Religion - The Durango Herald

Tara Mandala to host open house

Tara Mandala will host the first open house of the summer at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the retreat center, 4000 U.S. Forest Service Road 649, in Pagosa Springs. The public is invited...

DATE: Jun 26, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

American cardinal severs ties with Bannon-linked group

VATICAN CITY – A conservative American cardinal distanced himself Tuesday from former White House adviser Steve Bannon and severed ties with a Bannon-linked institute that wants to train fut...

DATE: Jun 26, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Women have been the heart of the Christian right for decades

Alabama’s new abortion restrictions were signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. But more has been said recently about the fact that the bill was passed by 25 white men in the state Senate. Media ...

DATE: Jun 21, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Catholic bishops approve new sex-abuse reporting hotline

BALTIMORE – U.S. Catholic bishops voted Wednesday to create a new national sex-abuse hotline run by an independent entity, a decision that represents one of the church’s most tangible steps ...

DATE: Jun 12, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Durango Dharma Center to host meditation class

The Durango Dharma Center will host a four-week introduction to mindfulness meditation class from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday at the Dharma Center, 1800 East Third Ave. Practicing medit...

DATE: Jun 12, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Southern Baptists endorse steps against sexual abuse

Largest Protestant denomination makes it easier to expel churches

DATE: Jun 11, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Sex abuse crisis the focus as U.S. Catholic bishops convene

As the Roman Catholic church’s sex abuse scandal grows ever wider in scope in the U.S., bishops convene for a national meeting in Baltimore on Tuesday under heavy pressure to acknowledge the...

DATE: Jun 10, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Sex abuse crisis tops agenda as Southern Baptists convene

The Southern Baptist Convention gathers for its annual national meeting Tuesday with one sobering topic – sex abuse by clergy and staff – overshadowing all others. Inside the meet...

DATE: Jun 10, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

The history of China’s Muslims and what’s behind their persecution

More than 1 million Uighur Muslims are being held in detention centers in the far western province of Xinjiang, China. Uighur leaders and experts located outside China have warne...

DATE: Jun 8, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Ramadan in Mideast is for fasting and Facebook, data show

Residents spend 58 million more hours on social media platform during holy month

DATE: Jun 1, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

China deploys Confucius in bid to boost religion controls

BEIJING – China has begun five-day Confucian culture immersion courses for religious leaders in the sage’s hometown as part of a campaign to extend government control over faith communities ...

DATE: May 29, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

U.S. ambassador raises concerns during rare Tibet visit

BEIJING – The U.S. ambassador to China urged Beijing to engage in substantive dialogue with exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama during a visit to the Himalayan region over the past...

DATE: May 27, 2019 | CATEGORY: Religion

Photos: People’s MarchAbout 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

About 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

Photos: Fort Lewis College basketballWomen’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Women’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico

Photos: Wreaths Across America honors fallen veteransDurango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Durango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Photos: Skyhawks men’s and women’s basketball Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Demons defeat Bobcats 62-47 on Friday at DHS

Tara Mandala to host open house

American cardinal severs ties with Bannon-linked group

Women have been the heart of the Christian right for decades

Catholic bishops approve new sex-abuse reporting hotline

Durango Dharma Center to host meditation class

Southern Baptists endorse steps against sexual abuse

Sex abuse crisis the focus as U.S. Catholic bishops convene

Sex abuse crisis tops agenda as Southern Baptists convene

The history of China’s Muslims and what’s behind their persecution

Ramadan in Mideast is for fasting and Facebook, data show

China deploys Confucius in bid to boost religion controls

U.S. ambassador raises concerns during rare Tibet visit

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