Religion
Survey describes faith behind bars
By Helen T. Gray, McClatchy Newspapers on May 03, 2012, at 2:45 p.m.
Movies and TV portray hardened criminals cursing God and everyone else. In reality, many inmates worship God and practice their faith behind bars. A recent 50-state survey of chaplains offered a rare look at the worshippers behind bars, with the questions asked by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion ...
VIDEO
Charleston church’s new building has state-of-the-art technology to teach the Gospel
CHARLESTON, Maine — The Epic Center features panoramic screens and theater-grade lighting and sports multimedia capabilities. Yet it was not designed for entirely secular purposes. The 12,000-square-foot building, set to open Tuesday, will serve as the youth ministry center at Charleston Pentecostal Church. It may be the only church building ...
Maine convents use Internet to find new nuns
By CLARKE CANFIELD, The Associated Press on April 29, 2012, at 10:31 a.m.
BIDDEFORD, Maine — When Sister Elaine Lachance devoted herself to a religious life straight out of high school in 1959, her religious order had more than a dozen convents in the U.S. with nearly 260 sisters. Today, the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec, based in Canada, has just five convents ...
Analytical thinking can undermine religious faith, study finds
By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times on April 26, 2012, at 9:00 p.m.
LOS ANGELES — Scientists have concluded that one of the reasons some people are less religious than others is that they think more analytically, rather than going with their gut. And thinking analytically can cause religious belief to wane — for skeptics and true believers alike. The study, published in ...
POLL QUESTION
Advocates call for online registry of priests accused of sexual abuse in Maine
FALMOUTH, Maine — Two men stood outside the official Falmouth home of Catholic Bishop Richard Malone Thursday morning to protest what they described as Malone’s refusal to publish an updated database of priests and church employees “credibly accused” of sex crimes against children. The duo, Paul Kendrick and Harvey Paul, ...
Maine gay marriage opponents unite
The Associated Press on April 23, 2012, at 10:52 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Christian Civic League of Maine and the National Organization for Marriage say they’ve combined forces to defeat the same-sex marriage referendum proposal on next November’s ballot. The chairman of Protect Marriage Maine, Rev. Bob Emrich, says it will organize groups of different faiths as well as ...
American nuns stunned by Vatican crackdown
By Michelle Boorstein and Elizabeth Tenety, The Washington Post on April 21, 2012, at 6:36 a.m.
American nuns struggled to respond Friday to a Vatican crackdown on what it calls “radical feminism” among the women and their purported failure to sufficiently condemn such issues as abortion and same-sex marriage. Some nuns in the 55,000-member Leadership Conference of Women Religious characterized the disciplinary action announced Wednesday as ...
Open Mind group at Blue Hill church to study the Quran
BLUE HILL — A group devoted to the study of sacred texts will delve into the Quran beginning Sunday, April 29, at First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, 22 Tenney Hill. “Open Mind: An Ongoing Group Study of the Sacred Scriptures from Around the World” meets from 4:30 to 6 ...
What the Catholic Church cannot tolerate
By Melinda Henneberger, The Washington Post. on April 20, 2012, at 3:39 p.m.
There were two Santa Maria! stories out of the Vatican this week. First, the bad news: The ultra-traditionalists of Marcel Lefebvre’s Society of St. Pius X are another step closer to being welcomed back into the fold — though they have yet to sort out the problem of the dissident ...
Bath minister a finalist to become Pittsburgh Episcopal bishop
By Rick Wills, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on April 20, 2012, at 5:58 a.m.
Five finalists seeking to become the first permanent bishop of Pittsburgh’s reconfigured Episcopal diocese have strong records in mediating and listening to people, a church official said. “We are clearly looking for people who are healers and reconcilers,” said the Very Rev. George Werner, former dean of Trinity Cathedral and ...
Rare King James Bible comes off the shelf
By Childs Walker, The Baltimore Sun on April 12, 2012, at 3:54 p.m.
BALTIMORE — Joseph McGraw had doubts when his friend told him about a first edition of the King James Bible that was sitting in a downtown Baltimore office. But when the hulking book came off the shelf, the Stevenson University history professor thought, “Wow, that looks pretty old.” Then he ...
