Keywords by David Yonke

I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Bishop John Shelby Spong on Friday night after his arrival in Toledo for a weekend engagement. The retired Episcopal bishop and best-selling author spoke at First Unitarian Universalist Saturday in a series of lectures, and then preached this morning's service at the church in the Old West End.
I also was honored to be invited to dinner with Bishop Spong and his wife, Christine, along with a group from First UU after our interview. The bishop is a most extraordinary man, and although I had interviewed him by phone it is always so different to do the interviews in person.
Bishop Spong is a radical, no doubt about it. He does not believe Jesus was born of a virgin, nor that Jesus performed any miracles, nor that he was resurrected bodily. But the bishop is a brilliant man who knows the Bible better than just about anybody I've ever met. He is genuine in his interpretration of the scriptures and is on a mission to liberate Christianity from what he believes are misguided views of the Bible.
I will be writing an article about this interview, probably for the Dec. 16 edition. I'm sure it will rile people up. But Bishop Spong is a lightning rod for controversy, saying he has received 16 death threats, and always from fundamentalist Christians, never atheists or Jews or Muslims.
Seems there's never a dull moment on the religion beat.
Toledo, Ohio
Dec. 2, 2007

Members of the closed St. Mary's parish in Junction, Ohio, filed a temporary restraining order against Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair and the Toledo Catholic Diocese, asking the court to keep them away from their old church and prevent them making a third effort at removing the many beautiful, priceless, 100-year-old stained-glass windows. (I wonder if this is the first time that Bishop Blair has been served with a TRO?)
Visiting Judge Randall Basinger of Putnam County Common Pleas Court last week continued the temporary restraining order after parishioner Janet Sholl personally put up $10,000 bond. These people really love their parish and are doing whatever they can to save it, although they've acknowledged to me they are not very optimistic of success.
The diocese's attorney, Tom Pletz of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, filed a motion to dismiss the court order, arguing in part that the plaintiffs "do not have standing" as a parish and that the ex-parish "is not an entity recognized by the state of Ohio and does not exist."
No, indeed, it does not, since the diocese has closed it. It will be up to Judge Basinger to decide this one.
* * *

Today is the four-year anniversary of Bishop Blair's installation as bishop of the Toledo diocese. Sure has been an eventful four years. Lots of good things and a few notable bad things too. Well, happy anniversary to all concerned, and best wishes for Year No. 5.
* * *
Catholic columnist Matt C. Abbott has printed an excerpt from my book in his online column. I appreciate his continued interest in this case and in my book. Here is a link to Matt's column.
Toledo, Ohio
December 4, 2007

I received a phone call yesterday from a woman who had just read my article from last month about the funeral of defrocked priest C. Neil Lucas.
For those who missed the initial article and resulting fallout, he was a Toledo Diocesan priest who was removed from ministry and later laicized because of credible allegations that he had sexually abused minors.
When Mr. Lucas died, it created a new set of ethical, moral and etiquette questions: What funereal honors are appropriate for a longtime priest who did many wonderful things during this career but ultimately was kicked out of the priesthood for molesting children?
My hope was that the funeral would not become an issue, and therefore I would not have to write about it. But when Christ the King parish canceled school that day specifically because it expected a huge crowd for the funeral, my editors asserted
-- and I agreed -- that it had now become news. Hundreds of families were being affected by the decision to cancel classes, which had been announced at the last minute and which forced many parents to scramble to find child care.
In addition, the funeral was being presided over by a retired auxiliary bishop and as it turned out, approximately 50 priests attended the ceremony and Mr. Lucas was given a hero's farewell.
When an article ran on the day of the funeral reporting how the parish had canceled school, one caller berated me for writing the story and called me "stupid, slimy and sleazy."
Now back to yesterday's phone call. This woman said she personally knew Mr. Lucas. Having gotten a lot of responses earlier, mostly negative, I was expecting her to criticize me for writing it. But instead she thanked me.
She had some very unpleasant and disturbing experiences with the ex-priest and was glad that the newspaper was telling the truth instead of pretending the man was some kind of saint.
I don't want to get into detail but let's just say her firsthand report reinforced the premise that there were substantial reasons for the church to defrock him. It was not, as his pastor told parishioners at the time of Lucas' removal from ministry, in a letter written on official church stationery, merely because of the ex-priest's admission to "waterskiing in the buff" with some boys and then playing strip poker with them. Although those actions showed serious lapses of judgment, I doubt if they were enough cause to remove a priest from ministry and then take the extraordinary step of laicizing him.
I get no pleasure out of hearing about, or reporting on, people's flaws or secret crimes, but in the case of yesterday's phone call, the woman helped remove any remaining doubts I may have had about the article. She also reinforced my belief that there is much more to the allegations against the ex-priest than the public has been told.
Toledo, Ohio
December 5, 2007

From the Headlines:
Catholic coloring book warns US kids of pedophile priests
=========

New York's Roman Catholic Church is trying a novel approach to alert children to the danger of being sexually assaulted by a priest, with an abuse-themed coloring book, officials said Tuesday.

"Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic," was distributed earlier this year to several hundred schools in the New York area as part of the church's Safe Environment Program, a spokeswoman from the city's Archdiocese said.

One image in the book features a guardian angel hovering over an altar boy with a priest lurking in the background.

"For safety's sake, a child and an adult shouldn't be alone in a closed room together," the angel counsels. In another, the angel warns of a sexual predator attempting to chat with a child over the Internet.

David Clohessy, head of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, cautiously welcomed the initiative, but said it did not go far enough.

