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CNN Sunday Morning
Search for Missing Florida Teenager Comes to Sad End; Interview With Alia Sabur
Aired April 17, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The search for this missing Florida teenager comes to a sad end.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. And it's April 17th. Good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. 7:00 a.m. here in the East. 4:00 a.m. in the West. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started this morning with headlines now in the news.
After six days, the search for Sarah Michelle Lunde is over. The body of the missing 13-year old was found yesterday in a pond near her home in Ruskin, Florida. The Hillsborough County sheriff says the pond will be drained later today and the area swept for evidence.
A Russian Soyuz space ship has docked at the International Space Station, paving the way for the first U.S. shuttle flight in more than two years. The Soyuz capsule carried a U.S. Russian crew and an Italian astronaut. NASA hopes to resume shuttle flights next month with discoveries mission to the space station.
U.S. Army Specialist Keith Maupin has been promoted to sergeant one year after he was apparently captured in an attack on his convoy. The military maintains scheduled promotions for troops who have been captured under the assumption the person is still alive.
Last June, you may remember Al Jazeera released a video from Iraqi militants, claiming to have Maupin, but U.S. officials could not positively identify him.
NGUYEN: Here's why you need to stay tuned this hour. First, an amazing teenager with a rare musical gift. We'll talk to her about playing at Carnegie Hall.
Oh, yes, she's also a researcher at Drexel. And at 16, she is the youngest Ph.D. candidate in the country, Tony. You definitely need to meet this incredible young woman.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really can't stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: That was really you, Tony. My partner, Tony Harris, explores his career options...
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: ...as a figure skater. Not. Hey Tony, don't quit your day job. All right? And yes, very limited options.
Later on today, as well, this boy's story is like an episode of "Touched by An Angel," except he was touched by A. Rod. There's much more to this twist of fate than you can imagine.
HARRIS: All that and much more is coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
But we begin in Ruskin, Florida. The search for 13-year old Sarah Michelle Lunde is over. Unfortunately, it's the worst possible outcome.
CNN's Sara Dorsey is in Ruskin with the details this morning.
Sara?
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, the worst possible outcome indeed. And CNN is learning new details about this crime. According to law enforcement agents, Sarah Lunde's killer, apparently tried to weigh down her body, so it would stay under the water.
Of course, we know now that was not successful. It has been just an emotional rollercoaster for people here at the First Apostolic Church, Sarah's church.
This has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the sheriff's office. And people here were hopeful yesterday that they could still bring her home alive. Of course, last night, they found out that was no longer a possibility.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORSEY (voice-over): After five long days of tirelessly searching for 13-year old Sarah Lunde, the end no one wanted to hear. A search dog led authorities to her body in an abandoned fish farm only a half mile from her home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was clear from investigators who were at the scene that whoever put her there went to great effort to conceal her body.
DORSEY: This is the second missing child case in this area in the last few months. Mark Lunsford knows the outcome too well. In February, his nine-year old daughter Jessica disappeared.
The body was found three weeks later. The man charged? A convicted sex offender.
Sarah's pastor says he was almost like a dad to her. He says it's hard to understand how this could happen to a 13-year old who loved life and had so much living yet to do.
JOHNNY COOK, REV., PASTOR: Inside I'm broken because of what's happened. The hurt is beyond imagination.
DORSEY: The sheriff is not naming any suspects, but is talking to this man, 36-year old David Onstott, a convicted sex offender who had a relationship with Sarah's mother. Onstott is now in jail on unrelated charges. Pastor Cook says whoever did this will eventually have to pay the ultimate price.
COOK: God will bring him to justice. God knows who and who they are and what's happened. And they'll never get away with that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORSEY: And the search is not necessarily over. The sheriff's office says they will drain that body of water likely today to try to gather more evidence from that.
They are also asking people in this area to be on the lookout for any clothing that may be along the roadway or out of place and call authorities if they do find that -- Tony?
HARRIS: Sara Dorsey in Ruskin, Florida this morning. Sara, thank you.
Another missing person mystery in Pennsylvania to tell you about. But this is a 59-year old prosecutor from Center County. Police yesterday found Ray Gricar's mini Cooper in a parking lot in Lewisburg, but they don't know where he is. He was last heard from on Friday morning, when he made a call on his cell phone saying he was driving toward Lewisburg. Police are checking the car for evidence, but they say there are no obvious signs of foul play.
NGUYEN: The official mourning period for Pope John Paul II is now over. And tomorrow begins the task of electing a new pope from among the cardinals.
CNN Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher joins us now with the latest on that search.
Good morning, Delia.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Good morning, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, what is the latest on the search? What preparations are underway right now?
GALLAGHER: Well, Betty, as you can imagine, there's great excitement here for tomorrow's event, the first time in 27 years that Rome has seen a conclave.
I had a chance to go into the Sistine Chapel yesterday, where the conclave will be taking place tomorrow. And the chapel is set up in a sort of very modern way. What will happen is the 115 cardinals will congregate outside the chapel. They will process in, about a 10 minute procession, singing the litany of saints, this wonderful chant of saints.
Once they are in the chapel, they go up a ramp. The actual tables are sort of conference tables, as it were, facing each other on a raised platform.
Now underneath that platform are the debugging and jamming devices, so that the cardinals can't use their telephones. Of course, this has to be all taking place in secret. They will then sit down. They must take an oath of secrecy. And then they will receive their ballots.
On these ballots, they must hand write the name of their choice of candidate. Then they must bring it up in another sort of very formal way to the altar, to a chalice. They must place it in the chalice. They go back and sit down. The votes are then counted.
And then, of course, the famous burning of the ballots. And if we have an election, we will see the white smoke, as we know. They've also instituted a kind of second stove, as it were, to help push up the air, so that everybody on the outside can be sure -- very clear about whether that smoke is black or white.
So a couple of new modern things happening inside the very ancient Sistine Chapel for this very ancient ceremony of the conclave -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Delia, 115 cardinals voting. Are there any frontrunners as the conclave begins tomorrow?
GALLAGHER: Well, of course, there have been several names put in the media in the past few days. The cardinals as we know, aren't saying very much. But the frontrunner, if we want to say, could be Cardinal Ratzinger, for example, the German cardinal, a close collaborator of John Paul II at the congregation for the Doctors of Faith, sort of the church's doctrinal watch dog. He would be the conservative pillar, if you will.
Then you have Cardinal Martini, a Jesuit, also 78. He is an Italian. Very much loved by the more progressive liberal wing, but perhaps Cardinal Martini, he's retired. He's gone to Jerusalem. Might be considered not the right candidate for the modern time, in which case they might go to a younger cardinal, who is also the archbishop of Milan, where Cardinal Martini was.
That's Cardinal Tettamanzi. Tettamanzi is considered also a favorite here amongst the Italians and would probably have some wide support amongst the more progressive and liberal factions.
Now aside from those three top runners, of course, there are many, many sort of another level. Probably in the first voting, you'll see that they'll be gearing towards those couple names. If they don't receive the 77 votes necessary to elect a pope, then we might see in the successive days, they will go other candidates, perhaps even the Latin Americans that we have discussed, Cardinal Hummes of Brazil, for example. Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina and so on. There are many very good candidates here. So we'll have to wait and see how it plays out. Betty?
NGUYEN: And quickly, does the vote come? Or I guess the choosing of this new pope, does that come very quickly? Or does it take a lot of votes for that to happen? Historically, what have you seen?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think that in general, in the history of conclave, it has been two or three days, excuse me, two or three days that we see a new pope.
So I think we can expect something of that nature this time around, probably not tomorrow. Betty?
NGUYEN: It's an important decision. And I see why you're all choked up. Delia Gallagher, thank you so much.
GALLAGHER: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, hey, talk about a save. Did you see this one?
HARRIS: No, I didn't.
NGUYEN: It's a good one. A. Rod makes quite a play, but this move that I'm talking about, it was off the field. We'll tell you what happened when this Yankee was in the right place at the right time.
HARRIS: Which explains why I didn't see it.
OK, also, we'll meet an amazing teenager who's already accomplished more than many people do in a lifetime.
NGUYEN: And good morning, Raleigh, North Carolina. Your weather forecast, look at that, the sun coming up there, over Raleigh. This is a live look from our affiliate WRAL. We'll have that forecast plus the forecast for the rest of the nation in just a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: In our stories across America, rough weather on the high seas. The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn has docked this morning in South Carolina for some needed repairs. Yesterday, on its normal route between New York and the Bahamas, it was hit by a freak wave that smashed in two windows, flooded 62 cabins, and injured four passengers.
The ground is still shaking in California. Aftershocks are still being felt a day after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit Kern County. The tremor even shook buildings in Los Angeles some 85 miles away. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but experts are warning of dozens of aftershocks in the next few days.
And lastly a quote. "When a man is in trouble, or in a good fight, he wants all of his friends around him, particularly armed." That's from House Majority leader Tom DeLay to supporters at the National Rifle Association Convention. DeLay spoke at the group's annual convention in Houston, Texas yesterday, where he blamed the media and political opponents for stories of his alleged ethics violations.
DeLay has, as you know, come under fire in recent months for these alleged ethics violations. Questions have been raised of payments for overseas travel, DeLay's ties to lobbyists who are investigation and campaign payments to family members. One Republican has even calling for DeLay's resignation.
Well, what do you think? Should the House Majority Leader resign? E-mail us this morning. There's the address. Wam@cnn.com. And check this out. Trying to get up on the slippery ice. All right, that story's coming up in just a couple of minutes.
NGUYEN: Oh, my goodness, Tony. And they put that on television. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
But I can't wait to see the rest of it. We'll be talking about that soon.
But right now, for the past several Sundays, we've introduced you to some super teenagers, whose talent and drive may well change the world. It is a project we've undertaken with our corporate cousins at "Teen People."
In today's final installment, we meet Alia Sabur. She is using 3-D imagery to find a cheaper, less invasive way for doctors to remove tumors. There she is. And at just 16, she is just about two years from completing her Ph.D. in Engineering. Can you believe it?
Good morning to you, Alia.
ALIA SABUR, RESEARCHER: Good morning.
NGUYEN: All right. I got to get to the bottom of this. You're 16-years old. You are the youngest Ph.D. candidate in the nation. Are you just a quick learner? Did your parents push you? What is your secret?
SABUR: Well, I just learn differently than other kids. I mean, I've never had Baby Einstein or flash cards or anything of that sort. I just -- whenever I was starting at the same time as other kids my age, I would just do everything a little bit faster. And it added up.
NGUYEN: Apparently, yes. OK, now is the time for you to show your stuff. Tell us what you're doing with this research?
SABUR: Well, you summed it up pretty well, but...
NGUYEN: All right. In layman's terms, right?
SABUR: Right. But I'm using laser beams to trap atoms inside them. These laser beams are hollow. And basically, you can control the atoms. And when you can do this, these are used -- usually used as a more precise tool in, for example, laser surgery and also in 3-D imaging and various other completely unrelated topics.
Basically what I have is a much cheaper method of trapping the atoms. So it's been tried in the past, but it was just too difficult. So I think that now that it's much easier and much cheaper, it'll open up a whole new area of research.
NGUYEN: And so what ultimately you can do with this is use that laser to remove tumors, maybe even cancerous tumors?
SABUR: That is definitely what I am hoping for, yes.
NGUYEN: OK. What inspired you to do this?
