Latest news with #Lutheran
33 minutes ago
- General
Brother and sister separated shortly after birth find each other after 80 years apart
Marian Griffin, 80, always thought there was something missing in her life, she told ABC News. It turned out that missing something was an older brother she didn't even know existed, and whose family had been trying to find her for decades. Griffin and her older brother, 81-year-old Donald Hefke, finally found each other after being separated shortly after birth in 1946 when they were placed in foster care, Griffin told ABC News on Wednesday. "I still can't believe he found me," Griffin said. "It only took us 80 years." Before their separation, the two siblings -- and another older brother named Ernest, who was born deaf and has since died -- were living in Chicago with their birth parents. Hefke was born in 1944 and Griffin arrived the following year, Hefke's daughter, Denise Baker, told ABC News on Wednesday. But after their mother -- who had been struggling with post traumatic stress disorder -- was placed in a mental institution shortly after Griffin's birth, their father was not able to take care of the children on his own. They were placed in foster care -- with Griffin only being eight months old and Hefke barely over a year old, Baker said. Griffin was adopted by a Lutheran minister and his family, while Hefke remained with a foster family until he was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force, Baker said. Hefke, who was determined to learn more about his biological family, reached out to the foster care agency in 1963 and they replied with "a little bit of information," including that he had a sister named Marian, Baker said. She shared with ABC News a letter the foster care agency sent Hekfe confirming details about his family. Hefke attempted to reach out to Griffin's adopted parents, but they told him to "stop bothering us" and hid those requests for contact from Griffin, even though she was already 18 years old and out of high school, according to Griffin. If she had known she had a brother out there, she "would have been looking for him and the two of us would have been together, believe me," she said. "My parents never told me at all about Donald looking for me," Griffin said. "Our kids could have grown up together, instead we were separated because my parents would not tell me that my brother wrote to me and was looking for me." Baker, Hefke's daughter, picked up the investigative efforts once she was an adult and spent more than two decades looking through paperwork, online research and ancestry websites. It wasn't until she discovered Griffin's son had completed DNA testing and uploaded it to Ancestry and she saw "there was a connection there." She then contacted the son, who passed along her information to Griffin in July 2024. "I thought it was a scam," Griffin said when she first heard about Baker claiming to be the daughter of her long-lost brother. After several conversations with Baker, reality began to sink in for Griffin and she was able to speak to her older brother for the very first time. "He was so happy. He kept saying my name again and again, 'Marian, I found you, I found you.' It's like something out of a book," Griffin told ABC News. While they have celebrated their reunion through telephone calls, the two still haven't met in person, since Hefke -- who is in poor health -- lives in Florida and Griffin resides in California. But Baker, Hefke's daughter, was able to travel to California to meet her aunt in June. "I was like, 'Yep you look just like my dad, no denying you guys are siblings.' Even though they didn't spend time together at all, but [she] looked and talked and acted like my dad," Baker said. Griffin plans to fly to Florida to physically reunite with her brother once she obtains the money to do so, and in the meantime they talk on the phone once a month. "We're going to walk down with our canes together. We're just going to have to have a lot of coffee, we've got 80 years to catch up on," Griffin said. After this reunion that was eight decades in the making, Griffin has one piece of advice: "Don't give up on each other." "We were looking for each other for 80 years. We found each other," she said.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
More churches are suing ICE over arrests in places of worship: ‘Congregations have gone underground'
Another group of Christian denominations is suing Donald Trump's administration to stop immigration enforcement arrests in their churches. A lawsuit from Baptist, Lutheran and Quaker groups accuses Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of chilling First Amendment protections and infringing on religious freedoms. The groups filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to block the policy on Tuesday. After Trump entered office, the administration rescinded previous Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy that prohibited enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as places of worship, as well as schools and hospitals. Within the last month, federal agents seized a man in front of a church, brandished a rifle at a pastor and detained a grandfather dropping off his granddaughter at a church school in Los Angeles, according to the lawsuit. Federal officers have also recently chased several men into a church parking lot and arrested a parishioner at churches across southern California, according to church leaders. 