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Michigan Legislation Faces Opposition From Catholic Parish Over Hiring Policies

A Catholic church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is contesting a state civil rights law at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. The church is apprehensive that this law might infringe on its religious rights regarding gender and sexuality matters.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is seeking to prevent the state’s legal body from leveraging the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, which might oblige the parish to employ individuals who disagree with Catholic perspectives on gender and sexuality. This plea comes after a lower court dismissed the church’s initial lawsuit.

While the state’s legal office has taken no formal actions against the parish, concerns arise due to recent changes in the law’s interpretation by the Michigan Supreme Court.

The law, established in 1977, underwent a significant interpretation in July 2022. It was then asserted that gender-based discrimination also encompasses discrimination stemming from sexual orientation or gender identity.

Christian Healthcare Centers, another entity challenging the state over this law, has also approached the same appellate court for recourse. Both these bodies are being defended by the Alliance Defending Freedom.

ADF’s senior representative, John Bursch, emphasized that Michigan officials ought to respect the religious liberties of organizations. He further highlighted the longstanding services of both entities to their respective communities.

The parish has expressed concerns that this fresh interpretation could tag its codes of conduct as “discriminatory.” This code necessitates employees to align with Catholic views on homosexuality and transgender matters.

Moreover, Christian Healthcare Centers worries that the new interpretation could compel them to hire individuals not adhering to Christian principles on sexuality. Additionally, they may be obliged to support gender transitions and use specific pronouns inconsistent with biological identities.

However, District Court Judge Jane Beckering dismissed these concerns. She stated that existing laws protect religious freedom and found no evidence indicating the state’s intention to curb religious liberty with this law.

Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, lauded the court’s decision, emphasizing that the state’s laws account for religious freedoms. However, critics point out instances from her tenure where she seemed to challenge religious institutions.

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Christian Reformed Church Lists Its US Grand Rapids HQ For Sale

Photo credit Google Maps

The office in Grand Rapids has been the denomination’s hub for over six and a half decades.

Grand Rapids, Michigan — Last week, the North American Christian Reformed Church made a decision to put its Grand Rapids office up for sale.

Having its U.S. main office at the intersection of 28th and Kalamazoo for over six decades, the church has supported over 1,000 congregations throughout the continent, with many located in West Michigan.

The deteriorating state of the building, coupled with the aspiration for a “smaller, more decentralized and flexible ministry structure”, led to the selling decision, as shared in an announcement.

“Its ongoing maintenance is becoming financially unsustainable,” Dan DeKam, director of U.S. Ministry Operations, said in a statement. “It is time for a new shape.”

The challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis “pushed the staff to adopt varied work methods,” said Zachary King, the CRCNA’s general secretary.

This operational change underscored that the vast space of the current office was no longer a necessity.

Currently, in their pursuit of “flexibility for the future”, the church is on the lookout for a more compact and versatile office environment.

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Entrepreneurial Catholic Nun Engages Young People Via Film-Making

Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun from Mumbai’s western region, combined her love for movies and learning. She crafted a 7-minute narrative film using just a mobile device in a span of two days, aiming to unite today’s youth through her faith-inspired cinematic work.

In Mumbai’s western region, Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun, embarked on a cinematic journey targeting contemporary youth.

Her talent is showcased in a compelling seven-minute narrative film, crafted using only a mobile device over a mere two-day period.

A member of the Religious of Jesus and Mary Congregation, Sister Josefina serves as the principal of St. Agnes High School in Byculla, Mumbai. While she excels in the education field, her heart also beats for cinema. While her strength wasn’t in scriptwriting, she had an eye for the visual storytelling.

The enforced quiet of the Covid-19 lockdown allowed her to hone filmmaking and editing techniques.

Her fascination grew with the tribal communities of Aarey forest during a visit. This inspired her to film the documentary, “Under the Banyan Tree: A Journey to Inner Truth.” The documentary narrates the tale of an engineer who forgoes urban luxuries to reside in Mumbai’s Aarey forest, teaching locals to pursue their true purpose by advocating for their rights.

For her portrayal of tribal life in the Aarey forest, Sr. Josefina earned high praise for her directorial prowess.

“As someone in charge of youth ministry in my religious community, I observed that our youth invest most of their time on social media. I believed I would only reach them by fortifying oneself with media and digital studies. That’s the moment I decided that I needed to enroll in a professional filmmaking course,” said Sr. Josefina, in an interview with Vatican News.

Besides her role as a principal, she is now attending the Filmmaking Program at St. Paul’s Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai. This venture ignited her desire to create a cinematic portrayal of children’s lives.

She crafted a film titled “D for Dumbo” with a modest budget at St. John the Evangelist School in Marol, Andheri, Mumbai. The story revolves around Sam, a young fourth-grader ridiculed for his slower math recall. Yet, when faced with a creative challenge by a different teacher, the boy, often labelled the ‘class dumbo’, surpasses his peers.

The film earned top honors from St. Paul’s Institute in Bandra, Mumbai. Bollywood legend Naseeruddin Shah presented the award to Sr. Josefina. Currently, “D for Dumbo” is set to feature in the upcoming ALP International Film Festival online.

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The Pope Lands In Mongolia, Paying Tribute To Its Deep Cultural Roots

The flight of ITA Airways, bearing Pope Francis to Mongolia, touched down a little before 10 am local time. Onboard, the Pope described Mongolia as a vast “land of silence,” emphasizing the deep sensory experience it offers, during a conversation with journalists post-departure on Thursday evening.

Upon landing at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, he was greeted by Monsignor Fernando Duarte Barros Reis, the acting head of Mongolia’s Apostolic Nunciature. Additionally, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Holy See, Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, alongside representatives from both the Church and the state, met him on the airstrip.

The State Honour Guard of Mongolia, dressed in their traditional red, blue, and yellow uniforms with metal helmets reminiscent of historic Mongolian warriors, stood in formation to honor his arrival.