Showing posts with label Wyoming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wyoming. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Become Peacemakers enters the 2026 Wyoming Election.
Lex Anteinternet: The 2026 Election, 13th Edition. The choosing lane...: June 19, 2026 The mere fact that somebody is running against Bear, one of the most notable of the WFC, is a good thing. Here's hoping t...
A really interesting development:
An interesting development in the statewide races:
At this point, what's particularly interesting is who has signed, and who has not.
The entity it self has some every notable names behind it. According to their website:
Justice Keith Kautz (Retired Wyoming Supreme Court, Evangelical Leader Southeast Wyoming)
Diana Enzi (Long time Wyoming activist and advocate for Christ from Gilette Wyoming)
Jim Neiman (Business, civic and Christian leader from Hullett, Wyoming)
Michael Evers (Business Leader and Episcopal Priest from Sheridan Wyoming)
Frank Moore (Business Leader and active in the Catholic community in Douglas, Wyoming)
Diemer True (Business, civic and Christian leader from Casper Wyoming)
The text of the pledge is:
The candidates who have signed the pledge, which you can do on their website, are, so far:
Jillian Balow
U.S. House of Representatives
Bo Biteman
U.S. House of Representatives
Kevin Christensen
U.S. House of Representatives
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Steve Harshman
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Evie Brennan
Senate District 31
Ogden Driskill
Senate District 2
Ronald McCleary
Senate District 5
Marcia Neumiller
Senate District 27
Lauren Schoenfeld
Senate District 5
Wendy Schuler
Senate District 15
Elizabeth Bingham
House District 17
Jessica Crowder
House District 43
Christopher Dresang
House District 35
Justin Fornstrom
House District 10
Martha Lawley
House District 27
Matthew Legler
House District 25
Roland Luehne
House District 28
Myca Sturtevant
House District 29
Macey Moore
Converse County Commissioner
Michael Evers
Sheridan County GOP Precinct Person- Precinct 2-5
My guess is that after the article, some who haven't signed, or who aren't aware of it, will sign or will feel compelled to sign.
Notably, in the House, the big money candidates, Gray, Freiss and Rasner have not signed. Gray's an entire political career has been based on being a lying asshole, so this puts him in a spot. When he gets up at night and stubs his toes he blames it on left wing radical communist Marxist socialist fascist monarchist podiatrist, so that would take a major part of his repertoire out of play and actually make him live part of his faith. Rasner has gone full comedic sideshow at this point, but it would take the extreme out of the candidate whose been the most extreme. It probably wouldn't impact Freiss who hasn't attacked his opponents, but who is, in a very nice way, relying upon "I'll bring jobs to Wyoming of a type that I've worked at myself because I believe you dumb twits want to exist in the imaginary 1950s".
It's also interesting that only one Senatorial candidate, Skovogard, has signed it.
The name of the organization comes, of course, from Matthew 5:9, " Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
We have not seen much of that in politics. A lot of modern campaigning in the Trump era has been downright immoral, lead by the conduct of Trump himself, who belittles and insults people routinely. Of course, in spite of the fact some Christians have seen something in him, there's no evidence of any Christian beliefs in Trump at all. He doesn't attend church, he's a serial polygamist, he has a track record of cheating on his spouses, he's hung out with men who rape teenage girls, and his life has been characterized by a love of money. Indeed, money seems to be his primary focus and he doesn't seem to grasp that it isn't the primary focus of every living human being.
This, of course, is the Wyoming election, but here too conduct has been shocking. Signing this would take a big page out of some candidates campaign strategy guide.
Well, I hope this makes a difference. And I hope that failure to sign is taken as a reason not to vote for a person.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Unsettling news for Catholics in Rock Springs.
This comes as bit of a shock, as well as evidence of how slow news actually travels in our current age in which everything seems flash driven:
Giving some credit to the news, I'll note that this hit smaller news venues earlier, which I guess leads me to wonder a bit about how well Natrona County is served by the media.
Anyhow. . .
The church is this one:
Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, Rock Springs Wyoming
This Romanesque church was built in 1912 after a protracted period of time in which efforts were made to build a church specifically for the Catholic Slavic population of Rock Springs, which was quite pronounced at the time. The church was named after brothers Cyril and Methodius who had been the evangelists to the Slavs. The first pastor was Austrian born Father Anton Schiffrer who was suited to the task given his knowledge of Slavic languages.
The news broke just before the celebration of the church's 100th anniversary, which isn't great timing, but no doubt that was simply coincidental.
To my surprise, there are three Catholic churches in Rock Springs. I was aware of there being two. The Catholic community seems to be served there in the same way the community in Casper is, as a Tri Parish, rather than three separate parishes.
Here's the announcement that was given by the Diocese:
I'm not terribly optimistic, but the potential closure has drawn opposition from secular quarters as well:
Watch List: Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, Rock Springs
In terms of timing, another interesting aspect of this is that it comes right as the Catholic parish in Rock Springs started undertaking an effort to build a community center for the parish, the brochure for which is partially set out here:
There's more to the brochure than that, but I can't think of something more likely to put a damper on this effort than to close a century old church while its ongoing.
