On CBN Newswatch, Feb. 11: Pope Benedict resigning at the end of February; Islamic terrorists reclaim northern Mali town; Blizzard slams Midwest as Northeast digs out; and more.
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TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH," A
SURPRISED ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE
VATICAN.
LATEST ON WHY THE POPE IS
STEPPING DOWN.
PLUS DIGGING OUT IN THE DARK.
HOW FOLKS ARE TRYING TO GET BACK
TO NORMAL AFTER THIS WEEKEND'S
NORTHEAST BLIZZARD.
AND HOW ONE FORMER CRIMINAL
IS WORKING TO KEEP KIDS AWAY
FROM VIOLENCE IN RUSSIA.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT ON
"NEWSWATCH."
GOOD EVENING I AM MARK MARTIN.
AND I AM WENDY GRIFFITH.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN 600 YEAR,
BUT HAPPENED TODAY, POPE
BENEDICT THE 16TH RESIGNED
MAKING HISTORY IN SIX CENTURY.
SHOCKING NEWS TO MORE THAN A
BILLION CATHOLICS AROUND THE
WORLD.
HEATHER SELLS HAS MORE IN
TONIGHT'S TOP STORY.
[ FOREIGN SPEAKING ]
REPORTER: HE IS 85 AND HAS
SLOWED DOWN SIGNIFICANT IN
RECENT YEARS.
VATICAN STRESSED NO SPECIFIC
MEDICAL DECISION PROMPTED THE
DECISION.
THE POPE SAID QUOTE, AFTER
REPEATEDLY EXAMINED MY
CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD, I HAVE
COME TO THE CERTAINTY THAT MY
STRENGTH DUE TO ADVANCED AGE IS
THE REASON.
NEW YORK CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOYLE
WAS SHOCKED.
I AM TOLD WHEN HE WAS ELECTED
IN 2005 SAID I SURE DON'T HAVE
THE STRENGTH THAT JOHN THE 2ND
HAS HAD.
HE HAS BEEN AWARE OF FRAILTY.
HE INDURED THE SEX ABUSE
CATHOLIC AND MET WITH PEDOPHILE
PRIESTS IN 2008.
CRITICS CHARGE HE WAS NOT
PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH, UPSET THAT
HE CONDEMNED GAY MARRIAGE,
ORDAIN NATION OF WOMEN AND
ALLOWING PRIESTS TO MARRY.
VATICAN WILL HOLD A CONCLAVE
BEFORE EASTER TO ELECT A NEW
POPE.
ARGUMENTS OF A POPE FROM THE
THIRD WORLD ARE EXPECTED GIVEN
HALF OF ALL CATHOLICS NOW LIVE
IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH.
HEATHER SELLS, CBN NEWS.
JOINING US NOW IS DR. BECKER
ORDAINED MINISTER.
WELCOME.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MARK.
DO YOU THINK CATHOLIC
CHURCHES SUCCESSION PROCEDURES
WILL ALLOW A SMOOTH TRANSITION?
IT IS UNCREDIBLY UNCOMMON.
ALMOST 600 YEARS AGO AND SEVERAL
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AND IN
1912 WHEN THIS IDEA OF
APPLICATION OR RESIGNATION WAS
INTRODUCED BACK INTO THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
PROCEDURES WILL HELP.
IT WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED FOR THE
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH.
THERE IS A POSSIBLE OF A
COLLEGE OF CARDINALS THAT COULD
ELECT A POPE FROM AFRICA, HOW
LIKELY IS THIS TO HAPPEN?
IT IS QUITE LIKELY.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS,
EVERYBODY HAS.
THE FORERUNNER WILLING A
CARDINAL.
WHY WOULD IT BE AN IMPORTANT
MOVE TO MAKE.
IT IS TIME FOR THE GREATEST
GROWTH, SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE,
SOUTH AMERICA OR MAYBE EVEN THE
SOOES.
ONGOING SEX ABUSE SCANDAL.
DO YOU THINK THE CHURCH SHOULD
COVER COME THESE CHALLENGES AND
FLOURISH IN THE YEARS AHEAD?
MARK.
I AM SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED WITH
THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND HE DIDN'T
SPEAK OF HIS HOPE AND HOW THE
CHURCH CAN GROW.