"We applaud the intent but worry a bit about the approach... it does still feel like almost every step taken by the hierarchy is one that's been prompted by external pressure," he told AFP.

The scale of child abuse by priests remained hidden in the United States for years until the Archbishop of Boston confessed in 2002 to protecting a priest he knew had sexually abused young members of his church.

According to the group "Bishop Accountability," some 3,000 priests out of the 42,000 across the country have since been denounced, some of whom have been investigated and convicted.

Since the scandal broke, US Catholic authorities have paid out close to 2.8 billion dollars in damages, forcing many dioceses to sell off their assets.

Editor's Note: This wire story reports the numbers for the opening weekend at the box office for The Golden Compass, the $180 million fantasy film based on Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials. The film has generated controversy because it is based on books that are aimed at children and which promote atheism, describing God as feeble and the afterlife as a prison camp, for example.
It is interesting that the producers are disappointed with the numbers, but are uncertain whether the calls for a boycott had much impact. I think the Catholic League's urging of a boycott did have an effect, but I believe the major reason for the poor box-office showing were the lousy reviews. It reminds me of The Da Vinci Code situation. The movie generated a lot of controversy and coverage because of the book's contents, but the film was a box-office flop despite having bankable star Tom Hanks in the lead role. It was not because of the opposition and public outcry that it failed, but because it was not a very good movie. (The book, on the other hand, despite the ridiculous presumptions and theme, was extremely well written.) -- David
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'Compass' Opens to Modest $26.1 Million

"The Golden Compass" proved a mild fantasy at the box office, pulling in $26.1 million, a modest opening weekend compared to such recent December heavyweights as "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" flicks.
New Line Cinema's "The Golden Compass," whose cast includes Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, also took in $55 million overseas since it began opening last Wednesday in 25 other countries.
Disney's "Enchanted," the No. 1 movie the previous two weekends, fell to second-place with $10.7 million, raising its total to $83.9 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
New Line, which had enormous success with its three "Lord of the Rings" films, had hoped for more out of "The Golden Compass," expecting it to reach at least $30 million domestically over its first weekend, said Rolf Mittweg, the studio's marketing chief. The film cost $180 million to make.
"The Golden Compass" follows the adventures of an orphan girl hurled into a parallel world of witches, strange flying machines and talking polar bears.
Parents with children accounted for half of the film's audience, so New Line is counting on family crowds that flock to theaters over the holidays to keep the movie afloat, Mittweg said.
The three "Lord of the Rings" films released from 2001 to 2003 had opening weekends ranging from $47.2 million to $72.6 million. Disney's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" opened with $65.6 million in 2005.
Those were based on very familiar fantasy literature from J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, while "The Golden Compass" was adapted from the first book of Philip Pullman's lesser-known "His Dark Materials" trilogy.
Mittweg said he was uncertain about the effects of a backlash against "The Golden Compass" by some Christians, who said Pullman's books preach atheism.
"It's very hard to say. Historically, protests of these sorts tend to be ineffective on box-office results," Mittweg said.
After a summer of record revenue, Hollywood's business has dipped most of the fall. The modest start for "The Golden Compass" continued that trend, with the top-12 movies taking in $73.2 million, down 10 percent from the same weekend last year.
"This is pretty emblematic of what's been going on with the marketplace," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "You need a mega-blockbuster at this time of year to boost confidence and the box office, and we're waiting, and we're running out of time."
The next few weeks do bring potential hits with Will Smith's sci-fi tale "I Am Legend," Nicolas Cage's action sequel "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," Johnny Depp's bloody musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and Jason Lee's family film "Alvin and the Chipmunks."
A handful of films opened in limited release to qualify for the Academy Awards.
Fox Searchlight's "Juno" had a huge debut, hauling in $420,113 in just seven theaters, averaging a whopping $60,016 a cinema. The film stars Ellen Page as a whipsmart pregnant teen who seeks out what she thinks is the perfect couple (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) to adopt her baby.
Focus Features' "Atonement," a drama starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, opened well with $816,883 in 32 theaters for a $25,528 average. The film centers on the consequences of a teen's false criminal accusations against her sister's lover.
By comparison, "The Golden Compass" averaged $7,405 in 3,528 theaters.
"Juno" and "Atonement" expand to more theaters over the next few weeks.
The Weinstein Co. drama "Grace Is Gone," starring John Cusack as an Iraq war widower struggling to tell his young daughters their mother has died in combat, had a so-so opening with $14,000 in four theaters.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Golden Compass," $26.1 million.

2. "Enchanted," $10.7 million.

3. "This Christmas," $5 million.

4. "Fred Claus," $4.7 million.

5. "Beowulf," $4.4 million.

6. "No Country for Old Men," $4.2 million.

7. "August Rush," $3.5 million.

8. "Hitman," $3.48 million.

9. "Awake," $3.3 million.

10. "Bee Movie," $2.6 million.

My article on Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical, Spe Salvi, was No. 2 on the Toledo Blade website yesterday, the day after the article was published (here's a link). Another unusually high readership response for a religion article. Usually the interest fades away after one day. It just goes to show that there are many people who are interested in what the Pope has to say and, perhaps, that I did a decent job of explaining it in proper journalistic fashion.
The encyclical, meant to teach Catholics worldwide, examines the theological basis of hope and offers the Pontiff's theoretical analysis as well as biblical and real-world examples of how hope in God helped people through severe struggles.

