Graham is subject of museum exhibit
RALEIGH, N.C. — A new exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History chronicles the life of the Rev. Billy Graham, who turned 97 on Nov. 7.
The exhibit, “North Carolina’s Favorite Son: Billy Graham and His Remarkable Journey of Faith,” opened Nov. 6 in Raleigh and will continue through July 10.
The 5,000-square-foot exhibit explores his life as well as a ministry that has spanned seven decades. It includes personal memorabilia, interactive displays, and multimedia that help bring Graham’s story to life.
The exhibit also provides glimpses into Graham’s family life, his leadership and influence in the Cold War and in the battle against segregation.
The exhibit also looks at each of Graham’s 12 crusades in North Carolina and other appearances in the United States and overseas.
— The Associated Press
Conservative bishop retiring from post
SEWICKLEY, Pa. — The head of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh is retiring next year after a 20-year tenure that included his leading conservative Episcopal congregations from around North America to split from the church.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Bishop Robert Duncan says he feels the work he was called to do is complete. His retirement is effective June 30.
The 67-year-old Duncan previously led conservative churches to break from the more liberal Episcopal Church and its Canadian equivalent.
Duncan says the church now faces difficulties of bolstering it for discipleship and evangelization “in a hostile and needy” world.
A committee will oversee the transition and search for a new bishop. A vote on the nominees is expected in April.
— The Associated Press
Judicial ethics panel to review complaint
SALEM, Ore. — A judicial disciplinary commission is hearing accusations against an Oregon judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages.
The two-week hearing that started Monday will determine whether Marion County Judge Vance Day should face sanctions.
The Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability says Day committed several ethics violations. They include screening marriage applicants to exclude same-sex couples, hanging a portrait of Adolf Hitler in the courthouse, asking lawyers for money and allowing a convicted felon to handle a gun.
Day has denied that he violated judicial ethics rules, and says the rules are unconstitutional. He says he’s being targeted because of his Christian beliefs.
Day is a former chairman of the Oregon Republican Party.
— The Associated Press
Bankruptcy OK’d in clergy abuse case
MILWAUKEE — A federal bankruptcy judge in Milwaukee has approved a reorganization plan for the city’s Roman Catholic archdiocese that calls for $21 million to be paid to clergy abuse survivors.
The plan, approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan Kelley on Monday, splits most of that money among 355 people. Another class of 104 survivors will get about $2,000 each.
Several survivors testified that they wished the settlement amounts had been larger, and some said they wanted to see deeper investigation of abuse claims.
Shortly before the deal was approved, Archbishop Jerome Listecki addressed the court and repeated his apology to survivors as well as his hope that “we have turned the corner in the history of the archdiocese.” At several points as he spoke, however, a packed gallery of survivors and advocates coughed, groaned and even quietly booed.
The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2011 to address its sex abuse lawsuit liabilities, and is among a dozen nationally to do so in the past decade.