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"Join us and engage in meaningful dialogues" Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:49 am (GMT -5) "Join us and engage in meaningful dialogues" Episcopal priestess gives talk at Encino retreat center run by Catholic nuns California Catholic Daily November 8, 2007 http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=54a3bd4f-9944-4ee9-a64b-14a32a09ab25 As the first in an occasional series, "Women's Life Stories, Today's Gospel," Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino yesterday featured a talk, "A Sister's Story," by the Rev. Zelda Kennedy, an Episcopal priestess serving at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. The Sisters of Social Service, who run the retreat center, invited the public "to come and hear [Kennedy's] moving account of giving new life to her brother." Kennedy donated a kidney to her brother, as she herself related in a sermon at All Saints given last July 15 – a service during which the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, was also at All Saints and gave an "awesome sermon," according to Kennedy. Robinson's 2003 election as bishop has elicited controversy in the Anglican Communion, leading some parishes in the United States to withdraw from the American Episcopal Church to accept governance from foreign Anglican jurisdictions. Referring to this controversy, Robinson in his sermon related a conversation he had with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Robinson said he told the archbishop that the New Hampshire consecration was "doing the right thing" – just as the irregular ordination of women into the ministry that led to the Episcopal Church's adoption of women's ordination was "doing the right thing." Kennedy seems to agree. In a May 27 sermon, "Working with the Spirit," Kennedy praised All Saints' priestess Susan Russell for speaking out against those who opposed the consecration of Robinson because he is homosexual. Interviewed by KCAL-9 television in December 2006 about the withdrawal of eight churches in Virginia from the American Episcopal Church, Kennedy observed, "There are some churches within the Anglican communion who do not support the ordination of women. Period. The majority of them do." The broadcast went on to mention that the churches were coming under the governance of African Archbishop Peter Akinola, who is "fiercely critical of gays in the Church." It then returned to Kennedy, who said, "And that's so sad, because I don't believe that's what Jesus had in mind." Besides "Women's Life Stories," Holy Spirit Retreat Center offers programs on centering prayer, and lectio divina, as well as monthly examinations of "current spiritual writings, particularly those of women prophets," Taizé prayer sessions, and weekly Yang style Tai Chi gatherings. On the third Monday of each month, the retreat center offers "Mystics of Peace: Sacred Expressions of Chant and Music." "Join us and experience the healing power of sound through chants and sacred music," invites a retreat center advertisement from the program. "We will learn chants from various religious traditions and share our sacred expressions of music, art, poetry and dance. Speakers and clergy from western and eastern religious traditions will join us and engage in meaningful dialogues, as we also share our own stories." The advertisement invites all "to participate or just sit back and enjoy the divine energies created from the blending of sacred music and poetry, spiritual teachings and dance from around the world."

Lay Catholics weigh in on Communion for politicians Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:46 pm (GMT -5) Lay Catholics weigh in on Communion for politicians link to original Washington, Nov. 7, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A bipartisan group of American Catholics has issued a call for "civility in political debate," arguing strongly that lay people should not press Church leaders to denounce politicians whose views conflict with Church teaching. In a statement released on November 6, a group of prominent Catholic public figures lamented the "divisively partisan" tone of political debates, and the "attacks on private conduct and recriminations." The statement was critical of Catholic politicians who challenge Church teachings on important moral questions. But it was equally critical of those who "seek the public embarrassment of politicians whose public positions differ with Church teachings through the public refusal of the sacrament of Holy Communion or public admonition by the bishops." The statement indicates that the signatories are speaking out "to right this wrong." The effort was coordinated by Thomas Melady, a former US ambassador to the Holy See, and Timothy May, a partner of the powerful Washington law firm Patton Boggs. The political affiliations of the organizers reflect the bipartisan character of the initiative; Melady has been active in Republican political circles for years; May has been an equally influential Democrat. Arguing that Catholics should not seek to enlist the support of their bishops for partisan political stands, the statement focuses on the debate over denying Communion to political figures who defy Church teachings. "An individual's fitness to receive Communion is his or her personal responsibility," the statement argues. Although the statement calls upon lay Catholics to respect the leadership of their bishops, the "Catholic Call to Observe Civility in Political Debate" contains an implicit criticism of the argument put forward by Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis, who has explained that canon law places an obligation upon Eucharistic ministers to withhold the Eucharist from individuals whose flagrant public rejection of Church teaching could give rise to scandal. The statement supports the opposing view championed by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, whose public calls for civility in discourse prompted the lay initiative. The call for civility goes on to say that "it is a bishop's responsibility to set for his diocese the guidelines for administering Communion." That statement reflects the policy adopted by the US bishops' conference, which chose not to implement a national policy on the topic. "American Catholics know who their Church leaders are: their bishops, archbishops, and cardinals," the statement read. The Pope was not mentioned in the text. Among the 47 people who signed the document were a former national chairman of the Republican Party (Frank Fahrenkopf) and two former Democratic chairmen (Terry McAuliffe and Charles Manatt). Also among the signatories were several former ambassadors and public officials, including former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, the first chairman of the US bishops' National Review Board. Melady and May said that they deliberately avoided soliciting support from Catholics currently holding public office.