SABUR: I've always enjoyed science. And then it just seemed like a natural thing when I was older to do that in college. And now that I'm in graduate school, I just -- I found this project when I was an undergrad. I discovered that you could do this. And as I researched it, I found that it had amazing potential, and thought that it would just be a really incredible thing to work on.
NGUYEN: And you know, I also hear that you're pretty good on the clarinet. Played at Carnegie Hall, even with Smash Mouth. Where do you have time for all these talents?
SABUR: That's what makes me, me. I mean, that's why I'm special. It just doesn't take me quite as long as everyone else to do things.
NGUYEN: Yes, I would say so. Very fast learner. Are you more passionate about one over the other? Or do you just love them both?
SABUR: I think it's probably split equally. I say that science is for the mind and music is for the soul. I think that you can connect with people much more with music than you can with science.
NGUYEN: See, that's why you're well rounded. Science is for the mind. Music is for the soul.
OK. Ultimately, what does your soul and your mind want to accomplish with all of this? Is there something that you haven't tackled just yet, that you want to do?
SABUR: I'm just going to continue full speed ahead with both. I'm hoping to be the first professional clarinetists with a Ph.D., that's not in music.
NGUYEN: You're well on your way. That is wonderful. And I do have to ask you, though, one other thing. Have you found any challenges, any roadblocks on your way in your long 16 years?
SABUR: Things have been not exactly smooth along the way, but that's how it is when you do something that no one else has really done before. But it's -- I mean, there are challenges along the way, not honestly so much with the actual work and the class work and practicing and performing, but with everything else along the way. I mean, there are a lot of people who told me that I couldn't do what I've done. And if I had listened to them, then I wouldn't have done any of it. So...
NGUYEN: And you have done much in such a short amount of time. Last thing I want to ask you, and very quickly, what advice do you have to other teenagers out there, who want to change the world, but just don't know how?
SABUR: I would say that if you have a goal, you should fix it in your mind and not let anything stop you on the way. Because no matter what you try to do, people will tell you that you can't or that shouldn't. And especially for other girls, who are really discouraged in the sciences, that you can be just as good at it or better than boys.
NGUYEN: And you're proof.
SABUR: You can't...
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
SABUR: ...let people bring you down. That's basically all there is to it.
NGUYEN: That's a good model to live by. Alia, we appreciate your time. And thanks for much for changing the world.
SABUR: Thank you. It was really great being here.
NGUYEN: Well, it's great to have you. Tony? Isn't she great?
HARRIS: Yes, look at her. I feel like I'm living my life in reverse or something.
While Alia's trying to improve the world in science, thousands of men and women protect s in the fight for freedom. Just ahead, we'll meet a true hero, a soldier who saved the lives of his fellow comrades while he lay nearly mortally wounded himself. That story in a moment.
But check this out.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Our hero story this week is about Master Sergeant Kevin Whalen of the Washington Air National Guard. Heroic action during fierce combat in Afghanistan has earned him a silver star.
Casey Wian has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MASTER SERGEANT KEVIN WHALEN, WASHINGTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD: Huskey, this is 2-0...
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Camp Murray outside Takoma, Washington, Master Sergeant Kevin Whalen tests a radio. It's a routine job, but he knows how critical it can be on the battlefield. Whalen saw combat with the 116th Air Support Squadron in Afghanistan, fighting Taliban and al Qaeda forces. Whalen was manning a grenade launcher when he was ambushed, hit in the abdomen and nearly died.
K. WHALEN: I felt the burning, and I pulled it out and looked at what was left of the bullet, and I was like, wow, that could have been it.
WIAN: Whalen tried frantically to reload the weapon, but it had been destroyed by bullets. He scrambled for his rifle. As he did, another round hit, this time piercing his arm.
K. WHALEN: I knew instantly what had happened. It knocked me into the turret. I looked down to check my arm and I could see the blood already spreading in my uniform.
WIAN: Whalen dressed his own wound and tried to call for help. His radio was destroyed.
K. WHALEN: I had to get hold of the other satellite communications radio, which is on the right side of the vehicle closest to the enemy fire.
WIAN: He summoned air support and then told them where to drop the bombs to end the ambush, saving the lives of others in his unit. Whalen's heroism that day earned him the Silver Star.
K. WHALEN: I feel like in a lot of ways, I was surrounded by heroes. The team I was with was an incredible group of warriors.
WIAN: For Whalen's wife, Laura, a reservist herself, news of the medal was huge. She never wanted to know just how close she came to losing him.
LAURA WHALEN, WIFE: I was just so proud of him. And then it was like, OK, sit down and tell me the whole story, because I hadn't been ready until then to hear the whole story of what had happened on that day.
WIAN: Whalen's happy to be home now, with Laura and daughter Mikaela (ph), but he intends to continue his military career.
Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Of course, we bring you hero stories every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: But wait, Tony, because we are not done telling hero stories just yet. You want to check this out. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I like to say is a future Hall of Famer faced a future Hall of Famer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All righty, then. One star-struck fan gets a lifetime of memories after a life saving encounter. Find out what happened.
HARRIS: Plus, can modern technology penetrate the walls of secrecy at the Vatican? We'll take a look next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A-Rod. A-Rod, A-Rod, A-Rod. Alex Rodriguez scores up big with one fan off the field. We'll find out about that a little bit later.
Welcome back and a good Sunday morning to you. I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. That is a great story. And we'll tell it to you in just a moment. But first, here's a look at what's in the news this morning.
In Ruskin, Florida, the search for a body now turns to the search for evidence. Crews yesterday found the body of 13-year old Sarah Michelle Lunde. It was discovered partially submerged in the pond near her home. Now today, authorities will drain that pond and search for more clues. A community church service will be held in about 2.5 hours. And CNN will bring that you to you live.
Japan's foreign minister is hand delivering a protest to China's government. His country's upset over Chinese demonstrations against Japan's wartime past and its efforts to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Yesterday in Beijing, 20,000, you see them here, 20,000 protesters converged on Japan's consulate, where they broke windows and vandalized cars, along with businesses nearby.
HARRIS: Well, the process of choosing a new pope gets underway tomorrow inside the Vatican, but the Rome and Catholic cardinals who have gathered there already are thinking long and hard about the important choice they must make.
One thing is certain. One of them will eventually emerge as the head of the church. The papal election is taking place amid extraordinary secrecy. The only outward sign of what's going on will be puffs of smoke as the ballots are burned.
But in this age of high tech espionage, there's no shortage of ways the secrets of the Vatican might be revealed.
CNN's Chris Burns takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Vatican, as the leaders of the church prepare to choose a new pontiff, the saints watch over the secrets of the inner sanctum.
So did the Vatican police, trying to stay one step ahead of spy technology. Security experts say the sky's the limit, from monitoring cell phone conversations, to eavesdropping from high above. Look how close satellites can peak.
ANDREA MARGELLETTI, CENTER FOR INTL. STUDIES: Surely many intelligence agencies in the world are trying to penetrate inside the Holy See with special aircraft, for example, spy planes, with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or lasers.
BURNS: Lasers that could be pointed at windows of the Sistine Chapel to pick up conversations where the cardinals will cast their votes. Or the windows of the Vatican Santa Marta Hotel, where the cardinals are staying.
Vatican experts say the church's security force is expected to sweep the grounds for bugs and other gadgets during the conclave.
Private Detective Miriam Tomponzi displays some of the classic tricks. The lighter that's a camera. Another that converts into bug. The pen, that's a microphone.
MIRIAM TOMPONZI, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR (through translator): There's absolutely no doubt we could spy on the Vatican the conclave.
BURNS: But the security for this conclave has been years in the making.
(on camera): Pope John Paul II himself issued counterintelligence orders for conclaves, banning cell phones, recorders, radios, televisions, electronic organizers to protect the cardinals from in his words "threats to their independent judgment."
(voice-over): More than that, experts say, a pope spied on for years under Communist regimes in Poland, helps better sensitize the Vatican to espionage.
MARGELLETTI: I think now, we are the holy see, much less vulnerable than ever.
BURNS: Less vulnerable to outside spying perhaps. But experts also say that won't make the Vatican free of internal intrigue, as rivals jockey for power in the shadows of the saints.
Chris Burns, CNN, Vatican City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And checking other stories around the world now. And the focus again is on south Asia this morning. That's right. After nearly six decades of animosity, India and Pakistan are talking peace when it comes to the disputed region of Kashmir. Now joining us to talk about that is Anand Naidoo with the latest on those international headlines. Good morning.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK: Good morning for me. Yes, it's one of those hot button issues, that's led to several wars between India and Pakistan.
The latest we have is that the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and the Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, have held 2.5 hours of talks. The atmosphere was described as very warm. They expected to sign an agreement to reduce two troop levels on their border and create a trade council.
India and Pakistan each control a section of Kashmir, which was divided in 1947. Previous talks to resolve the crisis there have failed. The last talks taking place in 2001.
Moving onto Iraq, insurgents attack a U.S. military camp in Ramadi, killing three U.S. soldiers. Seven others were wounded, three seriously. Ramadi is about 17 miles west of Baghdad. Residents say dozens of armed militants were involved in the attack. Some where killed.
This latest assault in Iraq brings to 20 the number of people who've been killed in the past 24 hours. And these deaths taking place in a wave of attacks in Baghdad and across Iraq.
Moving onto outer space, a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying two astronauts and a cosmonaut has successfully docked with the International Space Station. One of the astronauts, an Italian, will spend eight days in space.
This latest launch could, in fact, pave the way for the resumption of shuttle flights. The delivery and repair mission is scheduled to take place. That mission is expected no earlier than mid May.
That is all from me for now. I'll be back later with the latest on those talks between India and Pakistan. That's happening later. For now, let's send it back to Betty and Tony.
HARRIS: Anand, thank you.
NGUYEN: Yes, looking forward to it.
Well, it might be his best catch ever. New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez was in Boston for a baseball game, of course. Well, just before being hit with a sort of fast curve ball, should we say, A-Rod rushes in a for split second save. And fans, well they erupt in cheers. But none of it happened on the baseball field. Nope.
Our Alina Cho explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Patrick McCarthy is one lucky boy.
PATRICK MCCARTHY, NY YANKEES FAN: I saw my favorite baseball player on the Yankees. And he just saved my life.
CHO: His favorite player...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alex Rodriguez.
CHO: Fans call him A. Rod. New York Yankee star, turned good Samaritan.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ, NEW YORK YANKEES: Right place, right time, I guess.
CHO: Rodriguez was out and about in Boston Wednesday, just hours before a game against the Red Sox, when he noticed an oncoming car and a boy, Patrick, who was about to get hit.
RODRIGUEZ: So it was just one of those incidents that I put my arm in front of him. And the car almost ran us both over.
CHO: Eight-year old Patrick was stunned and star struck.
MCCARTHY: So I look up. And I was like, "A. Rod, wow." And he was like, "Are you OK?" I was like, "Yes, I am. A. Rod, my name's Patrick McCarthy and I want to play for the Yankees someday."
CHO: Patrick dreams of pitching for the Yankees. So does his father.
Patrick even plays for a Little League team called the Red Sox. Yes, the Red Sox. You see, Patrick and his family live on Martha's Vineyard, not far from Boston, anti-Yankee territory. The McCarthy's are Yankee fans because father Joe grew up in New York. It's not always easy.
