USA: CALL FOR STEP UP IN INVESTIGATIONS INTO CHURCH FIRES скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: CALL FOR STEP UP IN INVESTIGATIONS INTO CHURCH FIRES

(27 Jun 1996) English/Nat The U-S Congress is sending President Clinton a measure calling for tougher penalties to fight arson-related crimes. The move follows the recent spate of church burnings across America's south, many of them in black churches. Black leaders have called on authorities to step up investigations into the church fires. And leaders from America's religious establishment say they're also lining up in support of efforts to help churches hit by the recent arson wave. Lawmakers joined leaders from across the religious spectrum of America today on Capitol Hill to rally around America's black community. With Congress approving a plan to fight arson, leaders of mainstream U-S religious groups say they're organizing relief efforts to help black communities devastated by the attacks. SOUNDBITE: "And our greatness hangs in the balance every time a church is burned, every time a black church is put down in ashes. And it is our responsibility as their brothers in Jesus Christ to reach out to them and to absolutely build a bridge of reconciliation." SUPER CAPTION: Lou Sheldon. Traditional Values Coalition House members Thursday pushed through a plan called the National Arson Preventive Initiative. The measure calls for 45 (m) million dollars, in part to train local officials investigating arson in local churches. It would also give federal officials more power to aid local officials in those investigations. The move comes at a critical time, say black American leaders. Attacks on black churches, they say, are an attack on one of its most treasured and vital institutions. SOUNDBITE: (English) "This building is where we teach our children to do the right thing. This is where we teach our children that you are worth something. And in one night, because somebody hates us because of who we are, this is taken from us. We are left with nothing." SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Jonathan Mouzan, South Carolina minister And one of America's most influential conservative leaders says the religious right is ready to put aside political differences with the black community as a show of support. SOUNDBITE: "We believe that we must make it clear that we are uniting across racial and denominational barriers and walls that once divided us so that no one has any doubt that whites will stand together and shoulder to shoulder with their African American brothers and sisters and that this bigotry will not prevail." SUPER CAPTION: Ralph Reed, Executive Director, Christian Coalition Black leaders will be watching closely to see if national lawmakers and the religious powers that be in America live up to their promises. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...