I'd also note that one of the stated desires is exactly the opposite of what brought Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church about in the first place, that being the desire to "create unity and one Catholic identity". That's a common, and admirable, goal but in the real world, people don't like it. Individual ethnicities within the Catholic Church have always struggled against this, sometimes with pretty disastrous results. Indeed, Orthodoxy in the US got a big boost just from such an event when Bishop John Ireland disapproved of Eastern Catholicism remaining separate, causing Fr. Alexis Toth to lead a group of them into the Russian Orthodox Church. In the early 20th Century Catholic Diocese often responded just the way that the Diocese of Cheyenne did here, by simply creating additional churches that recognized the different identifies.
That won't happen here, and these are all Latin Rite churches. Moreover, the strong ethnic identities in Rock Springs from a century ago have no doubt dissipated considerably. But that doesn't mean that parishioners in a unique Church, or really any Church, like to have their church closed and be told they need to go elsewhere, even if it makes sense, which it very well might, given the antiquity of the building. Doing it while also undergoing a campaign that expresses the goal of unity is more than a little unfortunate.
Indeed, that's the case as even in this modern age, not everyone likes to be grouped into one big group. I'm one of those people. The Diocese here had an event several years ago where all the local Masses were cancelled so that one huge Mass could be held at Casper's David Street Station. Rather than do that, I drove to Glenrock and attended Mass there. . . and I noticed some other Casperites I recognized there as well.
Monday, December 15, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Thursday, December 15, 1910. New parishes and missions.
Lex Anteinternet: Thursday, December 15, 1910. New parishes and mis...: Today In Wyoming's History: December 15 : 1910 Bishop James A. Keane approved of the parish of St. James in Douglas, together with seve...
Thursday, December 15, 1910. New parishes and missions.
Today In Wyoming's History: December 15: 1910 Bishop James A. Keane approved of the parish of St. James in Douglas, together with several missions.
Bishop Keane was Wyoming's third Catholic Bishop, and served in that role from 1902 to 1911, after which he was the Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, where he served until his death in 1929.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: Immaculate Mary
Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: Immaculate Mary: In honor of the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we gave the shrine at our house a freshening up. This statue of our Blessed Mother an...
Saturday, October 26, 2024
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Albin Wyoming.
This is St. Joseph's Catholic Church in the tiny town of Albin. Presently, Masses for this community are being heard in nearby Carpenter, rather than here.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Diamondville-Kemmerer, Wyoming.
Above is St. Patrick's Church in Diamondville, Wyoming, which serves Diamondville and Kemmerer, the two towns adjoining each other.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Wyoming State Of The State 2024. Opening Prayer by Rev. Tammy Dewey.
I wouldn't normally give a review of an opening session of the legislature's prayer, but Rev. Tammy Dewey of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper did a particularly nice, and very Christian one, here. It starts at about 12:29.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Suit over LDS Temple in Cody.
Churches of the West: Churches of the West: City of Cody issues building...: We posted this yesterday. Churches of the West: City of Cody issues building permit for LDS Temple. : Citing, amongst other things, a lack ...
A new lawsuit has been filed maintaining, apparently, that the P&Z Board in Cody was biased towards the applicants.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
A Day of Fasting and Prayer
Bishop Bigler of the Diocese of Cheyenne has declared this a voluntary fast day for Peace in the Middle East.
Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land
The Diocese of Cheyenne is asking Catholics in the Diocese to pray for Peace in the Holy Land, and has issued this prayer.
Pray for Peace in the Holy Land
Lord God, merciful and strong,
who crush wars and cast down the proud,
who extend mercy and tenderness to all,
we pray to you for the Holy Land, for the people of Israel and Palestine
who are under the grip of unprecedented violence,
for the victims, especially the children and their families.
Be pleased to grant healing for the wounded, the release of hostages,
protection for the innocent, and eternal peace to the dead.
To all those affected by war, grant healing, consolation, and the grace to forgive.
Almighty God,
guide the minds of world leaders to act with wisdom, prudence, and justice,
and to promote the common good.
Lord of Justice, help us to commit ourselves to building a fraternal world
so that these peoples and all those suffering similar conditions of
conflict, instability, and violence may walk together as sisters and brothers.
Help us to be peacemakers by practicing justice, dialogue, and reconciliation.
O God of Peace, who are peace itself,
grant that those in conflict may forget evil and so be healed.
Help those who have experienced violence to forgive their enemies,
as Christ taught us and after his example on the cross.
We pray that the whole of humanity may be reconciled as one family,
without violence, without absurd wars, and with a fraternal spirit,
and live united in peace and concord.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Monday, October 16, 2023
Lex Anteinternet: Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land
Lex Anteinternet: Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land:
Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land
The Diocese of Cheyenne is asking Catholics in the Diocese to pray for Peace in the Holy Land, and has issued this prayer.
