>>> COMING UP, AMID THE CONFEDERATE FLAG CONTROVERSY, DEBATE CONTINUES OVER ONGOING RACIAL ISSUES.
ALSO, A SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER OF WHITE MEMBERS AT AN HISTORICALLY-BLACK CHURCH IN HARLEM.
THEY TOLD DAVID TERESHCHUK THEY FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
AND FRED DE SAM LAZARO ON AMERICANS IN A FLYING EYE HOSPITAL HEALING AND TEACHIN OF AMERICA.
DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RETIREMENT PRODUCTS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.
>>> WELCOME.
I'M BOB ABERNETHY.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
>>> POPE FRANCIS RECEIVED A WARM WELCOME THIS WEEK DURING HIS TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA THAT INCLUDED STOPS IN ECUADOR, BOLIVIA, AND PARAGUAY.
IN ECUADOR, HE LED AN OUTDOOR MASS FOR A CROWD OF APPROXIMATELY 800,000 PEOPLE AND URGED AN END TO WAR AND VIOLENCE IN LATIN AMERICA.
THROUGHOUT HIS VISIT HE CONTINUED CHAMPIONING THE POOR, THE ENVIRONMENT AND PRO-FAMILY CAUSES, THEMES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGH ON HIS AGENDA WHEN HE VISITS THE U.S.
IN SEPTEMBER.
THIS WEEK HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER ANNOUNCED THAT THE POPE'S ADDRESS TO A MEETING OF THE U.S. CONGRESS ON SEPTEMBER 24th WILL BE SHOWN LIVE ON JUMBOTRON SCREENS ON THE WEST FRONT OF THE CAPITOL, AFTER WHICH FRANCIS MIGHT MAKE A BRIEF APPEARANCE TO GREET THE PUBLIC.
>>> IN OTHER NEWS, PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE A RARE VISIT TO THE PENTAGON FOR A BRIEFING ON THE U.S. FIGHT AGAINST ISIS.
HE SAID THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, BUT HE ALSO POINTED OUT THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS ATTRIBUTED TO ISIS.
OBAMA CAUTIONED THAT IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN MILITARY MIGHT TO RID THE WORLD OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM.
>> IDEOLOGIES ARE NOT DEFEATED WITH GUNS.
THEY ARE DEFEATED BY BETTER IDEAS.
>>> DEBATES OVER RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CONTINUE TO HEAT UP.
LOCAL OFFICIALS IN SEVERAL STATES ARE SEEKING TO OPT OUT OF GRANTING MARRIAGE LICENSES TO GAY COUPLES, SAYING THE PRACTICE VIOLATES THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
MEANWHILE, BAKERS IN OREGON WERE FINED $135,000 FOR REFUSING TO MAKE A WEDDING CAKE FOR A GAY MARRIAGE.
THE GROUP AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE HAS PLEDGED TO FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST ANYONE IT BELIEVES IS WRONGLY USING RELIGION AS A COVER FOR DISCRIMINATION.
>>> AFTER WEEKS OF CONTENTIOUS DEBATE, SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL, SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NIKKI HALEY, REMOVING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG FROM THE STATEHOUSE GROUNDS.
DEFENDERS OF THE FLAG SAID IT REPRESENTED SOUTHERN HERITAGE.
BUT OTHERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, SAW IT AS A SYMBOL OF HATRED AND OPPRESSION.
>>> IN THE WAKE OF THAT DEBATE, MANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS AND OTHERS ARE URGING THE NATION TO EXAMINE DEEPER ISSUES OF SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE AND ONGOING RACISM.
JOINING ME NOW IS OUR MANAGING EDITOR KIM LAWTON AND HAROLD DEAN TRULEAR, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF APPLIED THEOLOGY AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY.
WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PROFESSOR, YOU HAVE SAID THAT WE ALL NEED TO CHANGE IN SOME WAY OR OTHER, NOT JUST CHANGE PRACTICES OR LAWS, BUT CHANGE OURSELVES.
