Search

Results

Prince of peace reigns in New York—for a day, anyway

02 Dec 2012 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday’s second reading exhorts us to “conduct yourselves to please God” with a prayer that “the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” New York City seems to have taken the message to heart, at least for a day. The city of more than 8 million passed a day without a single report of a person being shot, stabbed, or subject to other sorts of violent crime for the first time in recent history, police said.The rare day occurred on Monday, near the end of a year when the city's murder rate is on target to hit its lowest point since 1960, according to New York Police Department chief spokesman Paul Browne, who said it was the “first time in memory” the city's police force had experienced such a peaceful day."In a city of 8 million people, this is extremely rare," said Tom Repetto, an expert on police work. He attributed the city’s success to "proactive" police department tactics, including its controversial stop-and-frisk policy. While critics have charged that the dramatic increase in stops hasn't led to a similar rise in gun seizures, police officials have countered that proactive tactics have made criminals think twice about taking their guns out on the street.Homily hint: “As love increases, hearts are strengthened and conduct falls into line with grace,” PreparetheWord.com’s Sunday Summary tells us this week. The first Sunday of Advent provides a good opportunity to invite the gathered community to keep the season in a faith perspective, treating one another peacefully and waiting with patience and grace, both in crowded stores and streets and in our hearts. Source: An article by Chris Francescani for Reuters

new york city crime stop and frisk police paul browne tom repetto violent crime
Corruption is a multi-national industry

14 Jul 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The verses from Psalm 19, one of the responsorial options this Sunday, declares the perfection of the law of the Lord, reinforcing the point with references to God's decrees, precepts, commands, and ordinances. Zeal for the rule of law, however, is not universal. A new report from the international anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International finds that a majority of people across the globe feel that corruption has worsened in their countries and that their governments are ineffective in combating it.In its "Global Corruption Barometer," the civil society organization surveyed 114,000 respondents in 107 countries. The survey asked respondents to rate the corruption level of their countries' institutions on a one-to-five scale, with five being "extremely corrupt."Political parties were considered to be the most corrupt globally, with an average score of 3.8 out of 5. Police came in a close second, with a corruption score of 3.7. Nearly a third of respondents who came into contact with police reported having paid a bribe. On the other end of the scale, religious organizations were considered the least corrupt of the institutions in the survey, with a corruption score of 2.6.Fifty-three percent of respondents felt corruption had increased in the last two years, and a majority also believed that their governments couldn't fix the problem. According to the report, 54 percent of those surveyed view government as ineffective in combating corruption, up from the 47 percent recorded in the organization’s 2010-2011 survey.The survey wasn't all bad news. Nine out of ten respondents said they would act against corruption, and two-thirds asked to pay a bribe said they refused.Homily hint: How can we maintain our belief in the basic goodness of humanity in the face of so much corruption in our midst? Maybe there is some solace in the fact that corruption is nothing new; in fact, without it, perhaps redemption would not be necessary. While we must acknowledge the former, and do our best to stamp it out, we put our hope in the latter—the salvation that is our baptismal promise. Source: An article by Alexander Trowbridge for CBS News

religion corruption police bribes religious organizations political parties global corruption barometer government transparency international
Good News for Brazilian military police

03 Nov 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness,” the Sunday psalm says. Amid concerns about brutality, Brazilian military police officers are taking Bible-study classes during their working hours to help them better cope with family stresses which may be contributing to their reported short fuses.The initiative teaches officers how to apply biblical concepts to everyday matters and encourages them to search for biblical examples which offer advice, guidance, and solutions about family issues, including how to rear children, handle finances, and build personal relationships.The military police are the civilian wing of the security forces and responsible for law and order on the streets, attending crime scenes, and arresting suspects. The biblical-based course has stirred controversy, with critics arguing it is inappropriate for Brazil as a secular state with a stated policy of neutrality on religion to promote Judeo-Christian teachings in a public institution.But a representative from the organization said while the state makes it clear that it will not favor one religion over another, that also means it will not interfere with the operation of any religion. “We see this course as a tool that can help our officers,” said military police chaplain Gisleno Farias, coordinator of the program.The program comes at a time when Brazil’s security forces are under increased pressure to restrain their heavy-handed tactics, demonstrated when anti-government protesters took to the streets in the thousands this year to demonstrate against government spending policies, political corruption, and the excessive amount of public funds invested in the construction of the 2014 FIFA World Cup stadiums and Olympic venues.Homily hint: Throughout much of Christian history, biblical stories have served as the backbone for moral and ethical training in families. Though times have changed, the need for moral guidance remains. Why not sit down with loved ones and discuss the ethical lessons of a well-known biblical story? An enriching conversation is sure to follow. Source: An article by Janet Tappin Coelho for Religion News Service