When the Red Sox won the World Series last year, Patrick's classmates let him know.
MCCARTHY: They kind of bug me about like they won the World Series. And I just would say like who's won 26 World Series? And who's only won six?
CHO: Now he has the last laugh, an instant celebrity, even recognized outside Yankee Stadium.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go Yankees, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go Yankees, right?
CHO: The McCarthys are here to take in two Yankee games and see their hero Alex Rodriguez.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I followed Alex's career from Seattle to Texas. I've seen him play in all star games and make brilliant plays. But this is his best catch ever. MCCARTHY: Well, I like to say is a future Hall of Famer says to future Hall of Famer.
CHO: Crisis averted, opportunity of a lifetime.
Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: What a cool, smack talking kid, huh?
NGUYEN: And you know, he used the opportunity. HE was -- his life was just saved and he was like, "Hey, A-Rod, I'd like to play for the Yankees one day."
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: He used the opportunity.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: To his best advantage.
HARRIS: Yes, to pitch for a job, yes. It's good.
NGUYEN: You got to start soon, right. As early as you can.
HARRIS: Absolutely. Moving forward now, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has come under fire in recent months for alleged ethics violations, prompting calls for his resignation.
What do you think? Should DeLay resign? E-mail us your responses, your thoughts on the question at wam@cnn.com.
NGUYEN: And good morning, Raleigh. We will have your weather forecast a little bit later this hour, as we listen to this great music, as you watch the sun come up over Raleigh.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, Spring is here. And besides the allergies that you're suffering from, that means the home buying season is in full balloon. But beware of those thorns, because you say they are out there.
Veronica De La Cruz, good morning.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM DESK: Good morning to you. And you have to beware of those thorns, Betty. You are right about that, which is why when it comes to shopping for a new home, there are some things almost as important as the right answers. They are the right questions. And lucky for you, they are a mere mouse click away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ (voice-over): First off, ask yourself these four questions. Why do you want to buy a house? Can you afford it? What's the cost of renting? And are you ready to make that commitment?
Once you've decided that buying a home is for you, and you found the perfect one, ask yourself this. Does the neighborhood make the grade? That old wisdom to buy where the schools are good is true now more than ever.
Another tip. Take a good look at who's working for you. Don't rely on the luck of the draw. Before you shop for your house, shop for an agent. And how much house can you afford? To arrive at an affordable price, this calculator follows the guidelines of most lenders.
Are you wondering how much your mortgage will be? Punch in the numbers and find out.
Finally, do you want to live like a millionaire? This interactive gallery shows you what $1 million will get you across the nation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: And it amazing what you can get across the nation. You know...
NGUYEN: For a mere $1 million.
DE LA CRUZ: It's crazy, just you know, the disparity -- what word am I looking for?
NGUYEN: Well, you know, in San Francisco, New York, it's a lot higher than it is say, maybe in some areas like I don't know Fort Worth, Texas.
DE LA CRUZ: Exactly.
HARRIS: Oh, here we go.
DE LA CRUZ: That's what I was trying to say. It's the allergies. Betty, you can find that all at cnnmoney.com/homeguide.
NGUYEN: All right, Veronica De La Cruz. Very good information, thank you.
HARRIS: In stories across America this morning, one week after the search started, Sarah Michelle Lunde has been found. The body of the missing 13-year old girl was found partially submerged in a pond near her Ruskin, Florida home. CNN will bring you a community church service live this morning at 10:00 Eastern.
Cardinals are assembling at the Vatican to prepare for their selection of a new pope. They'll hold final discussions today before tomorrow's start of the ultra secret conclave. A final vote is expected within a few days. A newly arrived U.S.-Russian crew that also includes an Italian astronaut is waking up aboard the International Space Station. The mission paves the way for the first shuttle mission to the Space Station since the Columbia explosion. That was two years ago.
So can you teach an old dog new tricks? Firsthand experience?
NGUYEN: Ouch.
HARRIS: Things happen. Things happen.
NGUYEN: That's not a very good trick there.
HARRIS: And then there's Tony on the ice when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: First, though, we want to get you a CNN extra. IBM and National Geographic launched the Genome Graphic Project this week. The five-year study takes DNA samples from people all over the world to chart the history of their migration.
Now if you want to take part in it, all you have to do is -- well, send in $100. And that will get you a participation kit, which includes a DVD and a cheek swab kit. All you have to do is visit nationalgeographic.com for those details.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK, yesterday on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, we brought you all of this elegance, all of this beauty and style. Well, we brought you a behind the scenes look at one of the most popular skating shows in the country -- Smucker Stars on Ice.
And it's imagination tour. Look at Alexi there. Well, today, brace yourself. What you're about to see will boggle the imagination.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A new partner.
HARRIS: Are you? You kind of winked my way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
HARRIS: You think maybe we could?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should try it out anyway. We have to have a tryout.
HARRIS: OK. If you're game, then I'm game.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's go.
Push. Push your heel in. Suck it up, princess. Welcome to our world.
HARRIS: I'm up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is very slippery.
HARRIS: I'm up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, they shot.
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is slippery.
HARRIS: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now watch this. Toe picks. What happens if you hit the toe picks, I'll do a demonstration. See, you want to be careful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's go. I told you I was going to do a tryout with you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can we go slow?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to go slow. OK, now feel them. Go like this.
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go forward.
HARRIS: Ladies and gentlemen, I am up on my feet. I am on ice skates for the first time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One thing that's going to happen obviously is...
HARRIS: I'm going to fall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now you have to stand up.
HARRIS: I would come back around. And I would come over here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And run under the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Watch the wire.
HARRIS: And I would start again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, just yes. That's funny. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's coming, it's coming. OK, and jump.
HARRIS: Huh? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please don't. Bad idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think...
HARRIS: I really can't stop. I really can't stop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So now that you know how to fall...
HARRIS: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know how to stand up, you know how to glide, you know how to jump.
HARRIS: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pair skating.
HARRIS: Well, what do you want me to do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe we should show him what he could try first. A death spiral.
HARRIS: Oh, man. Oh, man. See, that's why you guys are Olympic champs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Believe in yourself.
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell yourself to be honest I can do this.
HARRIS: I can do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In your next lifetime. But you're missing something.
HARRIS: I'm skating all the way to the other end. And I'm going to turn around and I'm oh...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Oh, man.
NGUYEN: Suck it up, princess. Isn't that what she said?
HARRIS: Oh, so the whole room is laughing now. The whole room is laughing.
NGUYEN: They're calling you Boom Boom, by the way, because you pretty much most of the time either crawling or falling or crying.
HARRIS: I just need -- can I get through this?
NGUYEN: No, go ahead. We got more to talk about, though, but go ahead.
HARRIS: The patient teachers that you saw there...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: ...what a wonderful cup. Got engaged last Christmas. Planning a December wedding. And you can catch Jamie and David on their current tour with HSBC Stars on Ice, presented by Smuckers. That' s in Canada.
Now if you'd like some more information on the tour, go online, stars on ice. Now aren't they great?
NGUYEN: They are great.
HARRIS: See when you -- here's the point. When you watch them, it looks so easy. And the people, the best folks make it look easy, right? Just like you would here, Betty.
And so you'd think -- so you think you can get out there and try it. But what I want you to understand is my willingness to do whatever's necessary to inform and entertain our CNN weekend audience.
NGUYEN: More along the lines of entertainment. Is that what that was?
HARRIS: So...
NGUYEN: You crawling? Crawling on the ice. Crawling?
HARRIS: It's a different skill to get back up on the skates. And I don't have that...
NGUYEN: And again, I have been warned. His new name is Boom Boom, because he kept falling and crawling and crying on the ice.
I'm sorry, Tony. It's fun. Had a good time.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: You are a good sport, princess.
HARRIS: Doing what I can.
Thanks, Rob. See you next hour.
I want to get to our e-mail question of the day. And some of your responses. Here's a question. Do you think that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down? As you know, he's been under some intense pressure over alleged ethical violations.
So that's our question this morning. Do you think he should resign? And this from George, "Why should Tom DeLay resign? He's only doing openly what all the rest of the bottom feeders in Washington do behind our backs."
Thank you, George.
NGUYEN: Well, Louis disagrees, saying Tom DeLay should resign or be excommunicated from or kicked out of Congress. Moreover, he should be sued by the government for the recovery of the money he illegally acquired from lobbyists. Out, out with the Exterminator!" says Louis.
Of course, we want you to keep sending those thoughts in. Wam@cnn.com/. Do you think House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down?
HARRIS: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.
And from the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is Sunday April 17th, 8 a.m. at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta, and 5 a.m. in the west.
Good morning everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Thank you much for being with us today.
Now in the news. The search for a missing Florida teenager appears to be over. Police say searchers found the body of 13-year- old Sarah Lunde. Her community will gather in two hours for a church service, and we will bring that to you live at 10 o'clock Eastern.
Fifteen cardinals in Rome are getting ready to elect a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church. The group is moving into the new Vatican hotel today to begin the official conclave tomorrow. The meeting will not end until a two-thirds majority agrees on the next pope.
And finance officials from the world's richest nations are pledging to limit the fallout from surging oil prices. Energy costs are dominating meetings this weekend in Washington, among the G-7 nations.
High oil prices are also the focus of World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings. That's going on now in D.C.
HARRIS: Three, count them, three compelling reasons you won't want to leave us this hour. First, one prominent political critic claiming they have 1980s technology for 21st century threats. It is not working. So why the harsh words about the machines used to screen your bags at the airport? Stay tuned for that.
And two different boys, two different worlds, one common bond. Learn about their shared experiences of life and limb.
And this woman wants equal rights for Muslim women. There she is, and she's not letting any closed doors get in her way. We'll explain.
NGUYEN: Our top story now. The body of 13 year old Sarah Michelle Lunde has been found near her home in Ruskin, Florida. A search dog lead authorities to a pond where they found her partially submerged body. CNN's Sara Dorsey is covering this story for us, and she joins us now with the latest.
Sara?
DORSEY: Well, Betty, CNN has learned some disturbing new details about this murder. According to law enforcement agents, the killer of Sara Lunde apparently tried to weigh down her body, keeping it under water. We of course know now that was not successful, because a search dog found her partially submerged body in an abandoned fish farm only a half mile from her home, where she was last seen Saturday night.
Today at 10 o'clock her friends at the First Apostolic Church are planning a memorial. This has been a gathering place throughout the church and where many of Sarah's friends heard the tragic news that she had been killed yesterday.
The pastor here, Johnny Cook says whoever did this will eventually pay the ultimate price.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNY COOK, PASTOR: God will bring him to justice. God knows who and who they are and what's happening. And they'll never get away from that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: So far the sheriff is naming no suspects, but says they have been talking to this man, 36-year-old David Onstott. He's a convicted sex offender who once had a relationship with Sarah's mother and showed up unexpectedly at the house on Sunday. He is currently in jail on unrelated charges.
Now the sheriff's office said they will continue collecting evidence today. They plan on draining that water where Sarah's body was found. They are also telling people in this neighborhood to be on the lookout for any clothing that may be thrown along the roadside or just out of place. They say if anyone sees anything like that to call authorities. That could be of evidentiary purposes.
Betty.
NGUYEN: And that family church service will take place at 10 o'clock eastern today. We will be following that live.
Sara Dorsey in Florida thank you.
