Front page article in "Richmond Free Press" about Churches hosting the United Daughters of the Confederacy, St. Paul's Episcopal Church had dis-invited the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Historic Richmond Foundation doesn't seem to care that it is enabling neo-Confederates. UPDATE

The link to the article in the Richmond Free Press is:

http://issuu.com/richmondfreepress/docs/rfp_110614/1?e=13821893/10042171

UPDATE: Another link to the article which people might find easier to use.
http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2014/nov/07/confederates-hold-service-downtown-church/?page=1

You will need to click on it to enlarge it, and there is a square button to really enlarge it.

The article is on pages 1A and 4A at the bottom of the page. The issue is Vol. 23 No. 45, Nov. 6-8, 2014.

The Historic Richmond Foundation is defending their decision to rent to the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).  Mary Jane Hogue's rationalizations show an organization which doesn't care about racism.

The UDC refused to respond to inquiries from the Richmond Free Press.

What was very interesting was this section of the article:

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Downtown had hosted the UDC memorial service eight times since 1994 and agreed to host it again this year. But the church later rescinded the invitation, according to the church's rector, the Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley, after the UDC failed to agree to a meeting with congregation members to discuss the group's views and how they impact other people. 

"I've been here six years and questions grew among some of the people at St. Paul's wondering if hosting that was consistent with who we are at St. Paul's," Rev. Adams-Riley said. "We were wrestling with  that."  

He said UDC officially initially agreed to meet congregants, but then pulled out of the meeting. He said he then informed them they'd have to hold the memorial service elsewhere.

The Episcopal Church has chosen to reject the Confederacy and they are the first denomination to do so. It sets a good example for other churches and denominations.

This news story also shows that this issue will reach the public. Other churches will have to consider that their record will be before the public. I think that alone will bring an end to the practice.

Finally it shows that simple persistence can do a lot.