FAITH
Friday, January 6, 2017
East Oregonian
Pope says 2017 will be good if
people do good; decries terrorism
By FRANCES D’EMILIO
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) —
Pope Francis in his New Year’s
greetings Sunday declared 2017
will be good to the degree that
people do good and reject hatred,
as he prayed for those coura-
geously dealing with terrorism
gripping the world in “fear and
bewilderment.”
“The new year will be good in
the measure in which each of us,
with the help of God, tries to do
good, day by day, that’s how peace
is created,” Francis told a crowd
of 50,000 pilgrims, tourists and
Romans gathered in St. Peter’s
Square for his noon blessing and
New Year’s Day remarks.
Francis advised people to “say
no to hate and violence and yes to
brotherhood and reconciliation.”
The Roman Catholic church
dedicates the first day of the year
to the theme of peace.
He also told those standing in
the bitingly cold air that the new
year had already begun badly.
“Unfortunately, violence has
struck even on this night of well-
wishes and hope,” he said, refer-
ring to the attack on an Istanbul
nightclub filled with New Year’s
revelers early Sunday that left 39
dead and dozens wounded.
“In sorrow, I express my
closeness to the Turkish people, I
pray for the numerous victims and
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
Pope Francis celebrates a new year’s Mass in St. Peter’s
Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. Pope Francis has
lamented in his New Year’s homily societies become “cold and
calculating” and bereft of compassion.
wounded, and for all the nation in
mourning,” Francis said.
He then prayed that God will
sustain “all men of goodwill
who courageously roll up their
sleeves to deal with the plague
of terrorism and this bloodstain
which is gripping the world in
a shadow of fear and bewilder-
ment.”
Earlier, during his homily
during New Year’s Day Mass
in St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis
lamented “narcissist hearts” in
societies becoming “cold and
calculating.”
“The loss of the ties that bind
us, so typical of our fragmented
and divided culture, increases
this sense of orphanhood and, as
a result, of great emptiness and
loneliness. The lack of physical,
and not virtual, contact is cauter-
izing our hearts and making us
lose the capacity for tenderness
and wonder, for pity and compas-
sion,” Francis said.
Francis says humility and
tenderness are signs of strength,
not weakness.
Transgender man suing Catholic hospital
By JOSH CORNFIELD
Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A
transgender man sued a Roman
Catholic hospital on Thursday,
saying it cited religion in refusing
to allow his surgeon to perform
a hysterectomy as part of his sex
transition.
Jionni Conforti’s sex and
gender discrimination lawsuit
comes as new regulations hailed
as groundbreaking anti-discrimi-
nation protections for transgender
people are under legal attack from
religious groups.
Conforti had scheduled the
surgery at St. Joseph’s Regional
Medical Center in Paterson in
2015. He says a hospital admin-
istrator told him the procedure
to remove his uterus couldn’t be
done because it was a “Catholic
hospital.”
“I felt completely disre-
spected,” said Conforti, whose
transition began in 2004. “That’s
not how any hospital should treat
any person regardless of who
they are.”
The hospital said Thursday it
follows ethical and religious direc-
tives from the U.S. Conference
of Bishops in making decisions
about care and treatment. The
directives say procedures judged
“morally wrong” by the church
don’t have to be performed.
The lawsuit comes less than
a week after a federal judge in
Texas ordered a halt to new U.S.
Health and Human Services regu-
lations that had been set to go into
effect Jan. 1 to bar certain forms
of transgender discrimination by
doctors, hospitals and insurers.
Civil rights groups had
hailed the new health rules as
groundbreaking, but five states,
a Christian medical association
and an Indiana-based network of
religious hospitals sued. Judge
Reed O’Connor ruled Saturday
that religious hospitals would be
forced to violate their beliefs or
risk severe consequences if they
didn’t change their policies.
Another legal challenge to
regulations that Catholic hospitals
say would force them to perform
gender transitioning procedures
and abortions was filed in federal
court last week in North Dakota
by a group of Catholic businesses
and organizations, including the
Catholic Benefits Association and
the Diocese of Fargo.
Opponents say the regulations
create a moral problem for
Catholic employers and religious
groups. They say Pope Francis
has reiterated Catholic teachings
oppose theories that a person’s
sex is alterable.
“While initiating a lawsuit is
not something we take lightly, this
new mandate represents a grave
threat to religious freedom,” said
Bishop John Folda, of the Fargo
diocese.
Conforti, who is represented
by the nonprofit Lambda Legal,
said a nurse in charge of surgery
confirmed the procedure could
be scheduled but his doctor was
told later it wouldn’t be allowed
because it was for gender reas-
signment.
An email cited in the lawsuit
from the hospital’s director of
mission services, Father Martin
Rooney, said it couldn’t allow the
surgery because it’s a Catholic
hospital.
But the hospital’s patient bill
of rights guarantees medical
services without discrimination
based on “gender identity or
expression,” the lawsuit said.
Conforti, of Totowa, said he felt
betrayed and became depressed
after the hospital’s decision.
Although he had the procedure
performed three months later at
a different hospital, he said he’s
suing so no one else has to go
through what he did.
