toledoblade.com --

Sexual orientation and faith to be topic of dialogue at UT

Faith and Fairness, a dialogue about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and reclaiming faith, will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at the University of Toledo College of Law, 1780 Secor Rd.

The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Miguel De La Torre, an associate professor of social ethics at Iliff School of Theology and director of Iliff's Justice and Peace Institute in Denver.

Mr. De La Torre has written more than a dozen books, including Re-imagining Christian Sexuality and Reading the Bible from the Margins.

Harry Knox, director of Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program, will serve as moderator for a panel discussion featuring the Rev. Margaret Mallory, pastor of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Toledo; Joseph Gentilini, a Roman Catholic layperson from Columbus, and Brynna Fish, Jewish educator and social activist from Cleveland.

The dialogue, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Equality Toledo, and Equality Ohio.

Los Angeles parishes helping to pay abuse settlements
LOS ANGELES - Parishes across the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles are answering an appeal from Cardinal Roger Mahony to help pay $720 million in settlements to victims of clergy sex abuse.

One parish donated almost all of its $1.5 million savings and another offered a $100,000 interest-free loan to cover the costs from hundreds of civil claims.

Cardinal Mahony made the fundraising request in meetings this winter around the archdiocese. Last year, the archdiocese settled more than 500 civil claims for $660 million, on top of a 2006 pledge of $60 million to settle 45 additional cases.

Several parishes have been debating whether to contribute. Some said they don't have enough money because of building or restoration projects.

Msgr. David Sork of St. John Fisher Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., said his parishioners have asked why they should pay for mistakes by other parishes decades ago.

"But not helping means the archdiocese's services to all parishes, including this one, will be hampered," Monsignor Sork said.

He is praying about it and consulting parish leaders.

"Either way, it's controversial," Monsignor Sork said. "It's a tough one."

The Rev. Robert McNamara of St. Bernardine of Siena Church in Woodland Hills decided to give the archdiocese nearly all of his parish's savings - almost $1.5 million. The decision upset some parishioners who felt they had not been properly consulted.

The archdiocese recently sold its 12-story office building that serves as its administrative headquarters for $31 million to help pay the settlements.

4 cantors to present concert at The Temple

"From Bimah to Broadway," a cantorial concert featuring four cantors, will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow at The Temple-Congregation Shomer Emunim, 6453 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania.

Cantor Jen Roher of Congregation Shomer Emunim will be joined by Cantor Judy Seplowin of Providence, R.I.; Cantor Leigh Korn of Lafayette, Calif., and Cantor Dan Singer, former resident artist with the Toledo Opera who is now a cantor in New York City.

The program, which is open to the public, will feature music from the synagogue to the Broadway stage. Tickets are $18 from the synagogue, 419-885-3341, and at the door.

Clerics perform a Yagna at Hindu Temple in Sylvania

Pandit Anantkumar Dixit and other Hindu clerics will perform a Shri Maha Vishnu Yagna from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Hindu Temple of Toledo, 4336 King Rd., Sylvania.

Pandit Dixit said he and eight other pandits, or Hindu spiritual leaders, from the United States and Canada will perform the Yagna, seeking the blessings of Shree Maha Vishnu, God the protector who rescues humanity in time of need.

Pandit Dixit said the term Yagna means "work undertaken with a pure spirit of total dedication in complete cooperation with others, and for the well-being of all creatures for the welfare of the world."

More information is available from the Hindu Temple, 419-843-4440.

Wyandot Indian Mission opens with services this Sunday

UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio - The Wyandot Indian Mission, founded by John Stewart in 1816, opens for the summer with services at 8 a.m. Sundays starting tomorrow and continuing through Aug. 31.

A stone church was built in 1824 on East Church Street, one block east of State Route 53 in Upper Sandusky.

The building is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Tours can be arranged by calling Jean Moon, 419-294-2510, or John Stewart United Methodist Church, 419-294-2867.

Polish National Church, Roman Catholics talk

WASHINGTON - Representatives of the Polish National Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church continued their ongoing dialogue with discussions on doctrinal issues at their May 19-20 meeting in Scranton, Pa.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said dialogue members considered the situation of PNCC miltary chaplains and the options for sacramental sharing in combat zones. Among other issues, members heard a proposal to permit PNCC faithful to act as sponsors at Roman Catholic baptisms.

The Polish National Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church have been meeting for semiannual dialogue since 1984.

More information on the dialogue, including the 2006 Joint Declaration on Unity, is available online at the USCCB Web site, www.usccb.org.

Enrichment Day for Jewish seniors planned

The Toledo Jewish Community Senior Enrichment Learning Day will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Congregation B'nai Israel, 6525 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania.

Workshops that are scheduled include "Relevance of the Shavuot," taught by Rabbi Edward Garsek; "Counting the Omer," by Cantor Evan Rubin, "How Jewish Music Influenced Mainstream Theater," by Cantor James Gloth, and "Adam and Eve: The Real Story," by Rabbi Moshe Saks.

The fee for the programs is $20 and pre-registration is required by calling 419-517-8400.

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