A Catholic school teacher -- who is a lesbian and was fired after she became pregnant through artificial insemination -- was awarded $170,000 today (June 3, 2013), after winning her anti-discrimination lawsuit against an Ohio archdiocese, according to the Associated Press website.
A federal jury found that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati discriminated against Christa Dias by firing her in October 2010.
The jury said the archdiocese should pay a total of $71,000 for back pay and compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages. Dias -- who taught computer classes -- had sued the archdiocese and two of its schools; the jury did not find the schools liable for damages.
Dias' attorney, Robert Klingler, had argued she was fired simply because she was pregnant and unmarried, a dismissal he said violated state and federal law. He had suggested damages as high as $637,000, but Dias -- who now lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her lesbian partner and their 2-year-old daughter -- said she was satisfied with the jury's award.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Boston Fire Chief Resigns Due to Bomb Criticism; 13 Deputy Chiefs Felt He Failed to Take Command
Boston's fire chief announced his resignation today (June 3, 2013), saying public criticism from his deputies for the way he responded to the marathon bombings has made it impossible for him to do his job, the Yahoo News website reports. Chief Steve Abraira said in a letter that his resignation is effective on June 7.
Thirteen of the department's 14 deputy chiefs complained to Mayor Tom Menino in a letter 11 days after the April 15 bombings that Abraira's failure to take command of the scene was indefensible and part of a pattern of shirking leadership.
"You can unequivocally consider this letter a vote of no confidence in Chief Abraira," said the letter to Menino.
Abraira has said his command staff had the bombing scene under control and he acted according to national standards, which dictate the chief takes charge only if something is going wrong.
Thirteen of the department's 14 deputy chiefs complained to Mayor Tom Menino in a letter 11 days after the April 15 bombings that Abraira's failure to take command of the scene was indefensible and part of a pattern of shirking leadership.
"You can unequivocally consider this letter a vote of no confidence in Chief Abraira," said the letter to Menino.
Abraira has said his command staff had the bombing scene under control and he acted according to national standards, which dictate the chief takes charge only if something is going wrong.
NYC Muslim Cabbie Sentenced to 3 Yrs. in Prison; Mohammed Azam Rammed Cab into 2 Passengers
A Muslim cabbie was sentenced to three years in prison today (June 3, 2013) for recklessly ramming his taxi into two passengers as they insisted he had to drive them from Midtown New York to the Bronx, the Creeping Sharia website reports.
In begging unsuccessfully for a no-jail sentence, Mohammed Azam, 29, described himself as an otherwise upstanding immigrant who had become a citizen in pursuit of the American dream.
But the judge noted that Azam had lied on the stand when he claimed -- among other things -- that he believed victim Anthony Loreto was well enough to stand right up again after suffering multiple, life-threatening head fractures.
"In a fit of pique, Mr. Azam, you significantly diminished the quality of this young man's life," Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Daniel FitzGerald said.
In begging unsuccessfully for a no-jail sentence, Mohammed Azam, 29, described himself as an otherwise upstanding immigrant who had become a citizen in pursuit of the American dream.
But the judge noted that Azam had lied on the stand when he claimed -- among other things -- that he believed victim Anthony Loreto was well enough to stand right up again after suffering multiple, life-threatening head fractures.
"In a fit of pique, Mr. Azam, you significantly diminished the quality of this young man's life," Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Daniel FitzGerald said.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Jews Vandalize The Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem; Spray Anti-Christian Insults in Hebrew on Its Wall
The Dormition Abbey -- one of the major sites for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land -- was vandalized on May 31, the Big News Network website reports today (June 2, 2013).
Graffiti and anti-Christian insults in Hebrew were sprayed on a wall. Two cars were also smeared with offensive words and all the tires were slashed.
The Abbey is located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem and cared for by German Benedictine monks. One of the gates of the nearby Greek Orthodox cemetery was also marked with graffiti.
The offensive words compared Christians to monkeys and called for revenge against Jesus. This incident is the latest in a succession of desecration of Christian monasteries in September and October last year.
Graffiti and anti-Christian insults in Hebrew were sprayed on a wall. Two cars were also smeared with offensive words and all the tires were slashed.
The Abbey is located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem and cared for by German Benedictine monks. One of the gates of the nearby Greek Orthodox cemetery was also marked with graffiti.
The offensive words compared Christians to monkeys and called for revenge against Jesus. This incident is the latest in a succession of desecration of Christian monasteries in September and October last year.
Pope Leads Cath. in 1st Worldwide "Holy Hour;" Cath.Around the Globe Prayed for the Suffering
Pope Francis led Roman Catholics today (June 2. 2013) in the first-ever worldwide "Holy Hour," in which participants prayed at the same time around the globe for those suffering from war, slave labor, human trafficking, and the economic crisis, according to the Reuters website.
The Vatican asked Catholics to join the pope between 5-6 p.m. Rome time (11a.m.-12noon ET) in what is known as a Eucharistic adoration -- praying before a consecrated communion host. They were asked to gather in cathedrals, neighborhood parishes, and monasteries to pray for two general intentions penned by the pope, who prayed in St. Peter's Basilica.