IT IS PIVOTAL FOR THE CATHOLIC
LEADERSHIP TO SPEAK WITH WORDS
OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY
OF POPE BENEDICT.
WHAT IS HIS LEGACY?
MOST IMPORTANT LEGACY IS
THEOLOGICAL.
HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL GREAT
BOOKS THAT HAVE HELPED THE
CHURCH MOVE BACK TO A MORE
BIBLICAL STANCE.
HE HAS STAYED TRUE TO HIS
CONSERVATIVE ROOTS.
HE HAS.
I AM SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED HE
HAS GIVEN UP SO EARLY.
YOU THOUGHT HE WOULD STAY ON
LONGER?
NORMALLY, IDEA OF A POPE IS
MORE THAN LEADING, IT IS AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW TO LIVE AND DIE.
HIGHLY UNUSUAL THE STEP HE IS
TAKING.
INTERESTING, HOW TO LIVE AND
DIE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, WE
APPRECIATE IT.
IN OTHER NEWS A WEATHER
SYSTEM IN THE GULF SPAWNED A
TORNADO SUNDAY NIGHT IN
HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI AND
CAUSED DAMAGE AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.
CAMPUS POLICE DECLARED A STATE
OF EMERGENCY AND ASKED ANYONE ON
CAMPUS TO STAY AWAY.
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE,
THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER RIGHT
NOW.
NO DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED,
AUTHORITIES SAY AT LEAST 10
TORNADOS STRUCK MISSISSIPPI AND
ANOTHER FIVE TORE THROUGH
ALABAMA INJURING MORE THAN 50
PEOPLE.
INSTEAD OF TORNADOS, NORTHERN
PLAIN STATES ARE SEEING ANOTHER
SNOWSTORM.
PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST
RECEIVED MORE THAN THREE FEET OF
SNOW, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
CONTINUING TO DIG OUT TONIGHT
AND THOUSANDS ARE STILL WITHOUT
POWER.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE STRONG
WINDS WHIPPING HEAVY SNOW IN
MINNESOTA.
LED TO WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND
TRE
TRE
TREACHEROUS TRAVEL.
THE MONSTER BLIZZARD IN THE
NORTHEAST BROUGHT HIGHEST
ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND BLAMED
FOR 15 DEATHS IN U.S. AND
CANADA.
CLEAN UP CONTINUES.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE DAYS TO
RECOVER.
IT IS HORRIBLE.
WHEN YOU SHOVEL YOUR DRIVEWAY,
CREWS COME AND PUT HIT BACK ON
YOUR DRIVEWAY.
AROUND 180,000 CUSTOMERS
STILL WITHOUT ELECTRICITY IN
HARDEST HIT MASSACHUSETTS.
NO POWER, NO HEAT, NO
NOTHING.
ARMY OF TRUCKS WORKED ON LONG
ISLAND EXPRESSWAY.
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM SOME
DRIVERS HAD TO ABANDON THEIR
CARS, OTHERS SPENT THEIR NIGHT
ON THE ROADWAY.
I GOT THROUGH THE CAR
STARTING THE CAR EVERY 40
MINUTES GETTING HEATED.
DRIVING BANS HAVE BEEN
LIFTED.
FOR MANY IT DOESN'T MATTER, IT
HAS BURIED CARS.
I HAD TO CALL IN COUPLE DAYS
I CANNOT COME TO WORK.
THE SNOW IS HIGH LIKE A MOUNTAIN
MOUNTAIN.
IN HARD HIT BOSTON, SCHOOL IS
CLOSED.
NORTHEAST AIRPORTS OPERATING
CLOSE TO NORMAL SCHEDULES.
MORE THAN 5,000 FLIGHTS
CANCELLED.
CITY OF BOSTON SENT OUT SNOW
STRIKE TEAMS TO REMOVE MASSIVE
PILES OF SNOW CLOGGING ROADS.
A REPUBLICAN SENATOR WILL
HOLD UP NOMINEES UNTIL THE WHITE
HOUSE PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE ATTACK ON BENGHAZI,
LIBYA LAST SEPTEMBER.
GRAHAM ACCUSING THE
ADMINISTRATION OF STONE WALLING
THE PRESS ABOUT THE ATTACK.
THEY PLAN TO PUSH FORWARD ON
CHUCK HAGEL'S NOMINATION.
