nhreligion.com -New Hampshire's place for religious news and information
                                                                                     houses of worship  | about us  |    sacred texts

This is nhreligion.com, New Hampshire's religion news source and Weblog. We explore religion and cultural issues relating to faith, we focus on people of Faith, and we feature houses of worship. Read more about us .

To submit a Scripture Passage of the Week, a photo of your House of Worship, e-mail us at
newsatnhrelig_white.GIF - 1622 Bytes

Art of the Week:
Pentecost
Pentecost

Religious News Links:

Ananova.com Religion News
Baha'i World News
Baptist Press
Beliefnet Religion News Page
By Faith (Presbyterian Church in America)
Catholicnews.com
Catholic News Agency
Charismanews.com

Christianity Today Magazine
Church Central
Crosswalk Christian News
Episcopal News Service
Faith World - Reuters religion blog
EWTN Catholic Headlines
Get Religion Blog
Google News Religion News
Meta-Religion Site News Page
One News Now
religionreview.com
Religion News Blog
United Church of Christ News
United Methodist News Service
Virtue Online
Yahoo! Religion News

Other Religion Links:
Manchester Catholic Diocese
Episcopal Diocese of NH

Our Papal Transition coverage
Previous Scriptures of the Week

Religious Calendar:

8 May - Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Jewish)

11 May - Pentecost (Christian)

18 May - Trinity Sunday (Christian)

22 May - Corpus Christi (Catholic Christian)

23 May - Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i); Lag B’Omer (Jewish)

29 May - Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Baha’i)

30 May - Sacred Heart of Jesus (Catholic Christian)

4 Jun. - Pentecost (Christian)

5 Jun. - Ascension of Jesus (Orthodox Christian)

9 Jun. - St. Columba of Iona - (Christian)

9-10 Jun. - Shavuot - (Jewish)

11 Jun. - Trinity (Christian)

15  Jun. - Corpus Christi (Catholic Christian); Pentecost (Orthodox Christian)

19 Jun. - New Church Day (Swedenborgian Christian)

20 Jun. - Summer Solstice; Litha (Wicca)

22 Jun. - All Saints (Orthodox Christian)

29 Jun. - Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul (Christian)


Advertise on nhreligion.com
Click here for ad rates.

       Do you see news happening? Tell us!

Email us your religion-related notices and stories for inclusion here: religion at nhreligion.com

Robinson Warned Not to Preside Over Eucharist While on Book Tour in UK; Robinson Lashes out at Church Leader, Opponents in National UK Radio Interview
LONDON, ENGLAND (5/6/08) - The Episcopal News Service is reporting that New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson has been told by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams not to preach or preside at a eucharist while he is in England, according to reports (which were not cited by name by the agency.).

Robinson, the first openly gay priest to be elected bishop in the Anglican Communion, is visiting the U.K. to promote his new book, "In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God.

The report appeared on the denomination's official Website, also reported that Robinson had lashed out at Williams in a national radio program for not speaking out against homophobia. He also attacked the anti-gay rhetoric of prominent Robinson-critic Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria and said it promotes violence against gays and lesbians.

Akinola has been prominent in opposing Robinson's 2003 election and has led the widespread efforts in Africa against the liberal policies of the American Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion.

NEW: Robinson discusses his new book with The Christian Century magazine.

Scripture of the Week:
May 5, 2008 - May 11, 2008: “The Master said, "I will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men." (Confucian Scripture) The Analects of Confucius, Book 1, Chapter 16 (James Legge translation)

Robinson Opens Up About June Wedding to Partner
New Book Discusses June Wedding Plans, Struggles Within Anglican Communion over Gay Rights; Will Speak at Catholic Booksellers Trade Show in May
Robinson bookLONDON, ENGLAND (4/29/08)
- NH's Episcopal Bishop, V. Gene Robinson, opens up about his often painful tenure as the world Anglican Communion's first openly gay bishop in his upcoming book "In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God," which has just been released by an imprint of
Church Publishing Incorporated, the publishing arm of the Episcopal Church. (Available from Amazon.com from $15.60.)

