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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It Gift of life Two first-timers were among the 71 people who donated blood at last Thursdays Canadian Blood Services clinic at the Acton Legion. Seventy-nine of the 100 people who booked appointments showed up, but eight were de- ferred and could not donate blood for various medical reasons. Spiritual medium The entertaining and informa- tive spiritual medium Chris Stillar will be back, by popular demand, to Country Soul Reflections on May 15 for a workshop. There are just a few spaces left for the event, which will include an interactive workshop, random messages and mediumship attempting to connect with the other side. Las t week, Angelologis t Elizabeth Foley gave 25 private readings at Soul Reflections and drew more than 30 people to two workshops. Songs for Supper Artists featured on the new Songs for Supper CD a fund- raiser for Actons FoodShare food bank entertained a large appre- ciative crowd at the CD launch at the Roxy on Saturday night. The brainchild of Limehouse recording studio owner Tim Al- berts, a FoodShare director, the CD is a compilation of songs by local artists from hip hop to folksongs to hard rock and much more. Following a fast paced set featuring 12 acts, all of the art- ists took the stage for a spirited rendition of the Beatles Come Together. FoodShare officials were thrilled with the turnout of over 100 people at the launch and grateful for the bin full of non- perishable food donated by the crowd. The CD is available at a num- ber of Acton businesses and FoodShare officials are looking for more local stores to stock the CD. For more information call Tim at 905-702-7470 or go to www.actonfoodshare.com and leave an e-mail. Computer classes Need the essential workplace skill of basic computer training? Literacy North Halton can help with a new workplace essential skills training program available in Acton for unemployed adults. Applications are being accepted for several courses that begin next month, including evening class- es. The weekly three-hour classes will run for 10 weeks offering small classes with one-on-as- sistance for those who have no previous or very little computer knowledge. For details call 905- 873-2200. Employment help Links2Care is celebrating Administrative Professionals Week (until April 24) with a free employment support session fea- turing Administrative Options. On April 26, staff will high- light some of Everest Colleges flexible training programs for ad- ministrators. Each Monday, from 1:30 to 4:30, an employment spe- cialist will offer free help with resumes. Top Gymnast Congrats to Limehouse gym- nast Marc Gaudet de Lestard, 17, whose top three finishes propelled his North Halton Gymnastics Club team to a Gold medal at the recent Ontario Winter Games Mens Art- istic Gymnastics event. de Lestard, a Grade 12 student at Acton High School, hopes to qualify for the national open championship next month in Brit- ish Columbia. Burn permits If you plan to burn anything outdoors from a backyard fire to get rid of branches or an outdoor fireplace or chimnea you need a permit from the fire department. Deputy Chief Harry Olivieri reminds local residents that an open air burn permit is needed to conduct a burn for anything other than cooking on a small contained fire on a barbecue or grill and that all fires must be supervised at all times as outlined in the Ontario Fire Code. Knox relief efforts Knox Presbyterian Church is holding a HAVE or HAVE NOT dinner and concert on Saturday to raise money for Haitian relief and the Mercy Childrens Centre in Kenya a school of 3000 stu- dents that Knox has supported for the past five years. Through the luck of the draw people will receive either a HAVE or HAVE NOT meal, although they will be able to upgrade their dinner for $2 more than the $10 ticket. Following the dinner there will be a concert featuring Glen Soderholm of the Moveable Feast Ministry. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 519-853- 3951. Skills competition Congrats to Actons Laura Woodhead, a student at Christ the King in Georgetown, and her partner Stephanie Lewis, who earned a Silver medal at the re- cent Halton Skills Competition, a joint effort by the public and Catholic school boards to show- case skilled trades. Woodhead and Lewis compet- ed in the 2D character animation event. Astronomy Night North Halton Astronomy hosts Astronomy Night in Acton on April 24 to help celebrate Earth Day. The group will set up tele- scopes, binoculars and cameras, and offer information and hand- outs to the public. The star gazing begins at 8 p.m. in Prospect Park, weather and clouds permitting. North Hal- ton Astronomys Motto is Who Needs Hollywood....We look at real stars. In the past few months the scandal of Catholic priests sex- ually abusing mostly children