'As a result, people across the country, regardless of immigration status, reasonably fear attending houses of worship,' according to the lawsuit. 'The open joy and spiritual restoration of communal worship has been replaced by isolation, concealment, and fear.' Attendance and donations have plummeted, and 'congregations have gone underground to protect their parishioners, eschewing in-person meetings central to their faith,' plaintiffs argued. Baptisms are being held in private, churches have stopped advertising immigrant-focused ministries, and houses of worship 'have suddenly had to lock those doors and train their staff how to respond to immigration raids,' according to the complaint. The lawsuit is at least the fourth filed by faith leaders against ICE policy within the last six months. In February, more than two dozen religious groups similarly sued the administration. A federal judge ultimately partially granted a restraining order that blocked ICE from enforcement actions in roughly 1,700 places of worship in 35 states and Washington, D.C. But in April, a Trump-appointed judge sided with the administration in a similar case brought by more than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups representing millions of Americans. District Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington, D.C., argued that drops in church attendance could not be definitively linked to ICE actions, and congregants were likely staying home to avoid ICE anywhere in their own neighborhoods rather than places of worship. 'As people of faith, we cannot abide losing the basic right to provide care and compassion,' said Bishop Brenda Bos with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's California synod, among the plaintiffs in the latest legal battle. 'Not only are our spaces no longer guaranteed safety, but our worship services, educational events and social services have all been harmed by the rescission of sensitive space protection,' Bos added. 'Our call is love our neighbor, and we have been denied the ability to live out that call.' Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the administration is protecting places of worship by 'preventing criminal aliens and gang members from exploiting these locations and taking safe haven there because these criminals knew law enforcement couldn't go inside under the Biden Administration.' The lawsuit arrives as Christian leadership across the country — and at the Vatican — grapples with the consequences of the Trump administration's aggressive anti-immigration policy. With a directive from the White House to make at least 3,000 daily arrests, ICE received record-breaking funding from Congress — expanding the agency's budget to be larger than most countries' militaries — to hire more officers and expand detention space. Miami's Archbishop Thomas Wenski condemned public officials' rhetoric praising Alligator Alcatraz, and San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas in California also issued a rare decree this month excusing parishioners from attending mass over 'genuine fear' of immigration raids. Pope Leo XIV, who is American-born and whose papacy began less than four months into Trump's presidency, had previously criticized the administration's immigration policies and rhetoric. Washington, D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy has also criticized the administration's agenda of 'mass, indiscriminate deportation of men and women and children and families which literally rips families apart and is intended to do so.' In Los Angeles, the largest archdiocese in the country, Archbishop Jose Gomez accused the administration of having 'no immigration policy beyond the stated goal of deporting thousands of people each day.' 'This is not policy, it is punishment, and it can only result in cruel and arbitrary outcomes,' wrote the bishop, who is also a naturalized U.S. citizen from Mexico. 'Already we are hearing stories of innocent fathers and mothers being wrongly deported, with no recourse to appeal.'
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani ripped for using ‘Zionist' as punchline — as critics warn NYC mayoral race is at ‘code red situation'
Israel-bashing Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is catching flak again — for once using 'Zionist' as the punchline to an insulting joke, critics claim. Jewish New Yorkers were outraged over the recently resurfaced video of the mayoral race frontrunner speaking before the Democratic Socialists of America in 2023. 'If you don't clap for El-Yateem,' Mamdani said, 'You're a Zionist!' 3 A newly resurfaced video shows Zohran Mamdani calling someone a 'Zionist' as a punchline to an insulting joke. YouTube/Democratic Socialists of America He was referring to Lutheran pastor and Palestinian community organizer Khader El-Yateem, who ran unsuccessfully for a Brooklyn City Council seat in 2017. Mamdani, the 33-year-old Queens assemblyman, then said, 'It's a joke, you don't have to clap.' But Israel supporters weren't laughing. 'The turning of 'Zionist' into a slur in mainstream western liberal spaces is the most significant antisemitic development of the 21st century,' said podcaster Blake Flayton, who posted the video on X. 'This man is about to be mayor of New York,' said Flayton, host of 'We Should All Be Zionists,' of the Democratic nominee. 'I don't think people yet understand how much of a code red situation this is. The severity of the moment,' he added. 