Pray for Peace in the Holy Land
Lord God, merciful and strong,
who crush wars and cast down the proud,
who extend mercy and tenderness to all,
we pray to you for the Holy Land, for the people of Israel and Palestine
who are under the grip of unprecedented violence,
for the victims, especially the children and their families.
Be pleased to grant healing for the wounded, the release of hostages,
protection for the innocent, and eternal peace to the dead.
To all those affected by war, grant healing, consolation, and the grace to forgive.
Almighty God,
guide the minds of world leaders to act with wisdom, prudence, and justice,
and to promote the common good.
Lord of Justice, help us to commit ourselves to building a fraternal world
so that these peoples and all those suffering similar conditions of
conflict, instability, and violence may walk together as sisters and brothers.
Help us to be peacemakers by practicing justice, dialogue, and reconciliation.
O God of Peace, who are peace itself,
grant that those in conflict may forget evil and so be healed.
Help those who have experienced violence to forgive their enemies,
as Christ taught us and after his example on the cross.
We pray that the whole of humanity may be reconciled as one family,
without violence, without absurd wars, and with a fraternal spirit,
and live united in peace and concord.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Friday, August 11, 2023
Blog Mirror: Tale Of 2 LDS Temples: Casper’s On Fast Track While Plans For Cody’s Protested
Interesting news story on construction of a religious building, and controversy. . . and lack of it.
Tale Of 2 LDS Temples: Casper’s On Fast Track While Plans For Cody’s Protested
Skyline Drive dominates Cody's horizon, which is a big part of the reason for the controversy there.
I don't have a comment on this, nor should I. I don't live in Cody, and what occurs there in regard to something of this type isn't my affair. Rather, what I'd point out, as a blog that deals with church architecture, that contemporary LDS Temples are obviously all the same, and indeed, they're basically sort of a kit. As a person who likes every religious building to be unique, I find that a bit sad. According to the LDS site this particular style, which they term "modular", is new to the 2020s.
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: Ash Wednesday
Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: Ash Wednesday: I may have never covered a bronc in rodeo, but I never missed a mark-out and I never turned-out. Turn-out is when you've signed up for a...
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. End of the f...: HB262 would have you believe that religious rights need to be restored in Wyoming, when in fact its a prophylactic bill aimed at the fear they will be restricted. It states:
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0262
Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Washut, Burkhart, Crago, Harshman and Olsen and Senator(s) Biteman, Hutchings, Kolb and Salazar
A BILL
foe
AN ACT relating to religious freedom; creating the Religious Freedom Restoration Act; providing definitions; limiting specified governmental actions that burden religious freedom as specified; authorizing claims and defenses against governmental action that burden religious freedom as specified; providing exceptions; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 9‑25‑101 through 9‑25‑105 are created to read:
CHAPTER 25
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
ARTICLE 1
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT
9‑25‑101. Religious Freedom Restoration Act; short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Wyoming Religious Freedom Restoration Act."
9‑25‑102. Definitions.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Burden" means any action that intentionally either directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails or denies the exercise of religion by government action, including any person acting under the color of state law where the action is intended for that purpose, including, but not limited to:
(A) Withholding of benefits;
(B) Assessing criminal, civil or administrative penalties;
(C) Exclusion from governmental programs; or
(D) Denial of access to governmental facilities.
(ii) "Exercise of religion" means the practice or observance of religion, including an act or refusal to act, that is substantially motivated by a sincerely held religious belief, whether or not compelled by or central to a system of religious belief;
(iii) "Government" means any department, agency, division, board, bureau, commission, council, authority, employee, official or other entity of this state or a political subdivision of this state, or a person acting under color of state law;
(iv) "Person" means any natural person, association, partnership, corporation, religious institution or other legal entity;
(v) "This act" means W.S. 9‑25‑201 through 9‑25‑205.
9‑25‑103. Limitation on government action; exception.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, government action, including action by any person acting under color of state law, shall not:
(i) Burden a person's right to the exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability;
(ii) Burden a person's right to the exercise of religion more restrictively than comparable secular conduct because of any economic need or benefit;
(iii) Burden a person's right to the exercise of religion more restrictively than any secular conduct of reasonably comparable risk.
(b) Government may substantially burden a person's right to the exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to that person's exercise of religion in that particular instance is:
(i) Essential to further a compelling government interest; and
(ii) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
9‑25‑104. Claims.
A person whose exercise of religion has been burdened in violation of this act may have a claim in a court of competent jurisdiction and may obtain appropriate relief.
9‑25‑105. Provisions to be liberally construed.
Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize acts of licentiousness or practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state or its laws which protect the health and safety of the public.
Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2023.
Friday, May 13, 2022
Today In Wyoming's History: Casper's Historical Preservation Commission Meets Tonight, May 13, at Black Tooth Brewery.
Today In Wyoming's History: Casper's Historical Preservation Commission Meets ...: The event is its first "meet and greet". It starts at 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 22, 2021
South Goshen Community Church, Yoder Wyoming
This is the South Goshen Community Church in Yoder, Wyoming. I don't know much about the church, which bills itself as "non demoninational"
Yoder is a very small town south of Torrington.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
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