From the community
Used book sale to benefit local food cupboard
BELFAST — The Greater Bay Area Ministeruim will sponsor a used book sale to raise funds for the local food cupboard4-6 p.m. Friday, April 20, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Belfast United Methodist Church, 23 Mill Lane in East Belfast. Donations of books, CDs, DVDs and ...
From the community
Grant will aid church restoration work
GREENVILLE, Maine – Peoples United Methodist Church in Greenville recently received a $2,700 grant from the Maine Steeples Project of the Maine Community Foundation to assist in the assessment of its 112- year-old steeple and supporting structure. The grant will assist with future planning for restoration and preservation of the building. ...
Investigation of Fort Kent priest has nothing to do with sexual impropriety, attorney general confirms
FORT KENT, Maine — Attorneys consulting with the Rev. James L. Nadeau issued a statement Friday declaring that the Maine attorney general’s office investigation of unspecified allegations against the priest do not involve sexual impropriety. “While we are unable to comment on the substance of the investigation at this time, ...
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Justice
on April 06, 2012, at 9:24 a.m.
I have been somewhat silent of late on this blog in part because I have been busy in my clerical life. That is no excuse, however, for not speaking up about an issue which has had intense media attention. It has been over a month since Trayvon Martin’s death. There ...
Balancing science, faith: Researchers studying how medical schools help doctors incorporate religious beliefs
By Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune on April 05, 2012, at 4:57 p.m.
CHICAGO — As a medical student, Dr. Julie Oyler was told to remove the cross she wore on the lapel of her white coat. As a resident, Dr. Aasim Padela was told he wouldn’t have time to recite Islam’s five daily prayers. But ignoring God was not an option for ...
Fort Kent parish assigns temporary administrator in wake of investigation
The Associated Press on April 05, 2012, at 10:33 a.m.
FORT KENT, Maine — The Bishop of Portland has assigned a new priest to temporarily lead a Fort Kent parish while the regular pastor is under investigation by authorities. Bishop Richard Malone on Wednesday assigned the Rev. Robert Vaillancourt to serve as temporary administrator at St. John Vianney Parish after ...
Parishioners supporting St. John Valley priest in wake of unspecified allegations
FORT KENT, Maine — Parish and community members rallied Wednesday behind the Rev. James L. Nadeau, whose sudden leave of absence from his post as pastor of St. John Vianney Parish took his flock by surprise. The voluntary leave was announced late Tuesday by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland ...
From the community
Bangor Baha’is Celebrate Centennial of Global Leader’s Historic Journey
BANGOR, Maine — In 1912, Abdu’l-Baha, son of the founder of the Baha’i Faith, traveled from coast to coast across America with an inspiring message of America’s spiritual destiny: to lead the way toward world peace, advance women’s rights, abolish racism, and moderate extremes of wealth and poverty. Bangor Baha’is ...
Fort Kent priest steps down during attorney general’s investigation
FORT KENT, Maine — A Roman Catholic priest assigned to St. John Vianney Parish is taking a voluntary leave of absence from public ministry, effective Tuesday, while the attorney general’s office conducts an investigation of allegations against him. The Rev. James L. Nadeau, 51, has been serving the parish for ...
Glenburn art teacher killed in Friday morning collision in Bangor
Harvard student asked to leave bar for ‘bad behavior,’ not drunkenness
LePage blasts teachers union for endorsing same-sex marriage question
Reporting crime
A people’s revolt in Bar Harbor
Old Town football coach steps down
Perakslis helps UMaine beat Albany; Binghamton next in America East tournament
Orono baseball shuts out archrival Old Town for ninth straight victory
Stony Brook knocks out UMaine to win America East tournament
Aroostook businessman expands company out of home with hit mobile app 7 Little Words
Former CEO of MaineToday Media Richard Connor sued over $250,000 in loans
Small idea launches major project in Hampden
Diversity predicts export success, MIT professor tells Maine audience
New, old methods combine to deter scrap metal thefts in Aroostook
Gary Allan talks with the BDN leading up to Bangor concert
Out of the ashes, Central Street’s garden grows
Mid Coast Actor’s Studio provides new forum for classic plays
Signs lead artist to opportunity
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