HARRIS: In "CNN Security Watch" this morning, screening your bags at the airport. Soon after 9/11, the theory was beef up airport screening and eliminate the possibility of threatening objects getting on planes. But two soon-to-be-released government reports are highly critical of the process, saying even the best screeners can't do their jobs because of poor equipment. After looking at the report, Republican (sic) Congressman Peter DeFazio had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER DEFAZIO (D) OREGON: 1980s technology for a 21st century threat. It's not working. It never will work. You could have the best screener in the world, and they would not find many of these threat objects using that obsolete equipment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Republican Congressman John Mica, who has also seen the report said, "A lot of people will be shocked at the billions of dollars we spent and the results they're going to see which confirmed previous examinations of the Soviet style screening system we put into place."
You'll hear more on airport screening from Clark Kent Ervin in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING. He's a CNN security analyst and a former inspector general of homeland security.
And as always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
NGUYEN: And now a look at stories across America now. They have found his car, but Ray Gricar wasn't in it. He is the Pennsylvania prosecutor who has been missing since Friday and police say they found the car in a parking lot in Union County yesterday.
The last time anyone heard from him, the 59-year-old district attorney made a cell phone saying he was on his way to Lewisburg. The police are now looking for evidence inside that car.
Now to rough weather on the high seas. The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn is docked this morning in South Carolina for some needed repairs. Yesterday on its normal route between New York and the Bahamas, it was hit by a freak wave that smashed in two windows, flooded 62 cabins and injured four passengers. Officials say the safety of he ship was not compromised.
And finally a quote. "When a man is in trouble or in a good fight he wants all of his friends around him, particularly armed. That's what House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters at the National Rifle Association. DeLay spoke at the group's annual convention in Houston, Texas yesterday. He blamed the media and political opponents for stories of his alleged ethics violations.
And those alleged violations stem from questions raised about payments for overseas travel. DeLay's ties to lobbyist, who are under investigation and campaign payments to family members. One Republican is even calling for DeLay's resignation. But what do you think? We want to know that this morning. Should the House Majority Leader resign? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com.
HARRIS: Iraqi security forces are conducting door to door searches in a village south of Baghdad where Sunni militants are reportedly holding Shiite Muslims hostage. The village of Midane (ph) is home to both Shiites and Sunnis. There are conflicting reports about the number of hostages who were captured during a raid on the mosque there. But Iraqi police tell CNN it includes just four to six Shiites. The militants threaten to kill the captives if all Shiites did not leave town.
Two young men, both victims of wars in Iraq and Bosnia, hope the tragedies they've suffered are behind them now. CNN's Aaron Brown has their now combined stories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are improbable friends united by war and loss. Two years ago, during the American bombing of Baghdad, Ali Abbas lost his entire world. He lost both arms, he lost both parents, he lost 14 close relatives. All gone.
ALI ABBAS, IRAQI AMPUTEE (via translator): I'll never forget the day when I lost my family. I feel the pain of losing them and I miss them terribly, but I just cry over them in front of people because I'm really crying inside my heart for them.
BROWN: Which brings us to Kenan Malkic.
KENAN MALKIC, BOSNIAN AMPUTEE: I saw him on the news late at night. I saw him and I said, oh my God how horrible! That is he lost his whole family and he got cursed from a very bad injury. I was kind of remembering about my accident and how it can happen, and I kind of knew what Ali was going through.
BROWN: Kenan does know what Ali was going through. He'd stepped on a land mine near his Bosnian home losing both arms and a leg.
MALKIC: I remember that time at the hospital how depressed I was and how dark everything looked. I mean I really didn't see any way out. And actually those thoughts is what drove me to day by day priorities. I said let me make a video of what I can do around the house and send it to him. At least give some brightness in his life.
BROWN: The tape has had its desired effect.
ABBAS (via translator): What I saw was how he was using his arms and I thought, well, maybe he can train me to do that.
BROWN: This week he got his wish. The aide group that had sponsored Kenan's treatment arranged for Ali and three other Iraqi children to come to the United States, to come for medical attention, to come meet a role model.
ELISSA MONTANTI, GLOBAL MEDICAL RELIEF FUND: Kenan is an inspiration. When the children come they see Kenan and they see how he manipulates his own limbs and his prosthetics and they say, "If he can do it. I can do it."
BROWN: While Elissa Montanti arranges surgeries, artificial limbs, rehabilitation, Kenan works on spirit.
MALKIC: That sense that you can help yourself it gives you such freedom. I just feel like at least if you see me getting myself dressed or eating something that would get them to do something by themselves.
BROWN: And he has.
ABBAS (via translator): I feel I can do exactly what he does or what he is doing now. And I feel I can depend on myself exactly just like he depends on himself.
BROWN: Ali has come a long way. He can run now, play soccer even Nintendo, more than he ever imagined.
For Kenan it is confirmation that there can be purpose even in tragedy.
MALKIC: I think every tragedy has a reason behind it and you just have to see that and know that in order for that tragedy to turn into something good. Because I never thought I'd be doing this. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine the United States, you know, helping kids all the way from Iraq. There is nothing that a living person can't do. So that's what I always keep in my head.
BROWN: Aaron Brown CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Just another reminder of what is important in life. A great story.
HARRIS: I'll say.
NGUYEN: He's been missing in Iraq for more than a year, but the Army has not forgotten him. Ahead the latest recognition for Steve Maupin.
HARRIS: Also ahead this woman has been called the Rosa Parks of Islam. In this week's Faces of Faith we'll show you the bold steps she's taken to forge a role for both sexes in the Muslim faith.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, here's a question for you. What food are you thinking about right now, this moment. Dieting is a mind game and losing weight can be as simple as finding out your brain type. That's according to the authors of "Eat Right for Your Brain Type." They'll join us live next hour for a unique approach to that, that's an understatement, to dieting on CNN SUNDAY. That's 9 a.m. Eastern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: OK. Let's go to our top stories now. In Florida the search for 13 year old Sarah Michelle Lunde it is over. Her body was found partially submerged in a pond near her home. The county sheriff says it appears that the body was there for several days.
A missing U.S. soldier in Iraq gets a field promotion. Specialist now Sargent Pete Maupin has been missing in action since an attack on his convoy a year ago.
And with the words, "We have contact" a Russian Soyuz rocket docked with the International Space Station last night. The space craft carried two astronauts and a cosmonaut to the space station. They'll replace two crew members on board since October.
I'll bet they're ready to come home.
HARRIS: It's really a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage to Mecca sparked her fight to make more room for women in Islam. That story next in our Faces of Faith.
NGUYEN: And later on are you sniffling and sneering. Tony is in fact right now. Well, it is spring time, and help is just a few minutes away on our HOUSE CALL with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Our "Faces of Faith" segment this week focuses on the women of Islam. Relegated to the back door of most mosques, Asra Noman is a woman who has decided to take a different stand. She is the author of "Standing Alone In Mecca," and she joins us now from Pittsburgh.
Asra, good morning. Good to see you.
ASRA NOMAN, AUTHOR "STANDING ALONE IN MECCA:" Good morning. How are you doing?
HARRIS: Great. Let me ask just a couple of questions just to better my understanding here. Where is this chapter? Is there a chapter in the Koran that sort of bans women as leaders in the faith? Is there such a thing?
NOMAN: There's absolutely nothing in the Koran that bans women as leaders. In fact, the Koran testifies to the greatness of a leader and her name was Sheba. She was the queen that we've all known in the history books. And Islamic history, in the first century, is recorded with amazing stories of Isha (ph), who rode on camel back in war, Kadisha (ph), who was the first wife of the prophet and his boss. She was the one who proposed marriage.
We have clear evidence of women as great leaders.
HARRIS: So, Asra, here's what I'm trying to get at. Was there ever a time in Islam when there was gender equity?
NOMAN: It was -- we had gender equity in the first century of Islam. Women were participants in the mosque, in Medina, at the prophet's first mosque. Women were leaders. And it's the story since the beginning of time, centuries of man made traditions have basically erased those beautiful rights that we had at the beginning.
HARRIS: Well, specifically, what happened? What happened? What happened? What happened to change it all?
NOMAN: It's power and control. I mean it's basically since the beginning of time man, sadly, have used their own laws to erase the rights that women enjoy in society. This has happened in every religion. It has happened in every society. And now what I'm saying is that Islam has to enter into the 21st century. We have to catapult from the 7th century into the 21st century. Every other faith has gone through this same experience and we can't relegate women into the shadows any more.
HARRIS: So tell us about your trip to Mecca. We're seeing pictures of the Hajj right now, and how that transformed you and lead you on this path to reform.
NOMAN: Well, I had a sort of Malcolm X experience. You know, I have lived in Morgantown, West Virginia. I have experienced a community where women had to go into this little corner, when we had dinner parties we were sent into the kitchen, the political debates were all in the living room with the men. And in Mecca there was no back door for women. We prayed shoulder to shoulder with men. I prayed with my father beside me. And I felt like a spiritual equal. And I saw the potential for religion in my life and I realized that I've allowed all of these centuries of tradition to basically make me feel like I didn't have a place in the faith.
So I felt valued again as a women within Islam.
HARRIS: I have to ask you. What do you say to your brothers in faith who say that these restrictions are in place or out of respect, reverence and for the protection of women?
NOMAN: Oh I've heard it all. I've been told that, you know, men are weak and that women must stay in the shadows to protect the order in society. And I say, you know, we can rise to a higher place. We can really respect and value each human being in the spirit of religion and faith. And I say that I would love to see them come along on that path.
HARRIS: How does this fight this effort to reform Islam? How has it brought you closer to God, if it has?
NOMAN: It has been amazing. I really have a stronger sense of spirituality and faith because as long as I have to fight the idea that religion didn't consider me a spiritual equal in this world to all people I had a problem with it. But now when I bow my head to this great power of the divine in this universe I feel fully valued and respected. I really felt that we have to take the slam out Islam. We have to take the negativity and the darkness and more toward the light. Women are such a critical part of that formula, and the course of history is going to be defined by Islam in the modern day and women have to be a part of the answers an the greater world.
HARRIS: Asra let's leave it there. That's well said. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us this morning from Pittsburgh.
NOMAN: Thank you so much.
NGUYEN: That was well said.
Also this morning we want to talk about our e-mail question of the day. We've been asking about Tom DeLay under fire for alleged ethics violations. Now in a speech last night the House Majority Leader blamed Democrats and the media for spreading false stories about him. But we want to ask you, do you think the House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down? And we've gotten some very interesting responses.
Bill says, "DeLay should not resign. However, he should step forward what he has done and apologize if necessary. If all members of Congress were held to the same standard my guess is that there would be many empty chairs in the House and Senate."
HARRIS: And how about this one, Bruce in Atlanta. "Let's bring up the Democrats, Pelosi, Lieberman, Sanders, they are in the same boat as DeLay but nothing is mentioned. Come on, bring it up."
Bruce, you just did. We want to encourage you to send along more of those e-mails. Here's the question. Do you think House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down. Send those e-mails to us at wam@cnn.com and we'll read more next hour.
NGUYEN: Heroic act and sacrifice. After a fiery attack on a road to the Baghdad airport we will have two soldiers stories coming up in the 9 a.m. hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING that you do not want to miss.
HARRIS: But first, tips for beating spring time allergies. "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and your top stories are straight ahead.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 17, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The search for this missing Florida teenager comes to a sad end.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. And it's April 17th. Good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. 7:00 a.m. here in the East. 4:00 a.m. in the West. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started this morning with headlines now in the news.