I enjoyed working on that article and especially having the opportunity to spend some time discussing the encyclical with the two top local theologians, Professor Rick Gaillardetz of the University of Toledo and Father Jim Bacik of Toledo's Corpus Christi University Parish.
Both of these people are brilliant scholars and are terrific sources for information on Catholic teachings. I asked for an interview with Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair, but it was a late request on my part and all he could provide was a comment via e-mail. Still, I was glad to have his view included in the story.
Here is a link to the article.
(I really liked the headline -- "Pope flexes theological muscles" -- but was concerned that some readers might find it too frivolous or flippant. However, no complaints so far. I think religion-page readers have a sense of humor and I was trying to jazz up the page a little bit without being disrespectful. I think it worked out well.)
* *
I worked yesterday covering the strange story of the disappearance of Karyn McConnell Hancock, a Toledo lawyer who was missing 2 1/2 days before being found in Atlanta. A lot of things in this case don't sound right... But as we have learned the hard way, the truth will come out eventually. Sometimes it takes a while. But I think it'll happen relatively soon in this case.
Here is a link to that article.
Toledo, Ohio
December 10, 2007

This report was released this morning by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. You can read it online at www.usccb.org/nrb/nrbreport2007.pdf
I am posting it verbatim. Feel free to post your thoughts both pro and con. I'll be following up with a blog in the next few days. -- David

REPORT OF THE NATIONAL REVIEW BOARD
December 2007
To the Catholic Faithful of the United States:
On the fifth anniversary of its establishment, the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People (NRB) sends this report on its work to the Catholic community. It is a record of accomplishments, unfinished work, and challenges that lie ahead.
The members of the Board, representing the diversity of the Church in the United States, have worked diligently with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) through its Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People (CPCYP) to address the nature, causes, and consequences of the sexual abuse crisis and the prevention of such action in the future. The Board concentrates on the responsibilities assigned to it in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (Charter).
They include:
* advising on the audits of the dioceses and eparchies to assure compliance with the Charter
adopted in Dallas,
* overseeing the Office of Child and Youth Protection (OCYP),
* completing major research studies,
* reviewing policies and practices for the protection of children and youth,
* recommending ways to provide safer environments.
Though much has been accomplished, much remains to be done.
Accomplishments
The Audit Process
For the past four years, dioceses and eparchies have been audited to assure the implementation and maintenance of the standards established in the Charter. Those audits provide substantial evidence of the bishops’ efforts to protect children and respond to the abuses of the past and present. As of 2006, 98% of the dioceses and eparchies are participating in the audits. Those audited are in full compliance with the standards.
* The standards require implementation of safe environment programs and background checks for employees and volunteers. To this point over six million children have participated in educational programs and over 1.6 million background investigations have taken place.
* In addition dioceses have established procedures to respond promptly to allegations, including
reports of allegations to public authorities, diocesan review boards to evaluate allegations, and
programs to reach out to victims and their families.
* In an effort to maintain transparency, the USCCB publishes the results of these audits in an annual report that includes the numbers of new credible allegations and the financial costs of responding to allegations.

Research Projects
The Charter called for two major research studies.
* The John Jay College of Criminal Justice completed the first of these studies, The Nature and
Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States 1950-2002, in 2004. That study provided an analysis of what happened: the number and nature of the
allegations, the characteristics of the abusers and victims, and the financial impact on the Church.
* The second study, Causes and Contexts, will explore the why and how. It is discussed later under work to be done.

Oversight Structures
Successful implementation of the Charter and Norms necessitated structures to oversee and deliver programs at both the national and diocesan levels. These structures and programs are now in place and are being accepted as part of the fabric of the Church for the future.
* At the national level the CPCYP and NRB oversee the implementation of programs through their review of the work of the Office for Child and Youth Protection, which has responsibility for
insuring Charter compliance on a day-to-day basis.
* On the local level, the dioceses and eparchies have offices that offer safe environment programs and respond to allegations and the needs of victims and their families.
* Although the presence of such structures and programs cannot ensure that abuse will not take
place, each year the NRB has seen a strengthening of the processes that are needed to make such abuse less likely to occur, appropriately handle allegations, and address the needs of victims and their families.
Though these accomplishments are impressive, the Board believes that its work is only beginning.

Work To Be Done
The audits have provided assurance that the dioceses and eparchies are doing what is required to meet the obligations of the Charter.
* What the audits do not measure is the quality of the work that the dioceses and parishes are doing.
To gain that understanding, the Board is encouraging the USCCB to do random audits of the
parishes and to work toward establishing best practices in educational programs, victim care,
background checks, and investigation of allegations.
During 2007, to provide a model to study for the future, a number of dioceses volunteered to pilot audits at the parish level. The NRB fully supports and encourages these parish audits.
* As to the adoption of best practices, a Safe Environment Work Group, comprised of bishops,
board members, and consultants, completed a major report on safe environment training for
children that included studies on the appropriateness of training, its scope, sequence, age and
grade appropriateness, and the key elements of Church teaching as it applies to this training.
Dioceses and eparchies are encouraged to follow the recommendations made in the report. The
NRB made a similar set of recommendations for best practices for diocesan review boards that is presently under consideration by a committee of the USCCB.
* For the second research project, the Causes and Context Study, John Jay College is once again the principal investigator. Fordham University is collaborating in the research. The USCCB selected the College based on its excellent proposal, expertise in the area, and knowledgeable background, including the completion of the Nature and Scope Study. The research will explore the historical context of the abuse, the seminary training during the historical period, the psychological profiles of the offenders, the responses of the Church, and the nature and consequences of victimization.
Fund raising is underway to meet the cost of the $2.6 million study. The final results should be
available in 2009 and provide the Church with insights to guide future actions.