Sam Brownback endorses John McCain Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:09 pm (GMT -5) Giuliani, McCain pick up key Christian conservative backing Link to original From Paul Steinhauser CNN Washington Bureau WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Call it a battle for the hearts and minds of Christian conservative voters. Pat Robertson, right, endorses Rudy Giuliani Wednesday in Giuliani's quest to be the GOP presidential nominee. Pat Robertson, the television evangelist and Christian Coalition founder, endorsed Republican White House hopeful Rudy Giuliani for president when the two men appeared together at the National Press Club in Washington on Wednesday. Robertson said he decided to endorse Giuliani because he was "a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans." "In all of the crises which confront our nation and the world, we need a leader with a bold vision who is not afraid to tackle the challenges ahead," Robertson said. Video Watch Robertson call Giuliani ready to lead » Meanwhile, former White House hopeful Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican who is the leading voice for Christian conservatives in the Senate, will endorse Sen. John McCain for president, McCain's campaign announced Wednesday. The Giuliani campaign hopes the Robertson endorsement will help the former New York City mayor to make inroads among evangelical Christians. Giuliani is trying to make the case with social conservative voters that despite his support for abortion and gay rights, he is an acceptable choice as the Republican presidential nominee. It was Robertson's 1988 presidential campaign that, while unsuccessful, established evangelical voters as a dominant force within the Republican Party. Robertson has repeatedly praised Giuliani despite their major differences on social policy. Both men say a friendship developed after a long conversation on a plane during a trip to Israel several years ago. Another thing both men have in common is that they are prostate cancer survivors. Giuliani is the frontrunner in the national polls, but he trails in surveys in many of the early primary and caucus states, among them Iowa and South Carolina, where social conservative voters make up a major part of the Republican voting electorate. The Robertson endorsement may also quash talk of a social conservative third party candidate if Giuliani wins the nomination. It also put a dent in Mitt Romney's courting of the religious right. The former Massachusetts governor has made major inroads with Christian conservatives, despite the concerns by some regarding his Mormon faith. When asked about Robertson's endorsement, Romney said, "You can't get them all" and then touted his recent endorsements from conservative activist Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III, the president of the evangelical Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. McCain is also hoping to capture Christian conservative support. A McCain campaign source and Republican Party sources tell CNN that Brownback's endorsement will come today when the two men appear together at a McCain campaign event in Iowa. The Republican senator from Kansas gave up his own bid for the White House last month after lackluster fundraising and poor showings in both the national and crucial early primary and caucus state polls. "I am endorsing the best pro-life candidate to beat Hillary Clinton," Brownback said in a press conference in Dubuque, Iowa. "Here is a pro-life leader who will appoint strict-constructionist judges so that I believe we can end this night of wrong and have Roe v. Wade overturned," Brownback continued. McCain, who hovers around fourth place in many recent polls out of this crucial early-voting state, hailed the endorsement as "significant." "There are endorsements and then there are endorsements, support and different kinds of support," he said. "This time the support comes from one of the most respected men in America." Brownback is a socially conservative senator who emphasized his opposition to abortion, gay marriage and other issues important to Christian conservatives, who make up an influential voting block within the Republican Party. advertisement His endorsement could help McCain in Iowa. The caucuses there, which will be held on January 3, will kick off the presidential primary calendar. McCain trails badly in the polls in Iowa to Romney. McCain opposes legalizing abortion and gay marriage, but he is not a darling of the far right. Brownback's endorsement may help McCain with such social conservative voters.