WHO HAS TO DO WHAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT ALL OF US HAVE TO LOOK WITHIN OURSELVES AND SEE WHERE OUR OWN PERSONAL ATTITUDES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM, OTHER FORMS OF OPPRESSION AND EXCLUSION.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN UNCONSCIOUSLY SHAPED IN CERTAIN ATTITUDES.
I LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE SIMPLE AS THE COLOR OF BAND-AIDS AND CALAMINE LOTION.
THERE IS NO EVIL RACIST COMING UP WITH THAT IDEA, BUT IT'S JUST THAT THE WHITE SKIN COLOR IS THE NORM, HAS BEEN THE NORM IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO WE NEED TO BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT WAYS OF NOT MAKING WHITE NORMAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE ABNORMAL.
>> WHAT HAVE THE EVENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE DEBATE OVER THE FLAG AND ALSO THE TRAGIC SHOOTING IN THE CHURCH -- WHAT HAVE THEY REVEALED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THESE ISSUES?
>> I THINK THEY REVEAL TWO THINGS, REALLY, AND THEY'RE PARALLEL TRACKS UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL MERGE UP IN THE DISTANCE LIKE REGULAR RAILROAD TRACKS DO.
ONE IS UNCOVERED THE DEPTH OF RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR NATION STILL REMAINS DEEPLY DIVIDED.
BUT IT'S ALSO UNCOVERED SOME REAL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL, A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS THAT STARTED WITH THE FAMILIES FORGIVING THE YOUNG MAN THAT SHOT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND ALSO GROUPS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE HOLDING INTERFAITH RALLIES AND PRAYER VIGILS FOR HEALING OF THIS RACIAL DIVIDE THAT WE HAVE.
I DON'T THINK HE STARTED, WANTED TO START A RACE WAR.
I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE THE DIVISION IN PLACE.
HE'S UNCOVERED IT, AND NOW WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY TO DO SOME HEALING.
>> AND WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY IN DOING THAT HEALING?
>> THE FAITH COMMUNITY IS FOUNDED ON FORGIVENESS.
THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION TEACHES FORGIVENESS, THE ISLAMIC TRADITION TEACHES FORGIVENESS.
AND WHEN WE'RE AT OUR BEST AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE'RE LOOKING AT FORGIVENESS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT JUSTICE AND EQUALITY, AND SO WE HAVE TO USE THOSE SAME GOD-GIVEN EYES AND OUR GOD-GIVEN TRADITIONS TO LOOK AT HOW SYSTEMS WORK AND NOT JUST HOW INDIVIDUALS WORK.
>> PROFESSOR, QUICKLY, DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR US?
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
AND IT YEARLY BEGINS WITH SELF-EXAMINATION AND LOOKING AT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE'VE DONE BUSINESS AS USUAL.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT WE'VE NOT COME FAR ENOUGH.
>> OKAY.
HAROLD DEAN TRULEAR OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY, MANY THANKS TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>>> ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THIS SUMMER THE PAINFUL STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE RACE RELATIONS, AND THE FAILURE TO DO SO, HAS DOMINATED MUCH OF THE NEWS.
BUT DAVID TERESHCHUK HAS A STORY TODAY ABOUT A WELL-KNOWN BLACK CHURCH IN HARLEM THAT HAS A SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER OF WHITE MEMBERS.
NOT JUST TOURISTS OR VISITORS, BUT FULL MEMBERS WHO SAY THEY FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
♪♪ >>> A BAPTIST SERVICE IN HARLEM, NEW YORK, AT THE FIRST CORINTHIAN BAPTIST CHURCH, IN FACT, THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE BLACK BAPTIST TRADITION.
BUT LOOK CLOSELY, AND THERE'S A PERHAPS SURPRISING NUMBER OF WHITE FACES.