In an excerpt printed in the London Times online, Robinson addresses one of his most controversial statements of late:

“I always wanted to be a June bride.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew there'd be trouble. I'd just delivered an hour-long lecture on the relationship between religion and public discourse, and why religious fervour over homosexuality plays such a large and negative role in the securing of full civil rights for gay people.

During the question-and-answer period, someone asked me about the forthcoming civil union between me and Mark, my partner of 20 years. The audience had been welcoming and sympathetic, full of laughter and understanding, and for one moment, I forgot that the C-SPAN cameras were rolling and that every word I said would be parsed by my critics. Within hours, those eight words had made it around the world, thanks to conservative bloggers and the magic of the internet.

Robinson to Speak at Catholic Book Trade Show
In another potential flare-up, Robinson has been invited to attend a Catholic trade show for Catholic booksellers in May to promote his book.

The Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE) is a major trade show for Catholic bookstores that has been held for 17 years.  It meets in St. Charles, Illinois and is open to other religious denominations, including Episcopalians, who have invited Robinson to speak at a luncheon after he was denied a spot on the schedule of the conference's main luncheon, according to a report by the Catholic News Agency.

“We attempt to balance the program to meet the needs of both our Catholic and Episcopal attendees, as well as folks from other denominations,” said show organizer Robert Byrns.

State Agency Set to Launch Probe of Church
NEWPORT  (4/28/08) - The state's Department of Revenue Administration is planning to probe a church claiming to be housed in an empty manufacturing building, reports the Eagle Times newspaper:

"We'll be looking into it and referring the matter to the IRS," DRA commissioner Phil Blatsos said Tuesday.The Church of the Good Shepherd has been claiming to operate out of the building once housing the now-defunct Arlington Sample Book Co. located at 20 South Main St. in Newport. Blatsos said all proceedings are confidential as are any investigations undertaken by the administration. "Everything is confidential," Blatsos said. The DRA is responsible for collecting taxes in the state, including the business profits tax, business enterprise tax, meals and rentals tax and real estate transfer tax. Nonprofit organizations, such as churches, are usually not required to pay taxes. According to IRS records, the Arlington church has been in operation since 2000 and claims assets in excess of $2.7 million.

Coverage of the Pope's Visit to America:
Blog by Andrew Nelson, campus minister at Manchester's Trinity HS
Diocese of Manchester's Papal Visit Webpage
Union Leader: Wowed in Washington by Pope (Thurs. 4/17)
Union Leader: NH Faithful Join Pilgrimage to Pope (Tues. 4/14)

Former Church Bought By Town of Brookline
BROOKLINE (4/18/08) - The town of Brookline has purchased athe former Infant Jesus of Prague Church for $280,000, reports the Hollis Brookline Journal.

Shortly after the property went up for sale in late January the town submitted a purchase and sales agreement to the Archdiocese of Manchester.

But due to a stipulation that the purchase required the approval of residents at town meeting in March, the archdiocese initially voiced reluctance to finalize, according to Mike Tamposi of CB Richard Ellis Realty who handled the deal for the church.

According to Selectman Clarence Farwell, the diocese began negotiations with an unidentified resident of Brookline who planned of convert the 65-year-old church building into a home. However, the resident agreed to step down if townspeople approved the appropriation of money to buy the church.

At the March town meeting residents gave a thumbs-up to the purchase.

Consolidation Proposed for Central NH Catholic Parishes
LACONIA (4/8/08) - The Citizen of Laconia newspaper is reporting that the state's Catholic Diocese is planning more consolidations of parishes, this time in Central New Hampshire. The matter is set to go before a special diocean committee that advises Bishop John McCormack. The paper reports:

Under the proposal, Laconia's three parishes — St. Joseph, Sacred Heart, and Our Lady of the Lakes — would be consolidated into one parish which would be served by two priests. Masses and other services would continue to be held in all of the three existing parish churches under the plan endorsed by the cluster of local parishes which consists of St. Joseph in Belmont, St. Mary of the Assumption in Tilton, St. Paul in Franklin, in addition to the three Laconia parishes.

The Tilton and Franklin parishes would be consolidated under the proposal, while the Belmont parish would remain unchanged.