Challenges That Lie Ahead
The most difficult challenges that still face the bishops and the Board are not easily resolved since they involve extremely complex issues.
* One of the most significant issues is the need for a greater understanding of victimization and its consequences. Discussions with victims provide evidence of serious needs that still must be
addressed in order for the victims and their families to find the healing that they need. The Board
is hopeful the results of the Causes and Context Study will provide needed insights andrecommendations.
* Another set of issues relates to the relationship of the Church to its priests, the vast majority of whom are not involved in the scandal, but many of whom feel alienated from both the bishops and the laity.
* There is a particular need to provide appropriate protection and restoration for those accused but later found innocent.
* Other issues include the need for greater speed in the process of determining credibility of
allegations and consequent responses, as well as determination of an appropriate role for the
Church in the supervision of offenders.
* During the past few years, it has become apparent to members of the NRB that parishes also
become victims of sexual abuse. Members of parishes experience both a sense of betrayal or
outrage over accusations that lead to the removal of a pastor or associate. Often parishioners do
not know how to respond to victims and their families and agonize over the lengthy process of
determining appropriate responses. This is an area that needs much more attention.
* Finally, the Board is seeking ways to communicate more effectively to the laity so that members of the Church are both better informed on the positive responses the Bishops have made and more active observers of the programs and processes in their parishes and dioceses.
Such communication is vitally important since the work of the National Review Board is strengthened by vigilant parents and parishioners who investigate the presence and quality of the programs in their parishes and dioceses. The obligation to provide safe environments that prevent damage to children, young people, families, parishes, dioceses, and the Church rests with all Catholics.
The laity can be assured of the Board’s continuing dedication. We ask in return for your prayers, support, and vigilance.

Talked to Professor Richard Gaillardetz today... he said my story on the Papal Encyclical (see previous entry) had more insight than the national Catholic news magazines... But of course, I had good sources! (Professor Gaillardetz for one, Father Jim Bacik for another.)
* * *
I'm sad to report that my beloved Saab 900 has probably developed a teminal case of transmission problems. As much as I love that car, I don't think I can justify the cost of putting in a new transmission. I have to sleep on it a little more but it's looking bad for my precious little Edwardian Gray Swedish gem. I've had it for only 3 years but it's been a joy to own. I have to think about buying another one, though. They are amazing machines but the parts and repairs are so outrageously expensive. It's hard to find a good mechanic who can handle their unique design.

Toledo, Ohio
Dec. 13, 2007

The State of Ohio filed its response to Gerald Robinson's appeal, going point-by-point in rebutting the priest's lawyers' claims that he did not receive a fair trial.
The document is more than 80 pages of text plus photos of the murder weapon, altar cloth, and other pertinent items of evidence.
I find the state's brief to be extremely well written and throrough, with a few choice words that are legally polite and correct but for people familiar with legal briefs will recognize as pointedly sharp. I don't have time now to go into details now but willl try to post some of the more interesting points shortly. In the meantime, the straight news story I wrote for today's paper can be read here .
* * *
Secondly, Father David Nuss is back in the news. Bishop Leonard Blair of the Toledo Catholic diocese has appointed Father Nuss associate pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Sandusky, Ohio, a church with more than 6,300 members.
You may remember Father Nuss from the controversy that made the news in July. He is a Toledo diocesan priest who stepped down from his new post as pastor of St. Rose Parish in Perrysburg after news reports surfaced that he had an "inappropriate" but "consensual" affair with a woman.
He had been picked by the bishop to lead St. Rose, an 8,100-member parish that had been the center of a storm of controversy involving its previous pastor, Rev. Thomas Leyland, who said he was forced into retirement by Bishop Blair for criticizing the bishop in public. A large number of parishioners rallied around Leyland (older brother of Detroit Tigers' manager Jim Leyland) but the bishop refused to budge and Leyland did retire.
Then the information about Fr. Nuss' affair surfaced and Nuss decided to take a sabbatical. I started getting calls from people that Father Nuss was serving at St. Mary's about a month ago, but the appointment was officially announced Friday Dec. 14 and effective Dec. 13. The bishop made the announcement with a single sentence, not addressing any of the controversy or explaining whether Father Nuss had undergone counseling or therapy or whatever.
I am hoping that the people of St. Mary's Parish got a little more information and perhaps some reassurance about their new priest, not just a one-sentence announcement that was sent to the media. Maybe Bishop Blair held a town hall meeting in Sandusky or sent a letter to parishioners that the media were not aware of.
In a strange twist, St. Mary's pastor, Father Philip Feltman, was removed from ministry in January, 2003, for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl years earlier. But the Vatican in July, 2003, ordered the priest reinstated, without elaborating.
* * *
My series on Toledo-area Muslims ran yesterday and today. I think it turned out pretty well. I only had a couple of nasty calls and emails from Muslim-haters. Here's a link to the stories:
Day 1
Day 1 sidebar
Day 2
* * *
That's enough news for today... Meanwhile, hearty Ohioans are stocking up on food supplies and other necessities because it looks like a big storm is heading our way. Maybe we'll have a white Christmas this year.
Toledo, Ohio
Dec. 15, 2007

