Today Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman reinstated Officer Chris Humphreys of the Portland Police Bureau to active duty after first suspending him pending an investigation into excessive use of force.Â
The decision only serves to underscore this simple truth: the Portland Police Bureau is not under the control of the [...]
"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too" [...]
Anna Griffin gets it right in The Oregonian:
A bit of friendly advice to the fine men and women of the Portland Police Bureau:ÂU.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy announced this weekend that he had been barred from communion by Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin because of the congressman's position on abortion.
Communion shouldn't be used as a political weapon. It's God's table.  All are welcome.But Bishop Tobin's actions' [...]
Steve Duin outlines the litany of recent complaints about the Portland Police Bureau in an article for The Oregonian:
In the brutal chain of personalities and events that have licensed Portland police to turn a beanbag shotgun on a 12-year-old girl, the aloof commissioner, absentee mayor and anything-goes police chief aren't' [...]Today the Portland Police Bureau announced that Officer Christopher Humphreys had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into an incident this weekend – caught on video tape – that showed Humphreys’ shooting a 12-year old girl with a bean bag gun at a MAX stop. The girl [...]
The Senate may vote as soon as Saturday on health care reform. Â The New York Times reports: Â
WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in the Senate on Wednesday unveiled their proposal for overhauling the health care system, outlining legislation that they said would cover most of the uninsured while reducing the [...]
Someone needs to explain why CafePress.com allows death threats against the president of the United States to be sold on their website. Â Or why in the world this website - run by the folks selling products that clearly call for the death of the president - is allowed [...]
Religious leaders are praying that Joe Lieberman's heart softens. Â The LA Times reports:
...an interfaith group of clergy is lobbying him to drop his plans to filibuster any healthcare bill that contains a public option. Their strategy: prayers.During a Sunday night vigil, a crowd walked from Stamford High School, Lieberman's alma [...]
Visit the new Yes on Measures 66 & 67 website at [www.voteyesfororegon.org] .
[...]My grandfather Rock Bright with his dog "Mac." Today Rock was honored during a program at his nursing home for his service in the Navy during WWII. He helped to build ships. My mother and I are in South Carolina with him this week.
Happy Veteran's Day to all.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, suggested today in an op-ed on Politico.com that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops should lose their tax exempt status because of their advocacy for the Stupak amendment, which was added to the Affordable Health Care for [...]
This evening the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic Affordable Health Care for America Act.  I offer this podcast reflection on an evening when the House has taken a huge step forward in addressing one of America's most fundamental moral problems - the lack of [...]
Who are the opponents of health care reform? Â People like Andrew Beacham, who at a protest today said that reform would start a new "civil war" and called President Obama a "tyrant" at a protest led by Republican congressman. The New York Times reports:Â
Mr. Beacham, his hair in a [...]
As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I support this important letter to Congress.
Open Letter from Religious Leaders to
Members of Congress Supporting
Inclusion of Abortion Services in Health Care Reform
Dear Members of Congress,
As religious leaders, we support public policies that are just and compassionate and prioritize the needs of [...]
This afternoon a tragic and horrifying act of violence occurred at Ft. Hood in Texas. Many are dead after an individual, apparently a soldier, opened fire at the base. Media reports state the suspect, also dead, is Major Malik Nadal Hasan. He has been described as a mental health [...]
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote this Saturday on the Affordable Health Care for America Act - our nation's first real chance to move toward universal health care.
But the outcome is uncertain. Â Members of the House need to be contacted immediately. You can reach your member [...]
Republicans had a good night in Virginia – where the Democratic candidate ran a weak campaign – and New Jersey, where they knocked off an incumbent closely tied with Wall Street. But thanks to Sarah Palin the Democrats have one victory to cheer about: New York’s 23rd Congressional district.Â
This was [...]
As noted in The Circuit Rider, the newsletter of Portland’s First United Methodist Church, Dr. William Connor passed away last Sunday after a battle with cancer. Oregon lost a giant that day.Â
Many people will spend time between now and the memorial (which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14th at [...]
chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.)
