Bishop's message to play at Masses
Today and Sunday, Catholic churches in Arkansas will air a recorded homily, or message, delivered by Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Little Rock diocese during its Masses.
According to a special issue of aSpire, a digital newsletter that shares news from the diocese, parishes have been asked to share the homily with church members to "further elaborate" on the clergy disclosure list Taylor made public on Monday.
In that list, eight priests for whom allegations of sexual abuse of minors "have been substantiated" were named, along with four priests for whom allegations were found to be "credible but unsubstantiated."
The list was released, according to a statement by Taylor on the diocese's website, in the wake of the nearly 900-page grand jury report released last month documenting alleged sexual abuse of more than a thousand children by more than 300 priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses spanning seven decades.
The diocese has noted that the findings of its internal review are preliminary, and may contain inaccuracies. The findings of an outside investigation by Kinsale Management Consulting, which has conducted reviews for other dioceses in the United States, is expected to be released in December.
-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Forum sets public, officials up to talk
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 800 Page Mill Road, North Little Rock, will host Solidarity Sunday -- a public event fostering unity conversation between North Little Rock area residents, city officials and leaders at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Guests will include North Little Rock police Chief Mike Davis; Bobby Acklin, the North Little Rock School District's superintendent; and Paula Jones of the city's district court.
Contact Deborah Rhodes, the event's coordinator, at [email protected] or (501) 247-1427; or (501) 758-1190.
-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Pastors will read to kids at school
Volunteers in Public Schools will host its first "Story Time With Pastors" event of the school year at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Terry Elementary School, 10800 Mara Lynn Road in Little Rock.
Mike Poore, the school district's superintendent, will have breakfast with pastors and clergy before they read books to students.
Call Volunteers in Public Schools at (501) 447-8477 for more information or to participate.
-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Labyrinth author to speak at church
Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodland Drive, Little Rock, will host a free "Talk and Walk" with certified labyrinth facilitator Twylla Alexander of Greenbrier at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Alexander is the author of the book Labyrinth Journeys: 50 States, 51 Stories, and has walked outdoor labyrinths in all 50 states and interviewed the creators of each one. At the event, Alexander will walk with participants through the church's labyrinth, answer questions and share her labyrinth experiences. Copies of Labyrinth Journeys will be for sale.
For more information, contact (501) 664-3600.
-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
The Priests to sing at Saint Mark's event
The Priests, a classical music singing group comprised of three Roman Catholic priests from Ireland, will perform at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St., 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27.
The Priests -- whose debut album broke the Guinness World Record for being the fastest-selling United Kingdom debut for a classical act in 2008, will be accompanied by soprano Christine Westhoff and members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets are $40 and are available at tinyurl.com/ydzdzxa3; contact (501) 225-4203 for more information.
-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Religion on 09/15/2018