UL Focuses on Manchester Ukrainian Catholic Church
MANCHESTER (4/8/08) - This past Sunday, reporter Dan Tuohy of the New Hampshire Sunday Times (The Union Leader's Sunday edition) profiled Manchester's
Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Check out this story - and kudos to the UL for covering this church, as they say, "just because it's there."

Brady Sullivan Properties has closed on its purchase of the historic St. Anne Church building at the corner of Union and Merrimack streets in Manchester, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported Wednesday:

The company paid $250,000 for the 19th-century church and land, according to Arthur Sullivan, a company principal. Brady Sullivan plans to restore the building, doing work such as installing a new roof and heating system, and then donate it to a group that will occupy the structure.

"Ultimately, our plan will be for the church to be preserved, and for a multi-cultural center to occupy the building," Sullivan said. "We're going to have a committee of people to work with us to identify who the ultimate user will be."

The end goal for the company, Sullivan said, was not to make money on the property, but to do a good work for the community and preserve a valuable piece of the city's history.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester, a corporation sole, was the building's owner prior to the sale. A corporation sole is a business entity that invests its power in one office-holder.

The Rev. Joseph Gurdak, the pastor of St. Anne-St. Augustin Parish, said money from the sale of the church will go to the parish. Although decisions about what to do with the proceeds will be made later, Gurdak pointed to projects that need to be done at nearby St. Augustin Church, including renovating the parish rectory and the roof.

Latest Abuse Report Praises, Critiques Catholic Diocese
“Significant progress” and “Change of the Tone” of Diocesan Leadership Hailed by Attorney General Kelly Ayotte; But  Ayotte Warns “Immediate” Removal of Suspected Abusers is Not Happening
CONCORD (4/1/08) (original to nhreligion.com/Stephen Abbott reporting) - The most recent court-ordered audit of the state’s Catholic Diocese praises the Diocese for its openness, cooperative attitude and a “change in tone” regarding the audit, the third to be conducted in the wake of the priest child abuse scandal.

The report, prepared by the KPMG auditing firm, was released today by Attorney General Kelly Ayotte  at 10 a.m. at a news conference in Concord. In the report, the firm says the diocese “reached a milestone” by establishing a functional compliance program, required by a 2002 agreement with the state Attorney General’s Office to avoid prosecution in cases of abuse dating back 40 years.

The agreement established terms and conditions to facilitate the protection of minors and ensure a system of accountability, oversight, transparency, and training.

In a letter on the diocesan Website, Bishop John B. McCormack said the goal of the church is

 “Protecting children and young people continues to be a focus of the entire Catholic Church in New Hampshire and maintaining a safe environment for everyone is an essential part of who we are as Catholics,” said.

Diane Murphy Quinlan, the diocese’s Associate Delegate for Ministerial Conduct, said, “the auditor’s summary indicates that the Diocese has made ‘significant progress’ and we agree. Our goal is to continually improve our child safety program by dedicating significant resources to this effort and by regularly reviewing and updating our policies and practices. ”

Quinlan said the diocese is in the process of carefully reviewing the full report and will respond within 30 days to the attorney general’s request to present a comprehensive written plan that addresses the findings in the report. She said the diocese is also beginning to prepare for the final audit that will take place this year.

The firm and Ayotte both praised the “change in tone at the top” of the diocese’s leadership, mainly pointing to the fact that the diocese did not sue the state this year to stop the annual audit.

The diocese was praised for closing several “critical gaps” and implementing several program enhancements

Among them was the development and implementation of a “Safe Environment Disciplinary Policy”, which became effective last July.

The report also said there was “strong evidence of active follow-through by the Compliance Coordinator, the Delegate and Associate Delegate on
potential gaps identified during the Diocesan site revisits.”

But Ayotte, in a March 28 letter  to the diocese, criticized it for not fully complying with the 2002 agreement regarding the immediate removal of priests suspected of abuse.

The diocese has argued that immediate removal from their parishes of priests suspected of abuse amounts to a violation of due process and the assumption of innocence. The diocese has instead said they would place priests suspected of abuse on leave. Specifically, the policy states that when the bishop “deems an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to have a semblance of truth, the accused will be placed on precautionary leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”

But Ayotte disagrees with that approach.