It has been pointed out to me by the diocese that the Catholic Chronicle, the diocese's official newspaper, reported Father David Nuss' appointment in its Dec. 14 edition, and that the article included more information than the one-line notice of appointment that the press release sent to the news outlets contained (I had mentioned in my previous blog that I hoped the diocese met or talked with St. Mary's parishioners about their new priest, and they had. I'm glad to hear it).
From this article, it appears there was another diocesan statement that was issued but which did not go to the news media. Below is a copy of the Chronicle article, with the pertinent information highlighted by me.
By the way, I got to know Father Nuss when he was in charge of vocations for the diocese and found him to be very personable and charming. I'm not surprised he was named one of the "20 under 40" outstanding leaders in the region a few years ago. -- David

Father Nuss returns to parish ministry

Written by ANGELA KESSLER, Chronicle Editor
Friday, 14 December 2007
SANDUSKY—Father David Nuss is returning to full time status as associate pastor at Sandusky St. Mary. His assignment began Dec. 13.
Bishop Leonard P. Blair announced the appointment, effective Dec. 13, 2007. Fr. Nuss served the Sandusky parish during his first pastoral assignment from 1993 to 1997.
Before making the assignment, Bishop Blair consulted with Father Philip Feltman, pastor of Saint Mary, according to a diocesan statement issued Dec. 14. The statement also notes Fr. Feltman “conferred with the lay leadership and staff of the parish and the school, who indicated their understanding and their willingness to accept Fr. Nuss and welcome him to their parish.”.
Fr. Nuss did not return phone messages for comment on his new assignment.
In January 2007 Fr. Nuss reported to Bishop Blair that he had engaged in a relationship with a woman his age. At that time, Fr. Nuss told the bishop he had ended the relationship out of recognition that it was immoral and totally incompatible with his priestly commitment, according to the diocesan statement.
“Fr. Nuss expressed directly to the Bishop his deep regret and his earnest desire to live and serve as a priest,” the statement said. “He also expressed his deep sorrow for the pain his actions have caused the woman involved, his brother priests and the Catholic people.”
According to the statement, during the past six months Fr. Nuss took steps at the direction of the bishop to ensure that he is fully prepared spiritually and in every other way to resume a new assignment.

Toledo, Ohio
Dec. 16, 2007

Saw a funny bumper sticker yesterday:

"AT LEAST I CAN STILL SMOKE IN MY CAR"

I'm not a smoker but I sympathize for people who do smoke, with all the restrictions now in place. Of course it's a terrible habit but the ones who are addicted have little choice once they're hooked.
We see them all standing outside their offices in the freezing cold, puffing away. It's hard to believe it was just a few years ago when people were allowed to smoke inside the building. Today they are kind of like unofficial greeters, nodding at everyone who walks into the business. They also sort of remind me of birds -- their different sizes, stances, gestures... maybe a veteran birdwatcher could come up with a list comparing smokers to birds most like them.
* * *
I started reading the latest Dean Koontz novel. What an amazing writer. His choice of words and his descriptions are always so deeply thought out and yet so breezy and fluid.
* * *
Josh Groban's "Noel" Christmas album is breaking records. I liked it, but it's a little too syrupy and traditional for me. The most poignant song is "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which includes spoken words from U.S. soldiers, stationed overseas, to their families back home. Very touching.
* * *
My daughter is going to look at a puppy tonight. She is so excited... It's a mix of a miniature schnauzer and a shih-tzu... If she likes it, it'll be the new addition to the family.
* * *
I was reading I Corinthians 4 this morning and came across a memorable verse from St. Paul, verse 13b: "Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world."
That's the verse that inspired former Toledoan Mike Sares to found the Scum of the Earth Church in Denver. It caters to skateboarders, punk rockers, and other radicals/rebels/outsiders. That church has a great bumper sticker:

"OUR DEACONS CAN BEAT YOUR DEACONS"

Read more about Scum of the Earth Church here.
Toledo, Ohio
December 18, 2007

I always wondered how race car drivers handle their cars on city streets. It must be tough for someone used to going 200 mph to have to drive at 60 or 65... Even I have to struggle with my tendency to want to step on it (didn't I tell you about my 130-mph adventure in the Richard Petty Driving School?) .. Well this AP story about Formula One sensation and incredibly talented young driver Lewis Hamilton shows that the F1 stars sometimes live in the fast lane even when they're not on the racetrack. Not being able to drive in France shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience for Hamilton, who is British. -- David

PARIS (AP) - Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton had his driver's license suspended for a month in France after he was caught speeding by police.
Hamilton was clocked going 196 kph (123 mph) in a Mercedes on the A26 highway near the northern town of Laon on Sunday night, police spokesman Arnaud Dujardin said Tuesday.
"He (Hamilton) recognized the infraction he had committed straight away," Dujardin said by telephone. "He was very courteous. The police officers then took him back to his hotel."
Hamilton's car was taken away by police and picked up by a friend of the British racing star on Monday. Dujardin said the police officers did not recognize Hamilton, who was alone in the car, until they looked at his identification papers.
"They did not know it was him. All they saw was a car going too fast," Dujardin said, adding that Hamilton is banned from driving on French roads for one month.
"He no longer has a permit on national territory," Dujardin said. "He cannot drive in France, although I don't know whether that applies to (England)."
The 22-year-old McLaren driver led the world championship standings for much of his rookie season but finished runner-up, one point behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton won four races.
=================

