Reformation Ohio plans Toledo rally in response to riot

10/29/2005

Reformation Ohio, an initiative aimed at bringing "spiritual revival and moral transformation" to the state, will conduct a meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. today in Smith Park, Dorr Street and Forrest Lane, in response to the Oct. 15 riot in North Toledo.

"This is an area where the Good News of the Gospel needs to be presented in both word and deed," the Rev. Rod Parsley, founder of Reformation Ohio and senior pastor of World Harvest Church in Columbus, said in a press release. "Only God's love and the power of the Holy Spirit can change lives and transform communities."

Reformation Ohio was invited to Toledo by the Rev. Charles Allen and the Rev. Sheila Early of Trulight Cathedral Global Ministries. The 90-minute meeting will include food distribution, voter registration, musical performances, a presentation by Columbus dance troupe Remnant, and a Gospel message.

The Toledo Catholic Diocese was found to be in compliance with all articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, according to an analysis by the Gavin Group Inc. of a 2005 self-reporting audit.

The charter was adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas in 2002. Compliance was reviewed in four areas: promoting healing and reconciliation; guaranteeing effective response to allegations of abuse of a minor; ensuring accountability of procedures, and protecting the faithful in the future.

In 2003 and 2004, the reviews were conducted by outside auditors who visited the dioceses. The USCCB decided last year to scale back the monitoring procedures and require dioceses found to be in full compliance in 2003 and 2004 to skip the on-site audits and instead fill out questionnaires on their compliance.

Muslims around the world will celebrate the end of the Islamic holy month on Eid ul-Fitr, or "feast of fast breaking," next week. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other sensual pleasures from dawn until dusk.

The Eid ul-Fitr will be observed on either Thursday or Friday, depending on the tradition of the local Muslim community. Because Ramadan is a lunar month, some communities rely on the sighting of a new crescent moon before setting the Eid ul-Fitr, while other communities base the date of the holiday on astronomical calculations.

In Toledo, the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo will celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr on Friday morning, following the 10 a.m. prayers at the mosque, 25877 Scheider Rd., Perrysburg Township. After the community meal, members celebrate by visiting friends and relatives, often exchanging gifts, and giving to charity, Imam Farooq Abo-Elzahab said.

The Masjid Saad in West Toledo will wait for the sighting of the crescent moon before determining the holiday, according to Ziab Abu Hummos, president of the mosque. The Masjid Saad's Eid ul-Fitr celebration will be held in the Tam O'Shanter Sports complex fieldhouse, 7060 West Sylvania Ave., Sylvania, Mr. Hummos said.