Results tagged “catholicchurch”

Archbishop Timothy Dolan is on the information superhighway—the leader of the New York Archdiocese has a blog called The Gospel in the Digital Age, where he tackles things like sexual abuse in the Catholic Church (today's entry is an op-ed he submitted to the NY Times, which declined it) and baseball—"It’s been hard for this bishop to be against angels, but fortunately that crisis of conscience has passed with the Yankees 5-2 victory last night over the Los Angeles Angels, giving them their 40th American League pennant and sending the Bronx Bombers back to the World Series."

A Brooklyn man who serves as religious director for his local church was arrested for sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy. Police say 58-year-old Angelo Serrano molested the boy, a family friend, in the child's Williamsburg home. It was unclear if the abuse was connected to Serrano's role volunteering for St. Lucy-St. Patrick Catholic Church in Fort Greene. A neighbor said of Serrano, "He's a beautiful guy. He really loved the children. He spent a lot of time with them and all like that."

Many Catholics make sure to bring their belongings with them when going up to receive Communion so that they can make a quick dash for the exit upon taking part in the mass's climactic rite. But at Shrine Church of Saint Bernadette in Dyker Heights, church officials have begun encouraging parishoners to grab their things after a series of purse-snatchings occurred while churchgoers left their places for Communion. One woman said to the News, "If you can't trust your fellow worshipers when you are going for Communion, then you are going to hell." A member the church says that at least three purses were stolen recently, but none of the incidents were reported to the police. The spree did prompt Reverend Ponnachan Georgekutty to post a notice on the parish's website warning people not to leave anything behind during the sacrament, which he says has curbed the burglaries. One 74-year-old woman said to the News, "Is nothing sacred any more? Is nothing holy?"

The NY Post is hearing from some state lawmakers that Brooklyn Diocese Bishop allegedly "threatened [them] by vowing to close churches in their districts -- and blame them for the closures -- if they dared support a bill making it easier for people who were sexually assaulted as kids to sue." The Child Victims Act, sponsored by Assembly Member Margaret Markey (D-Queens), is headed to the Assembly for debate soon "seeks to extend the statute of limitations for lawsuits involving the rape or molesting of youngsters. It could cost the Church hundreds of millions in payouts to victimized parishioners." Apparently DiMarzio confronted lawmakers about the bill last fall; one Assembly member described, "He said, 'If it passes, we will close a parish in each of your districts and we will tell your constituents that it was your fault.'" DiMarzio's spokesman denies the charges of blackmail, but did note, "The consequences for our community would be profound," adding, "We're dealing with an anti-Catholic bias that's pervading the New York state Assembly."

Archbishop Timothy Dolan marked his beginning as the new leader of the New York Archdiocese—and about 2.5 million Roman Catholics in the area—with the ritual of knocking on the doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The Post described the scene, "Using a blue hammer, Dolan pounded on the bronze doors six times, asking to be accepted as New York's new archbishop. Then he paused and knocked another three times just to be sure he was heard. A roar of laughter erupted in the church. The doors swung open and the 59-year-old Dolan walked in to an explosion of applause."

WCBS 2 reports that Cardinal Egan "was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital after experiencing stomach pains... Egan was awake and alert. Doctors were unclear what his problem was, but Church officials said the situation was not serious." Egan was planning on performing his last Palm Sunday mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral before his retirement, but did not due to his illness. WCBS 2 adds, "The Cardinal is intended to celebrate Easter Mass, pending successful hospital tests." Egan, who just turned 77, is retiring; Archbishop Timothy Dolan will be installed on April 15. Update: Cardinal Egan is receiving a pacemaker.

Yesterday was Cardinal Egan's final "Conversation with the Cardinal on Sirius Radio's Catholic Channel. The NY Times reports that he tried to set the record straight: "In jocular, yet pointed remarks, he said that he would not, in fact, retire to a penthouse apartment in Paris; that he did not play Mozart sonatas for friends on the baby grand at his residence behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral; that he does not dine frequently at 'Upper East Side gourmet eateries'; and that he was not against continuing the rule of celibacy for priests." Egan, who also turned 77 yesterday, explained why he went on satellite radio, "I live in a town where the media are not friendly. They feel that they are going to be important only to the extent that they pull down not only ourselves, but any other institution that seems to have some standing. So I think it’s important to talk over the media." The new Cardinal, Timothy Dolan, will be installed on April 15, 2009.

