From the Baton Rouge Advocate:
JENA — A judge refused Friday to release Mychal Bell from jail the day after as many as 20,000 people poured into this small central Louisiana town to support Bell and five other black Jena High School students accused of the December beating of a white classmate.
Bell’s father, Marcus Jones, refused to speak to reporters after he walked out of LaSalle Parish Courthouse following the bond hearing that lasted more than two hours. But John Jenkins, the father of another one of the teens charged in the case, said Jones told him bond had been denied.
“His face was very tight. He was very upset,” Jenkins said of Jones’ demeanor when he left court.
Melissa Bell, Mychal Bell’s mother, walked out of the courthouse in tears and refused to comment on the hearing.
Attorneys representing Bell also refused to comment, saying the matter was in juvenile court, where proceedings are secret.
What next, I wonder. We don't know why bond was denied. No one can speak of what took place in the court room, because now Mychal Bell's case is in juvenile court.
I pray that mercy and justice prevail.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
A "Reporter" In New Orleans
From Matt Kennedy, September 19, 2007:
It's 9:00pm in New Orleans. I'm sitting in the Intercontinental Hotel bar not drinking. I was hoping by chance to see some fellow "reporters" here, possibly some bishops. No one. Nice atmosphere though...a sort of modish imperial India theme---dark, lots of candles, heavy velvet burgandy (sic) and white fabric. If nothing else 815 has exquisite taste.
I'm thankful that at least one "reporter" covering the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans does not write stories while "in his cups".
Apparently, the bishops and "invited guests" enjoyed a dinner together this evening at 6:30pm. Stand Firm was not invited. We do, however, hope to have some solid news soon.
We can only hope, for Matt's sake, that the bishops have another look at their list of "invited guests" and find a place for Stand Firm at the next dinner. Matt sounds a little forlorn.
We hope to fill in various details tomorrow and the next day. Until then remember that, to a greater or lesser degree, these reports are somewhat speculative.
I dare say.
It's 9:00pm in New Orleans. I'm sitting in the Intercontinental Hotel bar not drinking. I was hoping by chance to see some fellow "reporters" here, possibly some bishops. No one. Nice atmosphere though...a sort of modish imperial India theme---dark, lots of candles, heavy velvet burgandy (sic) and white fabric. If nothing else 815 has exquisite taste.
I'm thankful that at least one "reporter" covering the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans does not write stories while "in his cups".
Apparently, the bishops and "invited guests" enjoyed a dinner together this evening at 6:30pm. Stand Firm was not invited. We do, however, hope to have some solid news soon.
We can only hope, for Matt's sake, that the bishops have another look at their list of "invited guests" and find a place for Stand Firm at the next dinner. Matt sounds a little forlorn.
We hope to fill in various details tomorrow and the next day. Until then remember that, to a greater or lesser degree, these reports are somewhat speculative.
I dare say.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Feast Day of St. Matthew
El Padre at Padre Mickey's Dance Party has the story, along with beautiful pictures.
Not only that, but El Padre tells the story of Matthew's martyrdom. Poor Padre is exhausted after all that work. But it was well worth the effort - at least for me. Thanks, El Padre. He does do a little work, from time to time, in between parties.
Not only that, but El Padre tells the story of Matthew's martyrdom. Poor Padre is exhausted after all that work. But it was well worth the effort - at least for me. Thanks, El Padre. He does do a little work, from time to time, in between parties.
Rally For the Jena Six
From the Advocate in Baton Rouge, La.:
JENA, La. (AP)...Tens of thousands of protesters stormed this tiny Louisiana town on Thursday, rallying against what they see as a double standard of justice for blacks and whites.
....
The plight of the so-called Jena Six, a group of black teens initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate, became a flashpoint for one of the biggest civil rights demonstrations in years.
....
"It's been a very peaceful and happy crowd," said Sgt. Julie Lewis of the Louisiana State Police. "Really these are very, very nice people. They are welcome in Louisiana any time."
Demonstrators even bagged trash throughout the day, leaving little for officials to clean up after the demonstration.
Jena residents, resentful of the massive protest in their little town and the racist label it had stamped them with, were scarce during the day's demonstrations. Businesses closed, so did the library, schools, city offices and the courthouse.
"I don't mind them demonstrating," said Ricky Coleman, 46, a native. "I believe in people standing up for what they think is right. But this isn't a racist town. It's a small place and we all get along."
....
Mychal Bell, now 17, is the only one of the defendants to be tried. He was convicted of aggravated second-degree battery, but his conviction was tossed last week by a state appeals court that said Bell, who was 16 at the time of the beating, could not be tried as an adult on that charge.
....
During the protest in Jena, the Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles ordered a bond hearing for Bell within 72 hours, defense attorney Bob Noel of Monroe said.
