ProgressNow.org Daily News Digest

Adventures in hope for one woman - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11369076 From her home base, a tiny Denver apartment, Locke plans her travels — a blue suitcase, already packed for this month's jaunt to Cambodia, stands in a corner — and writes a monthly newsletter that keeps supporters up to date. It also reminds readers why she does it. That reason is her faith, Locke says. Faith that has led her literally around the world and kept her looking ahead at an age when many might be content to reflect on the past. "After I met the Lord, I had hope," Locke said. That hope is what she wants to share with the refugees, the orphans, the mistreated and abused across the world. Her faith propels her, but she takes with her more than spiritual conviction and good intentions. She's a trained nurse.

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PR man a devoted supporter of local Catholic Church - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11368772 Bob Feeney, for several years one of the most visible local supporters of the Catholic Church, died on Dec. 23. He was 78. Feeney, a former spokesman for the Denver Catholic Archdiocese, died at a Colorado Springs assisted-living center from a variety of ailments, his family said. Feeney was a New York advertising and public relations executive, serving clients from glassmakers and bookbinders to the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale and cartoonist Walt Kelley, said his daughter, Kathryn Feeney of Eugene, Ore. He came to Denver to work for Johns Manville and in 1986 got the public relations job for the archdiocese.

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Police investigating burglaries at 24 churches in region | GreeleyTribune.com

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090103/NEWS/901029886/1002/NONE Greeley police suspect the burglaries of five churches in Greeley may be connected to similar incidents in Loveland and Fort Collins, where 19 churches have been burglarized since August. Working closely with the Loveland Police Department and Fort Collins Police Services, investigators from the Greeley Police Department also are working to determine whether the recent burglaries of northern Colorado churches are connected to any commercial burglaries in Greeley, according to Greeley police Lt. Steve Nelson. The investigation stems from the recent burglaries of 24 churches throughout northern Colorado — five in Greeley, 17 in Fort Collins and two in Loveland.

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$20 brightens the holiday for hundreds of homeless - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11266945 Temperatures were in the teens before sunrise Thursday when people began lining up outside Denver's Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, waiting for a Christmas gift. About 1,500 people, many of them homeless, received $20 as part of a long-standing charitable tradition started by the late Monsignor Charles B. Woodrich. Woodrich, a Denver priest and champion of the homeless, started giving out $10 bills almost two decades ago. He died in 1991, but his generosity lives on, and the dollar amount was doubled in 1998.

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The Pueblo Chieftain :: Probation violator given ‘faith-based’ treatment

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/12/19/news/local/doc494b8132d3afd188154961.txt The defendant, Michael HighElk, ambled into court 20 minutes late Thursday, sporting a loose-fitting Dirk Nowitzki jersey and a figurative “snitch jacket.” While District Judge Dennis Maes waited on HighElk to arrive, he formulated a possible sentence, leaning toward a six-year prison term. After hearing from HighElk's probation officer, lawyer and the prosecutor on the case, Maes softened his stance and spared HighElk from prison and instead sentenced him to a faith-based treatment program and an extended term of probation. HighElk, 20, traded testimony for leniency in the murder trial of his co-defendant, Phillip Castro, 18. On the strength of HighElk's testimony, Castro was convicted as an adult of second-degree murder and sentenced to 27 years in prison for the August 2006 shooting death of Jamie Ruybal, 21. Castro was a juvenile when the shooting happened.

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Haggard still struggles with his sexuality, says he is ‘a loser’ : Local News : The Rocky Mountain N

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/18/haggard-still-struggles-his-sexuality-says-he-lose/ Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard says in a new documentary that he still struggles with his sexuality yet is committed to his marriage for the sake of his children. Haggard, 52, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and was fired as senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs in November 2006 after a former male prostitute went public with allegations that Haggard paid him for sex and used methamphetamine. A father of five, Haggard had said he bought the drugs but never used them. He confessed to undisclosed "sexual immorality" and has said, "I really did sin." The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported Thursday that in the documentary, Haggard talks about a lifelong battle with his sexuality — and that he never claimed to be heterosexual. "The reason I kept my personal struggle a secret is because I feared that my friends would reject me, abandon me and kick me out, and the church would exile and excommunicate me. And that happened and more," he says.