LAWMAKERS SAY PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
USE OF DEADLY DRONES NEEDS
CLOSER INSPECTION.
MIKE HUCKABEE TOLD CBN NEWS, IF
THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO HAVE THE SOLE POWER
TO TAKE THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN.
QUESTION IS, CAN THAT EVER BE
CONSTITUTIONAL?
BECAUSE IF IT CAN, AND THE
INDIVIDUAL PRESIDENT MAKES THE
DECISION AS TO WHAT THE CRITERIA
IS, IT IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
IT IS WHY WE HAVE THREE BRANCHES
OF GOVERNMENT, CHECKS, BALANCES,
OVERSIGHTS.
WHEN YOU REMOVE THE OVERSIGHT
AND CHECK AND BALANCE.
YOU HAVE ONE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT THAT BECOMES JUDGE,
JURY AND EXECUTION NAR, YOU
BYPASS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES,
WE ARE OPERATING IN VERY, VERY
STRANGE TERRITORY THERE.
SOME LAWMAKERS ARE PROPOSING
A SPECIAL COURT TO REVIEW THE
USE OF DRONE STRIKES.
HEAVY FIGHTING BROUGHT OUT IN
MALI BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS
AND ISLAMIC REBELS.
THOUSANDS OF MALIIANS WILL BE
REMAIN HOMELESS.
OPERATION BLESSING IS THERE
BRINGING THEM HELP IN THEIR TIME
OF CRISIS.
GARY LANE HAS THE LATEST IN THE
CAPITOL CITY OF BOMACOE
REPORTER: THIS WOMAN'S HOPES
DASHED BECAUSE ISLAMIC MILITANTS
BACK FIGHTING MALI TROOPS.
AMINE IS A CHRISTIAN AND SHE
SAYS WHEN THE REBELS CAME, THEY
VANDALIZED HER CHURCH AND BURNED
A BIBLE.
THEY DEFEATED JESUS BUT THAT IS
A LIE.
AMINE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS
FOUND REFUGE IN THE CAPITAL
CITY.
THEY FLED THE NORTH LAST
SPRING.
EACH HAVE TRAGEDIES TO TELL AND
IN GREAT NEED FOR FOOD AND OTHER
SUPPLY.
THEY ARE PROVIDING REFUGEES
BEANS AND RICE.
THEY FOUND SHELTER AT LOCAL
CHURCHES, THEY STILL NEED
NUTRITIOUS MEALS.
THOUSANDS MORE ARE REFUGEES IN
COUNTRIES.
THIS MAN SAID ISLAMIC MILITANTS
WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM IF HE
DIDN'T LEAVE TIM BUCK TOO.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR PASTOR
JOHN.
WE APPRECIATE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, OPERATION
BLESSING.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
AS THE STRUGGLE TO LIBERATE
MALI, CBN IS HELPING,
DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
LIKE LITTLE SARA WHO WON'T BE
RETURNING HOME.
GARY LANE, CBN NEWS, MALI.
COMING UP, WHAT A DECLINE IN
THE AMERICAN BIRTHRATES COULD
MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
COUNTRY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA AWARDS AN
ARMY WAR VETERAN THE PRESTIGIOUS
METAL OF HONOR DURING A DAY LONG
FIRE FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN.
OCTOBER 2009 ATTACK HAPPENED IN
THE MOUNTAINS NEAR PAKISTAN
BORDER.
AMELSHAL LED HUNDREDS OF
FIGHTERS AND SERVED TWICE IN
IRAQ AND FOURTH LIVING PERSON TO
RECEIVE METAL OF HONORS IN IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN.
AN INFLUKS OF PATIENTS IN
'OBAMACARE,' CALIFORNIA LEADERS
SAY THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DOCTORS
TO TREAT ALL THE NEWLY INSURED
PATIENTS.
PSA
SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO REDEFINE
WHO SHOULD PROVIDE CARE.
SOME SAY THE MOVE COULD ENDANGER
PATIENTS AND DRIVE UP HEALTH
CARE COSTS.
BIRTHRATE HIT ALL TIME LOW IN
2011 AT 12.7 BIRTHS PER 1,000
PEOPLE.
NUMBER OF TEEN MOTHERS RECORD
LOW AND WOMEN IN 20S HAD FEWER
BABIES.