“I must reiterate my position that the agreement unambiguously requires an alleged abuser to be removed from any position in which there is contact with minors until the matter is fully and appropriately investigated,” she said. “It does not permit the bishop to make a preliminary determination of whether the allegation appears truthful. The agreement requires that removal must take place ‘upon receipt’ of an allegation of sexual abuse.”
Ayotte and the firm both recommend changing the language of a directive in the 2006 audit to add the word “immediately” with respect to the removal.

According to the audit, the 2002 agreement, “requires that the Diocese maintain its existing Office of the Delegate for Sexual Misconduct as an appropriately trained and easily accessible office dedicated to the handling of allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The agreement also specifies that the Diocese shall “continue to develop, implement, and revise, as necessary, policies and protocols for preventing, responding to, and ensuring the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse. The Diocese is also required to provide copies of its policies and protocols to the Attorney General on an annual basis, or as otherwise requested by the Attorney General.”

Related Links:
Source Documents:
2008 Assessment of the Diocese of Manchester (.pdf document)
Attorney General Kelly Ayotte’s letter to Bishop McCormack (pdf.)

Bishop McCormack’s letter on the release of the report

NH News Coverage:
Union Leader article:
Church gets good marks in 3rd audit
Concord Monitor: Diocese, AG Make Progress
Portsmouth Herald:
Audit: Diocese shows progress; abuse survivor groups disagree

Saga of Disinvited Bishop Continues: Gay NH Episcopal Bishop to Attend International Gathering, But On His Own Terms
CONCORD (3/28/08) -  V. Gene Robinson will not be deterred. Disinvited to the once-a-decade meeting of Anglican leaders from around the world, the NH Episcopal bishop is going anyway - but in his own way. According to the Boston Globe, he will:

instead be outside the meeting daily, talking to anyone who will listen. He said he is working with gay organizations internationally who hope to have gay people from throughout the Anglican Communion in London to show the bishops that the issue is global.

"One of the things I think I've learned in the last five years is that, as much as I wanted to be known as the good bishop, and not the gay bishop, there's no escaping," Robinson said in an interview last week at the diocesan headquarters here. "I would love just to be a simple country bishop, but that just doesn't seem to be in the cards."

In addition, the UK's Guardian newspaper has profiled Robinson. Here is an excerpt:

Two weeks ago Robinson was told he would not be allowed to take part in the event - the only bishop out of 880 to be excluded. He will still go to Canterbury, but with no official status and the same access as a member of the public. Yet he will, inevitably, be one of its star attractions. Robinson will not go into detail, but says he has his own events planned, including one with award-winning actor and gay rights campaigner Sir Ian McKellen, who will perform a reading.

His official exclusion came as a blow to Robinson, who told a spring gathering of the US Episcopal church house of bishops that he felt abandoned by Williams. He wept during the address. "It was the hardest time I've had since my consecration," he said, driving along interstate 93. He suggested it was not his consecration or homosexuality that was tearing apart the Anglican communion, but a failure of the leadership.

"I don't know if it was Rowan's intention to divide the US house of bishops but he's done the very thing he was trying to avoid through his action or lack of action. It mystifies me that he has never commented on statements Akinola [the Archbishop of Nigeria] has made about homosexuality," he said.

Robinson has met Williams only once, although he has had three one-to-one encounters with the US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. For two years after he was elected, Robinson tried to meet the archbishop, who finally relented but would not receive Robinson at his official residence. "He wanted to meet in a secret location and I was not told where until after I got on the plane from the US."

Both men agreed to keep the contents of the meeting private and Robinson would only describe the atmosphere as cordial. "I felt sad for him. He was caught in a difficult situation and didn't know how to lead the church through it. But I don't think we need an archbishop in a role of leadership. We need an archbishop to symbolise unity," he said.

Before the summer, Robinson has scheduled a series of interviews to coincide with publication of his book, In the Eye of the Storm, and he will also appear in the US edition of GQ magazine.

