Jan 08, 2004 — None of the eight Roman Catholic priests removed from office over the last two years will face criminal prosecution. Officials with the Diocese of Ogdensburg say the statute of limitations for child sex crimes makes it impossible to punish offenders. As Brian Mann reports, St. Lawrence county's district attorney says he wants church officials to provide more information about the cases.  Go to full article

Jan 06, 2004 — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg says the church has removed eight priests from active ministry since June of 2002. The move follows a new zero-tolerance policy enacted by American bishops, designed to stop sexual abuse of children. As Brian Mann reports, 14 other priests were implicated in the church's North Country investigation.  Go to full article

Apr 17, 2003 — The pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Redford became the second priest ever to win a million dollars from the New York state lottery. Reverend Frank Coryer bought the ?Win for Life? ticket on March 31st at a drug store near his home, and says he's already mapped out what to do with the money.  Go to full article

Mar 24, 2003 — As Fort Drum buzzes with deployment activity, area churches are busy helping people cope during times of war. The First Baptist Church in Black River is just a few minutes drive from Fort Drum. Sunday some 40 parishioners - many with military ties - came to hear Pastor Cliff Bennett's sermon, entitled "What To Do in Uncertain Times". David Sommerstein talked with some of them about how their faith helps them with their fears.  Go to full article

Jan 15, 2003 — The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton is sponsoring a local history essay contest with a goal of unearthing hidden history in the North Country. Todd Moe talks with Bart Harloe, one of the coordinators of the writing contest that looks into history "from the bottom up".  Go to full article

Dec 19, 2002 — A group of church musicians has released a CD of Christmas carols, to share a love of music and as a fundraiser. Rejoice contains music for the season, recorded earlier this fall at the Ecumenical Choir Festival 2002. Proceeds will benefit people in need. Todd Moe talks with Ted Tate about "Ministries in the North Country", or MINC, one of the groups behind the idea for Rejoice.

You can order Rejoice from Jan Fife, 505 Anthony St., Ogdensburg, NY 13669. Cost per copy is $15--half the proceeds support MINC, half the church of your choice.  Go to full article

Oct 11, 2002 — The Presbytery of Northern New York has sent a resolution to local Congressional representatives urging the government not to take unilateral action against Iraq. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Aug 08, 2002 — The Roman Catholic Church has been a powerful force in the North Country since the region was settled by whites hundreds of years ago. But the once-firm fabric of community parishes is under increasing strain. A shortage of priests has forced the Diocese of Ogdensburg to close churches, and move priests to serve more congregations. The process has continued through the summer and fall. Currently, one in four parishes in the North Country lacks a resident pastor. As Brian Mann reports, the crisis began long before the current sex-abuse scandals, and it's changing the work of the local churches.  Go to full article

Jul 03, 2002 — Four North Country pastors have been removed from their ministries following a "zero tolerance" policy on child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests. The removals mean the consolidation of some parishes and the transfer of priests. Jody Tosti spoke with the Diocese of Ogdensburg and has this story.  Go to full article

Jun 06, 2002 — While the Roman Catholic church in the United States wrestles with its sex-abuse scandal, churches in Canada face a crisis of their own. For more than a century, Canada's government forced native children into boarding schools - schools run by the country's leading churches. Now, thousands of former students claim they were raped and beaten, by priests and other school officials. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent, to settle victim claims and to rebuild native communities. But as North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann reports, the crush of lawsuits is forcing Canadian religious groups into bankruptcy.  Go to full article