BIRTHRATES ROSE FROM WOMEN
35-44.
AUTHOR AND POPULATION EXPERT
JONATHAN LAST CALLS THE TREND A
CALAMITY.
IT WILL LEAD TO AMERICA'S
DEMOGRAPHIC DISASTER.
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS,
MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
BECAME HARD TO MAINTAIN.
NOT ENOUGH YOUNGER WORKERS
WORKING TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEMS.
IT BECOMES HARD TO SUSTAIN A
DYNAMIC ECONOMY CONSUMPTIONSHIP
AND CAPITAL PULLS BEGIN TO
SHIFT.
NOT ENOUGH YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING
TO INVEST CAPITAL.
THEN YOU WIND UP, DIFFICULT TO
SUSTAIN NATIONAL DEFENSE.
TO WATCH THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW
GO TO CBNNEWS.COM.
MARYLAND MEDICAL EXAMINER ARE
EXAMINING THE DEATH OF A
PREGNANT WOMAN BELIEVED TO BE IN
THE MIDST OF A LATE TERM
ABORTION AT 33 WEEKS.
THEY SPOKE WITH HER SEVERAL
TIMES LAST WEEK AS SHE VISITED
AN ABORTION CLINIC.
PRO-LIFE GROUPS ARE ASKING STATE
BOARD PHYSICIANS TO REVOKE
LICENSE OF DOCTOR LEROY CARD
CARDHARD.
NINE STATES LIMIT ABORTION --
AND SEVEN STATE AT GESTATION.
A LIFE AND VIOLENCE AND WHY
THIS MAN IS RENOUNCING IT.
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
IS MEETING WITH THE COUNTRY'S
LARGEST MUSLIM REBEL GROUP IN AN
EFFORT TO PUSH THROUGH A PEACE
AGREEMENT.
AGREEMENT WOULD END MORE THAN 40
YEARS OF VIOLENCE.
A FINAL PEACE DEAL COULD BE
SIGNED AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH.
MINORITY MUSLIM POPULATION
GRANTED INDEPENDENCE IN THE
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES.
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON THE
AMOUNTED OF POWER AND MONEY
GRANTED TO NEW SOUTHERN MUSLIM
REGION.
RADICAL MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING A BRUTAL REBELLION IN
SOUTHWEST RUSSIA SINCE THE LATE
1990S.
TWO WARS AND DOZENS OF TERRORIST
ATTACKS HAVE KILLED MANY.
NOW ONE MAN IS ON A MISSION
TO BRING PEACE AND THE GOSPEL.
GEORGE THOMAS HAS TONIGHT'S TOP
STORY.
REPORTER: THIS MAN IS NOT
PROUD OF HIS PAST.
I LEFT HOME AT 13 YEARS OLD.
I DID A LOT OF THINGS I AM
ASHAMED OF.
HE IS FROM A RUSSIAN CITY.
HIS LIFE READS LIKE A HOLLYWOOD
MAFIA THRILLER, DRUGS, ARMED
ROBBERY, PROSTITUTION, HIRED
ASSASSIN, MONEY LAUNDERING, YOU
NAME IT, HE DID IT ALL.
IT IS AS IF I BECAME THE
DEVIL'S SLAVE.
I MADE A PACK WITH SATAN TO
SERVE HIM CH
HIS DEEDS CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.
I WAS ARRESTED AND SENTENCED
TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.
THAT IS THE PAST.
TO WITNESS A LIFE TRANSFORMED BY
GOD, LOOK NO FURTHER.
THE YEAR WAS 1989, SOVIET UNION
MADE HUGE POLITICAL CHANGES AND
A YOUNG TAKOON SAT IN PRISON.
PRISONERS WERE EVEN AFRAID OF
ME.
ONE DAY CHRISTIANS CAME TO
SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS.
HE SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE
HAD HEARD THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
IT TOOK FOUR YEARS FOR IT TO
SINK IN.
IN 1991, I REALIZED ITS TRUE
MEANING.
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND TOLD
GOD I WAS A SINNER.
I WANT FROM SERVING SATAN TO A
SERVANT OF JESUS.
THE PRISON MIRACULOUSLY
SHORTENED HIS PRISON BY FIVE
YEARS AND RELEASED IN 1996.
HE WALKED OUT OF PRISON AND INTO
A BIBLE TRAINING SEMINAR.