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Minister indicted on 16 counts : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/18/denver-minister-indicted-mortgage-fraud/ A Denver grand jury has returned a 16-count indictment against a prominent northeast Denver minister, accusing him of stealing at least $80,000 through a mortgage fraud scheme. The Rev. Harold Hicks, pastor of the Mount Carmel Community Baptist Church, was the subject of a Rocky Mountain News investigation last year. Hicks allegedly used unwitting parishioners from his church as surrogate or "straw" buyers to conduct real estate fraud, according to the indictment and the Rocky investigation. The felony counts of various levels of theft carry maximum penalties of six years to 12 years in prison. In addition, he is charged with eight counts of forgery, which carry penalties of up to three years, a spokeswoman for the district attorney said. A warrant for Hicks' arrest has been issued.

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Pastor indicted in fraud probe - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11266947 A Denver pastor was indicted Thursday by the Denver grand jury on eight counts of theft and eight counts of forgery, accused of approaching and misleading two of his parishioners as part of a mortgage loan scam. Indicted was the Rev. Harold Hicks of Mount Carmel Community Church. He conducted real estate investment seminars at the church, according to the grand jury. According to the indictment, Hicks approached the two congregation members because they had good credit. He convinced them to become "surrogate buyers" for Denver real estate, telling them that there was "nothing illegal" about what he was doing and that investors used surrogate buyers all the time.

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Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas? : County News : Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/dec/18/happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/ Tinsel-covered signs wishing passersby a "Merry Christmas" once were common storefront decorations in December. Now -- in many communities, including Boulder -- shoppers are hard-pressed to find those words near any shop's front door. Controversy in recent years around the issue of politically correct greetings prompted some business owners to shy away from the word "Christmas" so not to offend people who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or nothing at all. Others have refused to bow to pressure to strike the word from their seasonal lexicon, and a new Rasmussen Reports poll indicates that might pay off. Of the 1,000 Americans surveyed over the phone, 37 percent said they would avoid stores where employees were told not to say "Merry Christmas" or shops with "Happy Holidays" signs. Some stores that previously swapped Christmas messages with more neutral greetings have responded to the criticism -- Wal-Mart and Target, for instance, recently resurrected their "Christmas" rhetoric. On their respective Web sites, Wal-Mart is calling itself a "One-stop Christmas shop" and Target has a "Christmas" link from its home page. Tiffany Houkom, 22, of Boulder, said she'd prefer everyone use the greeting they want and not worry about offending someone.

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Disgraced Haggard promoting documentary - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11257091 Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard has agreed to help promote a new documentary following his life in exile after a 2006 sex scandal — no longer bound by an agreement with his former church that prohibited him from talking publicly about the events that led to his downfall. "The Trials of Ted Haggard," directed by Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is set to air next month on HBO. Haggard has agreed to take part in publicity for the project, HBO said. "We look forward to presenting the film, Ted Haggard and his family at a press tour in Los Angeles next month," a spokeswoman for the cable network said Wednesday. Haggard's latest return to the public eye comes after he re-emerged last month at a rural Illinois church, where he delivered guest sermons and said he was sexually abused as a second-grader.

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Somali takes his work and beliefs east to Fort Morgan plant | GreeleyTribune.com

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20081217/NEWS/812169924/1002/NONE He left the packing plant because he stood up for what he believes. Now, Abdikarim Haji, is back working with meat. Taking bones out of carcasses. He’s still on the afternoon-to-evening shift and earning a similar wage. But he’s doing it 60 miles southeast of Greeley. So far, at Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan, the way his Muslim faith is accommodated inside the plant is favorable. Haji was one of about 120 workers fired by JBS Swift Co. in September following a dispute about prayer breaks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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Menorah lights way to other area cities | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan,

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20081214/NEWS01/812140327/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 Fort Collins Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik will host possibly Loveland's first public menorah lighting ceremony, and he's praising the city's openness to the event. "I expected some resistance; you can't blame me for being a little apprehensive," said Gorelik, who's from the Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado. Gorelik gained national attention in Fort Collins when his congregation asked to place a menorah on city property to mark Hanukkah, sparking a citywide debate about religious symbols on city property during the holiday season. He said it took four years to plan a public ceremony in Fort Collins.

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Greeley embraces Hanukkah symbol for city park | GreeleyTribune.com

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20081213/NEWS/812139964/1002/NONE A mayor, a city manager and a rabbi walk into a town square. “I was thinking,” the rabbi says, “that it would be nice if we could put up a Hanukkah menorah near those Christmas trees, so we can acknowledge the people of Jewish faith who have their own celebration this time of year.” There’s a moment’s pause. “Sure,” the mayor says. “Why not?” the city manager shrugs. Can you guess which town square it was? Differently put, can you guess which one it wasn’t? Greeley and Loveland city leaders apparently welcomed a menorah, a symbol of the festival of Hanukkah, into their respective town squares last week. It was something of a surprise to Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik, director of the Chabad Center of Northern Colorado, who has tried since 2005 to get Fort Collins to put a menorah in Old Town.