The local media continues its coverage of incoming Archbishop Timothy Dolan. The NY Post gave him some Big Apple-themed gifts, including "a Yankees cap and mug, an FDNY T-shirt and a subway map," which Dolan appreciated, noting, "I'm going to be a tourist for one year."

Yesterday, the new head of the New York Archdiocese met parishioners as well as the press. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to succeed Cardinal Edward Egan, is eager to get to know his new town, "I'm going to look forward to being part of everything in New York, from the New York Yankees to the museums to the soup kitchens to the orphanages to the hospitals."

Last night, word leaked from the Vatican that Pope Benedict XVI would appoint Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, of Milwaukee, to lead the Archdiocese of New York. The Archdiocese's current head, Cardinal Edward Egan, handed in his resignation letter in 2007 when he turned 75, in keeping with Vatican Law.

Ever wanted some absolution right after being a jerk at a party? Well, for one day next month, your prayers have been answered. The Post reports, "21 Manhattan parishes will offer all-night confession" between Friday, March 6 at 7 a.m. until 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 7. The churches aren't actually open for 24 hours, but there will be at least one church open and offering the "Holy Sacrament of Reconciliation" at any given hour of the day—here's a list of participating churches. The event is organized by the Cathedral of St. Patrick Young Adults, which wishes to "encourage all Young Adults to embrace and exercise our beautiful Faith." One priest told the Post, "Who's going to show up? In the city that never sleeps, who knows?"

Staten Island Roman Catholic parishes are hoping to encourage Catholics to come back to the church in a borough-wide "parish mission." The Staten Island Advance reports that 35 "priests from the Redemptorist order, and one Augustinian, have taken up residence at two dozen parishes for the mission." They are trying to remind Roman Catholics that in spite of "sins," they are not "unforgivable." This includes women who have had abortions and people who get divorces; one priest explains, "Say you have a Catholic celebrity who gets married before a justice of the peace and then divorced. There is no need to annul that marriage because it did not take place in church. So even if that celebrity remarries, he is still welcome to receive communion." Well, that clears everything up! Semi-related: P. Diddy was seen dressed as the Ponitff for Halloween at Pacha.

In one corner, you have Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; in the other, there's Cardinal Edward Egan, head of the NY Archdiocese. And in the middle, it's Fordham's Law School, which is drawing heat from Catholics for bestowing its annual Fordham Stein Prize on Breyer. Breyer, appointed by Bill Clinton in 1994, has supported abortion rights (as have other Fordham Stein honorees), prompting a petition opposing the award. In particular, Breyer's opinion in Stenberg v. Carhart--known at the case about partial-birth abortions--where the majority found "Nebraska’s statute criminalizing the performance of 'partial birth abortion[s]' violates the Federal Constitution"--bothers Catholics. A NY Archdiocese spokesman said Egan called Fordham and was "confident that a mistake of this sort will not happen again," though the AP points out other prize honorees have supported abortion rights.

Monsignor Wallace A. Harris, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Harlem, stepped down amid allegations of sexual abuse. Though the Manhattan DA's office is not pursuing charges because the statute of limitations has run out, the Archdiocese of New York must determine whether to allow Harris, a beloved figure, to practice again. Today, the NY Times reports on another man--a retired police officer and Harlem pastor--claiming he was also abused by Harris. Though the Archdiocese invites him to report the abuse to the authorities, Eric Crumbley Sr., who met Harris at another church when he was an altar boy, he doesn't plan to do so. Rather, he just wants the other accusers "to know they are not alone. I know what happened to those boys because it happened to me, too. I’m telling them: ‘I support you.’"

It's a $20 million miracle for an East Village church slated for demolition! An anonymous donor has given a multi-million donation to the struggling parish and its school: There's $10 million for the restoration of the the church, $2 million for a parish endowment and $8 million to support St. Brigid's school and other Catholic schools.

