Religious Leaders Seek to Ease Affordable-Housing Shortage

Calling the nation’s affordable-housing shortage a “moral and social disaster,� more than 375 religious leaders have urged President Clinton and other political leaders to use the Federal Housing Administration’s $5-billion surplus to help end the crisis.

In a letter issued this week, the leaders said they were “deeply troubled� that the problem was being ignored despite unprecedented economic prosperity. The surplus funds could be used to triple affordable- housing construction, provide homes for 200,000 families and help more than 4 million children suffering from stunted growth, anemia and other health problems, the letter said.

The letter was signed by leaders from across the religious spectrum, including Rabbi Eric Yoffie of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, Bishop Frederick H. Borsch of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Sayyid Muhammad Syeed of the Islamic Society of North America and the Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

LECTURES

Bishop Frederick H. Borsch of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles will speak on “Jesus, the Son of Man: Issues in Christology� Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Claremont Graduate University, 831 N. Dartmouth Ave., Claremont. The lecture, to be held at the Library of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, is free. (909) 621-8066.

* Robert Huizenga, former internist for the Los Angeles Raiders, will address “Ethics in Sports� Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Ethical Culture Society of Los Angeles, 14702 Sylvan St., Van Nuys. Admission is free. (310) 470-2873.

* Swami Bodhananda of India will give a series of talks on “The Upanishads and Meditation� Monday and Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 464 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. The lecture is free. (818) 761-5665.

* Clergy will discuss their support of abortion rights Wednesday at 7 p.m. at East Los Angeles College, Student Union, 1301 Cesar Chavez Ave., Monterey Park. The program, sponsored by Planned Parenthood, will feature the Rev. George Regas of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Rabbi Heidi Cohen of Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Ana, Wapolapiyananda Bhante of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara and the Rev. Cecil L. Murray of First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. (323) 223-4462, Ext. 3212.

* Cosmologist Paul Davies will speak on “Glimpsing the Mind of God: The Status of the Law of Physics� Thursday at 5 p.m. at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. He will speak on Mars and the origin of life at 10 a.m. (805) 493-3151.

* Dan Millman will speak on “Living on Purpose� Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Unity of Tustin Campus, 14402 S. Prospect Ave. in Tustin. (714) 730-3486.

* Bonnie Geary, a licensed marriage and family therapist, will discuss “Spiritual and Psychological Balance: An Antidote to Stress� today from 9 to 11 a.m. at Kirk o’ the Valley Presbyterian Church, 19620 Vanowen St., Reseda. (818) 345-2535.

CONFERENCE

Genethia Hayes, president of the Los Angeles Board of Education, will headline the Episcopal Church Women’s annual conference today from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. The “Tomorrow’s Woman� conference of the Los Angeles diocese will feature workshops on faith development, values clarification and character building, along with book signings and readings. Child care will be provided. Cost is $20 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children, including lunch. (909) 629-0232.

ANIMAL BLESSINGS

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will hold its animal blessing service in honor of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, Sunday at 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist will follow the blessing. The church is located at 14646 Sherman Way in Van Nuys. (818) 785-4251.

* The Church of Our Saviour Episcopal will hold an animal blessing service for all pets and stuffed animals Sunday at 2 p.m. at the church, 535 West Roses Road in San Gabriel. Other events will include games and children’s activities. (626) 282-5147.

EVENTS

The Angel Festival, featuring arts and crafts, singing, dancing, lectures, books and food, will be held today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the New Church, 5027 New York Ave., Glendale. (626) 794-4458.

* The Great Greek Cathedral Fest 2000 will feature Greek food, music and entertainment today from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1324 S. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles. The church will offer guided tours of the cathedral every hour. (323) 737-2424.

CONCERT

The St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra will open its 16th season with a concert, “The Roaring Twenties,� Friday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students. (310) 573-7787, Ext. 2.

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