If 9th Judicial District Judge Tom Yeager decides 28th District Judge J.P. Mauffray should not preside over Bell's bond hearing, Yeager would hear it.
My husband and I were wondering why Mychal was still in jail with such a high bond - $90,000, I believe - when his conviction has been overthrown. Justice has not been served in this case.
Thank God that the demonstration went off peacefully, but there's this ugly after story from the Advocate:
ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) -- Police in this central Louisiana city said a man was arrested late Thursday night when officers found two hangman's nooses dangling from the rear of his pickup truck.
The driver was identified as Jeremiah Munsen of Colfax, La. Police said Munsen, who is white, was charged with inciting a riot.
Good. I'm glad he was arrested. Some folks just can't let it go.
JENA, La. (AP)...Tens of thousands of protesters stormed this tiny Louisiana town on Thursday, rallying against what they see as a double standard of justice for blacks and whites.
....
The plight of the so-called Jena Six, a group of black teens initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate, became a flashpoint for one of the biggest civil rights demonstrations in years.
....
"It's been a very peaceful and happy crowd," said Sgt. Julie Lewis of the Louisiana State Police. "Really these are very, very nice people. They are welcome in Louisiana any time."
Demonstrators even bagged trash throughout the day, leaving little for officials to clean up after the demonstration.
Jena residents, resentful of the massive protest in their little town and the racist label it had stamped them with, were scarce during the day's demonstrations. Businesses closed, so did the library, schools, city offices and the courthouse.
"I don't mind them demonstrating," said Ricky Coleman, 46, a native. "I believe in people standing up for what they think is right. But this isn't a racist town. It's a small place and we all get along."
....
Mychal Bell, now 17, is the only one of the defendants to be tried. He was convicted of aggravated second-degree battery, but his conviction was tossed last week by a state appeals court that said Bell, who was 16 at the time of the beating, could not be tried as an adult on that charge.
....
During the protest in Jena, the Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles ordered a bond hearing for Bell within 72 hours, defense attorney Bob Noel of Monroe said.
If 9th Judicial District Judge Tom Yeager decides 28th District Judge J.P. Mauffray should not preside over Bell's bond hearing, Yeager would hear it.
My husband and I were wondering why Mychal was still in jail with such a high bond - $90,000, I believe - when his conviction has been overthrown. Justice has not been served in this case.
Thank God that the demonstration went off peacefully, but there's this ugly after story from the Advocate:
ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) -- Police in this central Louisiana city said a man was arrested late Thursday night when officers found two hangman's nooses dangling from the rear of his pickup truck.
The driver was identified as Jeremiah Munsen of Colfax, La. Police said Munsen, who is white, was charged with inciting a riot.
Good. I'm glad he was arrested. Some folks just can't let it go.
Ecumenical Prayer Service In New Orleans
First, I commend the bishops' choice of New Orleans for the House of Bishops meeting. The theme for the ecumenical prayer service was "Humainity Renewed, Restored, Re-centered in God". The use of the Morial Convention Center as the site of the ecumenical service was symbolic of the partial recovery of the city, because the Center, along with the Superdome were the two largest shelters of misery for those seeking to escape the flood waters. No help came for 4 days. I'm sure you remember the scenes from TV. I have never yet figured out how the press could be there filming the misery, but help was so long in coming.
To make certain that we were there on time, we arrived early at the Convention Center. While we waited for the service to start, we were entertained by a choir singing Gospel music. The white folks in the choir were grooving right along with the black folks. I give them points for keeping up.
As the bishops processed into the auditorium, I had to suppress a desire to stand up and cheer when Bishop Katharine passed. She has presence - a quiet dignity and grace about her - that comes through, literally, in passing.
Bishop Duncan Gray of Mississippi read the first lesson, Zechariah (8:3-13), and Bishop Katharine read the Gospel reading, Matthew (25:34-40).
The invocation and the pastoral prayer were given by Bishop Douglas Wiley and Elder John Pierce, neither of whom were Episcopalians. Black preachers often have a way of praying that draws God and his people into an intimate circle. Bishop Wiley's invocation of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and Elder Pierce's prayer did just that. Both were beautiful, and I experienced the powerful presence of God.
When Bishop Charles Jenkins introduced Archbishop Rowan Williams, he reminded us that Archbishop Williams was the 104th archbishop of Canterbury, whereas Bishop Jenkins was the 10th bishop of Louisiana. A tad more history on the side of the archbishop, no?
