Free Republic

Research numbers in middle of article are interesting. Could have profound impact on society. Church is the big building with the steeple on it. Church is the house two doors down. Church is the strip-mall coffee shop. Church is the deeply wooded hiking trail. Church, for better or worse, is changing. Some Christians are forsaking familiar churches and cobbling together their own mix-and-match path to God. They worship on mountaintops and laptops, in business suits and tank tops. Most often, they worship in small, tightly knit groups and can be found across Colorado Springs any day of the week.

Here’s a story that will throw you for a loop: a "chaplain” at the U.S. Air Force Academy is complaining that the school’s administration has a "systemic and pervasive” problem of promoting religious religious values with a Christian bent. The chaplain, Capt. Melinda Morton, a "Lutheran minister” spoke out publicly on Tuesday as an Air Force task force arrived at the academy to investigate charges that officers and staff members pushed their religious beliefs on cadets. And she claimed that a tolerance program developed at the academy, called Respecting the Spiritual Values of all People (R.S.V.P.), was watered down after...

Protest In Colorado Springs A local activist group, Students for Social Justice, from UCCS is planning a "counter military recruitment" demonstration at the Citadel Recruiting Station (U.S. Army Recruiting Station, 1055 N. Academy Blvd) on Saturday, 30 Apr 05 at 1200. The demonstration is expected to be peaceful and no specific targeting of military personnel is anticipated. All military members are being encouraged to avoid the demonstration to avoid becoming a target of opportunity for the protestors. If you drive a vehicle with a military base decal, be advised of this event.

Colorado Springs, Colo.—The Canadian flag is still fluttering outside NORAD headquarters here, and deep within its granite fortress, Col. Doug McLennan — a Canadian — had the big job yesterday of overseeing the air defence of North America. A week after Paul Martin bowed out of missile defence, it's business as usual at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, according to NORAD's top commander. "The Prime Minister's decision does not change the mission we do here," says Admiral Timothy Keating, an American. The view is backed up by Lt.-Gen. Rick Findley, NORAD's deputy commander, a job traditionally held by a...

COLORADO SPRINGS – A new compensation package for priests will begin in July 2005. The restructured system will ensure that each priest receives the same salary and that parishes are assigned priests based on pastoral need, not their ability to pay for them, said Bob Doerfler, diocesan finance officer. Each diocesan priest will receive $50,000 annually. That amount includes both the priest’s salary and his housing allowance. A priest may choose to purchase his own home, or rent the parish rectory to which he is assigned, Doerfler said. “One of the goals of the priest compensation program is to not...

<p>DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- A Roman Catholic priest caused a stir on the House floor Tuesday when he urged lawmakers to let religious faith guide their votes and "be the antithesis of John Kennedy."</p> <p>While delivering the chamber's morning prayer, the Rev. Bill Carmody said too many politicians have followed the example of the nation's first Catholic president by pledging to separate their faith from politics.</p>

TESTING THE FAITHPriest busted for Communion wineWants variance of city law so he can say Mass outside abortion clinic A Catholic priest has run afoul of the law in Colorado Springs, Colo., after being caught with an open container of sacramental wine while performing Mass outside an abortion clinic. The Rev. Bill Carmody was warned by a police officer after the cop asked him what he was holding. "The police officer asked me what's in the flask," he told the Colorado Springs Gazette. "I really didn't know what to do." Carmody has asked the Colorado Springs City Council for a...

The Cadet Wing at the United States Air Force Academy is under lockdown in their dorm rooms at this time. My daughter stated that they have posted Protection Forces at the Dormitory entrances (MP's with M-16's and full battle gear). The cadet's have been instructed not to use the stairways (which are glass surrounded). Rumors are running rampant including a Al- Queda possible bomb threat against the Academy chapel to a possible lone gunman.... As information flows in I will update.... Any Academy Grads with contacts please update and post...

