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American Morning
5.4 Earthquake Hits Illinois; Pope Meets With Sexual Abuse Victims, Offers Apology; Gauging the Impact of High Gas Prices: How to Save More Money
Aired April 18, 2008 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: We've got some breaking news right now. This is very unusual. A quake, an earthquake in the Midwest. 5.4 it registered, which is moderate, but still in that area of the country. Very unusual. It was six miles from west Salem, Illinois, about 66 miles from Evansville, Indiana, down there in the southern part of Illinois.
Let's bring in our Rob Marciano who is down there in Atlanta. He's monitoring the situation. Rob, as we said, 5.4, a moderate quake, not really high but still very unusual, particularly in that part of the country.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Well, this is in the New Madrid Fault area which, you know, people don't really think about it too much, but it's famous for having earthquakes throughout history, and it's right in the middle of the United States. Here is a Google Earth map showing exactly what I'm talking about here.
As you mentioned, a 5.4. We'll zoom in right here in the Midwest. Almost in Corn Belt country, although it does get hilly around Illinois. 5.4, so moderate in intensity. What's probably most startling about this is that its depth is 6.2 miles deep. So that's pretty shallow depth, and we've gotten reports from people feeling it in Chicago, from people feeling it in Nashville. And that depth in this area that's, you know, fairly populated, we may very well see some, you know, slight light damage. So we'll wait for those reports to come in, John, but certainly an unusual event, as you mentioned.
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake there just to the northwest of Evansville, Indiana. We'll keep you posted in what we hear here in the newsroom as the reports start to file in. It shouldn't be too drastic as far as damage goes, but certainly there could be, you know, plates falling off of shelves and that sort of thing. So, unusual stuff here this early in the morning. John, back up to you.
ROBERTS: At the very least it was a very rude alarm clock for a lot of people in the Midwest area. It happened at 5:36 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time which would have been 4:36 in the time zone there. Rob, thanks very much. We'll get you back here in just a couple minutes to talk more about the weather.
Our other top story this morning, the Pope's visit to the United States. Pope Benedict XVI makes his way to New York and the United Nations today after an unannounced meeting with people who accused priests of sexual abuse. The Pope met and prayed with the small group of victims for about 25 minutes at the Vatican Embassy in Washington. Three of them spoke exclusively with CNN last night about their emotional meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERNIE MCDAID, SEX ABUSE VICTIM: I shook his hand, and I basically told him that I was an altar boy in the sacristy, a young boy praying to God at the time that I was abused. And it wasn't just sexual abuse, it was spiritual abuse, and I want you to know that. And then I told him that he has a cancer growing in his ministry and needs to do something about it, and I hope he hears me right.
FAITH JOHNSTON, SEX ABUSE VICTIM: I was just sort of numb, and I had my mother's rosary beads which she gave to me before I left home, and I was just clutching those and just praying for the strength to say the right thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He first apologized, and I didn't think I needed an apology. I thought I have heard them, and they rang hollow. But I think we also had to do one thing. We had to allow the Holy Father to be the Holy Father, and I think it was a great balance between that and him hearing us, and I'm hopeful.
JOHNSTON: I hope that other survivors can hear about this, see this, and get the same hope that we've all gotten from it.
MCDAID: I also have to tell you today's mass did something. His sermon there and his apology about the sexual abuse blew me away, and I had tears in my eyes that I wasn't ready to have. It was an incredible moment for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I struggle in my spirituality, but hope has been my faith, and my hope was restored today.
MCDAID: We're at the beginning of a new start, and there's real hope this time. It's not just words. I think there's going to be action following this moment now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: What the victims want to see happen now and what about all the other victims that didn't have an opportunity to meet with the Pope. We'll ask them when they join us live coming up in our next half hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: CNN's Jason Carroll covered the sex abuse scandal. He's been following the Pope's trip. In fact, you're just back from Washington.
So thousands of victims over several years. Five of them got to speak to the Pope. So how important is this? How significant is this, Jason?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alina, it is extremely significant, and to some a little surprising. But, you know, when you talk to those people who know Pope Benedict, who meet with him on a regular basis, they tell you over and over, I talked to Cardinal George about this in Chicago, Bishop Walsh here in New York, both of them saying how he is such a deep listener. And you also have to remember that for a time before he was Pope when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, you know, at the Vatican, he headed up the agency that was responsible for looking at all these cases. So he had an intimate knowledge of just how deep this problem was.
CHO: Right. In fact, one of the victims said exclusively to CNN last night that he felt like the Pope intrinsically understood what they were going through.
CARROLL: Yes.
CHO: Which I thought was a very bold statement. I know you've been talking to family members of the victims. What are they saying in terms of whether this is going to be enough, because the big question, Jason, of course, as you know, is what happens next?
