Today’s Buzz:  Woody Allen, Billy Graham, United Methodists, and a Nun Pleads No Contest…

Orginally published on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 8:35 AM
by Todd Rhoades

A unique buzz today: Prayers for rain, a nun abuser, a fundie accused abuser dies, on-line divorce, and the plight of the United Methodists. Oh... and Woody Allen and Billy Graham...

Georgia Pastors Call for Rain Dance… (OK, They’re Actually Just Praying)
God knows we’re dry.  But, the Rev. Dr. Terry Walton said he and other ministers will still pray and ask God to send rain to the region, but not before offering prayers of thanksgiving and confession.  Walton, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, will join five other ministers today at Roosevelt Square to pray about the ongoing drought.  “We are in no way making a statement that we don’t trust God,” Walton said. “But we probably contributed to this. We’ve probably done some things to the environment and have probably taken for granted our lake and our resources.” He said that God specifically said to bring our needs to Him.  “We need some water,” Walton said.  More here...

Elderly Fundie Alleged Sex Abuser Dies Before His Trial
The Rev. Robert Gray, the former Trinity Baptist Church pastor awaiting trial on child molestation charges, died Saturday, according to his attorney. He was 81. This month, a judge ruled Gray was too ill to stand trial Tuesday on six counts of capital sexual battery. The charges involved four women who say Gray sexually abused them when they were children in the 1970s. At the time, Gray led the Westside church and its school, Trinity Christian Academy. One of Gray’s accusers, whose case was not part of the criminal charges because the statute of limitations had expired, said Gray’s death before a trial angered her. “I wanted him to have to get in the hot seat and answer questions,” she said. “I wanted it to be on the record so everyone knew what he did.” Gray was arrested in May 2006 and again two months later when more charges surfaced. More than 20 women have come forward with accusations against Gray, but in most cases the statute of limitations had expired.  More here...

United Methodists Partying Like It’s 1820...
The United Methodist presence in the United States today is the same as it was in 1820. And, if trends in aging and membership losses continue at their current rates, the church will shrink to its size at the time of the first Christmas Conference in 1784.  This from a new report put out by the United Methodists themselves.  You can read more here.

Now Broward County Residents Can Get Their Divorce On-Line.  LUCKY!
Broward County residents now can file for a divorce without leaving the house, or at least get the paperwork rolling.  The Broward County Clerk of Courts launched an online service this month that steers citizens through the application process for filing divorce actions, small claims lawsuits and tenant evictions. The self-service system is intended for people who can’t afford an attorney or don’t want to spend the money on one. More here...

Chicago Area NUN Pleads No Contest to Sex Abuse
A 79-year-old Roman Catholic nun from Illinois pleaded no contest Monday to two counts of indecent behavior with a child for alleged sexual encounters with two male students at a church convent and school where she was principal during the 1960s. The nun, Norma Giannini left the courthouse without comment after entering the pleas in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Giannini faces a maximum 10 years on each count when sentenced Feb. 1. According to the criminal complaint, the two men told authorities they had dozens of sexual encounters with Giannini, including intercourse, while attending St. Patrick’s School in Wisconsin. One man said the nun told him in 1965, when he was 13, to open the buttons of her habit, but he was shaking so badly he could not do so. [I think I just threw up in my mouth].

And finally…

Billy Graham and Woody Allen Yuck it Up...
A big thanks to the Internet Monk and Jay Kelly at Wired Parish for finding this gem.  You have to watch this old clip featuring Woody Allen interviewing Billy Graham.  This is good stuff.  I’d love to see a rematch now to see how things have worked out for both of them after all these years.

Have a great day!  I’m off for a quick trip to Dallas today… be back tomorrow.

Todd

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