One was for those "who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running and slave labor" as well as for the "unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners and those who experience marginalization."
The other was for the 1.2 billion member Church itself and that it be "without stain or blemish," an apparent allusion to scandals that have undermined its credibility, such as the sexual abuse of children by clergy.
A Vatican official said it was "the first time in the history of the Church" that such an event took place.
The Vatican asked Catholics to join the pope between 5-6 p.m. Rome time (11a.m.-12noon ET) in what is known as a Eucharistic adoration -- praying before a consecrated communion host. They were asked to gather in cathedrals, neighborhood parishes, and monasteries to pray for two general intentions penned by the pope, who prayed in St. Peter's Basilica.
One was for those "who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running and slave labor" as well as for the "unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners and those who experience marginalization."
The other was for the 1.2 billion member Church itself and that it be "without stain or blemish," an apparent allusion to scandals that have undermined its credibility, such as the sexual abuse of children by clergy.
A Vatican official said it was "the first time in the history of the Church" that such an event took place.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Gay Lutheran Bishop Elected to ELCA Cal. Synod; Rev.Guy Erwin Elected May 31 at Synod Assembly
Rev. Dr. Guy Erwin was elected Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Church in America (ELCA) on May 31st, 2013 during the synod's assembly in Woodland Hills, California, the Huffington Post website reports today (June 1, 2013). He is the first openly gay clergy person elected to serve as one of the 65 synodical bishops in the denomination.
"The election of Pastor Erwin to the office of bishop occurred because he was the best candidate, not because he was a partnered gay man," said Emily Eastwood, executive director of "Reconciling Work," in a press release.
Rev. Erwin said, "I know that many will see my election as a significant milestone for both LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people and Native Americans, and I pray that I can be a positive representation for both communities. There was a time when I believed that I would not be able to serve as a pastor in the ELCA. Our church has now recognized the God-given gifts and abilities that LGBT people can bring to the denomination."
Rev. Dr. Erwin holds the Chair of Lutheran Confessional Theology professor at California Lutheran University and directs the Segerhammar Center for Faith and Culture. A native of Oklahoma, he is an active member of the Osage Nation of Native Americans.
"The election of Pastor Erwin to the office of bishop occurred because he was the best candidate, not because he was a partnered gay man," said Emily Eastwood, executive director of "Reconciling Work," in a press release.
Rev. Erwin said, "I know that many will see my election as a significant milestone for both LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people and Native Americans, and I pray that I can be a positive representation for both communities. There was a time when I believed that I would not be able to serve as a pastor in the ELCA. Our church has now recognized the God-given gifts and abilities that LGBT people can bring to the denomination."
Rev. Dr. Erwin holds the Chair of Lutheran Confessional Theology professor at California Lutheran University and directs the Segerhammar Center for Faith and Culture. A native of Oklahoma, he is an active member of the Osage Nation of Native Americans.
Russia: Boston Marathon Attacks Were Avoidable; Sent a Letter on Terrorist to FBI, Got No Response
A U.S. congressman said yesterday that Russian security officials told a congressional delegation in Moscow this week that the Boston Marathon bombing could have been prevented, if the U.S. had acted on information Moscow had provided, the Washington Post website reports today (June 1, 2013).
U.S. Rep. William Keating (D-Mass.) said the six congressmen met with the Russian senior Federal Security Service (FSB) and counterintelligence officials on May 30, and saw a copy of a letter Russian officials said they sent to the FBI in March 2011 that provided details about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the bombing suspects.
The letter from the FSB -- read to the delegation by a translator -- suggested that Tsarnaev was far more committed to jihad than had been earlier reported. He became radicalized in Boston in 2010, the FSB said, and wanted to join Palestinian fighters -- an idea he gave up because the Arabic language gave him too much trouble.
The letter asked U.S. officials to notify Russia if Tsarnaev headed to his native Dagestan -- a predominantly Muslim-populated province in the Caucasus region of Russia. "They said there was no response," Keating said. The same letter, they said, was also sent to the CIA. "I was quite surprised, and I wasn't alone," Keating said. "They said they had identified him and they never got a reply. They said that repeatedly."
U.S. Rep. William Keating (D-Mass.) said the six congressmen met with the Russian senior Federal Security Service (FSB) and counterintelligence officials on May 30, and saw a copy of a letter Russian officials said they sent to the FBI in March 2011 that provided details about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the bombing suspects.
The letter from the FSB -- read to the delegation by a translator -- suggested that Tsarnaev was far more committed to jihad than had been earlier reported. He became radicalized in Boston in 2010, the FSB said, and wanted to join Palestinian fighters -- an idea he gave up because the Arabic language gave him too much trouble.
The letter asked U.S. officials to notify Russia if Tsarnaev headed to his native Dagestan -- a predominantly Muslim-populated province in the Caucasus region of Russia. "They said there was no response," Keating said. The same letter, they said, was also sent to the CIA. "I was quite surprised, and I wasn't alone," Keating said. "They said they had identified him and they never got a reply. They said that repeatedly."
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