Bling goes the Driver:
Lewis Hamilton, holding diamond-studded helmet, admires the $50 million 'Ponahalo" necklace
(Photo and wire story from May 23)
Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton had a taste of Monaco's millionaire lifestyle on Wednesday when he was handed a diamond-studded helmet to wear in Sunday's showcase grand prix.
"I'm blinged out. I got bling on my helmet, how cool is that," enthused the 22-year-old rookie at a presentation organised by diamond company and McLaren team sponsor Steinmetz on one of the larger floating palaces moored in the Mediterranean principality's exclusive harbour.
Hamilton and double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso will wear helmets with 'Monaco 07' written in white diamonds on the side.
The helmets will then be auctioned for charities chosen by the drivers.
Both drivers flanked a model wearing the 'Ponahalo', a necklace made up of at least $50 million worth of stones cut from one 316 carat rough diamond -- the largest to come out of the De Beers Venetia mine in South Africa.
The necklace, paraded under the watchful gaze of security guards, will be shown to some of the world's wealthiest individuals over the grand prix weekend before being sold to the highest bidder -- assuming the unspecified reserve price is reached.
Both McLaren drivers were also given $10,000 rings, each one with a tyre tread motif in diamonds, to keep.
Hamilton, the youngest leader in the history of the championship with a two point advantage over Alonso after four races, could become the first rookie to win the most glamorous race of all.
However he said he felt at home in his extraordinary surroundings.
"I'm fit, probably fitter than I've been all season, and more relaxed than I've been all season," he told reporters.
"This is the best race of the season, and already the atmosphere is building up. I can really feel it. I'm just so excited to be here, standing on the back of the biggest boat I think I've ever seen," added Formula One's first black driver.
"But then, driving the streets of Monaco is any driver's dream."
Hamilton has finished all four of his races so far on the podium, the first rookie to achieve that feat, and has been runner-up in his last three grands prix.
Brimming with confidence, he saw no reason why the run of success might not continue.
"We just need to remain consistent. We've only had four races, and it's already been an amazing journey just to get here," he said.
"I just need to keep on enjoying it, making sure I keep my feet on the ground. With this sort of weekend it's easy to just start floating -- well we are floating at the moment -- because it's an amazing experience.
"I am really, really enjoying it."

A colleague pointed out an amusing Christmas story from the Miami Herald, which I will post below... In the meantime, I am ready to start my vacation over the holidays. 2007 has been a very good year and I've got a lot to be thankful for. I think most of us do, if we take the time to reflect.
For one thing, I've had the pleasure to write about so many amazing individuals. And one of the most inspiring, to me, is Sister Sujita, the leader of the world's Sisters of Notre Dame. She grew up in a middle-class family in southern India but after college lived in the Bombay slums with the poorest of the poor, for more than 10 years. She said not having any material possessions is "liberating." Quite a thought, especially in this time of year when we are supposed to be thinking about the birth of God's son but instead we're making shopping lists and snarling at traffic and elbowing shoppers out of way to get that precious sale item... When Sister Sujita told me her motto, it just hit me like a ton of bricks: "Be more and have less."

Here is a link to the article, published today, about this amazing woman.

Meanwhile, although I'll be on vacation, I won't be going anywhere next week except for a quick trip to Grand Rapids, Mich. I am hoping I will have time to get caught up on the all the things I've been forced to put off while I scramble around trying to take care of the necessities of life.
Like cleaning up my den, for example. Everything is just piled up in there and I can barely see my desktop. I'm looking forward to organizing everything.
Well here's the story about a baby Jesus statue stolen from someone's nativity scene on their lawn in Florida, replaced by a generous person who happens to be Jewish, and is now protected by a sheet of plexiglass and equipped with a GPS tracking device in case he gets stolen again... In a lot of ways, this story is stranger than fiction.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all my friends out there in cyberspace...
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Out-of-town benefactor, GPS ensure safety of the Holy Family
By Rodolfo R. Roman
McClatchy Newspapers
MIAMI — In Bal Harbour, Fla., the Baby Jesus statue is back where it belongs.
And just to make sure the statue doesn’t go missing again, Jesus, Mary and Joseph will be equipped with GPS tracking devices.
For six years, Dina Cellini has put up a Nativity display in Bal Harbour’s Founders Circle. But earlier this month, someone took off with the statue of Jesus. Cincinnati resident Jeffrey Harris read a story about the crime online.
“I felt bad. How could someone steal a baby Jesus?” said Harris, who celebrates Hanukkah, not Christmas.
“Even though I am Jewish, I like the Christmas spirit,” said Harris, a civil attorney. So he offered to replace the figurine.
“He’s a wonderful human being,” Cellini said. “It’s so fitting that this negative act ended generously.”
But now, Cellini is taking no more chances. In perhaps the ultimate merger of old and new, she plans to add GPS tracking devices to the statues.
Cellini, using residents’ contributions and her own money, bought the Italian-made, resin baby Jesus statue from Moroneys’ Religious Art store in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. It was part of a larger stable scene that is lit up at night, next to a Christmas tree and a menorah.
“I felt there needed to be a religious presence,” said Cellini, who has lived in Bal Harbour for 21 years. “Christmas gets lost because of the commercialism.”
But just three days after she put up the decorations this year, someone stole the statue — which had been bolted to the display platform. Other parts of the scene were left undisturbed.
She went on the WMXJ radio morning show to plead for Jesus’ return. A $500 reward was offered. Bal Harbour police urged the culprit to return the figurine.
But the thief wasn’t ready to seek forgiveness.
Then along came Harris.
Neither Cellini nor Harris would say how much he paid, adding it was the gesture that counted, not the amount.
The new baby Jesus arrived Tuesday.
Cellini installed it in the nativity scene and, to make sure things stay put, installed a four-foot high plexiglass screen in front of the entire display that’s impossible to reach across.
The GPS tracking device will be extra insurance.
“I don’t anticipate this will ever happen again,” said Cellini, “but we may need to rely on technology to save our savior.”
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(c) 2007, The Miami Herald.
Visit The Miami Herald Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.herald.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

