BALTIMORE — A Baltimore parish has decided to leave The Episcopal Church and join the Roman Catholic Church, citing differences with The Episcopal Church over the ordination of women and gays, among other divisions about what Christians should believe.
Parishioners at the small Mount Calvary Episcopal Church voted Sunday to join the Catholic church as an Anglo-Catholic parish, which allows them to retain aspects of their Anglican liturgy and identity.
“It is the hope of the clergy, vestry, and people of Mount Calvary that this transition can be accomplished with efficiency and with all due sensitivity to all involved,” said Jason Catania, rector (or pastor) of Mount Calvary Church.
Maryland Episcopal Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton noted that Mount Calvary has been part of the Episcopal Church since 1842 and he was saddened by their departure. “I wish God’s blessing upon them,” Sutton said.
A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore said the church would welcome the congregation. However, church members will have to negotiate with the Episcopal diocese to keep their church building.
Bishops to Catholics: Vote for human dignity
BOSTON - Massachusetts’ four Roman Catholic bishops are urging Catholics to vote in next week’s elections in a way that will “enhance human dignity.”
The bishops issued a statement Monday, about a week before Election Day in all 10 of the state’s congressional districts for governor and other statewide offices.
The statement calls on Catholics to “share their vision of a better society” at the polls. It urged voters to weigh abortion, samesex marriage, religious freedom, and the well-being of the poor in their decisions.
Several bishops across the country have issued statements ahead of the midterm elections.
Many urged Catholics to consider abortion as the most important issue.
Gallery thief repents, leaves loot at church
LUBBOCK, Texas - About $3,000 worth of jewelry and art stolen from a Lubbock gallery have been returned after the thief apparently had a change of heart and left the loot at a church.
Tornado Gallery owners Tony Greer and Larry Simmons were contacted Monday by a representative of Templo Nazaret United Methodist Church.
Two large boxes of items, missing since Sept. 30, had been left at the church. An anonymous note accompanying the boxes read: “Please return these items to the Tornado Gallery.”
Simmons said the return of the items renews his faith in humankind.
Swiss Catholics give condoms to teens
GENEVA - Roman Catholic parishes in the central Swiss city of Lucerne caused an uproar with an AIDS awareness campaign that involves giving teenagers condoms bearing the slogan “protect thy neighbor as thyself.”
The parishes started handing out some of the 3,000 condoms Monday as part of an effort to engage young people.
Religion, Pages 27 on 10/28/2010