"I am probably the only bishop to feature in a 10,000-word article. I was expecting Armani and George Clooney but they wanted me to wear my robes."

Episcopal Bishop "Dismayed and Sickened" About Failure to be Included in Worldwide Anglican Meeting
(3/19/08) -
It's official: New Hampshire's Episcopal bishop will not be attending the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference in July because of the worldwide controversy surrounding the openly gay bishop and the issue of homosexuality in general.

In a story in the Christian Post, he is quoted as saying that restrictions that organizers wanted to place on his involvement in the conference, to be held in Kent, England, had caused him "considerable pain."

New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson had been told last year that he could not fully participate in the once-a-decade gathering in England, called the Lambeth Conference, as the world Anglican Communion sat on the brink of schism over his 2003 election.

Still, Episcopal leaders had been negotiating with the Anglican Communion Office to allow him to join the event in some capacity. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the U.S.

At a Texas meeting Monday night of the Episcopal House of Bishops, Robinson said that the final offer to include him was in effect a "non-offer," and he had declined it.

The House of Bishops was informed that full invitation is "not possible" from the Archbishop of Canterbury to include Robinson. But Anglican leaders said Robinson could "be present" in the conference Marketplace, or convention hall, where exhibitors and church agencies set up stalls, and that he could participate in one "high profile" event, such as a news conference, at the 20-day summit. The exhibit hall is open to the public, while the Lambeth discussions are private.

Robinson told the bishops in Texas that ever since he got word of the proposal late last Friday, "I have been in considerable pain." He said he had hoped to participate in Bible study and small group discussions with other bishops.


 "I am dismayed and sickhearted that we can't sit around a table, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and study Scripture together," he said. "It makes me wonder, if we can't sit around a table and study the Bible together, what kind of Communion do we have and what are we trying to save?"

See also: Washington Post story

NH United Church of Christ Settles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
NASHUA (3/18/08) – The Nashua Telegraph reports that the New Hampshire Conference United Church of Christ has settled a lawsuit by a Nashua-area man who claimed a church camp counselor sexually abused him, court records show.

The lawsuit was filed anonymously against the church and the counselor, Jonathan Tanguay of North Conway, in the fall of 2006 in Hillsborough County Superior Court.

Lawyers for both sides had been slinging paper, arguing over whether a judge should dismiss the case on legal grounds, when they reached a settlement March 7, court records show.

The suit states that the man met Tanguay at the Horton Center, a UCC summer camp and year-round youth ministry on Pine Mountain in Gorham.


Gay NH Bishop Criticises Archbishop For Snubbing Him

LONDON (3/14/08) - New Hampshire's gay Episcopal bishop is making news again, this time over his non-invitation to the once-a-decade Lambeth conference of the Anglican Church. Conservative Anglicans in Africa and elsewhere have urged the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, to not invite Robinson. The UK's Guardian newspaper reports:

The gay American bishop whose ordination caused ructions in the Anglican church has criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury for his failure to unite the communion.

Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire, made the remarks after declining to attend the Lambeth conference, the 10-yearly gathering of the world's bishops, because his invitation was a "non-offer".

He told a spring gathering of the US Episcopal Church House of Bishops: "It has been a very difficult 48 hours sitting here and hearing your plans for Lambeth.

"In my most difficult moments it feels as if, instead of leaving the 99 sheep in search of the one, my chief pastor and shepherd, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has cut me out of the herd."

Conservatives and liberals have accused Dr Rowan Williams of being indecisive on the issue of homosexuality and the church. He has also been under fire, from both sides, about the extent of Robinson's participation at Lambeth.

Robinson acknowledged the predicament, saying he had "respect and sympathy" for Williams. "I was trying to help him, and it just didn't work."

No St. Patrick's Day Liturgies this Year; Early Easter Takes Precedence, Says Bishop McCormack
(3/11/08) - This year's early celebration of Easter means that St. Patrick's feast day will not be celebrated by New Hampshire Catholics with a liturgy, as is the custom, according to NH Bishop John McCormack. The holiday of Easter outranks and takes precedence over all others. The Union Leader has more on this issue in today's edition.

