ALASKA NEWS

20-year-old Alaskan organist offers unique talents to the church

Twenty-year-old Brendon Mezzetti is mastering the musical world at his fingertips and offering his growing talents to the liturgical service of the Catholic Church in Alaska. Mezzetti grew up performing in the Alaska Children’s’ Choir and local small theatrical venues. A Suzuki-trained pianist since age eight, his command at the keyboard was initially harnessed while participating in community theater as a pre-teen, where he was casually tasked with transcribing a 256-page score to accompany a stage production. He dove in, and has accumulated honors at every level.

Bethel is 2nd Alaska city to pass ‘sexual orientation’ law

On Nov. 10 the Bethel City Council unanimously passed dual ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” with regards to city employees or outside groups contracting with the city. The move places sexual orientation and gender identity on the same protected legal status as race and religion. Bethel’s move comes just six weeks after Anchorage became the first city in Alaska to pass a sexual orientation non-discrimination law. The Anchorage law, however, is much broader in outlawing discrimination with regards to housing, public and private employment and public accommodations.

Anchorage Archbishop addresses ‘Spotlight’ movie on sex abuse crisis

I write to you regarding the church’s ministry of ensuring safe environments. I share the hope and confidence of the present and I reiterate my sadness of the past. I am sorry for any harm that has been inflicted on God’s children and their families by clergy and those in leadership who failed to protect. In November, the movie Spotlight will be released which portrays the struggle that reporters of the Boston Globe faced when shedding light on the problem of sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy and how some in church leadership failed to respond justly. It has been over 13 years since the Boston Globe broke this story and exposed, nationally, this evil that penetrated our church communities.

Movie documents church sex abuse scandal

Spotlight is a movie about the Boston Globe’s 2002 investigative articles on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. It is set for nationwide release on Nov. 20. The drama is directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy and features several notable actors and actresses including: Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci and John Slattery.

Alaska’s Sen. Lisa Murkowski a ‘supporter of Planned Parenthood’

“I’m a supporter of Planned Parenthood. I believe that the services that are provided for the tens of thousands of Alaskan men and woman, access to not only women’s health care but also access to men’s as well, access to screenings, access to affordable birth control, is an important service and I have supported that,” Sen. Murkowski said last month. “It’s always important to caveat that there are no federal dollars that Planned Parenthood receives that go toward abortions. That’s not the case. So I would like to see the services that men and women receive continue.”

Anchorage’s LGBT law seen as threat to religious liberty in the public square

The Anchorage Assembly passed an ordinance last month establishing “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as classifications of prohibited discrimination in the Anchorage civil code. The move places sexual orientation and gender identity on the same legal level as race and religion.
Religious liberty advocates are deeply concerned that the new ordinance compels local churches, faith-based groups and business owners to violate deeply held beliefs by forcing them to hire employees who are openly living a homosexual and/or transgender lifestyle, while also forcing service companies and rental organizations to promote, serve and facilitate causes and events which violate their moral beliefs, especially in the area of sexuality.

Anchorage Archbishop impressed by seeing pope’s courage

I saw Pope Francis on the eventful day of Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C. and marveled at his determination to be fully present to us. Here was a man just three years older than me. He clearly suffered limitations of his mobility but never let that stop his ministry. It made me feel that my own little aches and pains of growing older are nothing in comparison with what he was experiencing. At times he seemed very weary but continued on courageously.

Alaska’s DC delegation impressed by pope’s address to Congress

Alaska’s three-member congressional delegation expressed deep gratitude that Pope Francis took time out of his apostolic visit to the United States to become the first-ever pontiff to speak to both houses of Congress on Sept. 24 in Washington, D.C.

Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both Catholic, attended the historic papal address in the House Chambers, along with Representative Don Young. Also in attendance were the president’s cabinet and members of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Encounter with pope leaves lasting memories for Alaskans

Several Alaskans made personal, cross-country trips to see Pope Francis during his historic five-day apostolic visit to the United States. He started in Washington, DC, where he met with President Barack Obama, addressed Congress and canonized Saint Junipero Serra — the first saint to be canonized on American soil. Among the Alaskans were Father Tom Lilly, Mary Gore and her sister Annie Gore and Joan Nockles. These pilgrims recalled their trip to with much joy and fondness.

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