Benedict woes come as German church reform pressure rises
A report on decades of sexual abuse in Germany that shone an unflattering spotlight on retired Pope Benedict XVI has come on top of already strong pressure in Germany to reconsider Catholic rules on issues including homosexuality and women’s roles
washingtonpost.comCatholic religious order of monks to cut ties with Benet Academy
A Chicago-area religious order of monks said this week they are ending their affiliation with a DuPage County Catholic high school, which in recent months hired a woman in a same-sex marriage to coach the girls lacrosse team.
chicagotribune.comBoris Johnson and Keir Starmer visit scene where MP Amess was killed
In a rare show of unity, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and opposition leader Keir Starmer visit the scene where lawmaker David Amess was killed in Leigh-on-Sea, east of London, along with the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle and Home Secretary Priti Patel. Amess, 69, was talking with voters at a church when he was stabbed to death, in what the police have said was a terrorist attack.
news.yahoo.comMormon sex therapist's ouster stirs worries of shame culture
Sex therapist Lisa Butterworth has long been willing to delve into sensitive sexuality questions with clients who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Helfer was excommunicated and lost her appeal last month to remain in the faith known widely as the Mormon church — a move critics say reflects the church doubling down on some of its more conservative views on sexuality.
news.yahoo.comHow COVID is hitting Pope Francis and the Catholic Church spiritually, and financially this Holy Week
Rome — This is not the Holy Week that Pope Francis wanted. He's long been called "the People's Pope," but as CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay reports, since the pandemic struck, Francis has been the pope with no people. Pope Francis attends the Chrism Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, April 1, 2021 at the Vatican. Vatican Pool/GettyEspecially painful for the pope during what's normally the busiest week at the Vatican, is the absence of pilgrims. They are some of the very few even permitted to be at the Vatican this Holy Week.
cbsnews.comMexican church, school cares for migrants waiting to request asylum in U.S.
Mexican church, school cares for migrants waiting to request asylum in U.S. While waiting to claim asylum, some migrants are still stuck in Mexico without many resources. Mireya Villarreal spoke with a reformed gang member-turned-ordained minister who crosses from Texas to Mexico every day to help these migrants.
cbsnews.comWhat’s News Today: Baseball announcement, road work
Work on the Main Street Renewal Project continues in Lynchburg. Today and Monday, crews will be working near the intersections of Main and 12th, Church and 12th, and Rivermont and 5th. Danville’s Appalachian League baseball team will make an announcement this morning at 9 a.m., possibly revealing its new name. If you were scheduled to get your COVID vaccine yesterday in Roanoke, your appointment was rescheduled for today. In the New River Valley, yesterday’s appointments have been rescheduled for the same time today.
Minnesota town grants permit to ‘whites only’ church
MURDOCK, Minn. – The city council of Murdock, Minnesota has anonymously voted to grant a permit that allows a Nordic heritage church identified as a white supremacist group to gather at an abandoned church. The vote came after Murdock’s city attorney advised town officials that rejecting the Asatru Folk Assembly’s request could violate its religious rights. Council members, who were meeting online because of the coronavirus pandemic, kept video cameras turned off and refused to identify who voted for or against the permit. Mayor Craig Kavanagh said the vote was 3-1 to approve the Conditional Use Permit as long as the group meets the conditions set on the permit. “There has been a lot of concern on this topic in the city of Murdock and rightfully so.
Cast of ‘Barnwood Builders’ resurrects history for Bedford County church milestone
Pastor Jason Arthur is turning to the stars of the DIY Network hit show ‘Barnwood Builders’ to erect a replica of the log cabin chapel from the 18th century. The church was founded in the Moneta area of Bedford County in 1771 -- five years before the Revolutionary War. The ‘Barnwood Builders’ refurbished the 32 beams from a Kentucky tobacco barn. “We’re going to have a historical timeline that’s going to be set up inside this log structure that will tell the story. The ‘Barnwood Builders’ episode is scheduled to air early next year.
Police searching for two people in connection with Lynchburg church vandalism involving white supremacy sticker
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Police Department ia searching for two suspects wanted for vandalizing and stealing from a church. It happened on October 8th at the First Unitarian Church in Downtown Lynchburg. The church’s minister, Reverend Terre Balof, believes the suspects captured on surveillance video stole a rainbow banner hanging above the entrance, then placed a sticker of a white supremacist group on the church’s free, outdoor library. “If they were trying to intimidate us, that’s not going to work, and we’re ordering another banner,” said Reverend Terre Balof. Anyone with information is asked to call the Lynchburg Police Department.