RUSSIAN MINISTRIES WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN MY LIFE.
THEIR CLASSES TAUGHT ME HOW TO
SHARE MY NEW FAITH AND PUT IN MY
HEART TO PLANT CHURCHES.
HE WAS BAPTIZED SHORTLY THERE
AFTER.
FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS HE HAS BEEN
LEAD AGO CHURCH.
I AM CONVINCED IT IS THE LOVE
OF JESUS THAT TURNED ME AROUND.
TWO WARS AND SCORES OF
TERRORIST ATTACKS HAVE KILLED
THOUSANDS AND DISPLACED MANY
MORE.
HIS GOAL, REACH THIS WAR-TORN
REGION WITH MESSAGES OF
RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS.
ONE WAY IS TO REACH YOUNG
PEOPLE.
HE COORDINATES DOZENS OF YOUTH
CAMPS EACH YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH RUSSIAN MINISTRIES AND
LOCAL CONGREGATIONS.
THIS IS A MEMBER OF HIS CHURCH
AND HELPS WITH THE CAMPS.
THESE KIDS HAVE TO KNOW THERE
IS AN ALTERNATIVE LIVE STYLE TO
VIOLENCE.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE THE GOSPEL.
MANY PARENTS SAY THE CAMPS
ARE GOD SENT.
NEW I LOVE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT
PEACE AND GETTING ALONG WITH
OTHER ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS
GROUPS.
THEY ARE HELPING TO BUILD
BRIDGES.
IN ONE CITY THE LOCAL
COMMUNIST PARTY TOOK OUT FULL
PAGE ADS PROMOTING THE CAMPS.
WHEN HE IS NOT COORDINATING
CAMPS OR PREACHING, HE TRAINS
LOCAL BELIEVERS TO BE THE FUTURE
LIED LEADERS.
IT IS NOT WITHOUT ITS
HARDSHIPS.
VOLATILE REGION OF CHECHNYA
WHERE RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE
BATTLED TO CONTROL THE PROVINCE.
ISLAM'S INFLUENCE IS GROWING.
CHECHNYA HAS ERECTED WHAT
COULD BE THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN
EUROPE.
FOR EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS
LIVING IN THIS PROVINCE, LIFE
CAN BE CHALLENGING AND
DANGEROUS.
CBN NEWS AGREED TO CONCEAL
THIS MAN'S IDENTITY FOR
PROTECTION.
I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY WARNED
TO STOP PREACHING.
I WILL NOT.
I AM A SIMPLE MAN WHOSE LIFE WAS
TOUCHED BY CHRIST.
I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL
OTHERS ABOUT HIM NO MATTER THE
KAUS.
IT IS THE COST THEY THEY ARE
WILLING TO PAY TO BRING LASTING
PEACE.
GOD CHANGED MY LIFE IN PRISON
FOR A REASON.
THIS IS IT TO BRING LOVE AND
HOPE TO THESE REASONS.
GEORGE THOMAS, CBN NEWS IN
CHECHNYA.
UP NEXT A NOVICE INVENTOR
CREATES A LIFE SAVING DEVICE FOR
A YOUNG BOY OVERSEAS.
A WASHINGTON MAN MAYBE YOUR
TYPICAL SUPPLY SALESMAN BY DAY.
PROVEN TO BE QUITE THE
INVENTOR BY NIGHT.
IVAN OWN HAS CREATED CRAZY
THINGS FROM A RAPID FIRE
PING-PONG LAUNCHER TO A REMOTE
CONTROL BOWLER HAT.
IT WAS HIS MECHANICAL HAND THAT
CAUGHT THE ATTENTION.
THIS MOM ASKED HIM TO CREATE ONE
FOR HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON THAT
WAS BORN WITHOUT FINGERS.
HE EXCITEDLY SHOUTED IT
COPIES ME.
AWE.
THE LITTLE BOY CAN PICK UP COINS
AND GRASP A BASKETBALL.
IVAN'S INVENTION COST A FRACTION
OF THE $20,000 PROSTHETIC
MODELS.
AMAZING.
INCREDIBLE HOW HIS HOBBY
TURNED INTO AN INCREDIBLE
INVENTION.
THAT IS ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF
"NEWSWATCH."
THANKS FOR WATCHING, HAVE A