Prayers, Please

By Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry, October 13, 2016

New Ways Ministry comes to you, our readers, with a request for prayers for a dear friend of our ministry and of LGBT Catholics. We learned yesterday evening that Professor Leslie Griffin, a leading scholar on the intersection of religion and law, was brutally attacked while jogging in her home city of Henderson, Nevada, and is now in the hospital in critical condition.

Professor Leslie Griffin

Professor Griffin, who holds the William S. Boyd Chair of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Law School,  has written extensively on questions of religious liberty. She has defended the rights of religious institutions, but also the rights of LGBT people and other minorities who suffer discrimination because of an institution’s religious identity.  She has also worked on several cases defending people unjustly treated by religious institutions. Professor Griffin is scheduled to be a keynote speaker at New Ways Ministry’s Eighth National Symposium, “Justice and Mercy Shall Kiss: LGBT Catholics in the Age of Pope Francis,” at the end of April 2017.  She will be speaking on the topic “Religious Liberty, Employment, and LGBT Issues,” an area in which she has done much academic and practical research.

According to police reports, Professor Griffin was attacked while jogging near her home, and her attacker lifted her in the air and threw her to the ground.  The brutality of the attack is beyond words.  A good samaritan passing by came to her aid and helped convince the assailant to speak with the police.

In addition to her academic credentials in the field of law, Professor Griffin also has a PhD in Religious Studies from Yale University. She has been an associate professor of moral theology at the University of Notre Dame before turning to the study of law.  While at Notre Dame in the 1980s, she met New Ways Ministry’s co-founder Fr. Robert Nugent, SDS, while he was studying there, and became a decades-long friend and supporter of our ministry.

New Ways Ministry is heartbroken to learn the terrible news of the attack on Leslie Griffin.  Feeling helpless, as many do in similar situations, we turn to prayer. And we turn to you, our friends, for prayers for this  woman who has dedicated her life building a just church and world.  Leslie is a gentle soul, with a big heart, and who despite her academic accomplishments, is a humble and unassuming personality.

Please keep Leslie and her family in prayer.  Please pray for her full and speedy recovery. Please pray, too, for her assailant. Thank you.

Related articles

AboveTheLaw.com: “Law Professor Left in Critical Condition After Brutal Attack”

News3LV.com: “UNLV law professor in critical condition after brutal attack in Henderson”

 

13 replies
  1. John Hilgeman
    John Hilgeman says:

    What a horrible thing! I am praying for Professor Griffin – for her quick and thorough recovery from not only the physical harm, but the emotional harm as well.

    Reply
  2. Wilhelm Wonka
    Wilhelm Wonka says:

    Yes, of course.

    I belong to a prayer circle which honours requests for intercession day or night. I shall contact it right away.

    Please God Professor Griffin may recover and her family may be consoled.

    Reply
  3. Barry Blackburn
    Barry Blackburn says:

    Our hearts and prayers are with Professor Griffin. When one suffers we all suffer and Christ suffers. May she be healed quickly.

    Reply
  4. Loretta
    Loretta says:

    Prayers for all involved. God bless the good Person who helped her and talked the assailant into talking with police?! Incredible. May God bring healing quickly.

    Reply
  5. noraleen
    noraleen says:

    I am holding Leslie in my prayers. Just today I read an article by Nugent. Blessings and thank you for Bondings. 2.0 Noraleen

    Reply
  6. Joseph Bye
    Joseph Bye says:

    Professer Leslie Griffin and NWM folks have our prayers and undying love and support along with all our CPN friends. Please keep us informed of her progress. God be with her. Mary and Joe Byers

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Reply
  7. amagjuka
    amagjuka says:

    Leslie lived on my floor in Farley Hall when we were both undergraduates at the University of Notre Dame. I am praying and will light a candle for her at the Grotto when I am on the Notre Dame campus this weekend. Is there an address where we can send cards?

    Reply

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