Free Republic

Twelve seconds of silence is an awkward eternity on television. Amr Adeeb, perhaps the most prominent talk show host in Egypt, leaned forward as he searched for a response. “The Copts of Egypt … are made of … steel!” he finally uttered. Moments earlier, Adeeb was watching a colleague in a simple home in Alexandria speak with the widow of Naseem Faheem, the guard at St. Mark’s Cathedral in the seaside Mediterranean city. On Palm Sunday, the guard had redirected a suicide bomber through the perimeter metal detector, where the terrorist detonated. Likely the first to die in the blast,...

This past weekend seated on my favorite bench in Tompkins Square Park, while finishing up the must-read neighborhood history “St. Marks is Dead,” by Ada Calhoun, I heard strains of a second-line New Orleans jazz funeral, a perfect dirge for the read. The procession wended its way along Avenue A and crossed on the corner at St. Mark’s Place, where fittingly a new Starbucks is soon to open. A woman was pulling a child’s little red wagon with some sort of sculptural object in it. When they crossed over to the park, I could see that it was a thick,...

New church founded By Cara Eastwood rep4@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Episcopalians seeking a more conservative church might find refuge in a new, as of yet unaffiliated group founded by a veteran in the Episcopal denomination. The Church of St. Peter, Apostle and Confessor will begin meeting Jan. 18, and the Rev. H. W. "Skip" Reeves is eager to plow new ground with his congregation. Initial attendance, estimated between 75 and 150 people, will be comprised mainly of Episcopalians who stopped going to church after last year's controversial appointment of a gay bishop. "I'm the last person...

CHEYENNE (AP) -- An Episcopal priest will leave his job, though not the church, over the recent approval of an openly gay bishop and blessing of same-sex relationships by the church. The Rev. H. W. "Skip" Reeves Jr., rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, announced his decision in a letter to parishioners. He is also resigning as chairman of the church's Commission on Ministry and its Committee on Evangelism and as a member of its Diocesan Council. "It's the hardest thing in my life," Reeves said. "I'm not trying to lead any band or parade or anything like that. It's...

Local Episcopal rector resigns from diocesan duties By Allison Fashek rep8@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - A local Episcopal rector is stepping down from his diocesan positions due in part to concerns over the Episcopal Church's recent appointment of an openly gay bishop. Rev. H. W. "Skip" Reeves Jr., rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, sent a letter to parishioners earlier this week confirming the move. He has resigned from his posts as chairman of the Commission on Ministry, chairman of the Committee on Evangelism and member of the Diocesan Council and from his role in coordinating the...