PORTLAND — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, has settled a lawsuit by six men who said church leaders concealed sex abuse allegations against a former priest. The victims settled for $1.2 million. Boston lawyer Mitchell Garabedian said Monday that the men were childhood victims of the Rev. James Vallely decades ago. The lawsuits […]
catholic church
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Mainers will travel to Philadelphia to see pope
AUBURN — Doris Ducharme will brave huge crowds in Philadelphia to see Pope Francis later this week. Asked what she would say to the pope if she got the chance, Ducharme was almost breathless. “Oh, I’d be speechless!” she said. “All I would do is hold his hand.” Like millions across the country, Ducharme, 81, […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, sj-web
Catholic Church in Maine sees blessings in reorganization, immigration
New traditions A popular pontiff helps, but restoring the Catholic Church in Maine has been the product of tough business decisions and adapting to changing times and demographics. As some traditions fall by the wayside, new ones are being forged, especially by Maine’s immigrant community. While Pope Francis has inspired Catholics and non-Catholics alike, church […]
Posted insj-web, Specials
Pope Francis and huge crowd joyously celebrate Easter
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Celebrating Easter Sunday, Christianity’s most joyous day, Pope Francis stood under sunny skies before a flock so numerous they overflowed the flower-bedecked St. Peter’s Square. Even before Mass began in late morning, more than 100,000 tourist, Romans and pilgrims, young and old, had turned out for the Mass. Many more streamed […]
Posted inLetters
E. Graham: Disservice to a great church
“Revitalize.” That is a word used by Pope Francis in reference to the church. Revitalize means to bring back to a healthy condition. The pope talks about ministering to “wounded souls.” I agree, but the wounded souls are all those who refuse to obey the disciplines of our great Judeo-Christian faith. To me, revitalization is […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Central Maine Healthcare withdraws application to tear down St. Joseph’s
LEWISTON — The Historic Preservation Review Board has canceled Thurday’s meeting to consider the Central Maine Healthcare application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of St. Joseph’s Church and Rectory. CMH has withdrawn the application. We will update this story with more details as soon as they are available.