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Daily Archives: June 27, 2023

(Reuters) Over $200 billion likely stolen from U.S. COVID relief programs, watchdog says

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

Over $200 billion from the U.S. government’s COVID-19 relief programs were likely stolen, a federal watchdog said on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) had weakened its controls in a rush to disburse the funds.

At least 17% of all funds related to the government’s coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) schemes were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors, according to a report released Tuesday by the SBA’s office of inspector general.

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Posted in * Economics, Politics, Economy, Ethics / Moral Theology, Law & Legal Issues, The U.S. Government

(Church Times) New Clergy Conduct Measure to get its first airing in Synod

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

A complete overhaul of clergy discipline will come under scrutiny at the General Synod next month when the Clergy Conduct Measure (CCM) is given first consideration.

The CCM is intended to replace the discredited Clergy Discipline Measure (CDM), which church authorities accept has contributed to the unjust treatment of both complainants and respondents.

Last summer, members of the Synod voted in principle to bring forward a new measure (News, 13 July 2022); now, they will have the opportunity to vote on the draft legislation for the first time.

The most significant change from the CDM is that complaints will be categorised in three divisions, from the mildest to the most serious, each with its own bespoke pathway for resolution.

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Posted in Church of England, Ethics / Moral Theology, Parish Ministry, Pastoral Theology

(Independent) William cites mother’s influence as he unveils drive to eradicate homelessness

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

The Prince of Wales has described how his mother’s influence helped shape his attitudes to homelessness as he revealed three UK locations where he hopes to eradicate the issue.

William visited three contrasting areas – Newport, South Wales, three neighbouring Dorset towns and the south London Borough of Lambeth – where his ambitious initiative Homewards aims to bring together business, charities and local authorities to tackle the problem.

During his tour of the UK, he warned: “It’s the young I’m particularly worried about, the sofa surfing and the hidden homeless, there’s a lot we don’t see and we have to try and get those who are lost.”

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Posted in * Economics, Politics, Economy, England / UK, Housing/Real Estate Market, Personal Finance, Politics in General

(Local Paper front page) How the International African American Museum was made, and what it will do

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

Former Mayor Joe Riley met Edward Ball at a private downtown home on Meeting Street in the mid-1990s. Ball was doing research for the book he was working on, “Slaves in the Family.” The volume would go on to win a National Book Award.

“I was very intrigued, to say the least, with what he was doing,” Riley said, adding that his conversations with Ball revealed how little the mayor knew about enslaved people and their experiences in Lowcountry. “It wasn’t something discussed, it wasn’t something studied.”

When “Slaves in the Family” was published in 1998, Riley devoured it.

“I was so taken with it, and the fact that Charleston, this community — I think the country — really knew very little of the practice and reality of enslaved people.”

Charleston, the city of his birth, the city built physically and economically by people in bondage, was at the center of this history, Riley acknowledged.

“I finished the book and said to myself, ‘We should build a museum.’ I asked my colleagues if they thought I was crazy, or if they thought it was a good idea. They thought it was a very good idea. That’s how it started.”

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Posted in * South Carolina, History, Race/Race Relations

A Prayer for the Feast Day of Cornelius Hill

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

Everliving Lord of the universe, our loving God, who raised up thy priest Cornelius Hill, last hereditary chief of the Oneida nation, to shepherd and defend his people against attempts to scatter them in the wilderness: Help us, like him, to be dedicated to truth and honor, that we may come to that blessed state thou hast prepared for us; through Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Posted in Church History, Spirituality/Prayer

A Prayer to Begin the Day from William Bright

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

Most loving Father, who willest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee who carest for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested unto us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Posted in Spirituality/Prayer

From the Morning Scripture Readings

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Kendall Harmon

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

–Acts 5:27-29

Posted in Theology: Scripture