I hope everyone who reads this blog has a great New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and a wonderful year in 2008.
2007 has been a great year in many ways, despite a few stumbling blocks. I do believe that God has even greater things in store for 2008, although I don't know any of the details. But that's where faith comes in. I just have a feeling that something big is going to happen in 2008, something very positive.
It's not that any of us should expect a trouble-free year. We know that life has trials and tribulations, and that these build character and understanding. My pastor mentioned Ephesians 6 today during the sermon, the letter in which Paul writes about putting on the armor of God. He said to use the shield of faith to quench the flaming arrows of the devil. He didn't say that the shield of faith will prevent arrows from coming our way, in fact the wording implies that we should expect to be attacked. But faith will protect us.
Looking back on 2007, one of the things that I am so grateful for is good health, for me and for my family and my loved ones. In 2003, I experienced the tragic death of my younger brother Roy from an aggressive form of lung cancer in March, and then my father's passing in July. That was such a terrible time, I could not wait for the year to get over and for 2004 to begin and maybe time would ease the grief somewhat. Ever since then, I am glad to get through a year without any extreme suffering.
I am so grateful for what I've got. I worry about The Blade and I don't think the newspaper will ever return to the status it held just a few years ago, but at least the paper is still in business and I still have a job. I am, admittedly, bitter at the way things have developed there, and I feel that I've had to pay dearly for the dumb mistakes of others, both union and management. While I don't know what the future holds for this battered newspaper, again it's a matter of having faith. Hopefully, the paper will bounce back to be something good. Or else God will open a door for me elsewhere. I am just going to be patient, work hard, do the best job I possibly can, and keep my ears, eyes and options open.
* * *
I went to a wedding yesterday in Grand Haven, Mich., which is on the western edge of Michigan's lower peninsula. It's a beautiful little beach town on Lake Michigan with only 1,500 residents, but in the summer the state park there has 1.5 million visitors.
At the reception I ran into two people who wanted to talk about my book. One guy said he's read it three times and that it is one of his favorite books ever. I think he was sincere. The other guy did not read the book and said he is convinced Gerald Robinson is innocent. I don't think anything will ever convince certain people that the priest is guilty. If they witnessed the murder, they would still come up with some excuse for Robinson. But I must say the guy was very cordial and listened politely to the reasons why I believe the priest killed the nun and why the jury convicted him. Still, he was not persuaded.
That's fine with me, honest. I know there are people like him and I think it's good to be skeptical. That's a trait of most journalists. However, I find it interesting that he knew very little about the facts of the case. His opinion was pre-set before the trial even began. I think most people who saw all the evidence and listened to all the testimony during the trial would feel that justice was served.
I'm looking forward to the next round of publicity when the book comes out in paperback. I have a publicist who is talking to producers for Oprah and Larry King, and the library is trying to get C-SPAN to send its Book TV crew to Toledo to film my Feb. 7 talk in the Author! Author! program. I still believe this is one of the most amazing stories ever told and once it gets some national exposure that people will be fascinated with it.
I go back to work tomorrow after more than a week off and then tomorrow night it will be time to celebrate the new year with family.
The only thing I want to say for now is ... Go Blue! I hope Michigan can beat Florida on New Year's Day but the way Florida decimated Ohio State last year in the national championship, the Gators are a little intimidating. U of Florida is one of the few schools I applied to, and which accepted me. But I opted for Duke, and I would say I made the right decision. But I've always had a place in my heart for Florida. Still, when it comes time for Michigan to play Florida in a bowl game, I'm pulling for the Wolverines all the way. So once again, it's "M Go Blue!"
(People often ask me how I can be a Michigan fan when I live in Ohio. Well it goes back to when I first moved to Toledo from Florida and my father in law was a true-blue Michigan fan. He had season tickets and took me to a few games at the Big House, as it's known, and I was immediately hooked. And besides, Ann Arbor is only 45 minutes from my house while Columbus, home of OSU, is 2 1/2 hours away. So although I live in Ohio I'm closer to Michigan.
Sylvania, Ohio
Dec. 30, 2007

Here's Roxy, my daughter Cara's new puppy. She was 13 weeks old when we got her. She's part miniature schnauzer, and part brindle shih-tzu. I saw an ad posted on the bulletin board, told Cara about it, and she got so excited. We went to check out the puppy and Cara fell in love... She's a little doll... But it's hard to get a good photo because her hair is jet black and so are her eyes and nose... In every photo, her face ends up looking like a fuzzy black blob. She's so cute though in real life. And now that she's getting comfortable in her new surroundings, her personality is really starting to show. She's playful, like most pups, and just a little bundle of joy.
Sylvania, Ohio
Dec. 30, 2007

I visited Ground Zero this year and snapped this photo of the American flag flying above the former World Trade Center. The site is hub of activity these days as the construction of a new tower is under way.
The terror attacks of 9/11/01 will go down in history as one of the most horrific and darkest acts of humanity. No one who was old enough to live through that day will ever forget the horror and the anger and the disbelief and the depth of sadness that enveloped the world that day.
How can human beings be so twisted and destructive? How can God's beloved creation -- humans created in God's image -- be so destitute and devoid of love and grace?
There have been many depraved people in this world but few who have carried out their hatred and demented anger on such a grand scale.
Visiting the site 6 years after the attack, it is much less emotional that it was in 2001. But the darkness of the soul is still evident. Some guy with balding gray hair sat on the sidewalk and played Amazing Grace on the flute as the crowds milled about. It was all too ironic.

