Latest news with #Episcopalian
New York Post
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Forget hot girl summer — Gen Z women instead want to stay at convents and monasteries with nuns: ‘Vow of silence summer is in'
Bye, Hamptons shared houses — this summer, it's all about the convents. Gen Z women are opting for a peaceful summer — with nuns this year. Summer is usually a time when singles look to book shared houses by the beach, bar hop until the wee hours of the morning or drink fun cocktails on sunny rooftops. That's not the case for Gen Z. Young women are not only giving up swiping on dating apps, they're now looking to protect their peace even further by taking a vow of silence and booking stays at Catholic convents and monasteries for the summer. 3 It's all about having a peaceful summer for the Gen Z girls. Anneke – Yes, you read that correctly. In case you're unfamiliar: a vow of silence is the act of being verbally silent, only communicating through writing or sign language. Considering a quarter of a million Americans experience burnout by 30 — spending a summer getting in touch with one's spiritual side sounds like the ideal peaceful escape. 3 People are raving about their experience staying at convents and monasteries. New Africa – This quiet trend has become so popular that guests are being put on a waitlist for these holy stays, as pointed out in one woman's viral TikTok video. '…I booked a vow of silence at a Catholic monastery late last year and the booking process is reallly straightforward — you just email the nuns, they give you some dates. Overall, they're really flexible,' @mc667868 said in her post that has garnered over 700,000 views. 3 The content creator was shocked at how popular the vow of silence trend has become. TikTok/@mc667868 Explaining she had a great experience her first time around, when the content creator went to book her stay this summer — she was shocked to learn that the monastery was fully booked 'for the next three months.' 'Maybe we can start a resy app for vows of silence,' she ended her video, saying. Her video racked up thousands of comments from other women, wholeheartedly supporting this unexpected trend. 'the call to be a nun is too strong rn.' 'brat summer is out, vow of silence summer is IN.' 'i lived with nuns last summer (they're Episcopalian). legit the best three months of my life, they are so cool and fun. i worked in their garden and lived in a cottage for free.' 'I tried to apply in FEBRUARY to live in an italian monestary with the nuns this summer and they were already fully booked.' 'The girlies are FED TF UPPPPPPP and this is the proof.' 'I feel the nuns have been expecting us. They knew our last nerve would disappear at some point.'
The Hill
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
I'm a Black mother and a physician with a message about Black kids' future
On a day shortly before the 2024 election, I was picking up my children from school. As my older child was finishing basketball practice, my younger child made his usual plea to buy his favorite Icee. 'Mama, can I have an Icee? Please!' he whined, tugging at my bag. Reluctantly, I handed him a few bills. 'Thanks for the Icee!' he said with his big toothy smile as he dashed to the sidewalk. Watching him run away, I felt anxious. He's still my baby, even though he's in third grade. From where I stood, he looked confident and strong. But those dollar bills were flapping around in his hand, reminding me to tell him to keep his money in his pocket. It wasn't just about the bills; it hit me hard that as the mother of Black boys, my worries for their future will never really vanish — especially with everything happening in our country today. Before I became a parent, I thought I'd raise my children with the same firmness that my West Indian teachers used at the small Episcopalian elementary school I attended in Brooklyn, N.Y. They were quick to discipline and had high expectations for us. I figured being strict would help prepare Black children for a world that rarely sees them as innocent — but that was before I became a mother, feeling the heavy responsibility of raising Black boys. The effects of racism aren't just for the history books. Black Americans carry the weight of discrimination and injustice from those before us, determined not to pass that trauma on to our children. No matter how hard I try, being their parent often feels like a tough balancing act. I feel caught between protecting them from the harsh realities of life in this country and giving them the opportunities to make mistakes and learn. As a mother, physician and health equity advocate, I have seen how our health care system affects Black children, who often face longer wait times in emergency rooms, higher chances of being diagnosed incorrectly and a greater risk of not surviving through their first year of life. These health outcomes are connected to wider issues, including education. For example, a report from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation found that Black boys face systemic bias in schools. Misunderstandings about their behavior in preschool can lead to harsh punishments, robbing them of their chance to learn and play. By middle school, harmful stereotypes can lead to them being excluded from gifted programs, hurting their confidence and interest in school. The Supreme Court's 2023 ruling on affirmative action in college admissions will likely limit opportunities for Black students in fields such as medicine and law. A recent study showed that cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion programs under the Trump administration have led to serious funding drops for important initiatives aimed at closing the gap in racial health outcomes. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities took the biggest hit, losing almost 30 percent of its funding. Weakening these health programs ultimately puts our lives at risk. As I sat there watching my younger son enjoy his Icee, I felt the weight of my responsibility — not just for my kids, but for all kids who will live in the world we create. That world can feel hostile, especially given the recent anti-DEI backlash. I am reminded daily that there is much work left to do. Our actions today matter for Black children's futures. Challenges in education and health care must be addressed. If we want to make a real difference for our children, we must be intentional about where to focus our advocacy. We must support race-conscious policies, prioritizing those that tackle the systemic inequities affecting education and health care. Americans can contact their local representatives and tell them that these programs are crucial for improving outcomes for Black children. We should encourage lawmakers to develop programs that provide Black students with fair access to advanced classes and academic support, while also pushing school boards to adopt equitable discipline policies. We must fight to fund health care systems that focus on the needs of underrepresented communities, directly addressing racial health inequities. We must be innovative about securing continued funding for the work of agencies like the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to keep critical health programs for Black children. We can illuminate the issues that Black children face by raising our voices. This is about the future of our children, who deserve a shot at success. It's time for us to focus on creating environments where all children, especially Black children, can thrive. We all share this responsibility — and need to act before it's too late. Uché Blackstock, M.D., is the founder and chief advisor of Advancing Health Equity, a strategic health equity consulting firm. She is the author of 'Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine' and an ambassador for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation National Racial Equity Initiative Taskforce.