CARROLL: Well, symbolically it was very important for them for a number of reasons. First, obviously he met with victims from Boston. Boston was the flashpoint of the sexual abuse crisis. I mean, at the end of 2002, I think it was some 500 victims just from Boston who came forward to say that they had been sexually abused. So, first symbolically, very important.
Second, I think you also have the sense from some people that they want to see a little bit of action. And the reason for that is because while there were a number of priests who were removed from the priesthood, to date, you still don't have the cardinals and the bishops who moved those priests around knowing that they had been sexually abusing children. Those cardinals and bishops to this date still not punished.
CHO: Right. And many people saying, critics saying that these priests have to go in order for there to be real healing in the Catholic Church. Jason Carroll following the Pope's trip for us. Jason, thanks, good to see you.
CARROLL: Thanks, Alina.
ROBERTS: Shocking testimony in the first day of hearings to determine custody of the 416 children seized from a polygamist compound in Texas. A child abuse investigator testified that pregnant teens believe no age was too young to be married. The state alleges that some mothers gave birth when they were as young as 13, and some were subjected to sexual abuse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN HAYS, ATTORNEY: It's difficult to get the facts of the case when I don't have the typical documentation you'd have on a family. I don't have access to a father. I don't have access to any kind of records that may exist.
ROD PARKER, FAMILY SPOKESMAN: I think it's also apparent that what the state is trying to do here is to tar a few -- tar all the families with the problems of -- or the alleged problems of a few families.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Attorneys for the children say the state has acknowledged that the kids are healthy and loved, and the separation from their parents has been traumatizing.
Troubling new numbers in this morning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An independent study reveals that one in five U.S. troops who served in those wars suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. That is about 300,000 veterans. The study also found that only half of them sought mental health treatment. The study done by the RAND Corporation also reports that even more, 320,000 suffered brain injuries on the battlefield.
A new tape has emerged said to be from al-Qaeda's second in command about the war in Iraq. The 16-minute audiotape supposedly of Ayman al-Zawahiri was posted to militant Web sites last night saying that the war has brought "failure and defeat for U.S. troops." The recording referenced the Congressional briefing last week from General David Petraeus, the U.S. top commander in Iraq. CNN has not yet been able to confirm the tape's authenticity.
Iran is rejecting U.S. claims that it is supporting insurgents in Iraq. General David Petraeus told Congress that Iranian-backed groups are the greatest threat to stability in Iraq. Iran's U.N. mission says those allegations are an attempt to distract the world's attention and sway U.S. public opinion against Tehran.
CHO: We are watching breaking news this morning, reports of a 5.4 magnitude earthquake. It happened in southern Illinois just about 30 minutes ago. Plus, wildfires tear through one town burning homes to the ground in west Texas.
Rob Marciano tracking all of the extreme weather for us. That's just ahead.
Plus, live pictures now as prices at the pumps set a new record overnight. Is your wallet running on empty? Wait until you hear what one driver is doing to save some cash. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: All morning long, AMERICAN MORNING is going to be taking a closer look at the effect that high gas prices are having on Americans. We're calling our special "Running on empty." The AMERICAN MORNING gas gauge shows the current price of a gallon of regular unleaded now at $3.44. That's another record high overnight, and up a couple of pennies from just yesterday. Last month, it was $3.27. A year ago, gas was 58 cents a gallon cheaper.
We're down this morning in a gas station in Doraville, Georgia. We're going to be talking to people all morning. Our first guest is Jim McFadden, and he's experiencing the effects of the high cost of gas and he's making some interesting choices. Jim, thanks for being with us this morning. First of all, tell us, how has the high price of gas affected you personally?
JIM MCFADDEN, BOUGHT MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT CAR: Good morning. Well, I live in Alpharetta, and my office is at College Park, which is right near the airport, which is 40 miles. I just sold my 2002 Cadillac SLS and bought a '93 Honda. I have been spending and filling up my Honda for roughly about $33 to $35.
Now with the price up a little bit more, it will probably go to about $38. I was spending $90 a week on my Cadillac. I always had to fill it up twice. It's 40 miles. I go 40 miles one way. It's 100 miles round trip. And I should tell you --
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: So you're saving -- so you're saving almost $50 a week now because you changed your vehicle.
MCFADDEN: How about saving almost $60?
ROBERTS: Wow.
MCFADDEN: It's almost $60. Between $50 and $60 a week.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: I always like to be conservative in my estimates. I always like to be conservative in my estimates. But --
MCFADDEN: Yes. And it's a four cylinder. I mean, it runs -- it's just unbelievable. I mean, and I can tell you this, that if I could take the public transportation, I would, but there's no way to get to my office from there.