family brazil stress bible study military police gisleno farias police brutality
Good News for Brazilian military police

03 Nov 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness,” the Sunday psalm says. Amid concerns about brutality, Brazilian military police officers are taking Bible-study classes during their working hours to help them better cope with family stresses which may be contributing to their reported short fuses.The initiative teaches officers how to apply biblical concepts to everyday matters and encourages them to search for biblical examples which offer advice, guidance, and solutions about family issues, including how to rear children, handle finances, and build personal relationships.The military police are the civilian wing of the security forces and responsible for law and order on the streets, attending crime scenes, and arresting suspects. The biblical-based course has stirred controversy, with critics arguing it is inappropriate for Brazil as a secular state with a stated policy of neutrality on religion to promote Judeo-Christian teachings in a public institution.But a representative from the organization said while the state makes it clear that it will not favor one religion over another, that also means it will not interfere with the operation of any religion. “We see this course as a tool that can help our officers,” said military police chaplain Gisleno Farias, coordinator of the program.The program comes at a time when Brazil’s security forces are under increased pressure to restrain their heavy-handed tactics, demonstrated when anti-government protesters took to the streets in the thousands this year to demonstrate against government spending policies, political corruption, and the excessive amount of public funds invested in the construction of the 2014 FIFA World Cup stadiums and Olympic venues.Homily hint: Throughout much of Christian history, biblical stories have served as the backbone for moral and ethical training in families. Though times have changed, the need for moral guidance remains. Why not sit down with loved ones and discuss the ethical lessons of a well-known biblical story? An enriching conversation is sure to follow. Source: An article by Janet Tappin Coelho for Religion News Service

family brazil stress bible study military police gisleno farias police brutality
Cell phone searches put on hold

29 Jun 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Jesus calls Saint Peter the rock upon which the church will be built and grants him a high level of authority with the promise that “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The U.S. Supreme Court has the ultimate authority and its decisions are binding when it comes to questions of law, and the court came down squarely on the side of privacy in a major ruling Wednesday on police searches of cell phone data.The court ruled that police officers usually need a warrant before they can search an arrested suspect's cell phone, an important decision at a time of increasing concern over government encroachment on digital communications.In an opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court said that the right of police to search an arrested suspect at the scene without a warrant does not extend in most circumstances to data held on a cell phone. There are some emergency situations in which a warrantless search would be permitted, the court noted.The unanimous 9-0 ruling goes against law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, which wanted more latitude to search without having to obtain a warrant. "We cannot deny that our decision today will have an impact on the ability of law enforcement to combat crime," Roberts wrote. The right to privacy, he said, "comes at a cost."Homily hint: As our attention seems ever more drawn to the small screens on our cell phones, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the role your phone plays in your life, for instance whether you allow it to intrude at times when visiting with others, like at a meal. Being truly present and available to those in your company is an important gospel value. Put the phone in sleep mode and honor that presence. Source: An article by Lawrence Hurley for Reuters

supreme court cell phones privacy police warrants
More cameras shooting for fewer police shootings

