Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Today’s news briefs include Pope Francis’s controversial remarks; Harris agrees to debate rules; and U.S. files charges against Hamas.
Pope equates Islam with Christianity
Pope Francis raised eyebrows Wednesday with comments made at a Mosque in Indonesia that seemed to equate Christianity with Islam. Speaking before a crowd of 80,000 Muslims, the Pontiff, appearing with an imam, stated “We are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us.” At the mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest, he also signed a declaration on religious harmony and environmental protection with the mosque’s grand imam and met with local leaders of six religions, the BBC reports. On Tuesday kicked off a 11-day visit to the region, the longest foreign trip of his papacy. Christians on social media were quick to respond to the Pope’s equation of Christianity with Islam by posting John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
11 months later, U.S files criminal charges against Hamas
The Biden Administration’s Justice Department announced criminal charges against Hamas leaders leaders. Named are Yahya Sinwar and other senior militants central to Oct. 7, 2023, rampage in Israel, marking the first effort in 11 months by American law enforcement to formally call out the masterminds of the attack, the AP reports. The invasion and attack killed numerous Americans along with 1,200 other Israeli civilians. Ten U.S. citizens were also kidnapped with several having been murdered in Hamas captivity. The seven-count criminal complaint filed in federal court in New York City includes conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals and conspiracy to finance terrorism. Pressure had been mounting on the Biden administration to move more forcefully against Hamas after it has primarily focused on ending Israel’s military response in Gaza.
Harris drops opposition to muted mics
Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to the final rules for the Sept. 10 ABC News debate with former President Trump, after initially attempting to change the rules previously agreed to. On Wednesday, ABC News released the official rules for Tuesday’s debate between Harris and Trump, including that mics will remain muted as previously agreed to by the Trump campaign. The Harris campaign “repeatedly pushed back on this rule, attempting to goad Trump into backing out of the original agreement to mute mics, even refusing to sign off on the rules last week in an attempt to renegotiate,” the New York Post reported. CNN reported Wednesday that Harris accepted the rules after receiving separate “assurances” that mics could be turned on during the debate and the moderators would explain unheard exchanges.
–Dwight Widaman and news services