ROBERTS: Yes. No, I understand.
MCFADDEN: It's just unbelievable.
ROBERTS: A lot of people are in the same boat as you. Where else were you being squeezed on high gas prices? Did you have to make some choices in order to fill up that car?
MCFADDEN: No. I mean, it doesn't make any difference. I go to the show just about -- I fill up on usually on Sunday night or Monday morning, and I don't have to fill up until probably the next Saturday or Sunday. With the 2002 Cadillac that I just sold, I had to fill up twice a week.
ROBERTS: Wow. You know, a lot of --
MCFADDEN: And used the high premium on top of it.
ROBERTS: All right, of course. This one uses regular gas, so you're saving about 25 cents a gallon right there.
MCFADDEN: Regular gas.
ROBERTS: Right, right.
MCFADDEN: A four-cylinder regular gas, I love it. I'm saving. You can just figure it out conservatively, probably between $55 and $65, $70 a week.
ROBERTS: Right. But Jim --
MCFADDEN: That's a lot of money.
ROBERTS: It is. It's absolute a lot of money. When you were filling up the Cadillac though, was that taking so much of your income that you had to forgo other things that you either needed or wanted to buy?
MCFADDEN: No. Just an expense that you have to do to go to work every day.
ROBERTS: All right.
MCFADDEN: And I work five days a week.
ROBERTS: Jim McFadden joining us this morning from the gas station down there in Doraville. Good to hear your story. Thanks for sharing it with us, Jim. And again, all morning long.
MCFADDEN: Thank you for having me.
ROBERTS: All right. Good to see you. And again, all morning long we're going to be checking in with folks down there at the gas station to find out how the high price of gas is affecting them. It's an interesting story.
CHO: Yes. Smart decision to change his car. Saving himself 60 bucks a week. That's a pretty good deal.
ROBERTS: I tell you, every time I put gas in the SUV I think, why didn't I buy a Prius?
CHO: That's right. You know, I'm considering getting one, a Prius, one of these days.
ROBERTS: You just got a bicycle. What do you need a car for?
CHO: You're absolutely right. A bike is a better mode of transportation these days when we're looking at $4 a gallon gas coming up.
Hey, guys. Stay with us because we are following breaking news this morning. An earthquake shaking southern Illinois. It happened just about 45 minutes ago. Rob Marciano monitoring this developing story from Atlanta.
Also, we're going to get on the phone to someone who felt the earthquake live when we come back. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back. We are following breaking news this morning. A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hitting southern Illinois. It happened about 127 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. It was felt in three states, including Indiana, Missouri, and, of course, Illinois.
George Noory, he's a radio talk show host. He lives in St. Louis, felt the earthquake. He joins us now by phone. So, George, it happened about 45 minutes ago, about 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. What did you feel? Were you awake at the time?
ON THE PHONE, GEORGE NOORY, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Alina, I had just gotten done with my national radio show "Coast to Coast AM," which normally originates out of Los Angeles, but I come back to St. Louis because I've got family here, and so I broadcast here every once in a while. So I had just gotten off the air, got home, was lying in bed, and all of a sudden everything shook. The roof was shaking. I thought the building was going to collapse.
You know, living in Los Angeles you're supposed to get used to earthquakes. Well, I have never felt one there.
CHO: Right.
(CROSSTALK)
NOORY: ... and the one here in St. Louis was pretty big.
CHO: Do you live in -- do you live in a home? Do you live in a home or an apartment building?
NOORY: Yes, it's a house.
CHO: It's a house. OK. So you felt everything shake. Wow.
NOORY: Oh, yes, for about 20 seconds. I mean, the roof kept shaking. I thought for a moment based on my show I had strange aliens on the roof. But I did not.
CHO: Yes, and again, your first thought when all of this was happening, you just didn't know what to think, I guess, right?
NOORY: I didn't know what it was. I thought there was some kind of a ground collapse for a moment. It was really weird. We're on the New Madrid Fault which is one of the biggest in the world, but you know, you never expect that. And, you know, my first inclination was I got to call my friends at CNN and see if they heard anything about it.
CHO: We're glad you did. Now, you said your radio show originates out of Los Angeles, right? California.
NOORY: Yes.
CHO: So you have you experienced anything like this out west? NOORY: You know, the biggest, Alina, that I've been in there, a 2.4. You know, this is a 5.4. I'm 127 miles from it, so you can only imagine how it felt for those folks who lived closer to the epicenter. Unbelievable.
CHO: Well, sure -- and I mean you happen to be awake because of what you do, but a lot of people I'm sure got a rude awakening this morning. 5:30 in the morning, a lot of people aren't awake. It was 4:30 local time.