Catholic Church in Palmdale Terrorized Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:11 pm (GMT -5) http://www.dailynews.com/ci_7380378 Gunman terrorizes Catholic church before Mass By Karen Maeshiro, Staff Writer Article Last Updated: 11/05/2007 09:04:39 PM PST PALMDALE - A 65-year-old man armed with a gun terrorized a Catholic church before Sunday evening services, shouting profanities, assaulting a priest who tried to calm him and making threats as choir members held him down. "There's going to be a killing," Claude Sricchia is said to have shouted once he entered St. Mary's Catholic Church about half an hour before the 5:30 p.m. Mass. "It was kind of a frightening experience," said Msgr. Stephen Downes, St. Mary's pastor. "The man was shouting in the church, `Clear the church, there's going to be a killing."' Sheriff's deputies arrived, and as they were handcuffing Sricchia they found a loaded .45-caliber pistol tucked in the back of his waistband, officials said. "It was cocked and ready to go," Deputy Daryl Bonsall said. Sricchia, who lives in Acton, was arrested on suspicion of making terrorist threats, assault and having a concealed firearm, Bonsall said. Sricchia was not a member of the Palmdale parish, Downes said. The pastor had just arrived at the church at 1600 E. Ave. R when a staff member called his cell phone, alerting him to a man shouting inside the church. "As I walked in, he had gotten to the choir area and became very aggressive," Downes said. "He hit a male choir member on the side of the head, then a maintenance man tackled him to the ground. Other choir members held him down." Downes said the man was cursing, saying there was no God or religion, Downes said. "He said, `I believed for 65 years. There is no God,"' Downes said. Downes went to try to calm Sricchia but when the man realized that Downes was a priest, "he became enraged and cursed and swore even more and called me a child molester," Downes said. The man kicked Downes, knocking him to the ground. Mass was held but started late, Downes said. _________________ Quid hoc ad aeternitatem?

Convicted priest kicked out of Jesuits Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:44 am (GMT -5) Convicted priest kicked out of Jesuits By JESSE GARZA Milwaukee Journal Ssentinel Posted: Nov. 6, 2007 http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=683467 A Chicago priest appealing his conviction for molesting two high school boys in Wisconsin in the 1960s has been dismissed from the Society of Jesus, according to a statement from the religious order released Tuesday. Father Donald J. McGuire was handed the dismissal decree Tuesday morning, according to the statement from the Chicago Province of the Jesuit order. McGuire, 77, was convicted in Walworth County last year of indecent behavior with two boys on retreats in Wisconsin in the 1960s. He had been free on bond while appealing the conviction but was taken into custody by federal agents Friday on charges that he traveled to Switzerland and Austria seven years ago to have sex with a minor. In August, a 21-year-old college student filed suit in Illinois accusing McGuire of abusing him from 1999 to 2003. Last month a 20-year-old college student and his 28-year-old brother filed a civil suit in Cook County, Ill., accusing McGuire of abusing them between 1988 and 2002 in Illinois and on retreats in Arizona.

Shock - Pat Robertson endorses Giuliani! Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:36 am (GMT -5) Pat Robertson Backs Giuliani's Bid http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071107/D8SOTN7G1.html Nov 7, 10:34 AM (ET) By LIBBY QUAID WASHINGTON (AP) - Pat Robertson, a prominent Christian leader and social conservative, endorsed Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday. "It is my pleasure to announce my support for America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans," Robertson said in a statement issued by the Giuliani campaign. The former New York mayor backs abortion rights and gay rights, positions that put him in conflict with GOP orthodoxy, and has been trying to persuade cultural conservatives to overlook their differences with him on those issues. Giuliani is best known to voters for leading New York in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Shortly after 9/11, Robertson released a statement in which he said the attacks occurred because Americans had insulted God and lost the protection of heaven by allowing abortion and "rampant Internet pornography." Robertson made no mention of his differences with Giuliani on social issues in Wednesday's statement. "Rudy Giuliani took a city that was in decline and considered ungovernable and reduced its violent crime, revitalized its core, dramatically lowered its taxes, cut through a welter of bureaucratic regulations, and did so in the spirit of bipartisanship which is so urgently needed in Washington today," Robertson said. Conservatives have split in their support for the leading Republican candidates. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback planned to endorse John McCain on Wednesday. Mitt Romney recently announced that Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III were on board with his candidacy. Robertson, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 1988, founded the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Christian Coalition and Regent University in Virginia Beach.

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