>> WE'VE SEEN A RISE IN THE AMOUNT OF WHITES WHO'VE JOINED THE CHURCH.
IT'S STILL NOT A LARGE PERCENTAGE, BUT ENOUGH TO NOTICE.
>> AND GROWING?
OR NOT?
>> OH, YES, GROWING.
IT'S GROWING EVERY WEEK.
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FIRST CORINTHIAN VARIES STRIKINGLY FROM THE CONVENTIONAL PICTURE OF AMERICA AT PRAYER ON A SUNDAY MORNING.
>> I REMEMBER YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, HEARING A QUOTE FROM DR. KING WHEN HE SAID, "11:00 IS THE MOST SEGREGATED HOUR IN THE UNITED STATES."
>> THOUGH HAVING WHITE PEOPLE AMONG ITS WORSHIPPERS MAY BE FAIRLY NEW, FIRST CORINTHIAN IS ACCUSTOMED TO WHITE VISITORS, TOURISTS WHO WILL OFTEN FILL THE SPECTATORS' BALCONY.
THE CHURCH IS, AFTER ALL, A LANDMARK IN A WORLD-FAMOUS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ICONIC CENTER OF MUCH AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY, SEEDBED OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.
NOWADAYS, THOUGH, THE DISTRICT IS QUITE ALTERED AND ITS POPULATION BECOMING MORE MIXED.
ONE SIGN OF THE TIMES IS THE HOUSING STOCK GETTING VISIBLY CHANGED BY GENTRIFICATION.
SCOTT BURROWS IS A LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER WHO GOT HIS FIRST TASTE OF BAPTIST WORSHIP AT ANOTHER AFRICAN-AFRICAN CHURCH, AND NOW, AFTER TESTING A RANGE OF DENOMINATIONS, HE'S BECOMING A REGULAR AT FIRST CORINTHIAN.
>> I TRIED AN EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND A CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SOME DIFFERENT CHURCH SETTINGS.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY I DIDN'T FEEL WHAT I FEEL HERE.
>> THOUGH BURROWS WAS ATTRACTED BY BAPTIST PREACHING, HE STILL HESITATED FOR A WHILE, FEELING DISCOMFORT AND QUESTIONING HIMSELF.
>> HOW CAN I BE PART OF THIS CONGREGATION?
MY BACKGROUND IS SO DIFFERENT, MY CULTURE, MY HERITAGE IS SUCH A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
AND THEY REASSURED ME THAT WE'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, IN JESUS' SPIRIT, AND IF WE'RE HERE TO WORSHIP TOGETHER, THEN IT'S A GOOD THING.
>> ONCE GIVEN THAT REASSURANCE, BURROWS SENSED A CONTRAST WITH WHAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY KNOWN OF WHITE CHRISTIANITY.
>> WHEN I WENT TO CHURCHES WHERE THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME THAT I FEEL THAT IT'S LESS OF A DEEP EXPERIENCE.
AND HERE IN A BAPTIST SETTING, AND IN THIS TRADITIONALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN SETTING, THE PASTOR IS HELPING ME TO ENCOURAGE ME TO CONNECT WITH GOD DIRECTLY.
>> THOUGH FEELING GOD-CONNECTED, BURROWS IS STILL A CONSPICUOUS RARITY IN THESE PEWS, AND SOME DISCOMFORT REMAINS FOR HIM, THOUGH HE DOESN'T NOW REGARD IT AS A BAD THING.
>> I'M SURE IT'S THE SAME AWKWARDNESS THAT MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS FEEL WHEN THEY'RE IN A BIG GROUP OF WHITE PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE ONLY ONE OR TWO OF THE BLACK PEOPLE PRESENT.
SO IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
I THINK IT'S A KIND OF HUMBLING AND EMPATHIC EXPERIENCE.
>> ROBBIN GUST, A RETIRED TRANSIT SYSTEM EMPLOYEE, HAS BEEN A MEMBER AT FIRST CORINTHIAN FOR THREE YEARS, AND RIGHT FROM THE START, SHE SAYS, SHE NEVER FELT ANY AWKWARDNESS.