After six days, the search for Sarah Michelle Lunde is over. The body of the missing 13-year old was found yesterday in a pond near her home in Ruskin, Florida. The Hillsborough County sheriff says the pond will be drained later today and the area swept for evidence.
A Russian Soyuz space ship has docked at the International Space Station, paving the way for the first U.S. shuttle flight in more than two years. The Soyuz capsule carried a U.S. Russian crew and an Italian astronaut. NASA hopes to resume shuttle flights next month with discoveries mission to the space station.
U.S. Army Specialist Keith Maupin has been promoted to sergeant one year after he was apparently captured in an attack on his convoy. The military maintains scheduled promotions for troops who have been captured under the assumption the person is still alive.
Last June, you may remember Al Jazeera released a video from Iraqi militants, claiming to have Maupin, but U.S. officials could not positively identify him.
NGUYEN: Here's why you need to stay tuned this hour. First, an amazing teenager with a rare musical gift. We'll talk to her about playing at Carnegie Hall.
Oh, yes, she's also a researcher at Drexel. And at 16, she is the youngest Ph.D. candidate in the country, Tony. You definitely need to meet this incredible young woman.
Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really can't stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: That was really you, Tony. My partner, Tony Harris, explores his career options...
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: ...as a figure skater. Not. Hey Tony, don't quit your day job. All right? And yes, very limited options.
Later on today, as well, this boy's story is like an episode of "Touched by An Angel," except he was touched by A. Rod. There's much more to this twist of fate than you can imagine.
HARRIS: All that and much more is coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
But we begin in Ruskin, Florida. The search for 13-year old Sarah Michelle Lunde is over. Unfortunately, it's the worst possible outcome.
CNN's Sara Dorsey is in Ruskin with the details this morning.
Sara?
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, the worst possible outcome indeed. And CNN is learning new details about this crime. According to law enforcement agents, Sarah Lunde's killer, apparently tried to weigh down her body, so it would stay under the water.
Of course, we know now that was not successful. It has been just an emotional rollercoaster for people here at the First Apostolic Church, Sarah's church.
This has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the sheriff's office. And people here were hopeful yesterday that they could still bring her home alive. Of course, last night, they found out that was no longer a possibility.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORSEY (voice-over): After five long days of tirelessly searching for 13-year old Sarah Lunde, the end no one wanted to hear. A search dog led authorities to her body in an abandoned fish farm only a half mile from her home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was clear from investigators who were at the scene that whoever put her there went to great effort to conceal her body.
DORSEY: This is the second missing child case in this area in the last few months. Mark Lunsford knows the outcome too well. In February, his nine-year old daughter Jessica disappeared.
The body was found three weeks later. The man charged? A convicted sex offender.
Sarah's pastor says he was almost like a dad to her. He says it's hard to understand how this could happen to a 13-year old who loved life and had so much living yet to do.
JOHNNY COOK, REV., PASTOR: Inside I'm broken because of what's happened. The hurt is beyond imagination.
DORSEY: The sheriff is not naming any suspects, but is talking to this man, 36-year old David Onstott, a convicted sex offender who had a relationship with Sarah's mother. Onstott is now in jail on unrelated charges. Pastor Cook says whoever did this will eventually have to pay the ultimate price.
COOK: God will bring him to justice. God knows who and who they are and what's happened. And they'll never get away with that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORSEY: And the search is not necessarily over. The sheriff's office says they will drain that body of water likely today to try to gather more evidence from that.
They are also asking people in this area to be on the lookout for any clothing that may be along the roadway or out of place and call authorities if they do find that -- Tony?
HARRIS: Sara Dorsey in Ruskin, Florida this morning. Sara, thank you.
Another missing person mystery in Pennsylvania to tell you about. But this is a 59-year old prosecutor from Center County. Police yesterday found Ray Gricar's mini Cooper in a parking lot in Lewisburg, but they don't know where he is. He was last heard from on Friday morning, when he made a call on his cell phone saying he was driving toward Lewisburg. Police are checking the car for evidence, but they say there are no obvious signs of foul play.
NGUYEN: The official mourning period for Pope John Paul II is now over. And tomorrow begins the task of electing a new pope from among the cardinals.
CNN Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher joins us now with the latest on that search.
Good morning, Delia.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Good morning, Betty.
NGUYEN: Well, what is the latest on the search? What preparations are underway right now?
GALLAGHER: Well, Betty, as you can imagine, there's great excitement here for tomorrow's event, the first time in 27 years that Rome has seen a conclave.
I had a chance to go into the Sistine Chapel yesterday, where the conclave will be taking place tomorrow. And the chapel is set up in a sort of very modern way. What will happen is the 115 cardinals will congregate outside the chapel. They will process in, about a 10 minute procession, singing the litany of saints, this wonderful chant of saints.
Once they are in the chapel, they go up a ramp. The actual tables are sort of conference tables, as it were, facing each other on a raised platform.
Now underneath that platform are the debugging and jamming devices, so that the cardinals can't use their telephones. Of course, this has to be all taking place in secret. They will then sit down. They must take an oath of secrecy. And then they will receive their ballots.
On these ballots, they must hand write the name of their choice of candidate. Then they must bring it up in another sort of very formal way to the altar, to a chalice. They must place it in the chalice. They go back and sit down. The votes are then counted.
And then, of course, the famous burning of the ballots. And if we have an election, we will see the white smoke, as we know. They've also instituted a kind of second stove, as it were, to help push up the air, so that everybody on the outside can be sure -- very clear about whether that smoke is black or white.
So a couple of new modern things happening inside the very ancient Sistine Chapel for this very ancient ceremony of the conclave -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Delia, 115 cardinals voting. Are there any frontrunners as the conclave begins tomorrow?
GALLAGHER: Well, of course, there have been several names put in the media in the past few days. The cardinals as we know, aren't saying very much. But the frontrunner, if we want to say, could be Cardinal Ratzinger, for example, the German cardinal, a close collaborator of John Paul II at the congregation for the Doctors of Faith, sort of the church's doctrinal watch dog. He would be the conservative pillar, if you will.
Then you have Cardinal Martini, a Jesuit, also 78. He is an Italian. Very much loved by the more progressive liberal wing, but perhaps Cardinal Martini, he's retired. He's gone to Jerusalem. Might be considered not the right candidate for the modern time, in which case they might go to a younger cardinal, who is also the archbishop of Milan, where Cardinal Martini was.
That's Cardinal Tettamanzi. Tettamanzi is considered also a favorite here amongst the Italians and would probably have some wide support amongst the more progressive and liberal factions.
Now aside from those three top runners, of course, there are many, many sort of another level. Probably in the first voting, you'll see that they'll be gearing towards those couple names. If they don't receive the 77 votes necessary to elect a pope, then we might see in the successive days, they will go other candidates, perhaps even the Latin Americans that we have discussed, Cardinal Hummes of Brazil, for example. Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina and so on. There are many very good candidates here. So we'll have to wait and see how it plays out. Betty?
NGUYEN: And quickly, does the vote come? Or I guess the choosing of this new pope, does that come very quickly? Or does it take a lot of votes for that to happen? Historically, what have you seen?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think that in general, in the history of conclave, it has been two or three days, excuse me, two or three days that we see a new pope.
So I think we can expect something of that nature this time around, probably not tomorrow. Betty?
NGUYEN: It's an important decision. And I see why you're all choked up. Delia Gallagher, thank you so much.
GALLAGHER: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, hey, talk about a save. Did you see this one?
HARRIS: No, I didn't.
NGUYEN: It's a good one. A. Rod makes quite a play, but this move that I'm talking about, it was off the field. We'll tell you what happened when this Yankee was in the right place at the right time.
HARRIS: Which explains why I didn't see it.
OK, also, we'll meet an amazing teenager who's already accomplished more than many people do in a lifetime.
NGUYEN: And good morning, Raleigh, North Carolina. Your weather forecast, look at that, the sun coming up there, over Raleigh. This is a live look from our affiliate WRAL. We'll have that forecast plus the forecast for the rest of the nation in just a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: In our stories across America, rough weather on the high seas. The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn has docked this morning in South Carolina for some needed repairs. Yesterday, on its normal route between New York and the Bahamas, it was hit by a freak wave that smashed in two windows, flooded 62 cabins, and injured four passengers.
The ground is still shaking in California. Aftershocks are still being felt a day after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit Kern County. The tremor even shook buildings in Los Angeles some 85 miles away. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but experts are warning of dozens of aftershocks in the next few days.
And lastly a quote. "When a man is in trouble, or in a good fight, he wants all of his friends around him, particularly armed." That's from House Majority leader Tom DeLay to supporters at the National Rifle Association Convention. DeLay spoke at the group's annual convention in Houston, Texas yesterday, where he blamed the media and political opponents for stories of his alleged ethics violations.
DeLay has, as you know, come under fire in recent months for these alleged ethics violations. Questions have been raised of payments for overseas travel, DeLay's ties to lobbyists who are investigation and campaign payments to family members. One Republican has even calling for DeLay's resignation.
Well, what do you think? Should the House Majority Leader resign? E-mail us this morning. There's the address. Wam@cnn.com. And check this out. Trying to get up on the slippery ice. All right, that story's coming up in just a couple of minutes.
NGUYEN: Oh, my goodness, Tony. And they put that on television. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
But I can't wait to see the rest of it. We'll be talking about that soon.
But right now, for the past several Sundays, we've introduced you to some super teenagers, whose talent and drive may well change the world. It is a project we've undertaken with our corporate cousins at "Teen People."
In today's final installment, we meet Alia Sabur. She is using 3-D imagery to find a cheaper, less invasive way for doctors to remove tumors. There she is. And at just 16, she is just about two years from completing her Ph.D. in Engineering. Can you believe it?
Good morning to you, Alia.
ALIA SABUR, RESEARCHER: Good morning.
NGUYEN: All right. I got to get to the bottom of this. You're 16-years old. You are the youngest Ph.D. candidate in the nation. Are you just a quick learner? Did your parents push you? What is your secret?
SABUR: Well, I just learn differently than other kids. I mean, I've never had Baby Einstein or flash cards or anything of that sort. I just -- whenever I was starting at the same time as other kids my age, I would just do everything a little bit faster. And it added up.
NGUYEN: Apparently, yes. OK, now is the time for you to show your stuff. Tell us what you're doing with this research?
SABUR: Well, you summed it up pretty well, but...
NGUYEN: All right. In layman's terms, right?
SABUR: Right. But I'm using laser beams to trap atoms inside them. These laser beams are hollow. And basically, you can control the atoms. And when you can do this, these are used -- usually used as a more precise tool in, for example, laser surgery and also in 3-D imaging and various other completely unrelated topics.
Basically what I have is a much cheaper method of trapping the atoms. So it's been tried in the past, but it was just too difficult. So I think that now that it's much easier and much cheaper, it'll open up a whole new area of research.
NGUYEN: And so what ultimately you can do with this is use that laser to remove tumors, maybe even cancerous tumors?
SABUR: That is definitely what I am hoping for, yes.
NGUYEN: OK. What inspired you to do this?
SABUR: I've always enjoyed science. And then it just seemed like a natural thing when I was older to do that in college. And now that I'm in graduate school, I just -- I found this project when I was an undergrad. I discovered that you could do this. And as I researched it, I found that it had amazing potential, and thought that it would just be a really incredible thing to work on.