Pope Francis appoints first Black American cardinal
Pope Francis on Sunday named the archbishop of Washington, Wilton Gregory, a cardinal, making him the first African American to hold the position in the Catholic church's highest governing body. He added that "men and women, young and old, people of every racial and ethnic background are needed in this effort." Nine of the 13 men named as new cardinals on Sunday, including Gregory, are under the age of 80 and are eligible to participate in the next convocation to elect Francis' successor. The new cardinals chosen by Francis echo his ideas, making it probable that the college will elect someone like him. It's also unclear whether some of the bishops will be able make the trip due to travel restrictions in many parts of the country.
cbsnews.comLocal schools continue to lack Internet access after not receiving aid from Virginia lawmakers
CARROLL COUNTY, Va. – The coronavirus pandemic has shed light on many issues in our area, but perhaps one of the largest is Internet access. When schools had to quickly adapt to online classes, it became apparent how many students have no access to the Internet outside of school grounds. The Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Mark Burnette, said it’s a mix of availability across the county, affordability for some families and the varying Internet speeds. About 25% of students are facing this issue currently and Burnette was hoping for some help from state lawmakers. Dr. Mark Church said about 35% of his students are struggling with accessibility with up to 17% located completely outside of a broadband coverage area.
Franklin Co. schools consider school options as COVID19 cases spike in the county
FRANKLIN COUNTY, VA. – On Monday night, some Franklin County school board members pushed for students to be back in the classroom sooner rather than later, as health officials in the area deal with a spike in COVID19 cases in the county. The school board met in person Monday night as its secondary students have been fully online for the last week and a half. The division has seven students and four staff cases as of the latest update. The Virginia Department of Health said the recent spike in cases is associated with an unnamed long term care facility in the area. Back at the school board they remain hopeful numbers will decrease.
Man arrested after state trooper attacked with a hatchet at Southwest Virginia church
GRAYSON COUNTY, Va. – Authorities have arrested the man they believe attacked an off-duty state trooper with a hatchet at a church in southwest Virginia on Sunday night. On Tuesday, around 3:15 p.m., state police arrested 31-year-old Gregory Graham, of Marion, Va., without incident at his home on Brushy Mountain Road, according to Virginia State Police. ORIGINAL STORYState police are searching for the man who they say attacked an off-duty state trooper at a church on Sunday night. An off-duty Virginia State Police trooper opened the door to find a man and a dog just outside. Anyone with information about this man is asked to call Virginia State Police by dialing #77, 276-228-3131 or by emailing questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
Remarks by Attorney General William P. Barr on his Acceptance of the Christifideles Laici Award at the 2020 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
For more than 15 years now, inspired by Saint John Paul II’s call for a renewal of Catholic communal and civic spirit, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast has served as a living testament to the vital role of the Church and its principles in American public life. But times of trial have a way of reminding us how much we have to be grateful for. More recently, thanks in part to organizations like this one, we have seen some small but significant steps toward the restoration of religion to its rightful place in American public life. The most recent term of the Supreme Court, for example, saw three important victories for religious liberty. Advocating for religious liberty is just one way that lay Catholics and others can answer the call to serve.
justice.govFranklin County NAACP members discuss coronavirus, reopening schools
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Black and white, young and old, about three dozen people gathered at the Pigg River Community Center Thursday afternoon to listen to community leaders speak about topics related to the coronavirus. The event was organized by the Franklin County NAACP chapter. “We’re just trying to make it known that there is an NAACP chapter in Franklin County,” Franklin County NAACP President Walter Lawson Jr. said. Questions for Franklin County Schools’ superintendent, not all of which were related to the virus, however, took up the bulk of the hour-long event. Volunteers were also on hand to help people become members of the Franklin County NAACP and register to vote.
Franklin County church uses garden to ‘love our neighbor in a real practical way’
That’s what Franklin Heights Church members are doing this summer. It's also the name of the garden they've grown to help those in need. That's what Franklin Heights church members are doing this summer. (Franklin Heights Church)We caught up with the man now in charge who told us he doesn’t even have a farming background. The goal is to love our neighbor in a real practical way,” said Pastor Stan Parris at Franklin Heights Church.