12 Apr 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Seeing is believing, suggests this Sunday’s gospel narrative of the apostle Thomas wishing to see the resurrected Lord with his own eyes. The mayor of North Charleston, where a white police officer fatally shot a black man in the back last Saturday, says every officer in uniform on the street will get a body camera after a phone video shot by a passerby led to Officer Michael Slager being charged with the murder of Walter Scott. Homily hint: We’d like to believe that those in authority tell the truth and act wisely but in the real world, things aren’t always as they seem. May the tragedies on our streets lead our society to reevaluate our use of lethal force in upholding the law. Work for nonviolent conflict resolution at home and in your community. For more on the South Carolina shooting, see: South Carolina shooting: Officer charged and fired; protesters demand justice; Latest on police shooting: Bystander fears for safety

social justice nonviolent conflict resolution police tactics
Chicago cop faces murder charge

29 Nov 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday’s second reading exhorts listeners “to conduct yourselves [in such a manner as] to please God.” The conduct of a white Chicago police officer who shot a black teenager 16 times last year came under intense scrutiny this week as the officer was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday, hours before the city released a video of the killing that many people fear will spark unrest. A judge ordered that the recording be made public. City officials spent months arguing that the footage could not be made public until the conclusion of several investigations. After the judge's order, the investigations were quickly wrapped up and a charge announced. Homily hint: We live in an age where people on all sides of the law seem all too ready to pull the trigger first and ask questions later. Somehow the rule of law has been replaced by the rule of the gun. Before we descend into a Wild West era we need to stop the killing and find a better way forward. Let this latest tragedy serve as the impetus for a profound change in culture. For more on the Chicago tragedy, see: Chicago police officer charged with murder in teen's death, video released

police Violence guns chicago
Winds of change hit Windy City policing

06 Dec 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The message John the Baptist brings in this Sunday’s Advent gospel is that now is the time to reform our way of life and take a new direction. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday that it was time to reform and take a new direction in police practices in the city, as he asked for the resignation of Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. The announcement came amid angry protests over the way the city responded to the killing by a police officer of a black teenager. Emanuel also described a new task force on law enforcement accountability that will review how the city trains and oversees its police officers and will consider input from victims' rights representatives, law enforcement organizations, and youth and religious leaders. Homily hint: Law enforcement officials have incredibly difficult jobs and the vast majority perform their duties with honor. But when misconduct occurs it must be called out lest the actions of a few color the reputation of all. Support the call for high standards of conduct and accountability. For more on Chicago police strife, see: Chicago mayor asks for police superintendent's resignation

Justice chicago police practices
Homily stories

17 May 2009 - Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

My cousin has decided to become a cop. She’s 39 years old, and the cutoff to enter the academy is 40. She smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish before she decided to make this startling career shift. Now she runs three miles a day, lifts weights twice a week, and lives a Puritan existence. She passed the physical and written exam with ease and charmed all the cops who interviewed her. Her training began in March. Watch out world! After a career leasing cars, she decided that helping young women get their lives back on track was what she was meant to do, and she is willing to put her life on the line in the process. That’s the part that floors me about the decision to become a police officer, firefighter, or astronaut, to name a few risky professions. The love, courage, and commitment required seem to me to come pretty close to what Jesus was talking about when he said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We are all called to this level of love. How does that get translated in your daily work?

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

police officer firefighters young women help Love

Restricted
Homily stories

05 Apr 2009 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Cycle B

Labeled the most corrupt cop in Chicago history, a former Chicago police officer was sentenced earlier this year to life in prison. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Blanche Manning said, “There comes a time in every person’s life to embrace what he or she has become, to check the compass of his heart, to remember paths traveled. I’m afraid to discover, Mr. Miedzianowski, what you are now.” This once respected gang crimes officer was convicted of racketeering and drug conspiracy, and the list of his offenses included revealing the identity of undercover officers to gang members and supplying gang leaders with ammunition. It is difficult for any of us to imagine that level of betrayal, the abuse of power, and the desperation. At the same time with each new report of corruption among our public servants or corporate leaders, it is easy to become untrusting and jaded. When you feel yourself slide toward the lie of cynicism, remember the Passion. Jesus’ refusal to betray his mission and use his power for his own gain is our anchor, our compass, and forever humanity’s hope.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

police cops corruption cynicism

Restricted