Church Roof Collapses in Campton
CAMPTON (3/9/08) - The Laconia Citizen reports that the roof of a church food pantry has collapsed.

It was the latest collapse as engineers and firefighters continue monitoring snow-laden roofs around the state. Part of the roof over the New Life Church fell in Wesnesday night. The building had been closed because of concerns about the snow load. No one was there at the time. Pstor Shirley Marcroft said the food pantry and thrift shop in the collapsed section of the building served 300 to 400 people.

Former Catholic Church May Become Home to Non-Profit Org. Protecting Abused and Neglected Children
MANCHESTER (3/6/08) - The Manchester Express reports in this week's issue (page 4) that the plans are underway to convert St. Patrick Church at 138 Collidge Ave. in Manchester into the home of CASA(
Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire. Some critics of the Church may relish the irony that the organization recruits, trains and supervises volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in the New Hampshire court system.

Writes Express reporter Dan Magazu:

In December, the Catholic Diocese of Manchester entered into a purchase and sales agreement to sell the historic West Side church properties to John and Marion Alberico of Windham. The purchase price has not been disclosed. The buyers need several zoning variances and planning board approvals to move forward with plans to convert the church, rectory and school building into office space. The three buildings sit on 1.3 acres of land. The city’s zoning board will review the plans during a meeting on Thursday, March 6.

Ugandan Anglicans Give Ultimatum to US Church To Condemn Homosexuality; NH Bishop Cited in Ongoing International Rift; Threatens Schism of World Anglican Body
UGANDA, AFRICA (2/20/2008) - The UK's Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday that the rift over gay marriages has reached a new level this week as the Anglican Church in Uganda - one of the Worldwide Anglican Communion’s largest national churches - has threatened to leave the body if the US Episcopal Church (which is part of the Communion) doesn’t condemn homosexuality.

The election of New Hampshire’s gay Episcopal bishop sparked the simmering controversy in 2003 which now threatens a worldwide schism. The American branch of the Anglican Communion has steadfastly refused to back down from its claim of equality for gays in the clergy and of seeking gay marriages for its members.

The paper notes:.

The Anglican church in Uganda yesterday threatened to leave the worldwide communion unless the US Episcopal church condemned homosexuality.

The ultimatum came from the Rev Aaron Mwesigye, provincial secretary and spokesman for the Ugandan church, who warned that the attitude of some American clergy could trigger the disintegration of the world's third biggest Christian denomination.

He said: "If they don't change and continue to support homosexual practices and same-sex marriage, our relationship with them will be completely broken. Anglicanism is just an identity and if they abuse it, we shall secede. Yes, we shall remain Christians, but not in the same communion."

African provinces have been at loggerheads with American Anglicans following the 2003 ordination of a gay man, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire. The tension increased in 2006 with the appointment of Katharine Jefferts Schori, a liberal, as presiding bishop of the Episcopal church.

She defended her ministry in an interview with the BBC last month, claiming her church was paying the price for being honest about sexuality.

"He [Robinson] is certainly not alone in being a gay bishop, he's certainly not alone in being a gay partnered bishop. He is alone in being the only gay partnered bishop who's open about that status."

This openness has, however, alarmed conservatives who are unable to accept the liberal attitudes of the small but influential American wing of the communion and the latest twist makes the prospect of a schism increasingly likely as more African provinces reject the authority and leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Last week the Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi, was one of five primates to sign an open letter explaining their decision to snub the 10-yearly gathering of the world's Anglican bishops that will prove to be a crucial display of unity for Williams. The other signatories on the letter were the archbishops of Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and South America.

Monks Donate $100,000 To Save Goffstown Private School
GOFFSTOWN (2/21/08) - The Benedictine Monks of St. Anselm Abbey will donate $100,000 to help keep Goffstown's Villa Augustina School open, announced Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., president of St. Anselm College.

The Manchester Daily Express reported Wednesday that DeFelice said the money will help parents buy the Catholic elementary school from the Religious of Jesus and Mary, who founded the institution in Goffstown 90 years ago, but can no longer operate it.