has been much in the news. Recently, this tragedy has been driven by publicity to the doors of the Vatican itself. Full disclosure; I am a practi- cing Roman Catholic, have been all of my life. I attended catholic grade school and high school. I have been taught by teaching or- ders of nuns and priests as well as by parish priests in different churches I have attended before and after I married. Past columns I have written leave no doubt about my dis- gust with pedophiles. In my mind there are no allowances for occupations or vocations. Catholics everywhere are justi- fiably disgusted with the few of the hundreds of thousands of priests worldwide who be- trayed a sacred trust by abusing children. We also feel local church authorities have erred in their coping with these aberra- tions. By the same token, not all priests, brothers, nuns deserve to be assumed as child molest- ers. In all my years of church re- lated activities, or at school, I never heard or saw anything that would indicate any impropriety. During high school in the early 60s two of my priest teachers did leave the priesthood and got married. That was the extent of the scandals I ever saw that was in anyway related to sexuality. It disturbs me, and it should you too, that an entire religious organization is being viewed with suspicion because of the perversion of a very few. Pedo- philia has probably been with us since the beginning of time. Thats not to excuse it, there is no excuse for succumbing to this sick behaviour. There is also no excuse to assume guilt by mere association. There have been pedophile teachers in our schools. Does that mean that all teachers should be suspect? Of course not. By def- inition, pedophiles gravitate to places where young people con- gregate. Sports coaches, youth ministers, child care workers, every adult who comes in con- tact with children and has the opportunity to be alone with them could also be suspect. The latest crisis in the church declared by the press claims the Pope himself is under siege. Poppycock! Granted, Pope Benedict has not captured the affection of the world that Pope John Paul II did. Pope Benedict has an impossible act to follow but, in his own way, is trying to lead his church to the best of his ability. If one disregards the head- lines the truth is that this Pope has been more open about de- praved priests than any other church leader. He has been more honest than any of his predeces- sors regarding the scope of the problem. Previous church lead- ers tended to ignore the problem hoping it would fade into obliv- ion. Some courageous victims persevered however and the whole sordid affair was exposed for all to see. I was disappointed in the, in my view, intemperate remarks attributed to the Archbishop of Canterbury around Easter re- garding the Catholic Church in Ireland. The Irish church is experiencing a difficult time as has been well publicized. The Archbishop, Rowan Williams, said the Catholic Church in Ire- land had lost all credibility due to its handling of the abuse issue. He quickly apologized. My feeling is that people who live in glass cathedrals shouldnt throw rocks. People are confused as to why pedophile priests appear to have been transferred from parish to parish. Back in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s people inside and outside the church didnt know what to do with sex offenders. Some psychiatrists thought it was a curable disease. Today, we know that the rate of recid- ivism is very high and we still dont know what to do with sex offenders. In years past, this offence was an embarrassment, something to be denied. These days people tend to be more open regarding sexual mores and scandals, pub- licized more in this information age. These are good things for society in general and the vic- tims in particular. There is a report that the United Nations court is sug- gesting the Pope be arrested when he visits England later this year. This is ridiculous. The Pope is a head of state which would not necessarily make him immune. I just think it shows the duplicity of the United Nations when they insist that despots and mass murderers be allowed to roam the world at will, but they suggest the Pope be arrested. Perhaps Toronto Archbishop Collins said it best in his pas- toral message last weekend. Just one priest gone wrong causes great suffering, and as we hear of evil done by some clergy in our own communities and around the world, we are all filled with dismay. Perhaps these evil priests will attain forgiveness in Gods king- dom. Its doubtful theyll gain it in ours. To Err is Human, to Forgive is Divine GIFT OF LIFE: With the help of Canadian Blood Services phlebotomists, regular donors Sarah Brophy (right) and Elizabeth Stuckless gave blood at last Thursdays clinic at the Acton arena/ community centre. Seventy-one units of blood were donated. Frances Niblock photo