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Dallas Township police used a Taser on a Misericordia University student from Bloomsburg after she kicked an officer and tried to escape from a patrol car Tuesday. Felicia M. Pellitteri, 48, faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, escape, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. The incident started around 3 p.m., when Pellitteri became unruly in Misericordia's administration building and was asked to leave by campus security officers. Dallas Township police officers spoke with Pellitteri but she wouldn't follow directions and tried to get back into the administration building. When police blocked her way, Pellitteri kicked Officer Mark Liparela, police said....

Statement of the Diocese of Scranton in Response to Misericordia University’s Plans to Host Speaker Keith Boykin "Misericordia University’s Diversity Institute is twice providing at the University on February 17, 2009, a platform for Keith Boykin. "Mr. Boykin has authored three books and all three have been nominated for a Lambda Literary award. Lambda is a legal advocacy effort for homosexual causes. Mr. Boykin is an avid supporter of same sex marriage and is an activist for positions disturbingly opposed to Catholic moral teaching. "Bishop Martino wants Catholics of the Diocese of Scranton to know of his absolute disapproval of...

Bishop Joseph Martino Scranton, Pa., Feb 26, 2009 / 03:06 am (CNA).- Following controversy over the Diversity Institute at Misericordia University’s hosting of a homosexual activist, Bishop of Scranton Joseph F. Martino has asked the university to seriously consider discontinuing the institute and to explain its efforts to teach Catholic sexual morality.Bishop Martino had warned before Keith Boykin’s appearance that he had “absolute disapproval” for the institute’s invitation to have him speak at its annual dinner and as part of Black History Month. The bishop charged that the university was “seriously failing” to maintain its Catholic identity in the...

Bishop Joseph F. Martino is calling on Misericordia University to “seriously consider discontinuing its Diversity Institute,” which hosted a gay-rights speaker earlier this month. The bishop has publicly criticized the appearance of Keith Boykin, a best-selling author, television commentator and founder of the National Black Justice Coalition. Now Bishop Martino wants to ensure other speakers like Mr. Boykin do not receive a platform at Misericordia again. The Diversity Institute, which has a primary goal of working with community members to promote multicultural understanding and the elimination of all forms of discrimination, invited Mr. Boykin to speak at two functions on...

CHICAGO -- Supporters of two Chicago activists sentenced to prison for disobeying a judge's order while protesting at a Georgia Army base came out to give the pair a send-off. Supporters gathered at Montrose Beach on Tuesday as two activists, Ron Durham and Liz Deligio, prepared to go to prison to serve three-month jail terms, NBC5's Mary Ann Ahern reported. Durham and Deligio were sentenced for their part in protesting at the School for the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga. A judge's order had prohibited protestors from walking on to the Army base. Activists Receive Send-Off "They want to intimidate...