NBC News
16-06-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Supreme Court orders reconsideration of religious objection to N.Y. abortion care requirement
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a lower court to take a second look at a religious challenge to a New York state requirement that employers provide health care plans that include abortion coverage. The justices said the case should be reviewed again in light of their ruling ear l ier this month that Wisconsin had unlawfully denied charitable groups associated with the Catholic Church a state tax exemption. In a separate action Monday, the court also took up a case from New Jersey arising from the state's investigation of anti-abortion pregnancy centers that provide guidance to pregnant women. The technical issue is whether the state can enforce subpoenas against First Choice Women's Resource Centers Inc., which runs five centers, seeking information about donors. First Choice says the subpoena violates its free speech rights and freedom of association under the Constitution's First Amendment. The New York case revolves around a regulation issued by New York in 2017 that requires employer-provided health insurance plans to include abortion coverage in certain situations, including in cases of rape and incest. It includes a religious exemption that applies to institutions but does not extend to religious-affiliated groups that serve the general public, such as those that provide food to low-income people. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and other organizations sued, saying the exemption is so narrow it violates the Constitution's First Amendment, which protects the free exercise of religion. In addition to Catholic entities, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Baptist groups are also among the challengers. Lawyers for the religious groups say that, based on recent Supreme Court rulings, narrowly drawn religious exemptions can be just as problematic as no exemption at all. They argue that the justices should overturn the 1990 precedent, a case called Employment Division v. Smith. The New York case has been litigated for years and already reached the Supreme Court once. Then, the justices ordered the state court to revisit an earlier ruling against the diocese. That followed a 2021 Supreme Court ruling on the same legal question in which the justices ruled in favor of a Catholic Church-affiliated group in Philadelphia that was barred from participating in the city's foster care program because of its opposition to same-sex relationships. In another case with some overlap, the Supreme Court in 2020 endorsed a broad religious exemption to a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurance coverage for birth control. In a May 2024 ruling, the New York Court of Appeals again ruled for the state, saying that neither the regulation nor the religious exemption violated the free exercise clause. The state's lawyers argued in court papers that the religious exemption 'provides a denominationally neutral accommodation' based on objective criteria. As such, the measure — since codified into law by the state Legislature — is a 'generally applicable' law under the Supreme Court's 1990 precedent, they wrote.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
15-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Pinned by Car in Private School Parking Lot Crash
A teen is dead and five others are injured after a car crash in the parking lot of a private school in California on June 4 The 15-year-old boy who died was pinned between two SUVs while waiting to be picked up after school, according to reports Classes and finals at Campbell Hall in Studio City were canceled for June 5A teenager has died and five others were injured after a crash in a private school parking lot in California. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokesperson David Cuellar said the incident occurred at Campbell Hall, located in Studio City, just after 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 4, according to the Associated Press. The driver of a green Rivian SUV is said to have struck a 15-year-old boy who was walking between cars at the rear of the campus as school ended, CW affiliate KTLA and ABC affiliate KABC-TV reported. The teen became pinned between two SUVs as a result of the collision, according to the reports. The 'gravely injured' victim and his uninjured father were then transported to a local hospital, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The teen later died from his injuries. Footage from the scene, shared by KABC and NBC affiliate KNBC, showed authorities working near multiple SUVs that were very close in proximity to each other. Parents told KABC-TV that the teen's dad was at the school to pick up his son when he witnessed the crash. Five other people came forward with non-life-threatening injuries from the crash, the fire department later stated. Among them are another teen male, an unidentified minor and three adults. "This is a very tragic situation," said LAFD Capt. Adam Vangerpen, CBS affiliate KCBS-TV reported. "This is hard on all the witnesses who witnessed this. There's a lot of kids getting out of school and getting ready for summer." The LAPD and Campbell Hall did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The Mayor's Crisis Response Team responded to the scene of the crash on Wednesday, according to the fire department. LAFD Captain Adam Van Gerpen said the team also responded to the children's hospital where the teen was being treated, KABC-TV reported. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. LAPD Lieutenant Matthew Bielski said no citations will be issued since the crash 'was determined to be an accident.' Classes and finals were canceled for Thursday, June 5, according to KABC-TV and KTLA. Head of School Rev. Canon Julian P. Bull said in an email to parents of students at the Episcopalian school that school officials were 'heartbroken.' 'Our collective hearts and thoughts are with the family,' Bull said, KTLA reported. 'I know that the Campbell Hall community will be there for all of them in the challenging days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, please respect the family's privacy as they process this overwhelming loss.' Counseling reportedly will be made available at the school's gym between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Thursday. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Church fights New Jersey town over plans to seize property and turn it into park