>> I HAVE LIVED ON 116th STREET FOR 22 YEARS.
I NEVER WALKED IN THE CHURCH.
I NEVER HAD ANY INTEREST IN GOING TO CHURCH WHERE I LIVE.
AND ONE DAY I JUST CAME IN AND NEVER LEFT.
I JOINED THE CHURCH THE DAY I CAME.
>> GUST TAKES A FULL PART IN THE CHURCH'S WORK, SINGING IN THE CHOIR AND HELPING WITH ITS PRISON MINISTRY.
>> NO MATTER WHERE I GO, EVERYONE'S, LIKE, "HEY, ROBBIN."
SO IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO BE PART OF A GREAT COMMUNITY.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BLACK COMMUNITY, A BLACK CHURCH.
I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT.
THE CHURCH IS SO DIVERSE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE THAT THAT WAS NEVER EVEN -- IT NEVER EVEN CROSSED MY MIND TO THINK THAT.
>> FIRST CORINTHIAN'S CONGREGATION HAS BEEN GROWING IN OVERALL NUMBERS EVER SINCE MICHAEL WALROND BECAME SENIOR PASTOR A DECADE AGO.
HE'S EMPHASIZED AN OUTWARD-LOOKING, SOCIALLY INVOLVED VIEW OF THE GOSPEL.
HE BELIEVES THIS IS WHAT HELPS TO BROADEN THE CHURCH'S APPEAL, NOT ANY DELIBERATE TARGETING OF SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHICS.
>> I DON'T THINK TO MYSELF THAT TODAY I MUST PREACH A MESSAGE SO THAT WHITES CAN JOIN, OR TODAY I MUST PREACH A MESSAGE SO THAT BLACKS CAN FEEL AFFIRMED.
I PREACH A MESSAGE SO THE GOSPEL CAN BE REALIZED AND ACTUALIZED.
THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT KNOWS NO RACIAL BOUNDARY.
WHITE, BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE WE ALL BELIEVE, WE ALL CRY, WE ALL HAVE PAIN, WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.
AND WHEN WE BEGIN TO SPEAK TO THE EXISTENTIAL ISSUES THAT BIND US TOGETHER, I THINK PEOPLE FIND A HOME AND A PLACE OF COMMON GROUND.
>> WILLA ROSE JOHNSON IS AMONG THE NEWER WHITE ELEMENT IN THE CHURCH, AND SHE HAS EVEN GONE ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE CHURCH'S MINISTERS.
>> I WAS SURPRISED, BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF IN AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH.
I ALWAYS GREW UP IN A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CHURCH, JUST NATURAL, YOU KNOW.
I'M WHITE, MY FAMILY'S WHITE.
SO IT JUST -- THAT'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN MY CONTEXT.
>> ORIGINALLY FROM GEORGIA, JOHNSON FOUND FCBC, AS FIRST CORINTHIAN IS OFTEN KNOWN, AFTER SHE CAME TO NEW YORK AS A THEOLOGY STUDENT.
>> FCBC'S THE PLACE THAT MAKES EVERYONE FEEL COMFORTABLE.
REALLY, IT'S VERY -- IT'S QUITE REMARKABLE.
IT'S NOT ONLY JUST COMFORT.
IT'S WHAT I CALL THE FCBC MAGIC.
I DID NOT EXPECT, WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORSHIPPING IN FCBC, THAT I WOULD WORK HERE.
>> WHEN SHE GRADUATED, A JOB OPPORTUNITY CAME UP HERE, BUT SHE WASN'T SURE ABOUT APPLYING FOR IT.
>> I DID APPROACH PASTOR MIKE, AND I WAS, LIKE, "IS THIS OKAY?"
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE ENCROACHING ON A SPACE THAT'S A SAFE SPACE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.