When Pope Benedict XVI gave a papal mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, onlookers were surprised that former mayor Rudy Giuliani took Communion, given his three marriages and pro-choice abortion stance. Now Edward Cardinal Egan has issued a statement slamming Giuliani, saying Rudy was never supposed to have had the holy wafer!

Now that Pope Benedict XVI has left NYC, it's time to pay the NYPD overtime bills. According to the NYPD, the State Department will reimburse the city for 50-60% of the costs associated with making sure the pope was safe throughout his 3 days in the city.

       

Yesterday, thousands of people lined Fifth Avenue for a glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI. After giving the first ever papal mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral--and having a private lunch with Cardinal Egan--Pope Benedict emerged in his Popemobile to cheering crowds. Before his only Popemobile trip, the pontiff asked the audience at St. Patrick's for greater unity in the Catholic church.

Pope Benedict's trip the United States is already historic, but yesterday he did something that heightened the dramatic quotient of his journey: He privately met with five or six people who had been sexually abused by priests in the Boston area.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at JFK Airport tomorrow, and the city is ready. Police will be checking subway train cars through his three-day stay, as well as using mobile radiation detection units and hand-held sensors to examine cars.

This afternoon, Pope Benedict's Shepherd One will touch down at Andrews Air Force Base, where the Pontiff will be greeted by President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. He won't be giving any public statements, but will have various meetings on his 81st birthday eve.

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Edward Cardinal Egan, the archbishop of the New York Archdiocese, had no patience of protesters or reporters covering the protests outside a Midtown church yesterday. Some people have been upset their local churches have been closed by the Catholic Church, most notably parishioners Our Lady Queen of Angels in East Harlem, who have been protesting the February closing every weekend since February. And yesterday, outside of St. John the Baptist on West 31st Street, Our Lady Queen of Angels parishioners-turned-protesters gathered to ask Egan, "Why have you abandoned us?"

Thousands,of people paid their respects at the funeral of Firefighter Daniel Pujdak. The 23-year-old firefighter fell while responding to a Brooklyn fire last week. Mayor Bloomberg said during the funeral service, "Your terrible loss is felt by all 8.3 million people of the city that Daniel gave his life for," while Pujdak's father Leo said, "If you know Daniel, you know that he's going crazy right now. He's not the focus-of-attention kind of guy." And Captain Jerry Horton, Jr. at Ladder 246, where Pujdak worked, said, "He was a hero and he should be remembered as a hero. He was living his dream. I wish I had 25 firefighters just like him.”

Comedian John Roy has been all over TV and the country. He's won Star Search 2003, was featured in season 4 of Last Comic Standing, has been on Comics Unleashed and Premium Blend, and now he's coming to the Comic Strip on March 20th and 21st.

The Catholic League had said it was highly offensive to display a sculpture of Jesus with "his genitals exposed" and invite the public to eat it.

Continue reading "Church to Hotel: Stick With Chocolate Bunnies"

We knew the Catholic Church was sneaky, but we never thought that a cardinal would stoop this low! Cardinal Egan had a meeting with the priest at Our Lady of Vilnius Church yesterday, only to take the opportunity to lock the church while the priest was gone! The Post reports that security guards were dispatched to lock the doors, leaving parishioners to cry when they found a closed church and no mass.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese's decision to close a number of city churches may have been inevitable, but it doesn't make for very good PR for the Catholic Church, especially when you see distraught parishioners being led from a church, handcuffed for trespassing. Last night, six female parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in East Harlem were arrested after holding a vigil to protest the church's closure. One of the parishioners, Carmen Villegas, told WABC 7, "If you experience going to your home, and that your locks have been changed, you feel that you have been evicted from your home. So when I saw the changing of those locks, I feel evicted from my home."

Where's Reverend Billy? That quote is from today's NY Times article about people trying to stop a Wal-Mart from coming to the Bronx. Nevermind that Wal-Mart hasn't officially said that they'd like to bring one of its store to the borough - activists are just making sure it never ever happens. This is in spite of the majority of Bronx residents saying they would welcome a Wal-Mart.

-- Streetsblog has some coverage of the Houston Street cyclists rally yesterday: "Everybody who lives in this community knows Houston Street is a highway to hell. It's the death street."