George Noory, radio talk show host and CNN caller and viewer, we hope, thank you so much for joining us. We hope to talk to you a bit later. Thanks.
ROBERTS: We should mention to that St. Louis is about 120 miles away from the epicenter.
CHO: That's right. And it felt all the way there. Three states.
ROBERTS: Yes.
CHO: So we'll have to see at first light whether there's any real damage.
ROBERTS: Our Rob Marciano has been looking into the earthquake a little bit more. Rob, I was in California after the Northridge earthquake went through, about a 5.5 magnitude aftershock, and that kind of rocks and rolls a little bit. What kind of effect would they feel there in the Midwest based on the geography and the geology?
MARCIANO: Well, pretty similar. An update of our first report is that the shallowness of this has increased or it's become closer to the surface. So USGS just now saying it's three miles deep. So that being that shallow, being I don't want to say strong, it's a moderate earthquake, but that's one of the reasons that you feel it over 100 miles away. That's what they felt in St. Louis and Nashville, and as far north as Chicago.
Here it is again on Google Earth. You know, this New Madrid Fault, it goes back to the days when, you know, the earth was just covered by pangea. It's an older fault than the San Andreas. And back in 1812, this thing had a larger earthquake than the Great Earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco. So it certainly is something that we don't often talk about, but historically it's a big old one.
And you got some rain heading in that direction, by the way, over the next couple of hours. Just be aware of that. If you live right in the earthquake zone, this line of showers and thunderstorms is rolling to the east. It is severe down to the south across parts of Houston, Missouri (ph), Galveston and Harris County near Houston, east movement at 45 miles an hour is that line there with winds gusting possibly to 60 miles an hour.
So, clearly Kiran giving birth and the scream that she put out may have very well caused this earthquake. We'll get comment on that from the USGS, I suppose.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: I don't think she screamed all that much. She's pretty tough when it comes to --
Hey, but Rob, you want to clarify exactly what you mean when you say that the earth was covered by pangea?
MARCIANO: You know, back when the earth was just one large land mass, pangea, that's when this fault formed. So it's one of the oldest in the history of the world, and in some cases it can produce the greatest damage. Hopefully, that line --
CHO: Nonetheless.
MARCIANO: This wasn't the case, but back in 1812 it's the largest earthquake that we've ever seen here in the United States. So that's something to keep in mind.
ROBERTS: Just wanted to make sure that nobody took covered by pangea. I mean, it was covered in some sort of slime or something. Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right, guys.
CHO: It's a big day in the Big Apple. Pope Benedict arrives in New York City today. We're going to meet a 10-year-old who was picked to meet and greet the Pope. How was he picked? Is he nervous? That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: When Pope Benedict XVI lands in New York, he'll be greeted by a very lucky 10-year-old boy getting a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens picked him to present the Pope with flowers upon his arrival. Christopher Jordan joins us now along with Sister Francis Marie Wystepek, his principal at Divine Mercy Catholic Academy in Ozone Park, New York.
Good morning to both of you. I know you have taken some time off school for this sanctioned by the principal and the church. So, good for you. Christopher, you must be so excited. What was your reaction when you found out you were picked?
CHRISTOPHER JORDAN, MEETING POPE TODAY: I was just astounded. My jaw dropped. It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
CHO: What's the greatest thing about it?
JORDAN: That you can't wake up every morning and go see the Pope.
CHO: Yes, you feel pretty lucky, don't you?
JORDAN: Yes. CHO: Sister Francis Marie, you have 330-some students at the school. How do you begin to choose? How did you choose Christopher?
SISTER FRANCIS WYSTEPEK, SELECTED JORDAN TO MEET POPE: Right. Well, goodness, it's difficult because you said the number of students. I tried to think who I thought, you know, would be best suited for this, and Christopher and his family is a very faith-filled family, very active in the church. Chris himself is an active altar server, and also he's very active in community things.
CHO: Got an "A" in religion as well, right?
WYSTEPEK: Right.
CHO: Not bad, not bad. So have you thought at all about what you're going to say to the Pope? And if so, what?
JORDAN: I plan on saying welcome to America and happy birthday.
CHO: Oh, wow. That's right. He just turned 81 years old. What are your friends saying about all of this?
JORDAN: They're saying --
CHO: They must be jealous.
JORDAN: Sometimes.
CHO: Yes. So what are they telling you?
JORDAN: I'm happy for you. Good thing I'm friends with you now. So things like that.
CHO: Good thing I'm still friends with you.
WYSTEPEK: Yes.
