Free Republic

A Catholic priest in Australia has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in jail for sex attacks on 25 children over nearly two decades. John Sidney Denham, 67, pleaded guilty to a range of charges relating to attacks on boys at schools in New South Wales between 1968 and 1986. The judge said his actions "contributed to a culture of fear and depravity". Denham apologised to the victims and their families, saying he saw himself as a "mere scumbag paedophile". He was sentenced to 19 years and 10 months in jail for crimes including sexual acts and indecent assaults against...

As an eighth generation rabbi and someone who lost much family in the Holocaust, it could just be me, but this official Jewish response seems outrageously over the top. Do millions of American Jews sufficiently care that the Pope revoked the excommunication of this unheard of bishop such that major Jewish organizations should devote so much energy and attention to this and turn it into a cause célèbre worthy of front page attention? And is this the way we speak to each other after decades of successful inter-faith work on improving our relationship?

Cites concerns about Roman Catholics, other faiths KEN GARFIELD Staff Writer One of Charlotte's best-known churches has withdrawn support for a food pantry that serves the needy because the pantry works with Roman Catholics. Central Church of God explained its decision in a letter March 1 from minister of evangelism Shannon Burton to Loaves & Fishes in Charlotte: "As a Christian church, we feel it is our responsibility to follow closely the (principles) and commands of Scripture. To do this best, we feel we should abstain from any ministry that partners with or promotes Catholicism, or for that matter, any...

Mass in Latin is back Phoenix church to hold serviceMichael ClancyThe Arizona RepublicJun. 5, 2004 12:00 AM The Tridentine Mass, for 400 years the standard religious service of the Catholic Church, will be celebrated Sunday in Phoenix, possibly for the first time since the diocese was created in 1969. Completely in Latin, except for the priest's sermon, Sunday's service at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Phoenix will attempt to recreate the entire atmosphere of the old Mass, including candles, incense and altar boys - no girls. If you go What: Tridentine Mass, old version of Catholic religious service spoken...