If you think you know America, you’ll think again when you read this remarkable dispatch by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge from the heartland of the US — where it’s cool to be conservativeSitting on a sofa with their plastic cups of coffee, Dustin and Maura look like a couple of twentysomethings in a creative writing course: a sprawl of slightly scruffy sweatshirts, jeans and sneakers, Dustin in a baseball cap, Maura with her blonde hair tied behind her head with a Native American band. They both recently graduated from liberal-arts colleges on the East Coast, and they have travelled...

Aug 12, 3:55 PM (ET) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - John Sayles plans to screen his new movie - a political satire that takes aim at President Bush - in cities in Colorado next month. Sayles filmed "Silver City," about a man running for governor of Colorado and a disgraced investigative reporter, in Denver and Leadville last year. The movie will be shown Sept. 9 at the Kimball's Twin Peak Theater in Colorado Springs. Screenings also are scheduled for Denver, as well as Santa Fe, N.M., to benefit local and national nonprofit groups. "That will be incredible," said Kimball Bayles,...

Bishop Sheridan responds to his critics without backing down: Pro-abortion politicians are no worse than the pro-abortion voters who elect them to office 6/8/2004 9:23:00 PM By Bishop Michael Sheridan, Diocese of Colorado Springs - www.diocesesc.org Bishop Michael Sheridan The reactions to my recent pastoral letter on the duties of Catholic politicians and voters were overwhelming in many more ways than one. I was edified by the many messages of support for what I wrote. I was distressed by those who misread and misrepresented what I wrote. I was deeply saddened by those who said that they understood very...

Tens of thousands of people filled downtown sidewalks Saturday morning, bellowing “thank you,” waving American flags and cheering for troops marching in Colorado Springs’ Welcome Home Parade. Residents turned out en masse to celebrate its servicemen and women. Organizers estimated 80,000 people lined the streets for the two-hour parade through the heart of downtown. Spectators wore red-white-and-blue hats, ribbons, shirts and pants. They carried signs for the troops, cried and cheered wildly as each squadron marched by. The parade under brilliant blue skies featured 6,500 troops, mostly Fort Carson soldiers who fought in Iraq and returned this year. They undoubtedly...

WASHINGTON, June 3 — Akshay Buddiga stood on stage hunched over a microphone, his clenched hands stuffed into his pockets. If he could spell "alopecoid," he would take another step on the way to becoming the second national spelling bee champion in his family. He asked for the meaning of the word, then its origin. Buying a bit more time, he asked for its pronunciation. Then before he could get the "a" out, he fainted, collapsing at the feet of the other spellers. No sooner had the audience let out a collective gasp than they let out a louder one...

The tens of thousands of people expected to welcome home Iraq war veterans at Saturday’s ticker-tape parade downtown should arrive early with their patriotism on display, organizers say.

For those of you who haven't been following the story, Bishop Michael Sheridan is on of the few brave Bishops who is willing to stand a strong moral stand by publicly stating that politicians and voters who votes pro-death should not present themselves for communion. I sent an email to Bishop Michael Sheridan's office indicating that although I'm from Florida and I hadn't donated to a NO-parish or diocsese in quite a while, I was very interested in sending a donation to his diocese due to his courageous moral stand on abortion and how it relates to Catholics. I recieved...

Animal rights group plans protest in Lansing By MARY PEMBERTON The Associated Press 12/9/2003, 4:57 p.m. ET ANCHORAGE (AP) — An animal rights group plans "howl-ins" in Lansing, Mich., and other cities the weekend after Christmas to protest a predator control program allowing wolves to be shot from airplanes in Alaska. Using the Internet to spread the word, Friends of Animals is making plans for protests on Dec. 27-28. Other locations include New York; San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.; and Colorado Springs, Colo. Priscilla Feral, president of the group, said Tuesday the response from wolf advocates to launch a protest...

