Boston Police report arresting an Attleboro man they say climbed up on a cross outside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross yesterday evening, then began to "swing and hang from it," snapping off both of the Jesus statue's arms in the process. Read more.
Brookline.news reports how local synagogues are reacting to the Aug. 18 bomb hoax called into Temple Beth Zion, where Rabbi Claudia Kreiman moved her congregation outside to continue its service "while the lights of a firetruck flashed behind them."
The Dorchester Reporter reports on one of the potential effects of the proposal to add bus and bike lanes in the center of the road, says a September meeting has been scheduled to try to figure out a solution.
Brookline Police report that Temple Beth Zion received a bomb threat Friday evening - the latest in a string of such hoax bomb calls to Jewish congregations across the country. Read more.
The Satanic Temple of Salem said today it plans to appeal a federal judge's decision on Monday to toss its suit against the City Council for not letting one of its practitioners start a council meeting with an invocation. Read more.
A federal judge today dismissed a lawsuit by the Satanic Temple of Salem against the Boston City Council over the way counncilors invites clergy members to start meetings with an invocation, concluding that councilors were recognizing the good work done in the city by the clergy, not because they're pushing a particular religious viewpoint. Read more.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports Orthodox students at the heavily Jewish Waltham university are verklempt at what they consider a punch in the kishkes, a furshlugginer two-page school ad, in the Sunday Times magazine, no less, headlined "Brandeis was founded by Jews. But it's anything but orthodox." The school responded that if only the students would read the whole megillah, they'd see it was just a light-hearted attempt to show the school's roots come from the totality of the Jewish mishpocha.
The Boston Sun reports Old South Church in Copley Square formally honored the Boston chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour for its "exceptional contributions to our communities and the profound impact of storytelling" during a service this past Sunday.
Matt Frank reports from Centre Street in Jamaica Plain:
I was in JP for brunch and stumbled upon First Baptist JP having a big LGBTQ folk dance party outside. This was the church that got hit by anti gay graffiti late last week...They responded by having an impromptu "Love is Love" dance party on their lawn.
The graffiti. Photo by Rev. Darrell Hamilton.
Somebody went through a fair amount of red spray paint to tag the First Baptist Church on Centre Street with anti-gay graffiti overnight.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden says: Read more.
The Supreme Judicial Court ruled today that a Berkshire town and a Land Court judge erred in rejecting a religious group's attempt to build an RV camping area because people who would park there either have to attend religious activities there or work for the group - making it exempt from zoning restrictions under state law. Read more.
WBUR is announcing what it calls "a fresh weekend programming lineup" that includes ditching a local religious service that its broadcast live for seven decades for some talkish non-religious thing out of New York City. Read more.
Unless you're really an atheist making a comment about religion in general, that is. But the back of the van said something about how Satan controls us all, so, yeah, use a spell checker next time.
Brooks Payne enjoyed the lilacs today outside Union Church on Columbus Avenue in the South End.
This church was attended by our beloved human rights champion Mel King and where his "Coming Home" celebration was held last month.
On one side of the Marriott in Copley Square this afternoon, a street preacher is offering free "holy water" - Poland Spring in plastic bottles, as he promises eternal life and mentions Jesus every 10 seconds or so. Read more.
The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports on the proposal for a portion of the FIrst Church cemetery - with caveats that the run would be limited to a group of local dog owners, that they would have to agree to rules and limit the number of dogs at one time, and that the run would be at least 10 feet away from the nearest tombstones and bones. The benefit for the church would be more eyes on its property, possibly reducing the odds of littering and vandalism.
Photos via FBI.
Cambridge, state and federal authorities say the six-alarm fire that destroyed the Faith Lutheran Church, 311 Broadway, is now being investigated as arson. Read more.
Greg reports this sign, outside the Brighton Allston Congregational Church on Washington Street in Brighton Center, made his day. It advertises a Drag Me to Church fundraiser for the Allston Brighton Food Pantry.
Board says nope to glaring board, even with gussied up landscaping.
The Zoning Board of Appeal today rejected a proposal to replace two old-school billboards that advertise the Madonna Queen of the Universe Shrine on McClellan Highway in East Boston with a state-of-the-art electronic billboard that would beam electronic ads at passing motorists. Read more.
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