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PLAQUEMINE PARISH, La. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 built a 500-man tent city in September for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials in Plaquemine Parish so the officials could relocate from temporary accommodations at Belle Chasse Primary School. The tent city, which includes air conditioned tents, showers and a 40 ft. by 60 ft. dining facility, will allow FEMA to conduct their day-to-day operations while Belle Chasse Primary School concentrates on getting their students back in class. “Disaster recovery is part of our job,” said Steelworker 1st Class (SCW) James Reddinger, project crew leader. “And we know...

See link for pdf file containing mortality rates for Louisiana on a Parish by Parish basis. Use this to compare Katrina related death count versus normal.

Video of a request for help from a Louisiana State Congressman in Washington Parish, Louisiana. http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate/09052005-30.html The Advocate Website: http://2theadvocate.com/

Alongside predictable exchanges on Iraq, the Middle East and religious liberty, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in her Feb. 8 visit to the Vatican also received an unexpected request -- to intervene in a U.S. lawsuit naming the Holy See as the defendant in a sex abuse case. Church sources told NCR that Rice was asked by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's Secretary of State, whether the United States government could stop a class-action lawsuit currently before a United States District Court in Louisville, Ky., that seeks to hold the Vatican financially responsible for the sexual abuse of minors....

Pro-abortion nuns to speak at Wisconsin parish Matt C. Abbott Matt C. AbbottFebruary 6, 2005 Catholic and pro-life activist Darla Meyers sent me a notice that Sisters Brigid and Jane McDonald, CSJ, will be speaking on "Living Non-Violence in a Violent World" at a conference at St. Patrick Church in Hudson, Wis. (a parish in the Diocese of Superior) on Feb. 19. On the surface, it looks fine. But these nuns are notoriously left-wing, believing, among other things, that legalized abortion is "crucial," though they are supposedly "troubled" by abortion itself. In addition, Sister Jane has been quoted as saying,...

23 Ways To Identify A Faithful Parish CRISIS Magazine - Special e-Report January 14, 2005 In my last email, you'll remember that I asked for your advice on a letter I received from one of our readers. She's a non-Catholic who's interested in entering the Church, but wants to make sure she gets involved with a solid parish -- one that follows and promotes authentic Catholicism. So, she asked, what kinds of things should she look for when she walks into a parish church for the first time? Are there any easy, tell-tale ways to gauge the health and fidelity...

A Wanderer reader from Chicago has reminded FROM THE MAIL that it has been several years since we have reported on the revitalized St. John Cantius parish in Chicago, and the thriving new order of priests, the Society of St. John Cantius, and that we owe readers an update. After looking at the materials she sent in, FTM agrees, and so we'll look at St. John's and the Order - in the context of the crucial question of what is happening in Catholic parish life in the United States today - but, first, an update on "the singing ex-Jesuit, Dan...

It is with a sad heart that I bring this update about Fr. Phil. Today sometime, Phil's family are moving him to the nursing home in the area for hospice care. My understanding is that he has not been awake since yesterday. It is a time for prayers for Phil, his family and for us his parish.

"In a time when right wing conservatives of many churches condemn the lifestyle of homosexuality, some excluding gays and lesbians from worship while perpetuating a message of hate, St. Joan's has been steadfast in welcoming their GLBT parishioners. A monthly potluck support group run by Ron Joki and Theresa Healy allows for an outreach of connectiveness. An annual GLBT spiritual retreat explores biblical readings, meditations, rituals, play and musical skits with guest performers and speakers that confront negativity, challenges exclusivity and affirms acceptance and healing. This very website includes a GLBT section devoted to updates of relative news, GLBT families,...

A Catholic priest removed from ministry in Pennsylvania because of sexual abuse allegations has been living in Dallas and leading Mass at an Arlington parish for at least a year. Officials at the Diocese of Fort Worth, which encompasses Arlington, said they didn't know about the Rev. Christopher Clay's activities at St. Mary the Virgin Catholic Church until contacted this week by The Dallas Morning News. On Tuesday the diocese's chancellor, the Rev. Robert Wilson, banned Father Clay from further ministry. (snip) His background in Pennsylvania came to light locally through Rachel Dillard of Dallas, who said she went to...

Boston Archdiocese Closing 65 ParishesBy DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press WriterBOSTON - The Boston Archdiocese will lose 65 of its 357 parishes, a massive restructuring brought on partly by the clergy sex abuse scandal that aggravated already shrinking Mass attendance and weekly collections. Archbishop Sean O'Malley announced the parish closings Tuesday, completing a process that began in December when he said the Roman Catholic archdiocese would be forced to undergo a major downsizing. He said the reduction was needed because of declining Mass attendance, a shortage of priests and the inability of the archdiocese to support struggling parishes in the midst...

<p>"We're fighting for our church and the future of Polish heritage here in St.</p> <p>Louis," said John Baras, a board member from Eureka.</p> <p>Church, requires the parish to comply.</p> <p>John Sitek, 78, of south St. Louis.</p> <p>Polish-Americans here are at odds with some of the later Polish immigrants.</p>

I've run into a little problem at my parish which should sound familiar to many of you and I'm wondering what, if any, action I should take. Opinions are welcome. He're a synopsis of the situation: The monsignor at our parish retired suddenly about 3 months ago and the associate pastor was promoted. The monsignor was a wonderful priest--a bit gruff but said a reverent Mass, gave solid homilies, had nightly confession times, and generally ran a tight parish. The new pastor, who we'll call Father Wilson, is youngish for a priest--maybe about 40--with perfectly cut hair, sideburns, and a...

Gay choir leader's firing turns into a test of faith Dismissal of popular director has brought disharmony to the flock at Rockford parish By Colleen Mastony Tribune staff reporter Published July 9, 2003 ROCKFORD -- The new choir director was one of the best things that ever happened to Holy Family Catholic Church. Everyone said so. He brought together businessmen and blue-collar workers, students and senior citizens to make music that lifted the whole parish--until last month, when church officials learned he is gay. A lawyer and two priests confronted Bill Stein on June 17 and asked him to renounce...

<p>BANGOR, Maine (AP) Fellow Roman Catholic parishioners from the church attended by Gov.-elect John Baldacci were unable to secure a protection from harassment order against abortion protesters who are using graphic photos to convey their message.</p> <p>The demonstrators have been showing up to St. John's since June, saying Baldacci and other politicians who support abortion rights should be barred from using church facilities for fund-raisers and other political events.</p>

Conflict divides St. Mary's Nylon issue: Sides accuse each other of overreacting -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ted Slowik STAFF WRITER PLAINFIELD — Some parents and youth ministry leaders at St. Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Church are saying a family overreacted by confronting parish officials and contacting police after eighth-graders in a confirmation class were told to put on nylon stockings as an exercise during a retreat. Some other parents say the pastor overreacted by expelling the family's two sons from the parish school because their father violated a parental code of conduct by being too "intrusive, inflammatory or overbearing." People on both...

Spurred by the abuse scandal, an informal network of Web essayists has sprung up, offering a safe place to debate and celebrate their faith. They call it St. Blog's Parish, but there are no weekly masses, no altar or pews. The only requirements to join are a computer, Internet access and a desire to vent about the Roman Catholic Church. Each of the estimated 85 members in this unofficial cyberspace network has a "blog," or Web log, an online diary complete with links and reader feedback that is updated daily--commonly through a free Internet program. Launched earlier this year amid...