Archbishop Williams had toured the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, and thus was aware of the desolation which still remains, for only a very few brave souls have had the courage to rebuild in that area. The archbishop spoke of what we owe to one another. "The bottom line is that what we owe to one another most deeply of all is gratitude - not even respect, not even the recognition of dignity so much as gratitude," he said. "We are indebted to one another. I am indebted to your existence because I would not be myself without you. A community, a society, that can get to that level of recognition is one that lives from a deeper place." He went on, "If the church does not live by thanksgiving, I don't what it lives by." We owe each other, but most of all we owe Jesus Christ - for life, hope, strength, and joy. As Williams said, "We owe Christ big time, as they say."
He said the help to the city was to buy time for renewal, reconstruction, and restoration of the city of New Orleans, to help it once again to become "a place for the people". He quoted from the passage from Zechariah:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets."
He said, "What makes a great, godly city is that it is a safe place for older people to sit and children to play in the streets."
After his speech, the bishops went forward with their donations to Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi.
The finale was a musical presentation by the Irvin Mayfield Quartet of a slow "Just a Closer Walk", "I'll Fly Away", and a rousing "When The Saints Go Marching In", which brought out the white handkerchiefs waving in the air and drew folks into the aisles in a second line, marching and waving their white handkerchiefs. I caught a glimpse of a couple of purple shirts in the marching group. I'll wager that this conclusion was unique for a House of Bishops prayer service.
I have tried my best with the quotes that I included, but I do not have a transcript of Archbishop Williams' speech, therefore the quotes may not be exact.
An account of the service and of the news bishop's meeting thus far is in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Jim Naughton at the Episcopal Café was kind enough to post this on their website.
To make certain that we were there on time, we arrived early at the Convention Center. While we waited for the service to start, we were entertained by a choir singing Gospel music. The white folks in the choir were grooving right along with the black folks. I give them points for keeping up.
As the bishops processed into the auditorium, I had to suppress a desire to stand up and cheer when Bishop Katharine passed. She has presence - a quiet dignity and grace about her - that comes through, literally, in passing.
Bishop Duncan Gray of Mississippi read the first lesson, Zechariah (8:3-13), and Bishop Katharine read the Gospel reading, Matthew (25:34-40).
The invocation and the pastoral prayer were given by Bishop Douglas Wiley and Elder John Pierce, neither of whom were Episcopalians. Black preachers often have a way of praying that draws God and his people into an intimate circle. Bishop Wiley's invocation of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and Elder Pierce's prayer did just that. Both were beautiful, and I experienced the powerful presence of God.
When Bishop Charles Jenkins introduced Archbishop Rowan Williams, he reminded us that Archbishop Williams was the 104th archbishop of Canterbury, whereas Bishop Jenkins was the 10th bishop of Louisiana. A tad more history on the side of the archbishop, no?
Archbishop Williams had toured the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, and thus was aware of the desolation which still remains, for only a very few brave souls have had the courage to rebuild in that area. The archbishop spoke of what we owe to one another. "The bottom line is that what we owe to one another most deeply of all is gratitude - not even respect, not even the recognition of dignity so much as gratitude," he said. "We are indebted to one another. I am indebted to your existence because I would not be myself without you. A community, a society, that can get to that level of recognition is one that lives from a deeper place." He went on, "If the church does not live by thanksgiving, I don't what it lives by." We owe each other, but most of all we owe Jesus Christ - for life, hope, strength, and joy. As Williams said, "We owe Christ big time, as they say."
He said the help to the city was to buy time for renewal, reconstruction, and restoration of the city of New Orleans, to help it once again to become "a place for the people". He quoted from the passage from Zechariah:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets."
He said, "What makes a great, godly city is that it is a safe place for older people to sit and children to play in the streets."
After his speech, the bishops went forward with their donations to Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi.
The finale was a musical presentation by the Irvin Mayfield Quartet of a slow "Just a Closer Walk", "I'll Fly Away", and a rousing "When The Saints Go Marching In", which brought out the white handkerchiefs waving in the air and drew folks into the aisles in a second line, marching and waving their white handkerchiefs. I caught a glimpse of a couple of purple shirts in the marching group. I'll wager that this conclusion was unique for a House of Bishops prayer service.
I have tried my best with the quotes that I included, but I do not have a transcript of Archbishop Williams' speech, therefore the quotes may not be exact.
An account of the service and of the news bishop's meeting thus far is in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Jim Naughton at the Episcopal Café was kind enough to post this on their website.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
To TheMeThatIsMe And His Beloved
Happy Anniversary to TheMeThatIsMe and his better half. They've been together for 21 years. Like Grandpère and me, TheMe and his wife are two very different types. As I told him at his site, Conscientisation, the differences can serve to add spice to a relationship. (Some folks love to make it difficult for the rest of us with their handles and blog names that are so difficult to spell - especially with those weird English spellings.)
If you'd like, you can go wish them a Happy Anniversary. I pray for God's blessings upon them and wish them many more years of wedded bliss.