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Fort Collins calls truce on holiday decor - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11232741 This city's war on Christmas has hit a lull or at least fallen into a cheery cease-fire. Late last week, revelers enjoyed a city employee recognition party at the Fort Collins Museum where the city's new policy on holiday displays has been put into play. Most attendees seemed more interested in the food and activities than the exhibits that earned the scorn of national commentators convinced that the city wanted to outlaw Santa. On one side of the building stood the traditional smiling snowman, Santa, a Nativity scene, a menorah marking Hanukkah, and a lighted Christmas tree. On the other side were kiosks with written and recorded messages detailing celebrations by at least 12 cultures.

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New deacon may answer Denver’s prayers - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11227071 The Archdiocese of Denver gained a "very needed" Latino priest Saturday when a native of Mexico was ordained by Archbishop Charles Chaput. Deacon Miguel Enriquez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, was ordained in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at East Colfax Avenue and Logan Street. He will be assigned to St. Pius X Parish in Aurora for three years. The Archdiocese of Denver says it has about 400,000 Latino parishioners, out of a Latino population of roughly 700,000 in the archdiocese, which doesn't include southern Colorado.

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Atheists have an answer to prayer day - Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atheists15-2008dec15,0,5277535.story Bill Ritter Jr. was not the first governor of Colorado to declare the first Thursday in May as a day of prayer. But he was the first to attend a celebration of the National Day of Prayer at the state Capitol, joining a crowd of several hundred Christians in 2007. His appearance at the event caught the attention of a Wisconsin-based atheist group, which has mounted a campaign its leaders hope will dissuade him and other governors from participating again. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a lawsuit in state court, seeking to stop the governor from issuing any proclamations it says endorse a particular religion and send a message to nonreligious residents "that they are expected to believe in God." "Everybody has become too comfortable with this interaction of religion and government. Sometimes someone needs to push back," said David Habecker, 63, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs and a member of the foundation.

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Menorah finds a place on Golden’s main street - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11200577 After the city of Golden rejected a plan to place a menorah on city property, a rabbi and his followers have found the next best place — on the wall of a popular bar on the city's main street. Judaism in the Foothills, an Evergreen-based organization led by Rabbi Levi Brackman, announced Thursday that it will place an 8-foot, lighted menorah on an outside wall of the Buffalo Rose Bar, 1119 Washington Ave. The menorah will be displayed during the eight days of Hanukkah, Dec. 21-28, with a special lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 28.

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Polis to speak at Lafayette church : County News : Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/dec/10/polis-speak-lafayette-church/ Newly elected U.S. Congressman Jared Polis will be at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lafayette on Friday to speak with the public. Polis, a Democrat, won the 2nd Congressional District seat in November, replacing Mark Udall, who won Colorado's open U.S. Senate seat. Polis, 33, is the first non-incumbent, openly gay man elected to Congress, and he will be the second-youngest representative when the new Congress convenes. The event is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be at 1241 Ceres Drive in Lafayette. For more information, call 303-665-4280 or visit http://www.bvuuf.org.

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Midnight service marks anniversary of shootings : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/09/midnight-service-marks-anniversary-shootings/ Shortly after midnight, one year ago today, shots rang out. This year, at the same time, it was songs of praise and throbbing gospel music – all done to mark the first anniversary of the multiple shootings at the Youth With A Mission campus in Arvada, and, later that morning, at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. “This is Tiffany's first birthday in heaven, and Phil's first birthday in heaven,” said Peter Warren director of YWAM, a youth missionary organization, to a crowd of nearly 150 who jammed into the fellowship hall on the campus for a midnight service. The Arvada police were there. Last year they were first to come upon the horrific scene, where Matthew Murray, a disaffected former wannabe missionary, had opened fire on his former fellow students, killing Tiffany Johnson and Phil Crouse. He wounded Dan Griebenow and Charlie Blanch. Earlier on this Monday night, 14 police officers had jogged the three-plus miles to the YWAM building in the snow and cold – identical weather to last year – as a sign of solidarity with YWAM. In this past year, they have become like family.