Virginians will be required to wear masks while attending church
ROANOKE, Va. – When Virginia’s mask requirements go into effect on Friday, churches are one place where they’ll be required. Two weeks ago, when Virginia entered phase one, the government announced nine mandatory requirements for houses of worship to open. At that time, it was merely recommended that those at services wear a face covering. Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 63, seven types of places where masks will be required are listed; however, churches and other houses of worship, are not explicitly mentioned. This restriction does not apply to persons while inside their residence or the personal residence of another.
Bedford police still receiving complaints about local church holding services
BEDFORD, Va. – The Bedford Town Police Department is still receiving complaints about people gathering at a church, despite Virginia’s ban on gatherings of 10 or more people. Bible Truth Tabernacle is no longer having services inside its building, but rather, holding drive-in services. Late last month, 10 News reported on the church when it had a packed parking lot and was still holding services inside its building. Police Chief Todd Foreman said his department has received several phone calls about people getting out of their cars during these services. 10 News has reached out to the pastor Wayne Lawhorne for response at the time of this post we had not heard from him.
Photo shows Bedford church packed, despite coronavirus ban on groups of more than 10 people
BEDFORD, Va. – A church in Bedford is refusing to follow the governor’s orders to close. Now, local police are unsure whether or not they can charge church leaders. A photo of Bible Truth Tabernacle Church in Bedford was posted on Facebook on Sunday. “We’re trying to balance all that because we can’t go put chains on the door of a church," said Foreman. They are also talking with the church leaders about the situation.
Some of Virginia’s Episcopal churches canceling services as coronavirus cases grow
ROANOKE, Va. – Churches that are part of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia will not be meeting for two weeks. Just yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Employers large and small, some in our own Diocese, are directing employees to stay home and telework. Numerous dioceses, including the Dioceses of Virginia and Washington, D.C., have suspended or sharply curtailed church activity. There our 10 churches in our viewing area effected by this decision:
Security company works with local churches to keep congregations safe
TROUTVILLE, Va. – Safety is once again a top concern in places of worship after a deadly shooting Sunday at a church in Texas. Investigators are still working to figure out why a gunman opened fire, killing two people at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas. Executive Security Concepts, which is based in Roanoke, is helping places of worship keep their congregations safe. The company recently contracted with two local churches to provide armed security and safety team consulting. Executive Security Concepts has been providing safety and security globally since 2005.
Rebuilt from the rubble: Pulaski church reopens after being destroyed by fire
Pulaski Church of God had a massive fire in January 2017. This weekend, they are about to have their first church service in their new building. For the Pulaski Church of God, this weekend’s Sunday service is one that’s been years in the making. The church was completely destroyed in the 2017 fire, which was a devastating loss for Tony Eads, the church’s music minister. Rebuilt from the rubble, the new church will allow everyone to carry on the congregation’s mission.
Historic Roanoke church reopens sanctuary after eight months of repairs
ROANOKE, Va. – The stained glass windows inside Greene Memorial United Methodist Church’s sanctuary are no longer obscured by scaffolding. The sanctuary, which was built in 1892, reopened for Sunday service after it had been closed for repairs since March. “There is an energy that was crackling in the sanctuary today," said Greene Memorial United Methodist Church’s pastor, Rev. "It’s an enthusiasm and a hopeful feeling as they looked at all we had done in 8 months. Greene Memorial had held its services in its basement and in its lobby while the sanctuary was being repaired.
Mormon church opposes Utah LGBTQ 'conversion therapy' ban
Justin Utley, a former member of the faith who says he was sent through harmful "conversion therapy" by the church's therapy services years ago, called the church's position disheartening. The faith widely known as the Mormon church accounts for nearly two-thirds of the state's residents, and nearly every state lawmaker. It's unknown how the church's position will impact the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing's pending decision. The church has since said homosexuality is not a sin, though it remains opposed to same-sex marriage and intimacy. The president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, Gayle Ruzicka, is against the proposed ban and cheered the church's announcement.
chicagotribune.comPreview: What it takes to pull off Eric Church's country tour
Preview: What it takes to pull off Eric Church's country tour The Grammy-nominated country star is on a nine-month concert tour, and Mark Strassmann joined Church and his production team on the road in California. Watch Thursday on "CBS This Morning" for this exclusive behind-the-scenes look.
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