News
As Rochester Bishop Turns 75, He Will Submit Letter Of Resignation
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It is entirely up to Pope Francis regarding his acceptance of the resignation and when it will become effective.
Crime and Justice
Clergy Abuse Victims Want Speedier Action; Rochester Diocese Proposes $35 Million Settlement
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The Diocese said the proposed settlement would be “a significant step forward” to compensate survivors of sexual abuse who have filed claims in the bankruptcy case.
Antisemitism Spikes In New York, And Many Jews Wonder: ‘Where Are Our Allies?’
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After turning out for racial justice and other movements in the U.S., they are frustrated by the response to attacks and hatred directed at Jews following the latest Mideast violence.
Energy
In The Fight Against Climate Change, Religious Leaders Urge Fewer Fossil Fuels
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“We’re working hard on that, and I’m quite optimistic we can meet these goals. But it’s going to take huge participation and buy-in from everyone.”
App NEWS
Over 300 Sex Abuse Claims Against The Roman Catholic Diocese Of Rochester
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“Out of respect for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court process and the claimants, the Diocese declines comment.”
Education
Cuomo Orders Some School Closures, Possible Ban On Religious Gatherings
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Cuomo said he’s taking the steps because he does not want the hot spots to spread to the rest of the state.
Government
Churches Now Allowed Up To 25% Capacity For Services, Funerals
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“People need to have those doors opened and have their faith fulfilled and to be nourished.”
App NEWS
New York Governor Counters President’s ‘Photo Op,’ Cites Bible Passages
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“Here in New York, we actually read the Bible. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’.”
Government
New York Allows Small Religious Gatherings, With Restrictions
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“The wearing of masks, the cleaning regimen that would have to happen before or after, the airing out of the space, the need to manage things like doorways or bathrooms or places of contact.”
Government
New York Churches Don’t Want To Be Among The Last To Reopen
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“We are going to have to put strict limits in terms of capacity in every church, and all sorts of restrictions.”
Remembering Georgianna Glose, A New York Nun And Activist
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Georgianna Glose, a nun in Brooklyn, N.Y., who blew the whistle on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church died from COVID-19 complications. She was 73.
App NEWS
‘They Put Me In Solitary For Having Oranges’ — Muslim Inmates Struggle During Ramadan
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Pennsylvania lawsuit highlights challenges faced by Muslim inmates during Islam’s holy month
Health
How A Hospital Chaplain Comforts COVID-19 Patients And Their Families
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“Why do we need a pandemic to be this supportive to each other? Maybe we can carry some of this kindness going forward.”
App NEWS
Officials Encourage Believers To Mark “Holy Days” Virtually
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“There will be a time when this is over, and we will be able to have joy and gatherings again. But right now, it’s just so imperative that it’s important to stay home.”
Health
As Holy Week Begins, Churches Try To Reach Parishioners In New Ways
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“Pastors are trying to stay connected with their flocks, and some are doing it through mailings and through the internet, but a lot of parishes will try to live stream at least Easter Mass.”
Health
Honking Hallelujah: Drive-In Theatre In PA Becomes Church
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“We were made for a community with God and with others as well. So this gives that kind of an opportunity, while at the same time being as safe as we possibly can.”
Health
Catholic Masses Cancelled In Central New York; Churches Open For Private Prayer
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“The bishop recognizes how very hard this is for people and people will be very upset who really turn to mass for their peace, their solace, and being fulfilled spiritually.”
Crime and Justice
Harrisburg Becomes 1st PA Roman Catholic Diocese To Declare Bankruptcy
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The diocese has been under financial strain from legal fees and payouts to people its clergy and other affiliates abused over many decades.
Bringing Secular Spirituality Into Education
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Hundreds of educators, philanthropists and nonprofits recently convened in New York for the “Spirituality in Education” conference.
App NEWS
Scholar: ‘Hard To Know’ If Buffalo Diocese Will Recover From Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis
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“You pull on one thread with this, and the next thing you know, you’re looking at all kinds of dots that are being connected across the country where the investigator is now being investigated. That’s quite shocking.”
Interim Leader Of Buffalo Diocese Says “No Hidden Agendas, No Marching Orders”
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“We’re all hurting in some way, even if it’s not personal, as members of families, as friends. We have to develop a sense of openness and trust, as family members do.”
App NEWS
News Report Suggests Buffalo Bishop Will Resign Wednesday
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According to numerous sources, Bishop Richard Malone will resign Wednesday and a temporary administrator has already been selected.
‘Why Is There Nothing Left?’ Pension Funds Failing At Catholic Hospital In New York
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The AARP has filed a lawsuit on behalf of workers at a defunct Catholic hospital in upstate New York, saying hundreds lost their pensions unfairly. And there are similar cases around the country.
App NEWS
PA Diocese Sued For Conspiracy, Fraud Related To Child Abuse
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“You have to ask yourself, why is every diocese in the country dealing with child sex abuse? The answer is, the coverup, the protection afforded to child predators.”
