November 19, 2014

Episcopal Church in Michigan passes gun resolution

Episcopal Church in Michigan passes gun resolution

Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press 9:41 a.m. EST November 3, 2014

The dispute is part of a larger debate among Episcopalians and other mainline Protestants about the future of their churches as they face sharp declines in membership.

The Episcopal Church in Michigan has passed a controversial resolution calling for stiffer gun control, drawing sharp criticism from conservative members who say it violates the right to bear arms.

The dispute is part of a larger debate among Episcopalians and other mainline Protestants about the future of their churches as they face sharp declines in membership.

Some conservatives say the gun resolution is the latest example of the Episcopal Church focusing on promoting liberal social issues such as gun control and same-sex marriage instead of the gospel, alienating congregants. But liberals say that their views are in line with the teachings of Christianity.

By a clear majority, members of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan — which consists of southeast Michigan and the Lansing and Jackson areas — voted recently to approve a resolution calling for universal background checks on all gun purchases, banning all sales of semiautomatic weapons, high-impact ammunition, high-capacity ammunition magazines, and making gun trafficking a federal crime.

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Rick Schulte, director of communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, did not comment on the resolution. Supporters say it was a necessary move and one that reflects the views of the Episcopal Church and Christianity. They noted last week's shooting in a Washington state high school as the latest example of gun violence.

"We work to bring God's peace to the world," said the Rev. Chris Yaw, rector of St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield. "God's kingdom is not of violence; it's of peace."

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http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2014/11/03/episcopal-church-michigan-gun-resolution/18382335/

November 19, 2014

Hi. Is there any way to put somebody on ignore without...

...hiding comments from people whose comments you might want to see?

November 18, 2014

In the King of Prussia: The Trial of the Plowshares 8

Published on Apr 9, 2013

IN THE KING OF PRUSSIA: THE TRIAL OF THE PLOWSHARES 8 takes us back to 1982 with Emile de Antonio's portrayal of the Plowshares 8 civic disobedience at General Electric's nuclear weapons plant in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The group included Molly Rush, co-founder of the Merton Center. Posting of this clip celebrates the April 13 visit of Martin Sheen, who plays the judge in the movie, to Pittsburgh, Pa and the Thomas Merton Center. YOU CAN'T HUG A CHILD WITH NUCLEAR ARMS!!!

November 18, 2014

Churches offering sanctuary to immigrants

With Immigration Reform in Limbo, Churches Offer Sanctuary

Written by Eric Gibble on October 31, 2014 in Deportation, Faith, Undocumented Immigration



Immigration reform legislation remains stalled in Congress, and the Obama administration has yet to announce what executive actions the president will take on immigration after the election. In response to the lack of reform, churches across the country are sheltering undocumented immigrants who face imminent deportation by providing them with sanctuary.

Arturo Hernandez Garcia is seeking refuge within the walls of a Unitarian Church in Denver, Colorado. Originally from Mexico, Garcia has worked as a contractor in the U.S. since 1999 and is the father of two U.S. citizen girls. He has petitioned the U.S. government for legal status because his wife’s father is a U.S. citizen and her mother has legal permanent residency status. This attempt has been in vain as his deportation has not been deferred.

Garcia said in an interview “I want the public to know about my case. There are so many families just like mine that have come here to work and look for a future for our children…we are a part of this country and not a threat.”

In the Midwest, Beatriz Ramirez and her 3-year-old and 7-year-old U.S.-citizen children are seeking relief in a Catholic church in Chicago, Illinois. For the past decade, Ramirez has lived in the U.S. and worked in the fields of Illinois. After a domestic violence incident, she attempted to get a U Visa which is designed protect victims. She was denied the visa, and now faces deportation.

In Tucson, Arizona, 41-year-old Rosa Robles Loreto has claimed sanctuary inside the Southside Presbyterian Church since August. Four years ago, she was pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Loreto, the mother of two young boys, is now faced with deportation to Mexico.

The Rev. Alison J. Harrington, the head of the church where Loreto is being sheltered, said, “We felt compelled by our faith to welcome them into our church and shelter them and to begin a campaign to get their orders of deportation removed.’”

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http://immigrationimpact.com/2014/10/31/immigration-reform-limbo-churches-offer-sanctuary/