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Healing, a year after New Life shootings | Gazette.com

http://www.gazette.com/articles/life_44550___article.html/new_assam.html For the first time in a sermon, the Rev. Brady Boyd on Sunday spoke at length about the shooting nearly one year ago at New Life Church that killed two teenage parishioners. His sermon was about healing, grieving and forgiveness. "Jesus said that in the world you will have troubles, but don't lose heart," Boyd said after the sermon during a press conference at New Life with volunteer security guard Jeanne Assam, who shot the gunman before he killed himself. "We have hope in our darkest hour." New Life's darkest hour came Dec. 9, 2007, when heavily armed 24-year-old Matthew Murray arrived on the New Life campus. After killing sisters Rachel, 16, and Stephanie Works, 18, Murray was shot multiple times by Assam in the church's northeast hallway before taking his life.

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One year after church killings, security upgraded : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/06/one-year-after-killings-security-upgraded/ A church is supposed to be the safest place in the world. But many ramped up security following last year's shooting rampage at two Front Range Christian centers. Typically, large churches have formed plainclothes security teams with armed members to keep a tighter watch on sanctuaries, atriums and parking lots in hopes of a quicker response to any suspicious activity. Others have taken more visible steps, such as hiring off-duty police to patrol church grounds in hopes of warding off a potential troublemaker and providing peace of mind to visitors. Despite such moves, churches in Colorado have been careful not to overreact, aware of the risks of squashing what is supposed to be the kind of welcoming, compassionate environment that attracts people in the first place. The most pronounced changes usually are found at megachurches,which have more

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Shattered by killings, family’s faith endures : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/06/shattered-by-killings-familys-faith-endures/ There is grief that breaks open at any moment. There are embraces for the killer's parents. And a new book, Gone in a Heartbeat, with a subtitle that sums up everything: "Our daughters died, our faith endures." These are just some of the pieces of a shattering year for David Works and his family. The family was piling into their car after services at New Life Church, heading for a burger lunch, when Matthew Murray opened fire in the parking lot. Daughters Rachel and Stephanie were killed. Works, now 52, was wounded. His wife, Marie, and daughters Laurie, now 19 and Grace, 12, were spared the gunfire but not the pain. "The heart of the family got ripped out," Works said.

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1 year after shootings, Springs pastor urges flock to mourn openly : News Ticker : The Rocky Mountai

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/07/father-slain-girls-addresses-church-anniversary-sh/ Pastor Brady Boyd told a media gathering today he had openly encouraged his flock to talk about the multiple shootings which enveloped New Life Church here a year ago this week. "It's a very tender time for us," he said. "This anniversary will stir up the trauma underneath, (but) it will help us move forward." Last Dec. 9, 24-year-old Matthew Murray killed sisters Rachel and Stephanie Works at the 10,000-plus-member church. About 12 hours earlier, Murray had gone to Youth With a Mission in Arvada and killed Philip Crouse and Tiffany Johnson. Boyd suggested it was also time for the New Life flock to openly discuss the abrupt resignation of his predecessor, Ted Haggard, who resigned two years ago in the midst of a sex scandal.

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New Life church still growing, grieving - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11164350 One year after a gunman killed two sisters in the parking lot of New Life Church, the congregation is stronger than ever, pastor Brady Boyd said Sunday. "The church is doing great — we have grown," Boyd told media. But when Matthew Murray gunned down Rachel Works, 18, and Stephanie Works, 16, as they prepared to leave the church, he brought darkness into the lives of some congregants that has yet to lift, Boyd said. His sermon Sunday held a message for those who haven't begun to heal: It's OK to mourn. "I know you're not doing OK," he said. The Workses were among four people whom Murray, 24, killed before he killed himself after a church security guard, Jeanne Assam, 43, wounded him.

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Arvada police, victims connect : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/08/arvada-police-victims-connect/ Members of the Arvada Police Department came as rescuers. They have remained as family. In an unprecedented gesture of support, the police department has virtually set aside today to honor the victims of last year's church shootings in Arvada and Colorado Springs, which left four young people dead. "We've just been really connected to them," said Susan Medina, Arvada police spokeswoman. The observance begins with the 4 p.m. unveiling of a plaque at Arvada City Hall. Police are invited to a reception and candlelight prayer service that begins at 11 p.m. at Youth With a Mission. As a sign of solidarity, at 10 p.m. some police personnel will begin a 31/2-mile-jog from headquarters to the YWAM campus. In the early hours of Dec. 9, 2007, police arrived at a chaotic scene. Lead Detective Bob VanderVeen vividly recalls his first impressions.

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