Faith in the Public Square

The New York State Council of Churches is working with other religious groups and housing advocates to organize a rally in Albany tomorrow (Tuesday) to promote Right to Counsel legislation, which would ensure that every tenant in New York State has the right to a lawyer when facing an eviction. According to an email from the council, “Our faith leads us to proclaim the dignity of all people and the right to shelter. We agree with Pope Francis, who said during his 2015 visit to the United States, ‘We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing.’”   The Council reports that 1.2 million households are behind on rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 237,000 eviction cases pending across the state. Advocates are gathering at the staircase outside the Legislative Office Building (172 State Street) for a rally at 11:00 a.m., after which they will enter the building and go through security. Once inside, they will have a press conference

The Capital Area Council of Churches will have a Good Friday Ecumenical Service at noon on April 15.  The service will be at First Lutheran Church, 181 Western Avenue in Albany. People can participate in person, via Zoom or on Facebook Live.   The service is being prepared by the following clergy:  - Rev. William Hinrichs – St. John’s Episcopal Church, Cohoes;  - Pastor Rebecca Richards – Trinity United Methodist Church, Albany;  - Rev. D. Lowell Chilton – First Lutheran Church, Albany;  - Rev. Charles Anthony Rogers, Sr. – First Congregational Church, Albany;  - Rev. James Kane – Director, Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.   Links to Zoom and Facebook are here .