>> JOHNSON WAS TOLD SHE'D BE WELCOME AS A STAFF MEMBER, AND SHE NOW RUNS THE CHURCH'S OUTREACH WORK, ENGAGING WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND ITS PROBLEMS.
>> THERE ARE PARTICULAR CHALLENGES TO HARLEM -- GENTRIFICATION, RISING COST OF HOUSING.
THERE'S MORE POVERTY HERE THAN THERE MAY BE IN OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK.
>> AND IT HASN'T BEEN HARD FOR YOU AS A WHITE WOMAN TO DO THAT ENGAGING?
>> YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HARD FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH WHOM I'M ENGAGING, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN SUPER HARD FOR ME.
YES, I'VE BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE SELF-AWARE, I WOULD SAY.
I REFLECT ON IT A LOT.
I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE WHITE.
BUT YOU REALLY SEE THAT HUMAN PAIN HAS NO COLOR.
WE'RE ALL ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS, POTENTIALLY.
WE'RE ALL ONE TRAGEDY, ONE PAIN AWAY FROM FALLING APART AS PEOPLE.
>> BACK IN THE CHURCH ITSELF, HOW HAS THE BLACK MAJORITY REACTED TO WHITES COMING TO WORSHIP WITHIN A RELIGIOUS TRADITION KNOWN FOR EXPRESSING PRIDE IN BLACK IDENTITY?
COULD A GROWING WHITE PRESENCE DILUTE THAT IDENTITY?
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS.
OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT IS ON THE WALL, AND IT SAYS THAT WE ARE COMMANDED BY GOD TO LOVE BEYOND THE LIMITS OF OUR PREJUDICES.
ONE CHALLENGE WE HAD IS THAT WE HAD TO HELP SOME OF OUR LEADERS REALIZE THAT ALL THE PERSONS WHO ARE WHITE WHO COME HERE ARE NOT TOURISTS.
>> THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LINGERING DOUBT THAT, FOR SOME WHITES, THEIR EXPERIENCE MIGHT STILL BE THAT OF AN OBSERVER MORE THAN A FULL PARTICIPANT.
>> THERE'S A DANGEROUS LINE BETWEEN COMING TO WORSHIP AND THEN LOOKING AT OTHER -- SOMEONE ELSE'S RELIGIOSITY AS ENTERTAINMENT.
>> BUT FOR THE INCREASING NUMBER OF WORSHIPPING WHITES WHO FEEL ENTIRELY AT HOME IN FCBC, THAT'S SIMPLY NOT AN ISSUE.
>> I'VE COME HERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRAISING AND WORSHIPPING AND BEING A PART OF THE CONGREGATION, AND NOT COMING HERE FOR THE SPECTACLE OR THE NOVELTY OR A SHOW.
I FEEL CENTERED.
I FEEL BALANCED.
I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A SAFE PLACE, AND I DID THE RIGHT THING TO GET OUT OF BED AND GET HERE THIS MORNING.
>> FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," THIS IS DAVID TERESHCHUK IN HARLEM, NEW YORK.
>>> THE VIETNAM WAR MADE FAMOUS SUCH NAMES AS DA NANG AND HUE.
FRED DE SAM LAZARO REPORTS TODAY FROM THE AIRFIELD IN HUE ON AMERICAN EYE SURGEONS WHO HAVE FLOWN THERE TO PROVIDE TREATMENT, AND TO TEACH VIETNAMESE SURGEONS, TOO.
IT'S PART OF A PRIVATELY FUNDED MISSION CALLED ORBIS.
>>> BACK IN 1970, WHEN THIS WIDE-BODY DC-10 FIRST WENT INTO SERVICE, WAR WAS STILL RAGING ALL AROUND THIS AIRPORT IN HUE, VIETNAM.
IN THE TOWN CENTER, THERE ARE STILL REMINDERS OF THE CONFLICT THAT ENDED 40 YEARS AGO, INCLUDING AN EXHIBIT OF CAPTURED AMERICAN MILITARY HARDWARE.
