Free Republic

<p>SALT LAKE CITY -- The former Utah House majority leader who resigned after acknowledging he went hot-tubbing in the nude with a minor was arrested for driving under the influence a week before winning the Republican nomination in 2006, according to court records.</p>

Former House Majority Leader Kevin Garn was cited for driving under the influence in 2006, as he was attempting to return to politics and later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Salt Lake City Chief Prosecutor Sim Gill said Salt Lake City police received a call in May 2006 reporting a person passed out in a car at a downtown hotel. "They could smell the odor of alcohol. Based on that, they decided to do a DUI investigation. They did a field sobriety test," Gill said. "Based on their observation, they reached the conclusion that they thought the person was...

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- When the U.S. bishops meet in November, major items on their agenda will include decisions on a statement about lay ecclesial ministry, a new text of Scripture readings for Masses with children and a new statement calling for an end to the use of the death penalty in the United States. The annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be held in Washington Nov. 14-17. Also on the agenda are the election of a new USCCB general secretary, the election of chairmen-elect for seven USCCB committees and approval of 2006 priorities, plans and...

Lay Ministry Programs Spur Expression of Faith, Study Shows;More That 35,000 Men,Women Involved Across United States WASHINGTON (August 27, 2001) -- Programs to educate lay men and women for ministry in the Church not only give book knowledge but also enhance expressions of faith, according to a study on spiritual formation of lay ecclesial ministers by the U.S. Bishops' Subcommittee on Lay Ministry. Lay ministry programs currently enroll 35,000 men and women preparing to work in such positions as pastoral associate, youth minister and director of religious education through the nation's 314 church-related lay ministry formation programs that lead...

On January 15 the U.S. Bishops conference passed a regulation prohibiting preaching by lay ministers "at the moment reserved for the homily." Since over 82% of all paid lay ministers are women, the new regulation effectively silences women's voices in Sunday worship. In June, 600 Catholics in the Indianapolis diocese sent a petition to the U.S. Bishops meeting in Dallas asking them to rescind the regulation. They organized after Indianapolis Bishop Daniel Buechlein' sought to reverse a long standing practice permitting lay ministers to preach after the proclamation of the Gospel. On July 22, nearly 200 groups in the U.S....