CHO: Fair weather friends there. Now, tell me about a trip to Rome that you made recently. You went with your family and two priests, right? And you went to New Year's Eve mass at St. Peters Basilica. What did the priest say to you because you were pretty close to the Pope at that point, right?
JORDAN: Yes. He said, this is the closest you'll ever get to the Pope. And then when we found out, I called him that day and I said, you're wrong. I'm going to be even closer to the Pope.
CHO: Well, it's just such an exciting time for the 76 million Catholic faithful in this country. I know it is for you and, Christopher, I know it is for you as well. So I thank you both for joining us.
WYSTEPEK: Thank you very much.
ROBERTS: What a fantastic opportunity for him. As we have been reporting this morning, hearings resume today to determine the custody of 416 children seized from a polygamist compound in Texas. A child abuse investigator testified that pregnant teens believed that no age was too young to be married. Attorneys for the children said the state has acknowledged that the kids are healthy and loved and that the separation from their parents has been traumatizing.
It brings us to this morning's "Quick Vote" question. Here's what we're asking you today. The children taken from the polygamist ranch should A, remain in state custody or be given back to their parents? Cast your vote at CNN.com/am. We'll have the first tally of votes coming up later on this hour.
We also want to hear from you via e-mail. So head to our Web site at CNN.com. Follow the links that say "contact us." We'll be reading some of those e-mails coming up in our next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
CHO: Stay with us because we are following breaking news out of Illinois. A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocking the Midwest this morning. Felt in three states giving people a rude awakening.
And the price of gas we should mention hitting a new record overnight. How is it changing your life? We're going to be talking with drivers daring to fill up ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Pope Benedict XVI arrives in New York in just a few hours time. It's one day after his extraordinary meeting with tearful victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests. The meeting was set up by Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston who replaced the disgraced Cardinal Law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARDINAL SEAN O'MALLEY, BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE: He certainly talked about the consequences that it has had and our need to work to prevent this from happening again by assuring the safety of children. He also talked about the need to reach out to our priests who have also suffered very much because of the crisis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: CNN's senior Vatican analyst John Allen is covering the Pope's trip. He's the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, and he's going to be on the helicopter later on this morning, by the way, after the Pope lands in JFK and takes a helicopter to New York. He'll be with him. And John joins me now in the phone from Washington.
John, obviously the people who were involved in yesterday's meeting, very appreciative, very moved by it, but there were a whole lot of sexual abuse victims out there who weren't involved in the meeting. So, just how significant was this tete-a-tete yesterday between the Pope and these five victims of sexual abuse?
JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Morning, John. Well, I think it is in the eyes of most people, even those who might be inclined to be somewhat critical of what it means, I think there's a sort of universal consensus this was enormously important.
As you know John, this was the first time a pope has ever sat down with victims of sexual abuse since this crisis erupted really back in the mid-'80s and then in its most intense form in late 2001 in Boston. This has been a standing source of frustration and criticism for many victims, to say nothing of just ordinary Catholics. The pope had not personally sat down and listened to the stories of victims and sort of solicited their advice about how the church might respond.
I think the other thing that makes this so important is that there have been some in the Catholic church in the United States, including it must be said, some of its leadership class, that have wanted to present the image that this story is basically over and it's time to move on. Clearly I think the words and deeds of Benedict XVI this week have sort of given lie to that notion. I mean, after all, he would not have encouraged Catholics yesterday during his mass at Nationals Park in Washington to continue to promote healing and reconciliation if he thought that job had had already been accomplished.
ROBERTS: John, Bernie McDaid was one of three people we spoke with last night, one of the three people involved with this the meeting. Here is what he said about going to mass to listen to the pope speak at Nationals Park.
BERNIE MCDAID, SEX ABUSE VICTIM WHO MET POPE: I also have to tell you today's mass did something. I don't go to mass, but today I went with my mother, and his sermon there and his apology about the sexual abuse blew me away and I had tears in my eyes that I wasn't ready to have. It was an incredible moment for me.
ROBERTS: Bernie went on to say he believes this is the end of the beginning of this crisis. Obviously thinking there is a lot more work to do. So the pope meets with them. The pope says the right thing when he's at mass here in the United States, but is there a sense this will follow through and there will be follow-through at the pastoral level?
ALLEN: Well, I think that's a great open question, John. I think what's going to have to happen in the days and weeks to come is to figure out how we cash out these words and deeds of the pope in terms of concrete practice. I think as the pope said on the plane on the way to the United States, actually in response to a question I put to him about the crisis, this effort has to unfold on three levels.
There's the sort of internal church disciplinary process to make sure the predators are removed from the priesthood. There's the pastoral and spiritual level of reaching out to victims and promoting healing, and then there's the preventive process of making sure the system is reformed so the right people end up becoming priests and that their misbehavior is not neglected or sort of covered up by the church's leaders. I think people will have their eyes on what happens in coming days and weeks to see if there is that follow-through.