<p>THERE are a lot of Baptist churches along rural Virginia's Route 615, just south of Appomattox - "where America reunited," as the county welcome signs put it - but there's only one Sheikh Gilani Lane. A gate and a guardhouse prevent the public from driving down it. What lies beyond is a trailer-park compound of black Muslims.</p>

Al-Fuqra Holy Warriors of Terrorism Introduction For over ten years, a secretive Black Muslim sect in the United States and Canada has sought to carry out a self-declared policy of "jihad," or holy war, by taking violent action against its perceived enemies, generally other minorities or other Muslims with whom they disagree. The sect, known as Al-Fuqra, has been linked by law enforcement officials to terrorist violence in Colorado, Arizona, Pennsylvania, the Pacific-northwest and Canada. Most recently, attention has been focused on the group in connection with a plot to bomb public sites in New York, including the United Nations,...

03 October 2003NATO Defense Ministers Meeting to Discuss Operations, Transformation "Study seminar" will engage both ministers and defense chiefsBy Jacquelyn S. PorthWashington File Staff Security Affairs Writer Washington -- Defense ministers and chiefs of defense from 19 NATO countries will be hosted in Colorado Springs October 8 and 9 by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for informal meetings to discuss current out-of-area peacekeeping operations and how the alliance must transform itself to meet future challenges."NATO is very important to us," a senior Defense Department official says, especially because "it is very much on the frontline of the global war on...

NO OPEN CARRYING OF GUNS IN COLORADO SPRINGS CITY HALL Colorado Springs Council Split in 5-4 Decision Approving Ordinance by NEWS 13 8/12/2003 THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER BRANDISHING OF WEAPONS IN SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. THE COLORADO SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL VOTED FIVE TO FOUR TUESDAY TO BAN OPEN FIREARMS IN CITY BUILDINGS. COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDED CARRYING A GUN OPENLY IN CITY BUILDINGS WAS AN INFRINGEMENT ON PEOPLES RIGHTS. THE PROPOSAL WAS PROMPTED BY RESIDENT DON ORTEGA WHO'S BEEN TAKING HIS SHOTGUN TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS SINCE LAST MONTH. COUNCIL MEMBER TOM GALLAGHER CRITICIZED ORTEGA AND HIS ACTIONS FOR BRINGING...

Amber Alert Issued Monday July 14. Jonathan Marquez-Ruiz 8 months old, seen wearing a red shirt and gray shorts. He and his mother were abducted from their home in Colorado Springs CO on Monday July 14. His mother is Elizabeth Ruiz. She was last seen wearing a red shirt, white tank top and blue jeans. Police are looking for Jose Angel Marquez. He was driving a late nineties model dark blue Ford Expedition with beige trim. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's department at 719-390-5555 or dial 911

The City Council has voted to withdraw health benefits for same-sex partners of city employees, fulfilling promises some council members made during this month's election campaign. Tuesday's 8-1 vote came despite protests from dozens of residents. The benefits, approved in December on a 5-4 vote, are currently provided to six people, costing the city about $6,000 this year. Campaigning before the April 1 election, Mayor Lionel Rivera promised to discontinue the benefits, as did six of the seven council members who won office. They joined two holdovers who had opposed the measure earlier. Rivera dismissed arguments Colorado Springs should fall...

Demonstrators show gratitude to troops By RAQUEL RUTLEDGE - THE GAZETTE Carrying signs that read "USA" and "We love our troops," hundreds of people marched Sunday morning through downtown Colorado Springs to show their support for military members going overseas. Jennifer Coffey, whose husband is stationed at Schriever Air Force Base, organized the rally, which included plenty of flag waving. Coffey said the event wasn't about politics or whether the United States should go to war with Iraq, but about supporting the men and women who defend our country. "Obviously, we don't want to see our soldiers go," Coffey said....

A 7NEWS Investigation is shaking the very foundation of Colorado's prestigious Air Force Academy. Allegations of rape and betrayal have now made their way to the Pentagon. 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia has been working on the story for three months and says that a high-level Air Force investigation is under way after 7NEWS uncovered information about sexual assaults at the academy. 7NEWS Investigates found that when female cadets have reported a rape, they are punished, ostracized by their peers and the administration, and in some cases, drummed out of the academy. These cadets charge they are victims of the very...