VOL. 119 - NO. 52 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 25, 2015 $.35 A COPY A Very Merry Christmas to our Readers and Advertisers from the staff of the Post-Gazette Pam Donnaruma Christian A. Claude Marsilia Guarino Jeanne Brady Freeway Mrs. Joanne Murphy Fraser Joan Smith Frances Jeanette Fitzgerald Cataldo Bobby Franklin DECEMBER 31, 2015 - JANUARY 1, 2016 Mary DiZazzo HIGHLIGH TS Bob ditions: Star of the Day, and has Morello opened for acts such as Jason Lancaster (of Mayday Parade), Ed CampochiaroLouie Shallow GraffeoDom Hawthorne Heights and Alex Preston. BarronRay AURORA BOREALIS David DANCE COMPANY Rosario Trumbull Aurora Borealis is thrilled to Scabin Samantha Josephine Ally dance their way into the new John Christoforo Bennett Di Censo Molinari year at Copley Square and in- Chu Ling Symynkywicz spire the entire community with Sal Giarratani Lisa Orazio their passionate and artistic perience in wind performance. Cappuccio Buttafuoco Richard Girard Plante performance. Specializing in Members have performed with Molinari Daniel contemporary and improvi- the Boston Pops and Boston Richard Preiss Di Censo sational dance forms, ABDC Symphony Orchestra. Angela provides ample opportunities BRADLEY Cornacchio Alessandra Sambiase Alex Preston for growth, performance, and BARTLETT-ROACHE inspiring experiences. Thirteen-year-old solo pia- ALEX PRESTON BOSTON SAXOPHONE nist, tenor saxophonist, vocal- Twenty-two-year-old singer- QUARTET ist, and composer from Mas- songwriter Alex Preston was A unique blend of musicians sachusetts, Bradley was voted News Briefs second runner-up on the 13th combining a tremendous range Boston’s Top Instrumentalist of repertoire and individual ex- by Sal Giarratani season of American Idol in by the Young Performer’s Club 2014. His talent has allowed and 2015 Grand Prize Winner at him to work with artists such as the New England Talent Agency If She Were Home Now, She’d Be Stoned Jason Mraz, Keith Urban, Fall Showcase in Music and Acting. Recently, the Metro newspaper did a news story on the Out Boy, Of Monsters and Men CHU LING great divide in this country over the issue of abortion. It and many more. Chu Ling Dance Academy will also ran a photo of a number of women supporting abor- AMANDA McCARTHY bring color and elegance to Bos- tion, carrying pink placards that read “Protect Women’s Award-winning, multi-genre ton’s First Night with traditional Health.” One of the women appears to be a young singer/songwriter from the and modern Chinese dance, Muslim woman, which might make progressives in this Greater Boston area. She was serving its mission to showcase country happy in their diversity. However, if this young named Limelight Magazine’s young Asian-Americans’ posi- woman was back home in a Muslim country under Singer/Songwriter of the Year, Sharia Law, she would be in big trouble. Remember, was a fi nalist on Community Au- Bradley Bartlett-Roache (Continued on Pages 8 & 9) abortion is barred in those nations as a crime against humanity. Liberals love defending the religion of peace, but never see how unliberal those nations really are. Stuck in the Wrong Place? Haven’t we all felt at times that we were stuck in the wrong place in our lives? Things aren’t going our way? Disappointments? Feeling down in the dumps? Hey, cheer up. You could have been a suspected burglar in Huron, CA. The guy died after getting stuck in a chimney. A homeowner called the cops when he heard screaming coming from up his chimney when he lit his fi replace. The homeowner tried putting out the fi re as his house fi lled with smoke. Firefi ghters rushed to the scene using jackhammers to break the brick chimney, but when they reached the guy, his burglary (Continued on Page 14) Aurora Borealis Dance Academy THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQUARE, EAST BOSTON This offi ce is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, DECEMBER 25, 2015 Res Publica by David Trumbull As you passed through the towns and cities of the Commonwealth this December, I’m sure you noticed how many, in this secular land, found some place to display a crèche, a public display acknowledg- CATHEDRAL ing the majority Christian faith of our people. Usually, nearby, stood the menorah, a civic statement of the importance of Jews and of the Delving into word origins of seat was in common use dur- Jewish faith in our common life. This is as it should be. can be quite fascinating, but ing pre-Christian times. The It was not always so. In Puritan Boston, Christmas was not combining those origins with back of the chair usually had generally celebrated at all until the middle of the 19th century. historical fact can really open a deep recession