If you'd like, you can go wish them a Happy Anniversary. I pray for God's blessings upon them and wish them many more years of wedded bliss.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Man Arrested For Murder Of Priest
From the Daily Comet:
John DeSantis
Senior Staff Writer
THIBODAUX - In this sleepy Southern town where murders are as rare as snow, the hallowed grounds of an antebellum Episcopal church are haunted by questions from a 15-year-old mystery.
Who bludgeoned a popular young priest to death on a summer night in 1992, and for what reason?
Gathered Tuesday in front of the church hall that bears the slain priest’s name - where his blood spilled on its floors - a number of the faithful, family members and clerics were told by police officials that answers had finally emerged.
The arrest of a 28-year-old habitual criminal named Derrick Raynard Odomes on charges that he robbed and killed the Rev. Hunter Horgan III at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Aug. 13, 1992, some said, begins a sense of closure for a crime that has remained an open wound.
Back in August, I wrote a post in memory of Hunter Horgan. I said this:
Have you guessed that this is my church? I was not a member when the murder occurred, but since mine is a small town, everyone in the vicinity was shocked and grieved. I can only imagine what it was like for the church members and for the family of Hunter Horgan.
....
I had met Fr. Horgan a few times, and he seemed like a kindly man. The unsolved crime does leave an open wound.
I was shocked when I got the phone call about the arrest. I was there on the church grounds when the announcement was made. Afterwards, the folks there milled around a bit and spoke quietly . It's hard for me to take in that after this long a period of time the case has allegedly been solved.
Beneath a stand of moss-draped oaks, parishioners traded memories of the priest they lost 15 years ago, and of their attempts to cope since his death. Some say they still speak to him when visiting the church hall.
I like the way John DeSantis writes. He tells the story well.
Lord, may Hunter rest in peace and rise in glory, and may your peace that passes understanding keep the minds and hearts of those who loved him and miss him.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
John DeSantis
Senior Staff Writer
THIBODAUX - In this sleepy Southern town where murders are as rare as snow, the hallowed grounds of an antebellum Episcopal church are haunted by questions from a 15-year-old mystery.
Who bludgeoned a popular young priest to death on a summer night in 1992, and for what reason?
Gathered Tuesday in front of the church hall that bears the slain priest’s name - where his blood spilled on its floors - a number of the faithful, family members and clerics were told by police officials that answers had finally emerged.
The arrest of a 28-year-old habitual criminal named Derrick Raynard Odomes on charges that he robbed and killed the Rev. Hunter Horgan III at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Aug. 13, 1992, some said, begins a sense of closure for a crime that has remained an open wound.
Back in August, I wrote a post in memory of Hunter Horgan. I said this:
Have you guessed that this is my church? I was not a member when the murder occurred, but since mine is a small town, everyone in the vicinity was shocked and grieved. I can only imagine what it was like for the church members and for the family of Hunter Horgan.
....
I had met Fr. Horgan a few times, and he seemed like a kindly man. The unsolved crime does leave an open wound.
I was shocked when I got the phone call about the arrest. I was there on the church grounds when the announcement was made. Afterwards, the folks there milled around a bit and spoke quietly . It's hard for me to take in that after this long a period of time the case has allegedly been solved.
Beneath a stand of moss-draped oaks, parishioners traded memories of the priest they lost 15 years ago, and of their attempts to cope since his death. Some say they still speak to him when visiting the church hall.
I like the way John DeSantis writes. He tells the story well.
Lord, may Hunter rest in peace and rise in glory, and may your peace that passes understanding keep the minds and hearts of those who loved him and miss him.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Where Am I?
Hi, everyone. I died and went to heaven. This post is being written from the great beyond. Who knew that we would have heaven to earth internet access?
Not really. My internet access died. I am typing this at my son's house. Someone who knows more than I do is coming this afternoon to help this technically challenged granny out.
THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVELY BIRTHDAY WISHES! What an "Alice in Wonderland" birthday present to lose my internet access. I really am dying.
Not really. My internet access died. I am typing this at my son's house. Someone who knows more than I do is coming this afternoon to help this technically challenged granny out.
THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVELY BIRTHDAY WISHES! What an "Alice in Wonderland" birthday present to lose my internet access. I really am dying.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Miss Hippo Reads My Blog
I am "made" as a blogger. Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love reads my blog. Yay!
You may ask, "Who is Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love?" Miss Hippo is one of the stars of Padre Mickey's regular Friday (sometimes Saturday, when El Padre is lazy on Friday) entertainments.
If you are not a regular at Padre Mickey's Friday entertainments, then you should be. The proof that Miss Hippo reads Wounded Bird is here. Miss Hippo is smiling, because she liked what she read at my blog. Scroll down past the wine bottles, and you will find the picture at the head of this post. El Padre blogs at Padre Mickey's Dance Party.
Idea stolen from Caminante.
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