3 The Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City was seen speaking at an event for the Democratic Socialists of America in 2023 when he made the insensitive remark. Instagram/@zohrankmamdani Others defended Mamdani, noting he clearly said he was joking. But Flayton was having none of it. 'It's not funny — racist/antisemitic jokes are not funny,' he posted. Todd Richman, co-founder of Democratic Majority for Israel, responded, 'Disgusting.' Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'Enough of the 'l'll protect the Jewish community.' I'm sorry but I don't believe him,' Richman continued. 'He has been perpetuating an anti-Zionist and therefore anti Jewish agenda since college. Now all of a sudden he is going to change?' Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, said to add Mamdani's 'You're a Zionist' quip to the pile of comments and positions that the City Hall hopeful will have to explain, particularly to the Jewish community. 'He has to address comments he has made in the past that are controversial — and in some cases offensive,' Potasnik told The Post Tuesday. 3 Mamdani was referring to Khader El-Yateem, a Lutheran pastor and Palestinian community organizer, when making the joke, as he told the audience, 'It's a joke, you don't have to clap.' Facebook/Khader El-Yateem New York City has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, most of whom are pro-Israel or Zionists, said Potasnik, adding of Mamdani: 'We're going to hold him accountable.' Former Queens Councilman Rory Lancman also highlighted Mamdani's history of anti-Israel statements and positions. 'Deploying 'Zionist' as an epithet comes naturally to someone like Mr. Mamdani who fundamentally, and unabashedly, opposes the right of the Jewish people — and only the Jewish people — to self-determination, freedom, and safety in their ancestral homeland, and demands of every Jew that they renounce this central aspect of their Jewish identity as the price for social and political acceptance into civil society,' said Lancman. 'Mamdani believes deeply that every Jew must bend the knee.' During his 2023 speech, Mamdani praised the DSA for backing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. 'We mean what we say when we say we have a socialist politic. It is consistent, it is universal, and it stands for justice in every place with no exception,' he said. The Anti-Defamation League calls the BDS movement antisemitic for seeking to undermine the world's only Jewish state. Mamdani is a supporter of the boycott movement against Israel, even leading a pro-Palestinian rally chanting 'BDS!' and criticizing other elected officials for visiting the Jewish state. The DSA was an an early endorser of Mamdani for mayor and the backbone of his successful Democratic primary campaign. The candidate has been on a charm offensive since defeating ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other Dem hopefuls in the primary last month. He has been seeking to expand his base of support for the November general election, meeting with business bigwigs, party leaders and Jewish officials. His campaign declined to comment on the 'You're a Zionist' line. Mamdani has come under fire for refusing to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada.' After meeting with Jewish elected officials, he said he now discourages people from using the rallying call. Mamdani also previously faced criticism for appearing to defend al Qaeda fiend Anwar al-Awlaki — and blaming America for turning the prostitution-loving cleric into a terrorist in 2015 tweets.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
An unlikely study centre in Chennai
When Merlin Asha left her hometown in Ramanathapuram district for Chennai to pursue her civil services career, she had no idea a church in Annanagar would be her 'study centre' and the clergy and congregation would be her caretakers. The BSc. Agriculture passout from RVS Agricultural College in Thanjavur, who was determined to crack the public service exams, had to settle for group study with fellow aspirants in her hometown after coaching centres were shut due to the pandemic in 2020. Asha appeared for the Agriculture Officer examination called for in 2021. Though she cleared stage one, Asha was not able to make it through the interview. However, sheer determination and grit, along with parental support, helped her to explore newer avenues in public services, and in getting selected for the post of Agriculture Officer with the Tamil Nadu Government. With general studies and general knowledge being her core areas of strength, Asha left for Chennai in 2022, setting her sights on the 'much higher' Group 1 and UPSC. Initially, she had joined a coaching centre in Anna Nagar and found accommodation in a PG hostel in the vicinity. The physical space she found herself in not being conducive for effective exam preparation, she turned to an unconventional 'study centre'. It was in fact light years removed from being a study centre of any kind, let alone one for competitive exams. It was a church. But Asha found the Lutheran Anbunathar Church campus in Anna Nagar suffused with enough quiet for her to pursue her public service dream with focus. 