NGUYEN: And you know, I also hear that you're pretty good on the clarinet. Played at Carnegie Hall, even with Smash Mouth. Where do you have time for all these talents?
SABUR: That's what makes me, me. I mean, that's why I'm special. It just doesn't take me quite as long as everyone else to do things.
NGUYEN: Yes, I would say so. Very fast learner. Are you more passionate about one over the other? Or do you just love them both?
SABUR: I think it's probably split equally. I say that science is for the mind and music is for the soul. I think that you can connect with people much more with music than you can with science.
NGUYEN: See, that's why you're well rounded. Science is for the mind. Music is for the soul.
OK. Ultimately, what does your soul and your mind want to accomplish with all of this? Is there something that you haven't tackled just yet, that you want to do?
SABUR: I'm just going to continue full speed ahead with both. I'm hoping to be the first professional clarinetists with a Ph.D., that's not in music.
NGUYEN: You're well on your way. That is wonderful. And I do have to ask you, though, one other thing. Have you found any challenges, any roadblocks on your way in your long 16 years?
SABUR: Things have been not exactly smooth along the way, but that's how it is when you do something that no one else has really done before. But it's -- I mean, there are challenges along the way, not honestly so much with the actual work and the class work and practicing and performing, but with everything else along the way. I mean, there are a lot of people who told me that I couldn't do what I've done. And if I had listened to them, then I wouldn't have done any of it. So...
NGUYEN: And you have done much in such a short amount of time. Last thing I want to ask you, and very quickly, what advice do you have to other teenagers out there, who want to change the world, but just don't know how?
SABUR: I would say that if you have a goal, you should fix it in your mind and not let anything stop you on the way. Because no matter what you try to do, people will tell you that you can't or that shouldn't. And especially for other girls, who are really discouraged in the sciences, that you can be just as good at it or better than boys.
NGUYEN: And you're proof.
SABUR: You can't...
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
SABUR: ...let people bring you down. That's basically all there is to it.
NGUYEN: That's a good model to live by. Alia, we appreciate your time. And thanks for much for changing the world.
SABUR: Thank you. It was really great being here.
NGUYEN: Well, it's great to have you. Tony? Isn't she great?
HARRIS: Yes, look at her. I feel like I'm living my life in reverse or something.
While Alia's trying to improve the world in science, thousands of men and women protect s in the fight for freedom. Just ahead, we'll meet a true hero, a soldier who saved the lives of his fellow comrades while he lay nearly mortally wounded himself. That story in a moment.
But check this out.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Our hero story this week is about Master Sergeant Kevin Whalen of the Washington Air National Guard. Heroic action during fierce combat in Afghanistan has earned him a silver star.
Casey Wian has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MASTER SERGEANT KEVIN WHALEN, WASHINGTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD: Huskey, this is 2-0...
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Camp Murray outside Takoma, Washington, Master Sergeant Kevin Whalen tests a radio. It's a routine job, but he knows how critical it can be on the battlefield. Whalen saw combat with the 116th Air Support Squadron in Afghanistan, fighting Taliban and al Qaeda forces. Whalen was manning a grenade launcher when he was ambushed, hit in the abdomen and nearly died.
K. WHALEN: I felt the burning, and I pulled it out and looked at what was left of the bullet, and I was like, wow, that could have been it.
WIAN: Whalen tried frantically to reload the weapon, but it had been destroyed by bullets. He scrambled for his rifle. As he did, another round hit, this time piercing his arm.
K. WHALEN: I knew instantly what had happened. It knocked me into the turret. I looked down to check my arm and I could see the blood already spreading in my uniform.
WIAN: Whalen dressed his own wound and tried to call for help. His radio was destroyed.
K. WHALEN: I had to get hold of the other satellite communications radio, which is on the right side of the vehicle closest to the enemy fire.
WIAN: He summoned air support and then told them where to drop the bombs to end the ambush, saving the lives of others in his unit. Whalen's heroism that day earned him the Silver Star.
K. WHALEN: I feel like in a lot of ways, I was surrounded by heroes. The team I was with was an incredible group of warriors.
WIAN: For Whalen's wife, Laura, a reservist herself, news of the medal was huge. She never wanted to know just how close she came to losing him.
LAURA WHALEN, WIFE: I was just so proud of him. And then it was like, OK, sit down and tell me the whole story, because I hadn't been ready until then to hear the whole story of what had happened on that day.
WIAN: Whalen's happy to be home now, with Laura and daughter Mikaela (ph), but he intends to continue his military career.
Casey Wian, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Of course, we bring you hero stories every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: But wait, Tony, because we are not done telling hero stories just yet. You want to check this out. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I like to say is a future Hall of Famer faced a future Hall of Famer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All righty, then. One star-struck fan gets a lifetime of memories after a life saving encounter. Find out what happened.
HARRIS: Plus, can modern technology penetrate the walls of secrecy at the Vatican? We'll take a look next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A-Rod. A-Rod, A-Rod, A-Rod. Alex Rodriguez scores up big with one fan off the field. We'll find out about that a little bit later.
Welcome back and a good Sunday morning to you. I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. That is a great story. And we'll tell it to you in just a moment. But first, here's a look at what's in the news this morning.
In Ruskin, Florida, the search for a body now turns to the search for evidence. Crews yesterday found the body of 13-year old Sarah Michelle Lunde. It was discovered partially submerged in the pond near her home. Now today, authorities will drain that pond and search for more clues. A community church service will be held in about 2.5 hours. And CNN will bring that you to you live.
Japan's foreign minister is hand delivering a protest to China's government. His country's upset over Chinese demonstrations against Japan's wartime past and its efforts to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Yesterday in Beijing, 20,000, you see them here, 20,000 protesters converged on Japan's consulate, where they broke windows and vandalized cars, along with businesses nearby.
HARRIS: Well, the process of choosing a new pope gets underway tomorrow inside the Vatican, but the Rome and Catholic cardinals who have gathered there already are thinking long and hard about the important choice they must make.
One thing is certain. One of them will eventually emerge as the head of the church. The papal election is taking place amid extraordinary secrecy. The only outward sign of what's going on will be puffs of smoke as the ballots are burned.
But in this age of high tech espionage, there's no shortage of ways the secrets of the Vatican might be revealed.
CNN's Chris Burns takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Vatican, as the leaders of the church prepare to choose a new pontiff, the saints watch over the secrets of the inner sanctum.
So did the Vatican police, trying to stay one step ahead of spy technology. Security experts say the sky's the limit, from monitoring cell phone conversations, to eavesdropping from high above. Look how close satellites can peak.
ANDREA MARGELLETTI, CENTER FOR INTL. STUDIES: Surely many intelligence agencies in the world are trying to penetrate inside the Holy See with special aircraft, for example, spy planes, with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or lasers.
BURNS: Lasers that could be pointed at windows of the Sistine Chapel to pick up conversations where the cardinals will cast their votes. Or the windows of the Vatican Santa Marta Hotel, where the cardinals are staying.
Vatican experts say the church's security force is expected to sweep the grounds for bugs and other gadgets during the conclave.
Private Detective Miriam Tomponzi displays some of the classic tricks. The lighter that's a camera. Another that converts into bug. The pen, that's a microphone.
MIRIAM TOMPONZI, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR (through translator): There's absolutely no doubt we could spy on the Vatican the conclave.
BURNS: But the security for this conclave has been years in the making.
(on camera): Pope John Paul II himself issued counterintelligence orders for conclaves, banning cell phones, recorders, radios, televisions, electronic organizers to protect the cardinals from in his words "threats to their independent judgment."
(voice-over): More than that, experts say, a pope spied on for years under Communist regimes in Poland, helps better sensitize the Vatican to espionage.
MARGELLETTI: I think now, we are the holy see, much less vulnerable than ever.
BURNS: Less vulnerable to outside spying perhaps. But experts also say that won't make the Vatican free of internal intrigue, as rivals jockey for power in the shadows of the saints.
Chris Burns, CNN, Vatican City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And checking other stories around the world now. And the focus again is on south Asia this morning. That's right. After nearly six decades of animosity, India and Pakistan are talking peace when it comes to the disputed region of Kashmir. Now joining us to talk about that is Anand Naidoo with the latest on those international headlines. Good morning.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK: Good morning for me. Yes, it's one of those hot button issues, that's led to several wars between India and Pakistan.
The latest we have is that the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and the Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, have held 2.5 hours of talks. The atmosphere was described as very warm. They expected to sign an agreement to reduce two troop levels on their border and create a trade council.
India and Pakistan each control a section of Kashmir, which was divided in 1947. Previous talks to resolve the crisis there have failed. The last talks taking place in 2001.
Moving onto Iraq, insurgents attack a U.S. military camp in Ramadi, killing three U.S. soldiers. Seven others were wounded, three seriously. Ramadi is about 17 miles west of Baghdad. Residents say dozens of armed militants were involved in the attack. Some where killed.
This latest assault in Iraq brings to 20 the number of people who've been killed in the past 24 hours. And these deaths taking place in a wave of attacks in Baghdad and across Iraq.
Moving onto outer space, a Russian Soyuz rocket carrying two astronauts and a cosmonaut has successfully docked with the International Space Station. One of the astronauts, an Italian, will spend eight days in space.
This latest launch could, in fact, pave the way for the resumption of shuttle flights. The delivery and repair mission is scheduled to take place. That mission is expected no earlier than mid May.
That is all from me for now. I'll be back later with the latest on those talks between India and Pakistan. That's happening later. For now, let's send it back to Betty and Tony.
HARRIS: Anand, thank you.
NGUYEN: Yes, looking forward to it.
Well, it might be his best catch ever. New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez was in Boston for a baseball game, of course. Well, just before being hit with a sort of fast curve ball, should we say, A-Rod rushes in a for split second save. And fans, well they erupt in cheers. But none of it happened on the baseball field. Nope.
Our Alina Cho explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Patrick McCarthy is one lucky boy.
PATRICK MCCARTHY, NY YANKEES FAN: I saw my favorite baseball player on the Yankees. And he just saved my life.
CHO: His favorite player...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Alex Rodriguez.
CHO: Fans call him A. Rod. New York Yankee star, turned good Samaritan.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ, NEW YORK YANKEES: Right place, right time, I guess.
CHO: Rodriguez was out and about in Boston Wednesday, just hours before a game against the Red Sox, when he noticed an oncoming car and a boy, Patrick, who was about to get hit.
RODRIGUEZ: So it was just one of those incidents that I put my arm in front of him. And the car almost ran us both over.
CHO: Eight-year old Patrick was stunned and star struck.
MCCARTHY: So I look up. And I was like, "A. Rod, wow." And he was like, "Are you OK?" I was like, "Yes, I am. A. Rod, my name's Patrick McCarthy and I want to play for the Yankees someday."
CHO: Patrick dreams of pitching for the Yankees. So does his father.
Patrick even plays for a Little League team called the Red Sox. Yes, the Red Sox. You see, Patrick and his family live on Martha's Vineyard, not far from Boston, anti-Yankee territory. The McCarthy's are Yankee fans because father Joe grew up in New York. It's not always easy.
When the Red Sox won the World Series last year, Patrick's classmates let him know.