BUT AT THE AIRPORT, A VERY DIFFERENT RECEPTION.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> THE DC-10 CREW GOT A FLOWERY WELCOME.
THEN THEY QUICKLY GOT TO WORK ON BOARD.
>> WE CONVERT THIS AIRPLANE INTO A FULLY-EQUIPPED EYE HOSPITAL, STATE OF ART FACILITY.
WE HAVE A TEAM OF 22 PROFESSIONALS COVERING ALL WHAT IS NEEDED TO RUN THE HOSPITAL.
>> DR. AHMED GOMAA IS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE ORBIS FLYING EYE HOSPITAL.
STARTED IN 1982 WITH GRANTS FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND FROM CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.
IT HAS VISITED 92 COUNTRIES.
THIS IS THE SIXTH VISIT TO VIETNAM.
MANY OF THE STAFF ARE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING THE PILOTS.
NURSES AND DOCTORS DO HANDS-ON CARE DURING THE WEEK-LONG VISIT, BUT THE MAIN GOAL IS TRAINING, TO SUSTAIN CARE LONG AFTER THEY LEAVE, SAYS CALIFORNIA-BASED SURGEON MARY O'HARA.
>> THIS IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN BEING THE GREAT WHITE SURGEON WHO COMES IN AND DOES SOME MAGICAL SURGERIES AND THEN LEAVES WITHOUT IMPARTING ANY OF THE MAGIC TO THE SURGEONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S TEACHING THE DOCTORS THE SURGICAL SKILLS TO GO FORTH AND DO GOOD THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO TEACH OTHER DOCTORS, SO THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT.
>> SO WELL BEFORE THE PLANE ARRIVES, ORBIS HAS ALERTED LOCAL EYE CARE PROVIDERS WHO IN TURN ALERT LIKELY PATIENTS.
FOR 8-YEAR-OLD THUY, IT'S A RARE CHANCE AT SURGERY FOR HER STRABISMUS, OR LAZY EYE.
>> WE TOOK HER TO SEE THE DOCTOR FOUR YEARS AGO.
>> WE WERE AFRAID TO EVEN ASK HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST.
>> THUY'S FATHER IS DISABLED.
HER MOTHER EARNS LESS THAN TWO DOLLARS A DAY GATHERING AND SELLING RECYCLABLES.
>> I HOPE THE DOCTORS CAN HELP ME.
I DON'T WANT TO BE CROSS-EYED ANY MORE.
>> STRABISMUS IS COMMON, AFFECTING PERHAPS FOUR PERCENT OF ALL PEOPLE.
PATIENTS CAN LOSE SIGHT IN THE WAYWARD EYE AND DEPTH PERCEPTION.
THERE ALSO ARE PAINFUL PSYCHO-SOCIAL EFFECTS, SAYS DR. O'HARA.
>> WE'RE KEYED TO BE ATTRACTED TO SYMMETRY AND REPULSED BY ASYMMETRY ON A VERY SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CROOKED EYES TEND TO BE DOWN-RATED IN SOCIETY.
>> JUST BECAUSE OF THE APPEARANCE OF THAT PERSON.
>> RIGHT.
>> 6-YEAR-OLD VAN DOESN'T SEEM AFFECTED BY SOCIAL STIGMA, AT LEAST NOT YET.
>> HER LIFE IS PRETTY NORMAL.
SHE GETS TEASED A BIT, BUT HER LIFE IS PRETTY NORMAL.
>> VAN'S PARENTS ALSO STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND CANNOT AFFORD SURGERY.
>> WE HAD BEEN TO A DOCTOR THREE YEARS AGO.
THEY SAID WAIT FOR A CHARITY GROUP TO COME.
>> THE NEXT DAY THEY AND OTHERS GATHERED AT THE LOCAL EYE HOSPITAL FOR SCREENING.