International Boycott of Once-a-Decade World Anglican Meeting Sparked by NH Gay Bishop
AFRICA (2/16/08) - The leaders of  five of the most populous Anglican provinces in the world are citing the 2003 election of New Hampshire's openly gay bishop as the reason why they will not attend the Lambeth Conference in England later this year, which is held only once every decade. The AP reports:

The five leaders from Africa and South America said they could not share communion with Episcopal bishops who in 2003 consecrated V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the U.S.

Friday's announcement came from Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, Henry Orombi of Uganda and Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone, which is in South America.

"There is no serious space for those of an orthodox persuasion ... to be themselves or to be taken seriously," the archbishops said in a statement. They lead some of the largest or fastest-growing Anglican provinces in the world.

"The gathering will be diminished by their absence, and I imagine that they themselves will miss a gift they might have otherwise received" by attending, Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said.

Anglicans are deeply divided over how they should interpret what the Bible says about truth, salvation, homosexuality and other issues. Robinson's elevation has pushed the 77 million-member Anglican Communion to the brink of schism. Attendance at the meeting, called the Lambeth Conference, has become a focus of the tension.

NH Catholic Bishop Ready for New Audit; Says Church is Now Protecting Children
MANCHESTER, (2/10/08) - The Associated Press reports that New Hampshire Bishop John McCormack is confident that last year's audit of the diocese and one planned for this year will show that the church has made great strides in protecting children.

McCormack says he's confident this year's audit -- the fourth -- combined with the positive results from other reviews, will show that New Hampshire's parishes, schools and institutions are safe for all, particularly children and young people.

He says a great deal of personnel and resources have been dedicated to train thousand of employees and volunteers in child protection, and background checks are performed on them.

Under a 2002 agreement, the diocese agreed to annual checks in exchange for avoiding criminal prosecution.

Praise Concert Feb. 22 in Dover
The First Parish Congregational Church of Dover is hosting a free Pr
aise Concert on Feb. 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, located at 31 Wakefield St.

The FPC says it is very proud to be hosting the Nubian Gents and Feminine Fire straight from New York City. As an organization and ministry, the Gents/Fire will attempt to bring concertgoers to a different level of worship and praise. Joining them will be the New Hampshire Notables, an all-female, a cappella group from University of New Hampshire, and the First Parish Church Worship Band. Donations will be given to The Nubian Gents and Feminine Fire to help them continue their ministry and for traveling all this way to bring attendees an unforgettable evening. For questions, call 742-5664.


Valentine Tea in Merrimack
St. James United Methodist Church, 646 Daniel Webster Hwy (across from Silo’s) will hold its annual Valentine Tea on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 2–4 p.m. Tickets are $5. For reservations or information, call 424-7459.

Manchester Paper Highlights Catholic Church's Web Presence
MANCHESTER (2/6/08) - The Manchester Daily Express Wednesday featured a front page story highlighting the Diocese of Manchester's efforts to use the Internet effectively to reach out to its parishioners.

Though local Catholics won’t be able to get their ashes online today, the Diocese of Manchester is offering Internet resource for the city’s worshippers to help them make the most of Lent. Today marks the start of Lent, the 40-day reflection of many Catholics to reflect on their spiritual lives, with Ash Wednesday. The site, which the Diocese’s spokesman Patrick McGee said is updated daily has prayers, parables, virtual stations of the cross, and even meatless recipes on Fridays. The Diocese’s online calendar also offers links to virtual tours of India, Guatemala and other countries where donors can see the impact their charitable donations have on locals there. It also covers some of the basics that Catholics may have forgotten since last year.

The Website for New Hampshire Catholics: www.catholicnh.com

About nhreligion.com | Houses of Worship | Sacred Texts


Visitor Counter by Digitsvisitors. Sponsored by Web Counter.

nhreligion.com PO Box 75 Manchester, NH 03105. This site and all its contents © Copyright 2005-2008 Abbott Media. All rights reserved. No original materials appearing on the nhreligion.com Website may be used in any way without prior written permission from the owner. Inexpensive banner ads are available for your religious group or house of worship. Email for more information, email: religion (@) nhreligion.com.