But I think today's headline is simply that for anyone who felt that Benedict didn't get it, that is that he didn't understand the depth and gravity of the crisis, I think clearly his message on this American trip has been that he does get it.
ROBERTS: And I know, John, you'll be one of those people right there in the very front row watching to see what develops out of this. John Allen for us this morning. John is going to be accompanying the pope on his way to New York and will be on the helicopter with him after he arrives at JFK airport.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: He has quite a busy day. Going to visit the United Nations, the pope, and also head to a synagogue, only the second time he's visited a synagogue.
ROBERTS: Also ground zero and he has mass at Yankee Stadium.
CHO: Yankee Stadium, a very busy schedule and a very busy weekend.
All right. We are also following some breaks news this morning out of Illinois. Just about an hour ago a moderate earthquake rocked that state. It happened just before we went on the air. Felt in several states as far away as Milwaukee we're learning. The 5.4 magnitude quake struck near West Salem. That's in the southern part of Illinois about 66 miles from Evansville and 127 miles east of St. Louis.
Right there you're looking at pictures that we just got in of some of the debris, some of the damage in Louisville, Kentucky, and those are live pictures.
We spoke to a radio talk show host in St. Louis at the top of the hour, and he told us that he felt his home shake for about 20 seconds. So there's a first look at the damage. Again, a 5.4 magnitude quake hitting southern Illinois felt in several states as far away as Milwaukee. We're going to follow this story throughout the morning.
Other stories new this morning, the head of the Federal Food Inspectors Union accuses the Agriculture Department of trying to intimidate its workers. He said his reports of safety violations were ignored by a superior and he was placed on disciplinary status as a result. Now, the Agriculture Department denies the charges. The committee is investigating alleged abuses at slaughterhouses which led to the largest beef recall in U.S. history.
House democrats want to hear from former white house political adviser Carl Rove. He's been asked to testify before the judiciary committee about allegations of politically motivated prosecutions in the justice department. The investigation grew out of those controversial firings of eight U.S. attorneys back in 2006. Rove's attorney says the decision to testify is up to the white house. So far the white house has invoked executive privilege. John?
ROBERTS: Despite white house objections, former President Jimmy Carter will meet with the exiled leader of the militant group Hamas. Last hour Mr. Carter arrived in Syria for the meeting for talks with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Thursday the former president met with other senior Hamas officials in Egypt. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the Bush administration. Mr. Carter is rejecting criticism of his controversial trip defending the meetings as an attempt to promote the Middle East peace process.
It is 36 minutes after the hour. Veronica De La Cruz here with other stories making headlines this morning.
Good morning.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning John, Alina and good morning to all of you out there. Here is what's new this morning.
President Bush preparing to meet the South Korean president at Camp David today. The "Washington Post" reporting that Lee will propose a permanent high level diplomatic liaison between North and South Korea. Today's meeting comes as South Korea announces an end to a five year ban on U.S. beef imports stemming from concerns about mad cow disease. The ban has been a key dispute between the two countries.
Well, the Olympic torch is in Thailand this morning. It arrived early today with security tight. The relay scheduled for tomorrow. Thai authorities are warning foreign activists any disruptions so result in revoked visas, prosecution and deportations.
In the meantime, a major Japanese Buddhist temple is withdrawing from hosting the relay on the 26th. The temple was supposed to serve as the starting point for the relay.
Well, it is taking you longer these days to reach your travel destination by air than it did just a few decades ago. An analysis by USA Today blames congestion on the ground and in the sky. For example, a typical flight from Las Vegas to New York took six hours and ten minutes last year. That's compared with four hours and 37 minutes back in 1988.
And finally, it was equal time for both democratic candidates on Comedy Central's the Colbert Report last night. First Hillary Clinton came out to fix a technical problem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How are you feeding this? Through the router or the offs bus on the switcher?
STEPHEN COLBERT, TALK SHOW HOST: It's an off.
CLINTON: Try toggling the input.
COLBERT: OK. Holy cow! Senator Obama, won't Senator Clinton be happy she fixed our screen?
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm sure she will, Stephen. I'm sure she will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: Also John Edwards making an appearance doing a segment usually called "The Word," but renamed "Edwards" for his appearance. That's what's new this morning. I'll send it back to John and Alina. Always nice to seeing them being good sports.
ROBERTS: They like doing that. It's a great way to reach people.
CHO: Obama said I think Americans are tired of these petty political games and Stephen Colbert said I speak on behalf of the media in saying, we're not. It's great to see them.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Veronica.