ABOUT 75 PATIENTS ARE BEING SCREENED HERE AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.
SOME 45 WILL BE CHOSEN FOR SURGERY OR LASER TREATMENT, BASED ON A VARIETY OF CRITERIA.
THEY NEED TO BE PARTICULARLY GOOD, TEACHABLE CASES.
YOUNG PATIENTS WITH GOOD PROGNOSES HAVE PRIORITY, AS DO THOSE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR SIGHT ALTOGETHER.
ORBIS VOLUNTEERS, SURROUNDED BY LOCAL DOCTORS AND STUDENTS, ASSESSED PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS EYE DISEASES, INCLUDING DIABETES-RELATED CONDITIONS, GLAUCOMA, AND STRABISMUS.
>> MORE THERAPY.
MORE THERAPY.
>> THUY, IT TURNS OUT, WASN'T A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY.
DR. O'HARA SAYS SHE NEEDED MORE "PATCHING" THERAPY, IN WHICH THE GOOD EYE IS COVERED UP SO THE WANDERING ONE CAN BE EXERCISED.
>> WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE HER IN HER GLASSES AND HAVE HER AMBLYOPIA TREATED, AND THEN THINK ABOUT SURGERY.
>> THE LETDOWN WAS PLAIN TO SEE ON THE FACES OF THUY AND HER MOTHER.
>> OF COURSE WE'RE SAD, SEEING MY DAUGHTER SAD.
WE WERE HOPEFUL WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE, SO IT'S A LITTLE SAD THAT NOTHING CAME OF IT.
>> AND IS SHE OTHERWISE HEALTHY?
>> IT WAS VAN'S TURN.
>> SEE HOW MUCH BIGGER THE EXOTROPIA IS HERE THAN DOWN HERE?
>> AND HAPPIER NEWS.
>> I WOULD DO 10MM BILATERAL LATERAL RECTUS RECESSIONS.
>> MEANING VAN WOULD GET SURGERY ON BOTH EYES TO BRING THEM INTO ALIGNMENT.
THE NEXT MORNING, AS SHE AND HER FATHER WALKED UP TO THE AIRPLANE, LECTURES WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN WHAT NORMALLY IS THE FIRST-CLASS SECTION.
IT'S NOW A 48-SEAT CLASSROOM.
IN THE BACK, THE TEAM LED BY DR. O'HARA WAS PREPARING.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> READY.
>> DOES SHE HAVE ANY ALLERGIES?
>> NO.
>> OKAY.
>> NO ALLERGIES AND CLEARLY NO FEAR.
AS SHE UNDERWENT A 90-MINUTE PROCEDURE, IT WAS FOLLOWED CLOSELY ON VIDEO SCREENS IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> WHAT I LIKE TO DO WITH THE MUSCLES -- >> WHILE THERE ARE MORE ECONOMICAL WAYS OF TEACHING DOCTORS SUCH AS USING VIDEO LINKS OR EVEN FLYING TRAINEES TO DR. O'HARA'S CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL, ORBIS SAYS A KEY PART OF ITS MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF EYE DISEASE, OFTEN NEGLECTED AMID MYRIAD OTHER CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.
DR. GOMAA SAYS THE PLANE'S SHEER GEE WHIZ FACTOR ATTRACTS VISITS FROM INFLUENTIAL OFFICIALS IN THE HOST COUNTRY.
>> THE YOUNG DOCTORS, THE GENERATION COMING IS AMAZING.
VERY GOOD DOCTORS.
THEY NEED SUPPORT.
THEY NEED MACHINES.
>> SLOW, GOOD, UP, BEAUTIFUL.
>> FOR VAN'S PROCEDURE, DR. O'HARA GUIDED LOCAL SURGEON THAO PHUONG.
>> THE SURGERY WENT FINE.
THE PERSON I WAS TRAINING ON THIS PARTICULAR SURGERY HAD DONE SURGERY BEFORE, AND SHE WAS VERY GOOD AND ATTENTIVE, LISTENING TO INSTRUCTION AND FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION.
