The DC Court of Appeals has granted the motion of the Sudan Seven for the right to an oral argument of their appeal on Tuesday, November 6, at 10 a.m. The court is small, but spectators are welcome. For more information call Scott Schaeffer-Duffy at 508 753-3588.
Month: October 2007
Loy charges dropped
Shari Worthington, the woman behind the complaint:
Bottom line, the ruling in the Commonwealth vs Cirignano trial proves Sarah Loy had no right to disrupt the “Let the People Vote†rally on December 16, 2006. Therefore, there is no reason to pursue the criminal complaint against her.
KnowThyNeighbor received a telephone call from former Catholic Citizenship Director Larry Cirignano, last evening to tell me that late Friday afternoon, Shari Worthington officially pulled the papers ending her criminal complaint which accused Sarah Loy of “Disturbing a Lawful Assembly.” By Cirignano’s account, Worthington did this as an act of good grace on her way to bringing her teenage daughter to Children’s Hospital for a serious back problem.
508 #6: Beer, guns, and Wal-Mart
508 is a show about Worcester.
This week, Mike is joined by Bruce Russell and Brendan Melican.
You can download the mp3, subscribe to the feed, or see other formats.
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The mayoral forum at the Dive Bar went great, though many were dissatisfied with the candidates’ answers. Brendan recaps his blog post about the rhetoric Worcester State College officials are using to argue that their security should be armed. Opposition to a Worcester Wal-Mart has ended; Wal-Mart itself is slowing down the spread of SuperCenters. Sarah Loy returns to court Monday for a hearing regarding a criminal complaint against her. Bruce plugs his cable access show, and Mike and Brendan praise the Dive Bar.
Items
Mayoral forum at the Dive Bar
Having a mayoral candidate forum at the Dive Bar was an inspired idea. I don’t have much to say that others haven’t said, but I do have some photos.
Bruce, Steve Lanava of the T&G, candidate Bill Coleman.
Left Ahead
I talked about the Cirignano trial on this week’s Left Ahead podcast. I was pretty sick, and not especially pithy, so listen at your own risk.
Fr Bernie Gilgun’s homily, October 19, 2007
This is a recording of a homily by Father Bernie Gilgun, from his weekly Mass at the Mustard Seed in Worcester, Massachusetts. He begins with an anecdote about Dorothy Day, then discusses the North American Martyrs.
You can download the mp3 (6MB) or see other formats. You can also subscribe (RSS) to the podcast.
Honoring Franz Jägerstätter
Franz Jägerstätter, who was killed for refusing to fight for the Nazis, will be beatified on Friday, October 26. There are at least 2 Worcester-area events honoring him on that day. At 1pm at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, at the Zecco Audiorium, there will be a screening of the Jagerstatter documentary “The Refusal,” followed by a discussion. Then at 7:15pm there will be a mass celebrated by Fr Bernard Gilgun at the Mustard Seed, 93 Pleasant St, Worcester, Massachusetts. After mass (8pm) we’ll be watching “The Refusal” there. All are invited to these events.
If you are planning a Jagerstatter event or teaching about him, here are some useful resources.
Holy cards: These can be ordered from the Catholic Peace Fellowship. They’re asking a 25-cent donation per card. There’s a funkier card available from Pax Christi for $1.25.
I’m distributing the CPF version of the holy card around Worcester.
DVD: You can order a DVD of the Jägerstätter documentary “The Refusal” from the Center for Christian Nonviolence for $5. I haven’t seen it yet.
Handouts: The Catholic Peace Fellowship has two handouts, in PDF format. In Sign of Peace vol 2.3 (pdf) is the article “In Light of Eternity: Franz Jägerstätter, Martyr.” They also have a lesson plan: Following Christ in a Radical Way: Conscientious Objection and the Story of Franz Jägerstätter (pdf).
Articles: The Wikipedia page on FJ could be much better. I believe that the standard book on FJ is Gordon Zahn’s In Solitary Witness.
I took many of these links from the Catholic Peace Fellowship. I hope the other Pie and Coffee editors will revise this article as they see fit.
Cirignano trial: not guily
A jury of 6 men and women found Larry Cirignano not guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery in Worcester today.
There were no strong emotions on anyone’s face as the verdict was announced. Cirignano was mostly impassive, with the occasional mild smile. Loy and her supporters frowned a bit, but then everyone was frowning as the jury’s deliberation dragged on for its second day, and a hung jury looked increasingly likely.
Sarah Loy had no comment. Bay Windows has a statement from Cirignano’s lawyer. I’m hoping either they or the T&G can get some comments from jurors.
Continue reading “Cirignano trial: not guily”
Cirignano trial: day 3
I’m 40 minutes late. Celebrity blogger Michael Ball, who was there on time, later told me that the prosecution asked Shari Worthington why, when she was able to take care of all sorts of other business, she declined to file a criminal complaint against Loy until just before the Cirignano trial. Ball of course didn’t like her testimony.
When I arrive, on the stand is…
Larry Cirignano
An elections “advance man,” govt and politics work, worked with various Republican presidents. Got “roped into the gay marriage issue” following some events in 2003.
Describes the work of an advance man. Deals with all details for a VIP at an event. Coordinates with law enforcement and private security.
Describes “catch and release.” When someone approaches a speaker or unfurls a banner you get them out of there right away and release them. “‘Catch’ is to get them off the stage.” Describes it as “shock and awe.” (I have no idea what he’s thinking of, but this seems like precisely the wrong metaphor for the use of minimal force.) You talk to them first. Never put your hands on someone. You can guide them but never physically get involved in an altercation.
Continue reading “Cirignano trial: day 3”
508 #5: Drinking and Cirignano
508 is a show about Worcester.
This week, Mike is joined by Brendan Melican.
You can download the mp3, subscribe to the feed, or see other formats.
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First: Worcester has been attacked by winged invaders. Then: If you’re reading this, then you know Mike’s been sitting in on the Cirignano trial this week. Brendan is excited about his upcoming Mayoral Candidate Forum at the Dive Bar. No word if the candidates will be drinking, but Brendan will. Talk about casinos in Massachusetts, and Mike gets spammed by City Council Candidate John Mahoney.
Correction: I say Bill McCarthy in the podcast, but this was a mixup on my part. McCarthy is no longer running, which is why Mahoney was able to re-enter the race. Many apologies.
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Cirignano trial: afternoon 2
I got there like 20 minutes late. A woman was in the midst of testifying who was Lauren McCarthy’s mom. She’s a teacher at QCC.
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