Page 7A
LIMEY PASTOR
Heart to Heart
D
ear Brothers and Sisters
honored to be my church’s
of Eastern Oregon,
pastor. Like the altar
A couple of weeks
candle, it appears that I
ago my wife, Jeanne, came up
have burned through more
with me to visit Good Shepherd
of it than I thought. But
Lutheran Church for Christmas
there are many candles
Eve Service, which was well
still to light among us.
received by my flock. We
When I was a chaplain
stayed at the Knights Motel,
back
in Santa Clara,
Colin
which is right by the Sunrise
California, I spent a great
Brown
Café, my regular watering hole.
deal of time counseling
Faith
That evening I couldn’t sleep,
people. I had a stroke
having an uneasy feeling in my
many years before and,
chest — a feeling like heartburn.
being given that experience, I
While my wife slept I paced around
found I was able to provide comfort
the hotel room until it subsided
and advice to those suffering
sufficiently for me to sleep. I thought those afflictions. I take it now
little more of it.
that I have a new weapon in my
Yesterday morning I had the
arsenal of comfort, and can share
same thing happen, and it felt
stories with people about the
more painful. I headed to the local
struggles of having a wounded
Urgent Care and they ran an ECG
heart, with a sense of our humanity
(electrocardiogram) test, which
and vulnerability. All of us are
gave them some interesting results,
subject to time’s afflictions and our
followed by lab work. Having
graceful degradation. But we have
peered into the mysteries, the
an immortal core within the heart
answers came back. A test to reveal
of Jesus Christ, whose vistas span
former problems came back positive, from here to the kingdom beyond.
indicating that I had suffered a small
Many years ago I frivolously
heart attack in that motel room, and
prayed for the heavenly father to
a test to reveal current problems
give me another name I could use
indicated that I appeared to be
for him that would be one that he
suffering another attack right then.
liked for our conversations. The
It is fascinating to find how your
name came back: “Heart” –— the
status can jump from one state to
heart of the world. It’s a kind of
another in the blink of an eye. One
reminder. Whenever I am in a low
minute you are of unlimited age, and place I have looked up and seen
the next minute you are finite. My
signage with hearts. Once, traveling
reliable ticker, no longer the well-
through deepest fog and I felt lost,
honed and permanent atomic clock
a giant hole opened in the fog that
I thought it to be. Instead, more like
was perfectly a heart shape — and
the Samsung 7 Phone, unpredictable I drove through it. The Father’s
and likely to burst into flames when
heart is always open to us, Jesus is
one least expected it.
always open to us, in the deepest
These kinds of limits remind us
night or the thickest fog.
of the usefulness of making use of
■
the time we have. I am triply glad
Colin Brown is the pastor
of my voyage to Eastern Oregon
of Boardman’s Good Shepherd
to preach the word of God. I am
Lutheran Church on Locust Road.
BRIEFLY
Milton-Freewater church
back on regular schedule
MILTON-FREEWATER — With
the holiday season passed, the Milton-
Freewater First Christian Church is
resuming its regular schedule.
The public is invited to Sunday
breakfasts, which are served from
8:30-9:15 a.m. Donations are
accepted. The church is located at 518
S. Main St., Milton-Freewater. Other
Sunday activities include Kids Klub,
which offers arts, crafts and music for
all children at 9:30 a.m. Also, Bible
classes are available for all ages at
9:30 a.m. Junior worship is at 10:45
a.m.
The regular worship service, which
is at 10:45 a.m., recently began ‘’The
Story,’’ a 31-week chronological
Bible story. Sermons are based on the
book, which is available at the church
for a recommended $5 donation.
Individuals can join any time during
this series.
Valet parking is available by
entering the ramp from the south side
of the church. An elevator is located
on the south entrance (parking lot
side) of the church.
For more information, call
541-938-3854 Monday through
Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
Service features singing
of hymns
HERMISTON — The public is
invited to start off the new year with a
song in your heart.
A Hymnspiration is set for Sunday
from 5-6 p.m. at Victory Baptist
Church, 193 E. Main St., Hermiston.
Join new and old friends in singing
old hymns. The event features food,
fun and fellowship.
For more information, contact
Chris Finley at johnchris_1@msn.
com.
———
Friday’s faith page features local,
national and international faith-
related news. Send information about
local faith-related news and events to
community@eastoregonian.com. Call
541-564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with
questions.
Worship Community
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all.
Come meet Jesus at
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
3202 SW Nye Ave Pendleton, OR
541-276-7590
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM
Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM
Mon. Community Women’s Study
9:30 AM & 6 PM
Awana Kids Club (K-6th grade)
Wed Men’s Study 6 PM
MOPS meeting the 1st Thur of the Month 6 PM
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Bible Study.........9:00 AM
Sunday Worship......10:30 AM
Red Lion Hotel
( Oregon Trail Room )
www.faithpendleton.org
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Community
Presbyterian Church
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School -
10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
Open Hearted...
Open Minded
Grace Baptist Church
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all
services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 pm
Wed Prayer & Worship -
7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Church
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton
First United
Methodist Church
Pendleton/Hermiston
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton
Sunday Worship 9am
541-276-2616
Worship Broadcast on
KUMA 1290 @ 11am
191 E. Gladys Ave,Hermiston
Sunday Worship 11am
541-567-3002
Worship Livestream at
herfumc.com
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
ELCA
Join us Sundays
9:30
Sunday
Worship
9:30
am am
Sunday
Worship
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am Sunday School
& Adult Class
~Come and be at Peace ~
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
541-289-4535
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Faith Center Church
Worshiping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Sunday Worship
10:30 am
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Holy Communion Noon
Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group
All Are Welcome
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
LCMC
Sunday worship at
11:00 AM
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
541-481-6132
Colin Brown, Pastor
Sunday Worship
10:00am
Wednesday Bible Study
6:00pm
Youth Classes:
Nursery - 6th grade Sun & Wed
Jr & Sr High Discipleship Program Wed
Overcomer’s Outreach
Tuesday at 6:00pm - Annex
A Christ-centered, 12-Step
Recovery Support Group
Pastor Sharon Miller
401 Northgate, Pendleton
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678