A Former Jehovah’s Witness On Leaving The Faith And Moving To New York
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“I felt like everything that had mattered to me was gone,” Amber Scorah says of her decision to leave the Jehovah’s Witness community she grew up in. Her new memoir is Leaving The Witness.
App NEWS
On 1st Day, PA House’s Only Muslim Woman Deals With ‘Blatant Islamophobia’
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In a two minute invocation, a Christian lawmaker mentioned Jesus 13 times and praised the President for his unequivocal support of Israel.
At Lent, PA Catholics Reflect On Faith As Sex Abuse Scandal Shakes The Church
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On the first Sunday of Lent, NPR’s Michel Martin speaks with Sister Joan Chittister about the holiday’s meaning amid the ongoing abuse scandal.
Child Sex Abuse Survivor Heads To Rome Ahead Of Bishops’ Summit
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A New York man, who is a former priest and also a childhood sexual abuse survivor, is traveling to Rome in advance of the summit to stand with victims and respond to developments at the meeting.
A New York Immigrant, Considered “Righteous Among the Nations”, Is Laid To Rest
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Funeral services were held Friday morning at Christ the King Church in Snyder for a man who, during his years as a young priest in his native Hungary, saved the lives of thousands of Jews, first from the Nazis and then from the Soviets.
Religious Groups Seeking ‘Moral’ New York State Budget
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Religious and progressive groups say they will press Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature to adopt what they call a “moral” state budget in 2019. The groups brought their views to the Capitol just before Christmas.
LGBT Advocates Urge New York State To Reconsider Catholic Charities Funding
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Participants in the protest included religious, community and public leaders. They say Catholic Charities announced its decision to cease its foster care and adoption services after a same-sex couple inquired about adopting a child.
Feds Launch Sex Abuse Probe Of Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic Church
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NPR has learned that the Justice Department issued subpoenas to at least six of the state’s eight dioceses seeking private files and records.
Long Paternity Mystery Solved: A New York Priest Fathered A Son In 1940s
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BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) – For more than three decades, a South Carolina resident born in Buffalo sought the truth about his father’s identity. He had heard whispers for many years that it allegedly was a Catholic priest who served in Buffalo in the 1940.
Muslims In New York, Worldwide Celebrate Eid al Adha
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BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) – Hundreds of Western New York Muslims gathered inside the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Buffalo Tuesday morning for a prayerful celebration of Eid al Adha, an Islamic holy day coinciding with the conclusion of the Hajj – the annual holy pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslim faithful.
Four More Priests Placed On Leave By Diocese of Buffalo, One Reinstated
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BUFFALO, NY (WSKG) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo on Thursday placed four more priests on administrative leave, in response to complaints of alleged sexual abuse. Additionally, the Diocese of Buffalo announced claims against three other priests have been substantiated while a fourth has been exonerated and reinstated.
Crime and Justice
PA Justices Elaborate On Decision To Stay Clergy Abuse Report
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HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) — Days after halting release of a sweeping grand jury report on child abuse by Pennsylvania Roman Catholic clergy, the commonwealth’s Supreme Court justices have offered more details on their decision.
crime
Roman Catholic Cardinal Opposes Provision In New York’s Child Victims Act
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ALBANY, NY (WSKG) New York’s Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan met privately with Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday over a proposed bill to give victims of childhood sexual abuse more access to the courts. The Cardinal remains opposed to a key provision of the measure.
News
To Ward Off Mass Shooters, New York Church Encourages Congregation To Bring Guns
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SYRACUSE (WRVO) – When the parishioners at one Oswego County church gather for worship each week, many of them are armed. And it’s no secret. The Lighthouse Mexico Church of God even advertises that its not a gun-free zone – a response to the frequent mass shootings in the country that’s the subject of some debate. Walking into the church on a Sunday morning is more like joining a family reunion than attending a mass. Music plays for the first half of the service as the parishioners move about the church greeting one another and joining in community prayers. The pastor Ron Russell says his church is like a family, and it’s his responsibility to ensure their safety.
News
Rabbi Pursues Shared Stories Between Islam, Judaism, Christianity
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More and more, Jews and Muslims are finding commonalities and seeing each other as allies, says Rabbi Burton Visotzky, Director of the Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Many of the commonalities between Judaism, Islam, and another Abrahamic faith, Christianity come through shared Scriptures, said Visotzky, and indicate how to see each other. “There’s a wonderful verse in the Book of Exodus where Jacob comes home after 20 years in exile and he’s terrified that his brother, Esau, will be angry and murder him. But Esau greets him with a kiss – and warmly -because Esau has been able to forgive. And Jacob comments, ‘Looking at your face is like seeing the face of God.’ “If we could all get there, in that moment, when we look at another person, even someone we perceive to be our enemy and see the godly in them…That’s the challenge we all face.” With another example, Visotzky looks at the biblical story of Abraham – or Ibrahim in the Quran – and his son, as a shared story of offering and martyrdom.