A Christian church is fighting a New Jersey town for attempting to seize their property, alongside other land, and turn it into a waterfront park. Christ Episcopal Church is fighting plans from Toms River, NJ officials to seize their church property, alongside three other town marinas, as part of the township's plans to revitalize the downtown community. Bishop Sally French, in a letter to parishioners, told churchgoers that on April 30, about a day before a scheduled town meeting, officials were alerted by a concerned community member that the church's property had been "added to a proposal for an eminent domain ordinance." The church, which has been a part of the community for 160 years, says the action comes amid trying to build a homeless shelter on their property. "As a Christian leader and a resident of New Jersey, I am troubled by the township's move to block the faithful ministry of Christ Church and their care for those in need, and I am saddened that the mayor and township council are prioritizing pickleball courts over responding to hunger and homelessness," Bishop Sally French said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "I ask that Toms River lift the burden these proceedings have placed on our parish and diocese, and I pray that we can move forward in serving our neighbors." Psaki Bombs: Msnbc's Newest Primetime Program Sheds 53% Of Viewers From Key Demo In Second Episode Republican Mayor Rodrick told Fox News Digital he feels the plan is in the best interest of the constituents because children do not have a playground in the immediate area. The town ordinance allows officials to enter into negotiations to secure the areas or acquire them by eminent domain should the church not want to sell the property. Read On The Fox News App "We have about 20,000 residents, 5,000 households within a stone's throw of the Episcopal church," he said. "The property is very large, it's a 10-acre parcel and has a tremendous amount of parking and the parking, we would never be allowed to make that much parking on a property that size anymore. It would be very difficult... so it would be great for the kids in the local area and the families in that area to have a park that they can walk to with their kids and a playground. We're also interested in doing a skate park there." Rodrick argued that the project, which he believes would benefit both residents and businesses, is part of a larger plan to "redevelop downtown" and make it more of a "destination" for residents. The agenda would "enhance business downtown" by bringing more customers to the area. He also spoke to Fox News Digital about how he is proud of his budget as mayor, explaining they were "DOGE before DOGE was cool" as they cut the budget from $146 million to $135 million. The Episcopalian church has a different take on the matter, with the bishop offering her full support to the community church. "The people of Christ Episcopal Church have my support and gratitude for their Gospel ministry of feeding the hungry and providing shelter to unhoused people," she said. "Jesus tells us to care for the poor and vulnerable as we would care for him, and the people of Christ Church are putting that commandment into action." Should the town acquire the property, Rodrick says the church would have time to purchase another property or may choose to consolidate churches according to the church leader's digression, pointing to there possibly being a silver lining to consolidation for the church due to the high value of the property compared to liabilities. "Nationwide, the Episcopal church is in steep decline. I think they lost 40,000 members last year. A lot of these Protestant churches have seen big decreases in membership. They still have a lot of these legacy costs and pensions for their pastors that they need to make payments on and it costs a lot of money. So, if you have 75 people put $10 in, and you bring in $3,000 a month, do you know what it must cost to heat a 20,000-square-foot church? So, they could probably benefit from some consolidation and many of the smaller Protestant denominations are doing that." The church is standing alongside "approximately 150 church members, community members, clergy" and others in their fight against the ordinance, according to the website. "Christ Church Toms River is a vital resource in the community," Mother Lisa Hoffman, rector of Christ Church in Toms River, told Fox News Digital. "Our outreach includes nearly 20 12-step meetings per week. While the members of Christ Church are disappointed with this situation, we are determined to protect our Gospel ministry." As for next steps, the council has already voted four to three and "anticipates" it will pass for a second time four to three, according to the article source: Church fights New Jersey town over plans to seize property and turn it into park