'I approached the then pastor Rev. Augustin, who, along with the other church authorities, readily agreed to open the campus for me to prepare for my exams,' she recalls. Being a devout Catholic, she never skipped the Sunday Mass – be it at a faraway Roman Catholic Church, or other Parishes in the neighbourhood. The Lutheran church's congregants became something close to family. The church helpers —Nesakann and his wife Jean — would sit beyond their working hours and wait till the time I flip through the last page, and then close the gates,' says Asha. She acknowledges the monetary help provided by the church in 2023 when her family back home was struggling to make ends meet with a younger daughter to provide for. Despite all odds, her father, a health inspector, and her mother, a housewife, were determined to help their daughter pursue her public service career. Between 2022 and 2024, Asha appeared for the Group 1 and Group 1-A examinations, but could not clear the final interview. However, Asha did not lose heart. Instead, she found the experience 'progressive' as she was able to improve herself at every stage. Even as she was preparing for the Group 1 exams, Asha stayed focused on her initial career choice as Agriculture Officer, and cleared the exams held in 2024. However, this is not her final destination — the 23-year-old says she is determined to pursue her UPSC dream.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Microschools are on the rise — as parents seek alternatives to public education
Microschooling institutions are growing in Indiana and are projected to expand within the state because parents are 'upset' with the public school options in their school district, Gov. Mike Braun told Fox News Digital. 'I see it happening because while I'm here, we're going to make sure parents are in the driver's seat of their own kids' education,' Braun said. Braun held a signing ceremony on Tuesday, celebrating education bills that boosted teacher pay and bolstered universal school choice in his state. 'Those are the parents most upset with the current offerings you got out there, but they may not want to do it themselves,' Braun added. An Indiana official sent Fox News Digital a report showing that there are an estimated 140 micro-schools in Indiana. Microschooling is a hybrid of homeschooling and the traditional school model that could be privately run or held at public institutions. The Indiana Microschool Collaborative describes microschools as 'a small learning space in your local community where each student has a personalized learning plan built around their needs, interests, and goals.' 4 An Indiana official sent Fox News Digital a report showing that there are an estimated 140 micro-schools in Indiana. An example of this is Purdue Polytechnic High School Lab School — a private school in Indianapolis, which has about 20 students in either ninth or 10th grade, offering customized education. The Lab's classes are conducted in a Lutheran church in Indianapolis. 'The Lab School opened in the fall of 2023 with a model that school leaders describe as part one-room schoolhouse, part all-day advisory period,' ChalkBeat Indiana reported. Nature Gifts Microschool, based in Indiana, will operate as a public charter school accepting students on a first-come, first-served basis. 4 Microschooling is a hybrid of homeschooling and the traditional school model that could be privately run or held at public institutions. Getty Images Charter schools are taxpayer-funded like public schools, yet independently run, allowing for innovation and new education models. Since Nature Gifts is a charter school, the taxpayer dollars will go directly to the students in microschools because of their administration model and smaller class sizes. Braun added that Indiana has been at the forefront of providing parents variety, options and competition in the education marketplace. 'Microschools, to me, are just an innovation that says, 'Hey, I'm not happy with that public school system. Don't maybe like that charter option. We're going to put our own microschool together,'' Braun said. 4 Nature Gifts Microschool, based in Indiana, will operate as a public charter school accepting students on a first-come, first-served basis. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Rural families have been taking advantage of microschools since they have limited options. There has been an uptick in parents choosing to homeschool their children since the coronavirus pandemic, indicating a growing trend of parents overlooking public schools. While microschools are not a new concept, they operate similarly to homeschooling. Microschools are not only growing in Indiana, but also across the country. Some reporting shows an uptick in parents choosing this form of schooling since 2024. 4 Charter schools are taxpayer-funded like public schools, yet independently run, allowing for innovation and new education models. GovernorBraun/Facebook An Indiana official sent Fox News Digital an additional report showing that Indiana has the third-most microschools, behind Arizona and Florida. Corey DeAngelis of the American Culture Project told Fox News Digital that the growth of microschools is emblematic of a growing trend of states giving parents more options outside their neighborhood public school and parents being fed up with the traditional public school setting. 'When the government schools closed their doors and left families hanging, families tried to figure out homeschooling, and one way that they were able to economize on the process of homeschooling, was that they had to get five to ten children together in a household,' DeAngelis said.