MCCARTHY: They kind of bug me about like they won the World Series. And I just would say like who's won 26 World Series? And who's only won six?
CHO: Now he has the last laugh, an instant celebrity, even recognized outside Yankee Stadium.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go Yankees, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go Yankees, right?
CHO: The McCarthys are here to take in two Yankee games and see their hero Alex Rodriguez.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I followed Alex's career from Seattle to Texas. I've seen him play in all star games and make brilliant plays. But this is his best catch ever. MCCARTHY: Well, I like to say is a future Hall of Famer says to future Hall of Famer.
CHO: Crisis averted, opportunity of a lifetime.
Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: What a cool, smack talking kid, huh?
NGUYEN: And you know, he used the opportunity. HE was -- his life was just saved and he was like, "Hey, A-Rod, I'd like to play for the Yankees one day."
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: He used the opportunity.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: To his best advantage.
HARRIS: Yes, to pitch for a job, yes. It's good.
NGUYEN: You got to start soon, right. As early as you can.
HARRIS: Absolutely. Moving forward now, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has come under fire in recent months for alleged ethics violations, prompting calls for his resignation.
What do you think? Should DeLay resign? E-mail us your responses, your thoughts on the question at wam@cnn.com.
NGUYEN: And good morning, Raleigh. We will have your weather forecast a little bit later this hour, as we listen to this great music, as you watch the sun come up over Raleigh.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, Spring is here. And besides the allergies that you're suffering from, that means the home buying season is in full balloon. But beware of those thorns, because you say they are out there.
Veronica De La Cruz, good morning.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM DESK: Good morning to you. And you have to beware of those thorns, Betty. You are right about that, which is why when it comes to shopping for a new home, there are some things almost as important as the right answers. They are the right questions. And lucky for you, they are a mere mouse click away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ (voice-over): First off, ask yourself these four questions. Why do you want to buy a house? Can you afford it? What's the cost of renting? And are you ready to make that commitment?
Once you've decided that buying a home is for you, and you found the perfect one, ask yourself this. Does the neighborhood make the grade? That old wisdom to buy where the schools are good is true now more than ever.
Another tip. Take a good look at who's working for you. Don't rely on the luck of the draw. Before you shop for your house, shop for an agent. And how much house can you afford? To arrive at an affordable price, this calculator follows the guidelines of most lenders.
Are you wondering how much your mortgage will be? Punch in the numbers and find out.
Finally, do you want to live like a millionaire? This interactive gallery shows you what $1 million will get you across the nation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: And it amazing what you can get across the nation. You know...
NGUYEN: For a mere $1 million.
DE LA CRUZ: It's crazy, just you know, the disparity -- what word am I looking for?
NGUYEN: Well, you know, in San Francisco, New York, it's a lot higher than it is say, maybe in some areas like I don't know Fort Worth, Texas.
DE LA CRUZ: Exactly.
HARRIS: Oh, here we go.
DE LA CRUZ: That's what I was trying to say. It's the allergies. Betty, you can find that all at cnnmoney.com/homeguide.
NGUYEN: All right, Veronica De La Cruz. Very good information, thank you.
HARRIS: In stories across America this morning, one week after the search started, Sarah Michelle Lunde has been found. The body of the missing 13-year old girl was found partially submerged in a pond near her Ruskin, Florida home. CNN will bring you a community church service live this morning at 10:00 Eastern.
Cardinals are assembling at the Vatican to prepare for their selection of a new pope. They'll hold final discussions today before tomorrow's start of the ultra secret conclave. A final vote is expected within a few days. A newly arrived U.S.-Russian crew that also includes an Italian astronaut is waking up aboard the International Space Station. The mission paves the way for the first shuttle mission to the Space Station since the Columbia explosion. That was two years ago.
So can you teach an old dog new tricks? Firsthand experience?
NGUYEN: Ouch.
HARRIS: Things happen. Things happen.
NGUYEN: That's not a very good trick there.
HARRIS: And then there's Tony on the ice when CNN SUNDAY MORNING returns.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: First, though, we want to get you a CNN extra. IBM and National Geographic launched the Genome Graphic Project this week. The five-year study takes DNA samples from people all over the world to chart the history of their migration.
Now if you want to take part in it, all you have to do is -- well, send in $100. And that will get you a participation kit, which includes a DVD and a cheek swab kit. All you have to do is visit nationalgeographic.com for those details.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK, yesterday on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, we brought you all of this elegance, all of this beauty and style. Well, we brought you a behind the scenes look at one of the most popular skating shows in the country -- Smucker Stars on Ice.
And it's imagination tour. Look at Alexi there. Well, today, brace yourself. What you're about to see will boggle the imagination.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A new partner.
HARRIS: Are you? You kind of winked my way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
HARRIS: You think maybe we could?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should try it out anyway. We have to have a tryout.
HARRIS: OK. If you're game, then I'm game.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's go.
Push. Push your heel in. Suck it up, princess. Welcome to our world.
HARRIS: I'm up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is very slippery.
HARRIS: I'm up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, they shot.
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is slippery.
HARRIS: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now watch this. Toe picks. What happens if you hit the toe picks, I'll do a demonstration. See, you want to be careful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's go. I told you I was going to do a tryout with you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can we go slow?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to go slow. OK, now feel them. Go like this.
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go forward.
HARRIS: Ladies and gentlemen, I am up on my feet. I am on ice skates for the first time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One thing that's going to happen obviously is...
HARRIS: I'm going to fall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now you have to stand up.
HARRIS: I would come back around. And I would come over here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And run under the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Watch the wire.
HARRIS: And I would start again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, just yes. That's funny. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's coming, it's coming. OK, and jump.
HARRIS: Huh? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please don't. Bad idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think...
HARRIS: I really can't stop. I really can't stop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So now that you know how to fall...
HARRIS: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know how to stand up, you know how to glide, you know how to jump.
HARRIS: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pair skating.
HARRIS: Well, what do you want me to do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe we should show him what he could try first. A death spiral.
HARRIS: Oh, man. Oh, man. See, that's why you guys are Olympic champs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Believe in yourself.
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell yourself to be honest I can do this.
HARRIS: I can do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In your next lifetime. But you're missing something.
HARRIS: I'm skating all the way to the other end. And I'm going to turn around and I'm oh...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Oh, man.
NGUYEN: Suck it up, princess. Isn't that what she said?
HARRIS: Oh, so the whole room is laughing now. The whole room is laughing.
NGUYEN: They're calling you Boom Boom, by the way, because you pretty much most of the time either crawling or falling or crying.
HARRIS: I just need -- can I get through this?
NGUYEN: No, go ahead. We got more to talk about, though, but go ahead.
HARRIS: The patient teachers that you saw there...
NGUYEN: Yes.
HARRIS: ...what a wonderful cup. Got engaged last Christmas. Planning a December wedding. And you can catch Jamie and David on their current tour with HSBC Stars on Ice, presented by Smuckers. That' s in Canada.
Now if you'd like some more information on the tour, go online, stars on ice. Now aren't they great?
NGUYEN: They are great.
HARRIS: See when you -- here's the point. When you watch them, it looks so easy. And the people, the best folks make it look easy, right? Just like you would here, Betty.
And so you'd think -- so you think you can get out there and try it. But what I want you to understand is my willingness to do whatever's necessary to inform and entertain our CNN weekend audience.
NGUYEN: More along the lines of entertainment. Is that what that was?
HARRIS: So...
NGUYEN: You crawling? Crawling on the ice. Crawling?
HARRIS: It's a different skill to get back up on the skates. And I don't have that...
NGUYEN: And again, I have been warned. His new name is Boom Boom, because he kept falling and crawling and crying on the ice.
I'm sorry, Tony. It's fun. Had a good time.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: You are a good sport, princess.
HARRIS: Doing what I can.
Thanks, Rob. See you next hour.
I want to get to our e-mail question of the day. And some of your responses. Here's a question. Do you think that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down? As you know, he's been under some intense pressure over alleged ethical violations.
So that's our question this morning. Do you think he should resign? And this from George, "Why should Tom DeLay resign? He's only doing openly what all the rest of the bottom feeders in Washington do behind our backs."
Thank you, George.
NGUYEN: Well, Louis disagrees, saying Tom DeLay should resign or be excommunicated from or kicked out of Congress. Moreover, he should be sued by the government for the recovery of the money he illegally acquired from lobbyists. Out, out with the Exterminator!" says Louis.
Of course, we want you to keep sending those thoughts in. Wam@cnn.com/. Do you think House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down?
HARRIS: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.
And from the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is Sunday April 17th, 8 a.m. at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta, and 5 a.m. in the west.
Good morning everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Thank you much for being with us today.
Now in the news. The search for a missing Florida teenager appears to be over. Police say searchers found the body of 13-year- old Sarah Lunde. Her community will gather in two hours for a church service, and we will bring that to you live at 10 o'clock Eastern.
Fifteen cardinals in Rome are getting ready to elect a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church. The group is moving into the new Vatican hotel today to begin the official conclave tomorrow. The meeting will not end until a two-thirds majority agrees on the next pope.
And finance officials from the world's richest nations are pledging to limit the fallout from surging oil prices. Energy costs are dominating meetings this weekend in Washington, among the G-7 nations.
High oil prices are also the focus of World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings. That's going on now in D.C.
HARRIS: Three, count them, three compelling reasons you won't want to leave us this hour. First, one prominent political critic claiming they have 1980s technology for 21st century threats. It is not working. So why the harsh words about the machines used to screen your bags at the airport? Stay tuned for that.
And two different boys, two different worlds, one common bond. Learn about their shared experiences of life and limb.
And this woman wants equal rights for Muslim women. There she is, and she's not letting any closed doors get in her way. We'll explain.
NGUYEN: Our top story now. The body of 13 year old Sarah Michelle Lunde has been found near her home in Ruskin, Florida. A search dog lead authorities to a pond where they found her partially submerged body. CNN's Sara Dorsey is covering this story for us, and she joins us now with the latest.
Sara?
DORSEY: Well, Betty, CNN has learned some disturbing new details about this murder. According to law enforcement agents, the killer of Sara Lunde apparently tried to weigh down her body, keeping it under water. We of course know now that was not successful, because a search dog found her partially submerged body in an abandoned fish farm only a half mile from her home, where she was last seen Saturday night.
Today at 10 o'clock her friends at the First Apostolic Church are planning a memorial. This has been a gathering place throughout the church and where many of Sarah's friends heard the tragic news that she had been killed yesterday.
The pastor here, Johnny Cook says whoever did this will eventually pay the ultimate price.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNY COOK, PASTOR: God will bring him to justice. God knows who and who they are and what's happening. And they'll never get away from that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: So far the sheriff is naming no suspects, but says they have been talking to this man, 36-year-old David Onstott. He's a convicted sex offender who once had a relationship with Sarah's mother and showed up unexpectedly at the house on Sunday. He is currently in jail on unrelated charges.
Now the sheriff's office said they will continue collecting evidence today. They plan on draining that water where Sarah's body was found. They are also telling people in this neighborhood to be on the lookout for any clothing that may be thrown along the roadside or just out of place. They say if anyone sees anything like that to call authorities. That could be of evidentiary purposes.
Betty.
NGUYEN: And that family church service will take place at 10 o'clock eastern today. We will be following that live.
Sara Dorsey in Florida thank you.
