East Valley Tribune - Spiritual Life

Pope condemns child abuse by priests

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:22:55 -0700

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI condemned the abuse of children by priests Monday, saying the church will never stop deploring such behavior.

Judge vacates polygamist leader's AZ hearing

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:52:09 -0700

KINGMAN — A judge has granted a defense request to bar evidence seized in the raid of a polygamous sect in Texas from being used in polygamist leader Warren Jeffs' trial in Arizona.

Missionary freed by N. Korea on his way home

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:27:29 -0700

BEIJING -- Looking pale and drawn, an American missionary was on his way home to the U.S. on Saturday after being freed by North Korea, which detained him for illegally crossing its border from China on Christmas Day.

Clergy Corner: The lesson of the ants

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:02:33 -0700

Jim Poit: The next time you believe that God is asking you to do something difficult and you’re tempted to take the easy route, remember that what appears to be the easier route may very well be more dangerous.

Obama to meet with Dalai Lama this month

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:46:23 -0700

WASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet at the White House this month.

Pope blames indifference for hunger deaths

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:41:51 -0700

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday blamed indifference as the fundamental cause of hundreds of millions of deaths in the world from lack of food, water and medicine.

Sweat-lodge guru pleads not guilty in deaths

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:30:14 -0700

CAMP VERDE — Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray has pleaded not guilty to three counts of manslaughter at his first court appearance since being charged with causing three deaths at an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony he led last year.

Remembering the dean and pioneer of Valley rabbis

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:28:23 -0700

Lawn Griffiths: Rabbi Albert Plotkin, the colorful, enthusiastic dean of rabbis in the Valley, died early Wednesday.

Egypt unveils renovations at oldest monastery

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:32:21 -0700

ZAAFARANA, Egypt — Egypt's antiquities chief on Thursday unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world's oldest Christian monastery, touting it as a sign of Christian-Muslim coexistence.

Speaker charged in sweat lodge deaths

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:36:31 -0700

FLAGSTAFF — Authorities have charged motivational speaker James Arthur Ray with three counts of manslaughter for deaths that happened after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in northern Arizona last year.

Mama says go to church

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:57:33 -0700

Here's a rather predictable news flash: American mothers want the fathers of their children to stick around, help with the kids and go to church.

Fiat faces papal censure for plant closure

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:57:14 -0700

ROME — These days, it seems beleaguered Italian automaking could use a little divine intervention. After car giant Fiat announced plans to shut auto production at its Sicilian plant, Pope Benedict XVI waded into worldly matters to urge the company to keep the jobs in Italy.

Last gasps by those who cannot accept homosexuality

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:44:23 -0700

Lawn Griffiths: It is breathtaking to see evidence of progress in ending the tyranny of discrimination against people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered. What’s fascinating is hearing the last gasps of conservatives who try to build a case against loosening their bindings and blinders of intolerance.

McCain: Keep policy on gays in military

Pope to visit UK; urges church to accept Anglicans

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:25:15 -0700

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI confirmed Monday he would visit Britain this year, a trip that follows his move to welcome into the Roman Catholic Church groups of Anglicans upset over the ordination of gays and women.

Clergy Corner: Just how far have we really come?

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:19:27 -0700

Pastor Ottley Holmes: I ask this question fresh off the heels of our MLK Day celebration. As we look back over our Nation’s history, we see the positive strides that we have made. It would become all too easy to sit back and become complacent thinking that all is well.

Clergy Corner: Who am I?

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:07:59 -0700

Pastor Richard Wilson: Let’s commit ourselves to God's will and way in 2010.

Owners: Sweat lodge not to blame for deaths

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:20:29 -0700

SEDONA — The owner of a retreat where a sweat lodge ceremony turned deadly said the man who led it was a perfectionist who controlled every detail of an event meant to push people beyond their physical limits.

Bill favors churches in zoning disputes

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:15:21 -0700

Some state lawmakers don't want a city's desire for new bars and restaurants to get in the way of new churches.

Religious leaders to talk immigration

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:16:41 -0700

About 200 religious leaders from throughout Arizona are expected to converge Friday on Casa Grande to talk about immigration reform.

Religion should be part of public life

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:17:05 -0700

Carol McGinnis: A travesty of justice has gained great and wide acceptance in our nation and has turned our country away from the original intent of our Founding Fathers. The phrase "separation of church and state" is not, and never has been, in our Constitution.