Former Bishop of Florida misses trial deadlines
THE former Bishop of Florida, the Rt Revd John Howard, has been accused of failing to co-operate in his misconduct trial in the United States. He is facing allegations of anti-LGBTQ discrimination and financial impropriety, which could result in disciplinary measures under the Church’s Title IV canons. Bishop Howard retired in 2023 at the age of 72. He denies the claims of discrimination and says that there was no financial wrongdoing. It is unclear when the two cases will proceed to a hearing. The hearing has already been delayed and beset by logistical issues (News, 2 May).
New Jersey church drops plan for homeless shelter
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Toms River, New Jersey, in the United States, has decided not to contest the municipal refusal of its plans to build a shelter for homeless people, with 17 new bedrooms. The loss of a grant from Ocean County has also made the project no longer tenable. “This was not an easy decision or one made lightly,” the Rector, the Revd Lisa Hoffman, said. It follows a long-running dispute over the land, which has cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees (News, 30 May).
Indigenous Canadians call for healing action
CHURCHES in Canada have received “calls to healing” to repair the spiritual damage done to indigenous peoples, the Episcopal News Service reports. A report by an ecumenical working group, Addressing Spiritual Violence Against Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Ethical guidelines and calls to healing, was issued earlier this month during the 12th Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle. The document refers to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. It was described as “a milestone on the road of an ecumenical collaborative project that has been taking place for eight years”.
Nicaraguan regime confiscates Catholic school
THE nationally renowned San José Catholic School in Jinotepe, Nicaragua, has been confiscated by the Ortega government with the accusation that it was “emblematic of barbarism . . . where coup-plotters tortured and murdered”. The government has renamed the school — run for 40 years by Sisters of the Josephine order –- after “the hero, the martyr Bismarck Martínez”, who was abducted near by and killed in 2018. It was alleged that the school’s nuns were involved in the crime. The US State Department called the school’s confiscation “further proof that the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship’s cruelty knows no bounds”. In April, Holy Week processions were banned in Nicaragua for the second year running. Many of the clergy have gone into exile (News, 17 April).
Bolivian election candidates urged to address AIDS
PRESIDENTIAL candidates in Bolivia are under pressure to offer robust proposals to address rising HIV infections. The World Council of Churches has released a statement with partner organisations asking why Bolivia spends only 6.3 per cent of its GDP on health, “one of the lowest in South America”. The appeal comes as the country struggles to balance its budget and formulate a strategy on infectious diseases in time for 2027, when the government must take on full responsibility for spending previously covered by international aid. In the first round of elections on Sunday, the anti-austerity centrist Rodrigo Paz attracted a large share of the vote, but not enough to be elected. He will now face the former President and runner-up, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, in the next round in October.