HARRIS: In "CNN Security Watch" this morning, screening your bags at the airport. Soon after 9/11, the theory was beef up airport screening and eliminate the possibility of threatening objects getting on planes. But two soon-to-be-released government reports are highly critical of the process, saying even the best screeners can't do their jobs because of poor equipment. After looking at the report, Republican (sic) Congressman Peter DeFazio had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER DEFAZIO (D) OREGON: 1980s technology for a 21st century threat. It's not working. It never will work. You could have the best screener in the world, and they would not find many of these threat objects using that obsolete equipment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Republican Congressman John Mica, who has also seen the report said, "A lot of people will be shocked at the billions of dollars we spent and the results they're going to see which confirmed previous examinations of the Soviet style screening system we put into place."
You'll hear more on airport screening from Clark Kent Ervin in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING. He's a CNN security analyst and a former inspector general of homeland security.
And as always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
NGUYEN: And now a look at stories across America now. They have found his car, but Ray Gricar wasn't in it. He is the Pennsylvania prosecutor who has been missing since Friday and police say they found the car in a parking lot in Union County yesterday.
The last time anyone heard from him, the 59-year-old district attorney made a cell phone saying he was on his way to Lewisburg. The police are now looking for evidence inside that car.
Now to rough weather on the high seas. The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn is docked this morning in South Carolina for some needed repairs. Yesterday on its normal route between New York and the Bahamas, it was hit by a freak wave that smashed in two windows, flooded 62 cabins and injured four passengers. Officials say the safety of he ship was not compromised.
And finally a quote. "When a man is in trouble or in a good fight he wants all of his friends around him, particularly armed. That's what House Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters at the National Rifle Association. DeLay spoke at the group's annual convention in Houston, Texas yesterday. He blamed the media and political opponents for stories of his alleged ethics violations.
And those alleged violations stem from questions raised about payments for overseas travel. DeLay's ties to lobbyist, who are under investigation and campaign payments to family members. One Republican is even calling for DeLay's resignation. But what do you think? We want to know that this morning. Should the House Majority Leader resign? E-mail us at wam@cnn.com.
HARRIS: Iraqi security forces are conducting door to door searches in a village south of Baghdad where Sunni militants are reportedly holding Shiite Muslims hostage. The village of Midane (ph) is home to both Shiites and Sunnis. There are conflicting reports about the number of hostages who were captured during a raid on the mosque there. But Iraqi police tell CNN it includes just four to six Shiites. The militants threaten to kill the captives if all Shiites did not leave town.
Two young men, both victims of wars in Iraq and Bosnia, hope the tragedies they've suffered are behind them now. CNN's Aaron Brown has their now combined stories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are improbable friends united by war and loss. Two years ago, during the American bombing of Baghdad, Ali Abbas lost his entire world. He lost both arms, he lost both parents, he lost 14 close relatives. All gone.
ALI ABBAS, IRAQI AMPUTEE (via translator): I'll never forget the day when I lost my family. I feel the pain of losing them and I miss them terribly, but I just cry over them in front of people because I'm really crying inside my heart for them.
BROWN: Which brings us to Kenan Malkic.
KENAN MALKIC, BOSNIAN AMPUTEE: I saw him on the news late at night. I saw him and I said, oh my God how horrible! That is he lost his whole family and he got cursed from a very bad injury. I was kind of remembering about my accident and how it can happen, and I kind of knew what Ali was going through.
BROWN: Kenan does know what Ali was going through. He'd stepped on a land mine near his Bosnian home losing both arms and a leg.
MALKIC: I remember that time at the hospital how depressed I was and how dark everything looked. I mean I really didn't see any way out. And actually those thoughts is what drove me to day by day priorities. I said let me make a video of what I can do around the house and send it to him. At least give some brightness in his life.
BROWN: The tape has had its desired effect.
ABBAS (via translator): What I saw was how he was using his arms and I thought, well, maybe he can train me to do that.
BROWN: This week he got his wish. The aide group that had sponsored Kenan's treatment arranged for Ali and three other Iraqi children to come to the United States, to come for medical attention, to come meet a role model.
ELISSA MONTANTI, GLOBAL MEDICAL RELIEF FUND: Kenan is an inspiration. When the children come they see Kenan and they see how he manipulates his own limbs and his prosthetics and they say, "If he can do it. I can do it."
BROWN: While Elissa Montanti arranges surgeries, artificial limbs, rehabilitation, Kenan works on spirit.
MALKIC: That sense that you can help yourself it gives you such freedom. I just feel like at least if you see me getting myself dressed or eating something that would get them to do something by themselves.
BROWN: And he has.
ABBAS (via translator): I feel I can do exactly what he does or what he is doing now. And I feel I can depend on myself exactly just like he depends on himself.
BROWN: Ali has come a long way. He can run now, play soccer even Nintendo, more than he ever imagined.
For Kenan it is confirmation that there can be purpose even in tragedy.
MALKIC: I think every tragedy has a reason behind it and you just have to see that and know that in order for that tragedy to turn into something good. Because I never thought I'd be doing this. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine the United States, you know, helping kids all the way from Iraq. There is nothing that a living person can't do. So that's what I always keep in my head.
BROWN: Aaron Brown CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Just another reminder of what is important in life. A great story.
HARRIS: I'll say.
NGUYEN: He's been missing in Iraq for more than a year, but the Army has not forgotten him. Ahead the latest recognition for Steve Maupin.
HARRIS: Also ahead this woman has been called the Rosa Parks of Islam. In this week's Faces of Faith we'll show you the bold steps she's taken to forge a role for both sexes in the Muslim faith.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, here's a question for you. What food are you thinking about right now, this moment. Dieting is a mind game and losing weight can be as simple as finding out your brain type. That's according to the authors of "Eat Right for Your Brain Type." They'll join us live next hour for a unique approach to that, that's an understatement, to dieting on CNN SUNDAY. That's 9 a.m. Eastern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: OK. Let's go to our top stories now. In Florida the search for 13 year old Sarah Michelle Lunde it is over. Her body was found partially submerged in a pond near her home. The county sheriff says it appears that the body was there for several days.
A missing U.S. soldier in Iraq gets a field promotion. Specialist now Sargent Pete Maupin has been missing in action since an attack on his convoy a year ago.
And with the words, "We have contact" a Russian Soyuz rocket docked with the International Space Station last night. The space craft carried two astronauts and a cosmonaut to the space station. They'll replace two crew members on board since October.
I'll bet they're ready to come home.
HARRIS: It's really a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage to Mecca sparked her fight to make more room for women in Islam. That story next in our Faces of Faith.
NGUYEN: And later on are you sniffling and sneering. Tony is in fact right now. Well, it is spring time, and help is just a few minutes away on our HOUSE CALL with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Our "Faces of Faith" segment this week focuses on the women of Islam. Relegated to the back door of most mosques, Asra Noman is a woman who has decided to take a different stand. She is the author of "Standing Alone In Mecca," and she joins us now from Pittsburgh.
Asra, good morning. Good to see you.
ASRA NOMAN, AUTHOR "STANDING ALONE IN MECCA:" Good morning. How are you doing?
HARRIS: Great. Let me ask just a couple of questions just to better my understanding here. Where is this chapter? Is there a chapter in the Koran that sort of bans women as leaders in the faith? Is there such a thing?
NOMAN: There's absolutely nothing in the Koran that bans women as leaders. In fact, the Koran testifies to the greatness of a leader and her name was Sheba. She was the queen that we've all known in the history books. And Islamic history, in the first century, is recorded with amazing stories of Isha (ph), who rode on camel back in war, Kadisha (ph), who was the first wife of the prophet and his boss. She was the one who proposed marriage.
We have clear evidence of women as great leaders.
HARRIS: So, Asra, here's what I'm trying to get at. Was there ever a time in Islam when there was gender equity?
NOMAN: It was -- we had gender equity in the first century of Islam. Women were participants in the mosque, in Medina, at the prophet's first mosque. Women were leaders. And it's the story since the beginning of time, centuries of man made traditions have basically erased those beautiful rights that we had at the beginning.
HARRIS: Well, specifically, what happened? What happened? What happened? What happened to change it all?
NOMAN: It's power and control. I mean it's basically since the beginning of time man, sadly, have used their own laws to erase the rights that women enjoy in society. This has happened in every religion. It has happened in every society. And now what I'm saying is that Islam has to enter into the 21st century. We have to catapult from the 7th century into the 21st century. Every other faith has gone through this same experience and we can't relegate women into the shadows any more.
HARRIS: So tell us about your trip to Mecca. We're seeing pictures of the Hajj right now, and how that transformed you and lead you on this path to reform.
NOMAN: Well, I had a sort of Malcolm X experience. You know, I have lived in Morgantown, West Virginia. I have experienced a community where women had to go into this little corner, when we had dinner parties we were sent into the kitchen, the political debates were all in the living room with the men. And in Mecca there was no back door for women. We prayed shoulder to shoulder with men. I prayed with my father beside me. And I felt like a spiritual equal. And I saw the potential for religion in my life and I realized that I've allowed all of these centuries of tradition to basically make me feel like I didn't have a place in the faith.
So I felt valued again as a women within Islam.
HARRIS: I have to ask you. What do you say to your brothers in faith who say that these restrictions are in place or out of respect, reverence and for the protection of women?
NOMAN: Oh I've heard it all. I've been told that, you know, men are weak and that women must stay in the shadows to protect the order in society. And I say, you know, we can rise to a higher place. We can really respect and value each human being in the spirit of religion and faith. And I say that I would love to see them come along on that path.
HARRIS: How does this fight this effort to reform Islam? How has it brought you closer to God, if it has?
NOMAN: It has been amazing. I really have a stronger sense of spirituality and faith because as long as I have to fight the idea that religion didn't consider me a spiritual equal in this world to all people I had a problem with it. But now when I bow my head to this great power of the divine in this universe I feel fully valued and respected. I really felt that we have to take the slam out Islam. We have to take the negativity and the darkness and more toward the light. Women are such a critical part of that formula, and the course of history is going to be defined by Islam in the modern day and women have to be a part of the answers an the greater world.
HARRIS: Asra let's leave it there. That's well said. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us this morning from Pittsburgh.
NOMAN: Thank you so much.
NGUYEN: That was well said.
Also this morning we want to talk about our e-mail question of the day. We've been asking about Tom DeLay under fire for alleged ethics violations. Now in a speech last night the House Majority Leader blamed Democrats and the media for spreading false stories about him. But we want to ask you, do you think the House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down? And we've gotten some very interesting responses.
Bill says, "DeLay should not resign. However, he should step forward what he has done and apologize if necessary. If all members of Congress were held to the same standard my guess is that there would be many empty chairs in the House and Senate."
HARRIS: And how about this one, Bruce in Atlanta. "Let's bring up the Democrats, Pelosi, Lieberman, Sanders, they are in the same boat as DeLay but nothing is mentioned. Come on, bring it up."
Bruce, you just did. We want to encourage you to send along more of those e-mails. Here's the question. Do you think House Majority Leader Tom DeLay should step down. Send those e-mails to us at wam@cnn.com and we'll read more next hour.
NGUYEN: Heroic act and sacrifice. After a fiery attack on a road to the Baghdad airport we will have two soldiers stories coming up in the 9 a.m. hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING that you do not want to miss.
HARRIS: But first, tips for beating spring time allergies. "HOUSE CALL" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and your top stories are straight ahead.
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