For the latest breaking news, go to mlive.com SECTION Religion B THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 / THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS DETROIT Catholic priest pleads guilty in embezzlement case A Catholic priest who led a suburban Detroit parish for nearly 30 years pleaded guilty to fraud Tuesday in a scheme to conceal the theft of more than $500,000, including money for a Florida condo- minium. “Why am I pleading guilty? Because I am,” the Rev. Edward Belczak told a judge. Belczak’s mail fraud was the act of sending incom- plete financial reports to the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2010 to conceal embezzlement from St. Thomas More Church in Troy. Investigators said he stole about $573,000. “Father Belczak abused the sacred trust his parishioners placed in him so that he could enrich himself,” U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said. Belczak, 70, could get three years in federal prison when he returns to court Dec. 1. He was removed from St. Thomas More in 2013 after an audit raised questions Isaias Castro holds a cross as he and others prepare for a procession at the beginning of a Spanish Mass at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in about parish finances. Alexandria, Virginia. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) MOREHEAD, KENTUCKY WASHINGTON Federal hearing set in clerk’s marriage case A federal judge said a Kentucky county clerk who won’t issue marriage licenses HispanicslooktoPopeFrancis to gay couples because of her religious beliefs had until close of business Wednesday to respond to the latest motion in the case. to lift debate on immigration On Tuesday, as Rowan County clerk Kim Davis con- By Mary Jordan ing special sunrise Masses held across the instead, his influence as the leader of a tinued to deny licenses to cou- TheWashingtonPost region in Spanish. The pope is expected to church with 1.2 billion members to “remind ples despite a Supreme Court arla Perez loves Pope Francis. Like greet the crowds outside after meeting with politicians, when they are crafting laws, to ruling against her, U.S. District her, he’s a native Spanish speaker. President Barack Obama. keep in mind human dignity and the impor- Judge David Bunning ordered He is also the first Latin American Francis will hold high-profile meetings tance of family life.” her and her six deputy clerks to lead the Catholic Church, and he with Latinos and immigrants in each of the Some conservatives have criticized the to appear at a federal court K talks easily about soccer and prefers three U.S. cities he is visiting — Washington, pope for wading into politics, particularly hearing today. public buses to luxury cars. New York and Philadelphia — and Catholic when he pronounced climate change a man- The couples named in the Most of all, though, Perez loves this pope leaders hope he urges elected officials to fix made problem wreaking havoc on the plan- lawsuit have asked Bunning because he has made better treatment of the system that has left 11 million undocu- et and called for people and policies to fix it. to hold Davis in contempt of immigrants a centerpiece of his 2-year-old mented people living in the United States in Presidential candidate Jeb Bush said at court and fine her for refusing papacy. the shadows. the time, “I think religion ought to be about to grant licenses, but not to She hopes, as do many of the nearly 30 The pope has described immigrants as making us better as people, less about send her to jail. million Hispanic Catholics in the country, victims of an unequal world, calling the need things (that) end up getting into the political that this month’s visit by Francis will change to help them a “humanitarian emergency.” realm.” INCLINE VILLAGE, NEVADA the tone of the nation’s divisive immigration “I am sure that all Hispanics,” especially There are signs that Francis is “ener- debate. the undocumented, hope Francis will talk gizing the Latino community,” says Tahoe churches latest “I’m an immigrant myself, and I hear about the “immigration drama” flaring in Dorsonville, the Washington bishop and one hit in string of vandalism politicians saying they want to build higher the United States, said Mario Dorsonville, of those celebrating the Spanish-language Authorities investigating a walls. I can’t remember a time when it’s an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of sunrise Masses. string of vandalism at a half been this ugly,” said Perez, 31, an elemen- Washington. “People who had abandoned the church dozen churches in Nevada tary school teacher who emigrated from “We expect him to talk about the invisible, are returning,” said the Rev. Tom Ferguson, over the past five