As 2008 approaches, this little news item shows how far we have come with technological advancements. But in the real world, who's going to read the nano-Bible? Quick, where are my reading glasses? -- David

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ASSIST News reports that researchers in Israel say they have succeeded in putting a version of the Bible on a chip smaller than a pinhead.
According to the BBC, "Its 300,000 words in Hebrew were inscribed on a silicon surface at the Haifa Institute of Technology. "Scientists say the aim of the project is to increase young people's interest in nanoscience and nanotechnology."
The BBC story went on to say that the record for the smallest copy is held by a Bible measuring 2.8x3.4x1cm (1.1x1.3x0.4in), weighing 11.75g (0.4 ounces) and containing 1,514 pages.
The 0.5sq-mm (0.01sq-in) nano-Bible was written on a silicon surface covered with a thin layer of gold (20nanometres thick - 0.0002mm).
Toledo, Ohio
Dec. 31, 2007

The events, people, and debates of the past year that Christianity Today's editors believe have shaped, or will significantly shape, evangelical life, thought, or mission.

1. Taliban takes Korean short-term mission team hostage, killing two
Afghanistan's resurgent Taliban used the team of 23 short-term workers from Saemmul Presbyterian Church as a bargaining chip, pressuring the South Korean government into a reported ransom payment and a promise to withdraw its 200 troops in the country. Bae Hyeong-gyu and Shim Seongmin were killed before the negotiation was completed.

2. Atheism tops the bestseller charts
Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens may be unhappy about the continuing "God delusion," but they can't be too displeased with their royalty checks.

3. Presidential campaigns start early, with some faith surprises
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke easily of their faith, while Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson all stumbled in appeals to Christian voters.

4. Ruth Graham promoted to glory
The daughter of missionaries who, as a teenager, wanted to die a martyr's death, Ruth Graham instead became the wife of the world's most prominent evangelist—and an inspiration to millions.

5. Anglican Communion fractures over Scripture, homosexuality
Global South leaders issued an ultimatum for the U.S. Episcopal Church to return to orthodox interpretation of Scripture, four U.S. dioceses took steps to exit the church, and the basis for a conservative new Anglican province in the U.S.was laid. Besides that, all was quiet in the Anglican Communion.

6. Three Christians tortured and killed in eastern Turkey
Turkey's bid for entry into the European Union hasn't pleased the country's ultranationalist fringe, members of which are charged with slitting the throats of three Protestants at a Christian publishing house in Malatya.

7. Lions of the Religious Right pass away
Jerry Falwell and D. James Kennedy lived long enough to see great successes for the political movement they helped start.

8. Francis Beckwith returns to Catholicism
No doubt many Protestants convert to the Roman Catholic Church every day. But most aren't serving as president of the Evangelical Theological Society, as Beckwith was when he returned to the faith in which he was raised.

9. Campaign to oust NAE's Richard Cizik fails
James Dobson and other religious conservatives couldn't depose the National Association of Evangelicals' vice president for his global warming activism.

10. Supreme Court upholds 2003 federal partial-birth abortion ban
The 5-4 decision marks the first national restriction on abortion since 1973's Roe v. Wade.

Oscar Peterson was definitely one of the greatest piano players of our day. He was one of the last giants to have played with the legendary generation of jazz greats such as Basie, Ellington, Bird, and Satchmo. I never interviewed Oscar or saw him in person but I have many of his CDs and I have been in awe of his prodigious musical talent for decades. -- David
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Pianist/composer/bandleader Oscar Peterson, one of the most popular jazz artists in history, died on Sunday, December 23, 2007, at his home in Mississauga, Ontario, outside Toronto. He was 82.
Peterson recorded with most of the jazz greats over the years. He played alongside giants like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and Nat King Cole.
Peterson was born on August 15, 1925, in Montreal. Norman Granz, his influential manager and producer, brought him to New York City in 1949 for the first Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) tour. Peterson went on to lead two of the most popular jazz trios in the world, one with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis, the other with Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen.
Peterson had more than 200 recordings to his credit, along with eight GRAMMY® Awards, the Glenn Gould Prize in 1993, and, in June of 1999, he received the prestigious Japanese Praemium Imperiale Award. Despite having suffered a stroke, he continued to dazzle listeners around the world.
Peterson’s first recording for Telarc, The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio - Live at the Blue Note, was the recipient of the 1990 GRAMMY® Award for Best Jazz Group Instrumental Performance. Best known for his brilliant playing, he was equally accomplished as a composer. In 2000, Peterson teamed up with Michel Legrand for The Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite. Orchestrated and conducted by Legrand, The Trail of Dreams premiered in April 2000 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. In 2001, Telarc released Oscar’s Ballads, a compilation focused on the hauntingly beautiful ballads written by Peterson over the past 10 years. The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio - Live at the Blue Note, a historic 4-CD collection of the pianist’s most treasured live recordings, was released in 2004. A 1998 recording, What’s Up? The Very Tall Band (with Peterson, Ray Brown and Milt Jackson), was released in 2007.
“To have been able to work with Oscar was a life long dream for us,” says Bob Woods, Telarc’s President. “That we were able to make so many exceptional recordings with him in the difficult latter years of his life was a sign of his incredible strength and passion for his special kind of music making. Our highest thoughts go out to his family at this time, and our sincerest appreciation to Oscar for being able to be a part of his incredible journey.”