the Lord only knows what would have happened.”
- The Associated Press
Mormon site’s ban on fliers draws ACLU
BRIGHAM CITY, Utah - The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah is suing the town of Brigham City, claiming it is squelching a nondenominational Christian church’s free speech by limiting flier distribution near a Mormon temple.
Leaders of Main Street Church say they got a city permit to pass out literature during the temple’s open house Aug. 18 to Sept. 15 but have been barred from staking out the two busiest sides of the building.
“The over breadth of Brigham City’s ‘Free Speech Zone’ Ordinance is breathtaking,” said John Mejia, legal director of the ACLU of Utah. “Under this ordinance, you would arguably have to apply for a permit to engage in nearly any speech in the city.
The ordinance could be used to silence anyone.”
Brigham City Attorney Kirk Morgan said Main Street Church members are upset because they’re being kept away from bus unloading zones, where thousands of people arrive each day.
Morgan said the restrictions are for pedestrian and traffic safety.
- The Associated Press
Sign’s lynching photo meant to spur voters
INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis pastor said a sign in front of his church with images of a lynching and slaves in chains is meant to remind people of the importance of their voting rights.
One side of the sign outside Greater St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church features a photo of the 1930 lynching of two black men before a crowd of white people in Marion, Ind. “VOTE!!!” is written above the image, and beneath it: “Is this a reason to vote?”
Pastor Roy Thorton, who is black, said he has heard few complaints since the sign went up about a week ago.
“I think there is a sense of complacency about the price that was paid for one of the most precious rights we have, and that is the right to vote,” Thornton told WRTV. “That sign serves as a historical reminder.”
Religion, Pages 12 on 09/15/2012