which curved In the mid-17th century, when Puritans held political power, the up new worlds of understand- around and sloped downward celebration of Christmas was banned. The Puritans, you see, did ing. In the last two issues, we at the sides, forming a kind of not subscribe to our secular doctrine of separation of church and examined the word “basilica,” arm support. state. They did not consider Christmas permissible in their sect learned of its Greek origin, and The ancients also used a and had no qualms about using the power of the state to deny followed it through the devel- “cathedra longa” which was the joys of Christmas to anyone else, be it Anglican, Catholic, opment of the Roman Catholic a luxurious easy chair, and a Lutheran or even the non-believers who simply enjoyed a bit of basilica as we know it today. “cathedra supine” which looked merriment during the shortest days of the year. Imagine what Our word for today is “cathe- like our modern steamer or deck Puritan preacher Cotton Mather would have said from his pulpit dral,” and its loose defi nition is chair. These last two cathedras in North Square if he knew that a menorah would be part of public “a large imposing church.” More were mostly used by women or displays 200 years later! He would have probably condemned as defi nitive would be, “the main boys, and it was considered to witches any Jews he could fi nd in the Bay Colony. A state-run church of a diocese and the be quite effeminate for men to church, especially one organized around very narrow beliefs, is seat of the bishop.” Delving into stretch out on them. There are not likely to deal gently with other faiths or persons of no faith. the word “bishop” we come up records of some cathedra being Now we have freedom! Under our 1787 Federal Constitution, the with its Greek root “episkopos,” used at the dining tables, but United States may not establish a state church. The Fourteenth meaning overseer, and we also the “triclinia” (dining couches) Amendment, added in 1868, extended that prohibition to the find that in some historical seemed to be preferred, as States. Recognition of the universal right of freedom to practice sketches the overseers were their use was considered to be religion is part of the fundamental charter of our nation. Sadly, not only called bishops, but a mark of greater distinction. some today are attempting to change that fundamental under- presbyters as well. It follows The seats of the cathedra were standing of the place of religion in our secular republic. From then, that from the word bishop not padded, but comfortable some liberal politicians we are increasingly hearing the phrase we went to overseer, episkopos cushions and back pads were “freedom of worship” in place of the traditional American doctrine (or Episcopal), and presbyter often used. Another style of of “freedom of religion.” “Freedom of worship” merely guarantees (or Presbyterian). Now, going cathedra was what we know as the right to gather in church, synagogue, or other place of wor- full circle, we fi nd that the seat a sedan chair (enclosed on all ship for the liturgies or services of our denominations. Freedom to of the bishop is properly called sides and provided with doors). practice one’s religion goes beyond that, and recognizes the civic “cathedra.” This kind of conveyance was aspects of faith. That includes the public display of nativity scenes Any Latin-English dictionary equipped with long poles for and menorah (yes, that is the correct plural of menorah; my two tells us that cathedra is a chair, applied particularly to the seat the porters. years of Hebrew in college fi nally comes in handy). Those public cushioned seat, litter, sedan, that had a backrest, but with displays of faith are important reminders that not only do we have or professional chair. History no well defi ned arms and often NEXT WEEK: no state religion but that the state itself is not our religion. It is tells us that the word cathedra made of wickerwork. This kind The Early Christian Church (Continued on Page 13) Happy Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Happy New Year Holidays STATE REPRESENTATIVE Sal from Adrian LaMattina & Family MADARO BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR - DISTRICT 1 Happy Season's Greetings Holidays CITY COUNCILLOR 57 Salem Street from TONY Boston, MA 02113 617-742-0070 AMBUTO REVERE CITY COUNCIL - AT LARGE AARON MICHLEWITZ MERRY CHRISTMAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE Season’s DISTRICT 3 Greetings & HAPPY NEW YEAR Emanuel “Gus” Serra Jessica A. Giannino Revere City Councilor at Large POST-GAZETTE, DECEMBER 25, 2015 PAGE 3 POST-GAZETTE Pamela Donnaruma, Publisher and Editor Arthur J.