39 minutes after the hour. We're following breaking news out of Illinois. In fact, six states felt it now. 5.4 earthquake damage all the way to Louisville, Kentucky. Actually well past that. We're getting some e-mails. Brandon from Huber Heights which is near Dayton, Ohio, said we felt the earthquake here in Huber Heights. It shook hard and woke everyone up. You're looking at what's left of parts of a roof there of an old college in downtown Louisville. We've got more on this coming up for you in just a couple minutes with Rob Marciano. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. I'm Rob Marciano.
Again, a 5.4 magnitude quake about 127 miles east of St. Louis, felt hundreds of miles away from that, and we're getting reports of damage and even video of damage on the new Madrid fault here, which historically is fairly active, but this may very well be and I'll try to get confirmation of that, may very well be the strongest quake we have seen here in 40 years. We had one back in 1968 that was a 5.5.
So certainly a big one, and due to the rock makeups, pretty solid ground in the center of the United States, might be one of the reasons we have felt it so far away.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: Looking for some of the I-reports this morning, too, www.ireport.com or go to CNN.com/AM and follow the links. We're also getting some e-mails this morning, Rob, just to give you an idea of how far away this was felt. It looks like a radius of almost 400 miles. Sandy from Stevensville, Michigan, wrote saying I live in the southwest lower corner of Michigan. I was at my computer when the house started to shake. I couldn't imagine what it was. I saw the pictures on the wall shake. Just wanted to report that we felt it all the way up here. Then in the southern extreme, here's Margot from Cumming, Georgia, wrote and said I wanted to let you I felt the earthquake this morning all the way in Georgia. I was in bed which was shaking. My blinds were shaking. My clock said 5:38. It lasted about 15 seconds. I came downstairs to see if y'all had had reported an earthquake, and you did.
MARCIANO: The one in 1812 there was damage all the way in Washington, D.C. unlike California where on the edges of these plate boundaries it's a little more fluid and a little more hot rock, here it's cold, solid rock, and I suspect that that causes this ripple along the surface of the earth that could carry even further.
ROBERTS: Like a hammer on a piece of steel.
MARCIANO: Exactly.
ROBERTS: Just radiates all over. Rob Marciano this morning, thanks, following the earthquake for us.
44 minutes after the hour. The price of gas hitting another record overnight. How is it changing your life? We're talking about drivers who are daring to fill up in Georgia this morning. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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CHO: Well, all morning long AMERICAN MORNING will be talking with drivers about the effect of high gas prices. We're calling our special "Running on Empty." The current price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.44. That's a new record hit overnight. Last month it was $3.27, and one year ago today gas was 58 cents cheaper. We're live from a Shell Station in Doraville, Georgia. That's just outside Atlanta, and Michelle Smoak is with us right now. You're filling up your Toyota Camry. I understand it costs you about $40 to fill your tank. So, Michelle, how are these rising gas prices affecting you? What changes are you making as a result?
MICHELLE SMOAK, COMBINES ERRANDS TO SAVE GAS: Yes. I'm making changes in my life to conserve by making trips, making extra trips on my way to and from work, filling up, and not keeping extra things in my truck. I'm trying to manage the gas prices by doing that.
CHO: What else are you doing? I mean I know we've talked to a lot of people in the past who said we have to cut out things in order to save or gas and food and rent or your mortgage. Are you doing the same?
SMOAK: Yes, absolutely.
CHO: In what way?
SMOAK: I'm making sure -- yes. I'm making sure that when I make trips, you know, trips to and from work, only necessities.
CHO: Do you have access to public transportation? Are you able to do that in any way, shape, or form or do you have a bike?
SMOAK: Yes. If I can take public transportation, I do. When we have things downtown we definitely do take public transportation. But to and from work it's not an easy route.
CHO: To and from sometimes can be a long trip. So how much do you spend on gas a week?
SMOAK: I would say about $60. Usually $40 will take me a week. It is now $60 a week to and from work.
CHO: You're paying one-third now. Michelle Smoak, we thank you for joining us. Good luck getting that tank filled up and getting to work this morning. We thank you.
SMOAK: Great, thank you.
ROBERTS: Every time you pull the trigger on that pump it hurts.
CHO: It does. It does. And last year I remember filling up my tank thinking, boy, it seems high at three whatever it was last year. This year, I think it's going to go a lot higher.
ROBERTS: $3 looks like a bargain these days. $3.44 now heading to $3.50. I bet you $3.50 in the next couple weeks.
CHO: $4 a gallon in San Francisco in places already. It's climbing.