months say El Salvador when she was a child and now those in limbo,” the millions with no legal the pastor of Good Shepherd in Alexandria. there were two more attacks at attends Good Shepherd Catholic Church in status, Dorsonville said. “There’s no bigger Perez, who arrived here as an undocu- Lake Tahoe over the weekend, Alexandria, Virginia. poverty than being invisible.” mented child with her mother 25 years ago and the vandals are becoming Perez said that at a time when politi- Daniel Flores, a Catholic bishop in the and is now a citizen, said that perhaps above more destructive. cians are talking about mass deportations, border city of Brownsville, Texas, said one all, she wants the pope to address the prob- Washoe County Sheriff’s “anchor babies” and revoking birthright of the hardships for undocumented immi- lems of “hard-working” migrants, because too Lt. Jeff Clark said The Village citizenship, she is eager to hear the pope’s grants is that they cannot return to Mexico many politicians are “judging them harshly.” Church and St. Francis of “gentle, kind voice that makes you feel like or Central America to see their parents and “I trust in him — he understands the Assisi Catholic Church sus- you are going to be okay.” children because they would not be able to problems of Latinos,” said parishioner tained considerable damage On Sept. 23, the morning after the pope return to the U.S. jobs they need to earn a Mariana Garcia, 57, who emigrated from late Saturday or early Sunday lands in Washington on a flight from Cuba, living. El Salvador and cleans houses for a living. morning,Grand including Rapids broken Press 09/03/2015thousands of Latinos — 50,000 orCopy more, byReducedFlores to 80% said hefrom believed original the popeto fit wouldletter page“I hope he sends a message to the people windows and equipment. some estimates — will walk, take the bus or “not be pointedly political” or offer spe- with power to please help, to give these — The Associated Press ride the Metro to the White House follow- cific policy suggestions, but he would use, people a chance to be legal.” INTERFAITH INSIGHT Orthopraxy: not just believing, but doing the truth through service By Douglas Kindschi dents work with engineers who what to believe. practice or orthopraxy. Judaism’s sue the correct path in terms of Director of the Kaufman Interfaith mentor them as they build robots When Jesus was asked by the understanding of mitzvah, or duties, conduct and the “right Institute, GVSU that compete against other teams. lawyer what was the greatest commandment, is central to way of living.” Last week was a special one Hearing him speak and reflect- commandment, Jesus responded Jewish practice. When we had our Year of for me personally, since Grand ingonmyown that he should love God and love In Islam, the basic creed is Interfaith Understanding, atten- Valley State University dedicated involvement his neighbor. (Matt. 22:35-40) the Shahada, which means tes- tion was given to what the vari- its new Kindschi Hall of Science with the Science The focus was on action, not timony and in its simplest form ous religions believed. recognizing the 28 years I served Olympiad tour- belief. is “There is no god but God and We encouraged participants to as dean. naments, which In a recent Daily Meditation Muhammad is the messenger of share the thickness of their faith The guest speaker for the we sponsored from the Franciscan Richard God.” and not try to reduce or thin it event was Dean Kamen, the when I was Rohr, he refers to an analysis of It is the first of the Five Pillars out so that we could all agree. inventor of the Segway and dean, reminds the writings of St. Francis who of Islam. The other four practices In our Year of Interfaith founder of the FIRST robotic me,inmycur- Kindschi “uses the word doing rather than include: prayer (five times each Service, we have been looking competitions. rent interfaith understanding at a ratio of 175 day), alms-giving (a percentage at what values and practices we Kamen commented that, to role, of the distinction between times to 5. of one’s wealth given to the poor), have in common. really understand science, you orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Heart is used 42 times to 1 use fasting (from sunrise to sunset We may not agree on our have to do science. There is often much empha- of mind. Love is used 23 times during the month of Ramadan), beliefs, but we can choose to act The emphasis on laboratory sis on “right belief” (orthodoxy) as opposed to 12 uses of truth. and the Hajj or pilgrimage to together in areas where our val- learning and becoming involved in religion and not so much on Mercy is used 26 times while Mecca (if one is able-bodied and ues are in common.