can he get us some food?

Hello DU! I am in need of your help. Not many of you know me here, but I am asking for you to please consider assisting me.
I am a liberal progressive Catholic Democrat. I am very green, but I am currently elected to my county's democratic committee. I am a democrat and a catholic.

I left the catholic church at the age of 13. It didn't do anything for me. I only returned to the church after reading the works of the Dali Lama and Joesph Campbell. Although I was a registered liberal in my teen years (18-19), I registered as a dem in 1991, and have been a dem ever since.

Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Dennis Kucinich, and Maurice Hinchey keep my proud to be a Democrat. Father Bill Scafidi convinced me to remain a practicing catholic.

Bottom line - my church, Saint Mary's in Newburgh, NY, is gonna be closed.

I am asking you to write a letter or postcard to the Archdiocese of New York (Address it to: Rev. Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D., V.G.1011 First Ave. New York, NY 10022) requesting that Rev. William Scafidi be allowed to remain in Newburgh, and that Saint Mary's Church be allowed to remain open.

In a religion that can be dominated by abortion, divorce, and homophobia, "Father Bill" has been able to preach the true word of
("Can he get us some food?" <- a poor inner city kid interrupted Sunday Mass and asked for help).

Christ in an inner city dominated by poverty and addiction. Father Bill articulates the message of Christ in a way that catholics can truly be proud of. His message of love and repentance is a shining light for Newburgh, and truly inspirational to all that follow the teachings of Christ.

Just like the Democratic Party, the Catholic Church is becoming more conservative as progressives and liberals "find the word" elsewhere. Dems lose members to nonvoting, greens, and the working family party. Catholics lose members to more liberal churches and atheism.

Father Bill is a good guy, doing the right thing, in an inner city that truly needs him. Please consider writing a letter on his behalf.

Your letter could be very simple. "My friend Michael May lives in Newburgh and attends Mass at Saint Mary's on South Street. I have heard great things about Father Bill at Saint Mary's and would like to see this parish remain open." Feel free to write whatever feels natural to you.

Thank you in advance for any consideration that you give to furthering this cause. If the church receives one letter in support of my church from a DU member, I will be honored. Peace and low stress! Thank you.
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/04/03/news_community-ajchurch-04-03.html

and am considered a hopeless heathen by most who believe in higher powers, I do understand what you mean about the help your church most likely provides to the place you live. We have a group here called "Catholic Community Services" which has long been one of the only places in the area that provides aid, counseling, DV protection, and visitation accomodations for the children of battling parents.

Tho I don't much care for the "spiritual guidance" they supply, I volunteer & act as supervisor to help children visit with troubled fathers/mothers and that Center has been invaluable in providing the space, scheduling, and opportunity for such bonding to occur; I couldn't imagine if we lost the services they provide in my rural county. I can sympathize with your dilemma.

I already have a pile of mail to send...won't hurt me to add one more

Just ran across your post in the Lounge, with the link at the bottom ("difficult diners").

I'm a lapsed Catholic (about 30 years and counting) but I know where you're coming from. I've always wished for a parrish priest like Father Blackie O'Ryan (Andrew Greeley's "funny little priest").

I'll send a letter tomorrow to go out with the rest of my mail.

As an aside, here's a pic of our local "old" church, Immaculate Conception. It's now on the north side of the Chena River, was moved there from the south side in the 1920's sometime. Oldest church in Fairbanks.



Peace, and good luck.

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It's too late for me to recommend it, but consider it kicked. And I'm on board. While I'm lapsed, and a member of the Atheist/Agnostic group on DU, I respect your beliefs, wish I could still share them, and your priest sounds like a great guy. It's rare that I have met a priest that I didn't like, LOL, and my favorite teacher in high school was a former priest. He was removed from the Church because of his liberal beliefs. Here's a kick from me and wishing you the best of luck with this! I'm honored to help.:-)

Rhiannon:hi:

on edit: your praise of Dennis Kucinich, my favorite candidate, and my president, Jimmy Carter, didn't hurt, LOL! And I've heard Maurice Hinchey speak. I'd trade him, any day, for my rep, John Sweeney...:-(

I think that Spitz and Hillary should target his district