Praying for peace on city streets of Boston

Posted by Kendall Harmon

In a gesture borne of frustration and faith, a group of clergy from across Boston gathered in the City Council chamber yesterday to ask God for peace on the city’s streets.

“The violence in the neighborhood in which we serve is intolerable,’’ said the Rev. Cathy H. George of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Upham’s Corner. “And it wouldn’t be put up with anywhere else that I’ve ever been in the state.’’

The City Council opens each of its weekly meetings with a prayer, but yesterday, in a show of concern about a wave of violence in which five people under 16 have been shot this spring, Council President Michael P. Ross and Councilor at Large Ayanna Pressley asked a number of clergy to come and pray.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • Ministry of the Ordained • Spirituality/Prayer • * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • Violence • * Economics, Politics • Politics in General • City Government

7 Comments
Posted June 17, 2010 at 7:58 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. The young fogey wrote:

With all due respect to these folk - and yes, pray - the immediate solution is for the residents to arm themselves. The police will tell you they can’t stop crime; they can only try to catch the culprit after you’re hurt or dead.

June 17, 8:38 am | [comment link]
2. Don C wrote:

It’s nearly impossible to get a license in the city of Boston.  Massachusetts firearms laws are strict but, additionally each town’s police chief has to approve the permit.

June 17, 10:28 am | [comment link]
3. Sick & Tired of Nuance wrote:

Yep!  Boston is a “gun free zone”.  Gee, that works well…NOT.  The brilliant minds (BMs) that are running things there are just so clueless about their expectations of criminals that it takes one’s breath away. 

Ahem…I am sure that this comes as a shock to the BMs but most people understand that criminals break the law.  That is why they are criminals.  Since criminals break the law, why do these BMs think that criminals will suddenly see the light and obey the anti-gun laws?

What they have succeeded in doing is disarming the honest citizens and leaving them as prey for the criminals.  Duh!  It takes real effort to disregard the massive amount of evidence that spans a few decades and dozens of states, demonstrating that places with permits to carry firearms have lower crime rates.  Good show, Boston!  Keep doing more of the same and just hope for different results.  Show us all how really intelligent that you are.

June 17, 4:57 pm | [comment link]
4. Statmann wrote:

I suspect that Rev. Cathy George drew the short straw when she landed at St. Mary. She had been the rector of St. Anne in Lincoln from 1996 until 2008. The TEC Chart for St. Anne is one of “fat city”. The TEC Chart for St. Mary is one where from 2002 through 2008 Members went from 130 to 75, ASA from 65 to 45, and Plate & Pledge from $55K to $40K. Lord have mercy.    Statmann

June 17, 7:42 pm | [comment link]
5. Don C wrote:

The rumor is she is “running” for bishop.  Thankfully, she has a worthy assistant to help her “dual charge” of St Mary’s and St Mark’s.

June 18, 9:32 am | [comment link]
6. Don C wrote:

Should have written: Some suspect she is running for bishop, not “The rumor is . . .” 

Can one edit comments?  elves?

June 18, 10:40 am | [comment link]
7. Statmann wrote:

Don C: Thank you for your comments. Nicely clears up the impression I had from judging her situation based only on St. Mary. Yet, St. Mark has its own features. In 2008, there were about 700 Members with ASA of about only 80 and Plate & Pledge of about $90K. She and her assistant certainly have a challenge with St. Mary and St. Mark.  Statmann

June 18, 10:50 am | [comment link]
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