ROBERTS: 49 minutes after the hour. Face to face with the pope. Victims of sexual abuse by priests. Tell us what they talk about with the pope, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: As we have been reporting this morning, hearings resumed today to determine the custody of 416 children seized from a polygamist compound in Texas. A child abuse investigator has testified pregnant teens believed no age was too young to be married. Attorneys for the children say the state has acknowledged the kids are healthy and have been loved and the separation from their parents has been traumatizing.
It brings us to this morning's quick vote question this morning, should the children remain in state custody or be given back to their parents. 50% say they should stay in custody, 50% say they should be given back to their parents. It's an interesting split. Cast your vote at CNN.com/AM. We'll be reading your e-mails coming up in the next hour. Give us more e-mails about today's earthquake. We want to see how far and wide it was felt.
Innocence lost.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I gave him pictures of me as a child, the innocent child.
ROBERTS: The pope meets with victims of pedophile priests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were just granted unfiltered access to the pope. It's just unheard of. ROBERTS: They join us, live.
And cockpit crisis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looks like we've lost them all.
ROBERTS: What happens when engines stall at 35,000 feet? Training for the worst on your next flight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's being called unprecedented. Pope Benedict XVI confronting the clergy sex abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church. He met several people yesterday who were sexually abused by clergy. Joining me from Washington three victims who met with the pope yesterday, Bernie McDaid, Faith Johnston and Olan Horne.
Folks, thanks all for being with us this morning. Olan, let me start with you. You've had about 18 hours or so to digest the meeting yesterday. How are you feeling about the whole thing this morning?
OLAN HORNE, SEX ABUSE VICTIM: It's surreal, absolutely surreal. I actually woke up and as I was jumping into the car to come here, I was like is this really a dream? It's come up so fast and it's absolute affirmation of everything I have been trying to hold onto.
ROBERTS: Olan, you and Bernie were abused by the same priest at different parishes. After Bernie's parents complained about it he was moved. Faith you were abused by a priest while working in the rectory. Bernie let me ask you. How deep were the wounds that you carried in the meeting with the pope?
MCDAID: I'm sorry, did he ask me?
ROBERTS: Yes. Bernie, how deep were the wounds you carried into that meeting yesterday?
MCDAID: It's something you -- I have lived with the damages and didn't even know I had the problem from this until I was an adult coming forward. You know, as an active alcoholism and drug addiction all through my teens and early 20s. Sober about 25 years now or something, whatever, but it's the mistrust and anger that you live with forever. This thing doesn't -- you don't graduate from this problem.
ROBERTS: Was there also anger, Bernie, that the church seemed to be doing nothing about it?
MCDAID: Well, we struggled for six, seven years now in trying to be heard. It's always been about the church, the lawyers, the money, or whatever, the lawsuit. Now it's about victim survivor community and the damages. It's finally coming full circle to the real problem here.
ROBERTS: I want to ask each of you what happened during this meeting. Faith, you had the opportunity to finally talk with the pope about your feelings. What did you say to him?
FAITH JOHNSTON, SEX ABUSE VICTIM: I had so much I wanted to say, and then I got up to him and I just started -- I burst into tears, but I think my tears spoke louder than words. I think in that moment I almost felt like that 14, 15-year-old face, the victim face, and then the pope just started talking to me just so kindly, so lovingly, congratulating me about my upcoming wedding. I suddenly felt this hope and confidence, I felt even stronger than I did before.
ROBERTS: What did he say to you, Faith, about the abuse that you suffered?
JOHNSTON: He didn't say anything about the abuse. He said thank you for what you did, and then he was really concentrating on how positive I think this huge positive event that's quickly coming up in my life, my marriage.
ROBERTS: Olan, what did you say to the pope when you had the chance to speak with him one-on-one?
HORNE: It was a very, very difficult moment for me. You know, I wanted to be logical, and I felt this was more than just an honor, but it held such a great responsibility. Why us? Why are we going in? And I wanted to make sure we tried to represent each one of us, and I can only speak for myself, that we brought something special. We weren't just going to go in there and we didn't want to be served a big plate of platitude. We really wanted to have some substance. I spoke to him and talked to him about my hate for the church, toward the administrations, and the bishops and all that needed to be done. I asked him to forgive me for having such hate.
ROBERTS: How did he respond?
HORNE: He was amazed. He just couldn't believe it. I mean -- but he bore a very difficult responsibility. When he first presented himself to us, he stood in front of us almost like in front of a jury. It had a moment to it. It was more difficult for him. It was really easy for us to go in there. We've had a mission and we've had a logic about what we really expected from this and we were bringing it. It was difficult for him.
ROBERTS: Typically these audiences with the pope are very scripted. It's stand over here. Here is how you act. Don't say this. Don't talk to him. Don't speak unless being spoken to.