>> DR. O'HARA WAS VERY CLEAR IN HER INSTRUCTIONS.
THE WHOLE PROCESS, FROM TINY THINGS, FROM ANESTHESIA, IT WAS VERY DETAILED, STEP BY STEP.
>> SHE AND OTHER LOCAL DOCTORS HOPE ORBIS WILL HELP THEM EXPAND CARE TO ALLOW FAMILIES LIKE THUY'S TO GET HELP.
FOR ITS PART, ORBIS NEEDS A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN ITS OPERATION, BUT IT GETS ALMOST AS MUCH IN KIND THROUGH VOLUNTEERS, LIKE PILOT BOB RUTHERFORD.
>> YOU SEE THINGS THAT YOU NEVER SEE IN LIFE.
YOUNG CHILDREN WHO'VE NEVER HAD VISION, THEY HAVE THEIR SIGHT RESTORED.
OLDER PEOPLE, ORBIS IS VERY GOOD ABOUT CHARITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHARITY FOR THE YOUNG.
THOSE THINGS REALLY KIND OF PULL AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS, MAKES IT EASY TO DO.
>> EVERY LIFE MATTERS, AND EVERY LIFE MATTERS EQUALLY, AND WHEN YOU COME HERE AND YOU DO THIS, YOU'RE REAFFIRMING THAT.
>> SHE SHOULD BE FULLY HEALED IN SIX WEEKS.
>> THE MORNING AFTER SURGERY, VAN WAS STILL PUFFY AND A BIT GROGGY.
BUT JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, ORBIS SENT US THIS VIDEO OF VAN, A CHILD WHO, IN DR. O'HARA'S WORDS, HAD SYMMETRY RESTORED TO HER LIFE.
FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," THIS IS FRED DE SAM LAZARO IN HUE, VIETNAM.
>>> PERMANENT MORMON LEADER BOB PACKER DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 90.
HE HAD BEEN NEXT IN LINE TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
FROM 2008 UNTIL HIS DEATH HE LED THE CHURCH'S HIGHEST GOVERNING BODY.
>> ALSO, JAMES DUNN DIED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.
HE WAS A PROMINENT BAPTIST, A RETIRED PROFESSOR AT WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY AND A LONGTIME WASHINGTON ADVOCATE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM -- HE CALLED IT "SOUL FREEDOM -- AND FOR THE CLEAR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
HE WAS 83 YEARS OLD, AND A GREAT FRIEND OF THIS PROGRAM.
>>> UNESCO HAS ADDED 27 NEW SITES TO ITS WORLD HERITAGE LIST OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL WONDERS OF "OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE."
AMONG THE ADDITIONS, THE JORDAN RIVER BAPTISM SITE IN JORDAN, BELIEVED BY MANY TO BE THE SPOT WHERE JESUS WAS BAPTIZED.
ALSO, FIVE HISTORIC CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING THE ALAMO.
>>> FINALLY, RETIRED ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU AND HIS WIFE LEAH MARKED THEIR 60th ANNIVERSARY BY RENEWING THEIR WEDDING VOWS AT A CELEBRATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
THEIR DAUGHTER NAOMI COMPARED THEIR LOVE STORY TO THAT OF ROMEO AND JULIET.
EXCEPT, SHE SAID, HER PARENTS' STORY HAS A BETTER ENDING.
>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.
I'M BOB ABERNETHY.
YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND WATCH US ANYTIME ON THE PBS APP FOR IPHONES AND IPADS.
THERE IS ALSO MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO OR WATCH EVERY PROGRAM.
JOIN US AT PBS.ORG.
AS WE LEAVE YOU, SCENES FROM THE DALAI LAMA'S STAR-STUDDED BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN LOS ANGELES.
HE TURNED 80 THIS YEAR.P RETIREMENT PRODUCTS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.
>> BE MORE.
