[Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina] The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled April 20 that 14 South Carolina churches that were once part of The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina shall be returned, along with all real and personal property held in trust for the diocese, including the St . The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (Latin: Dioecesis Vhelingensis-Carolopolitanus) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church comprising the U.S. state of West Virginia.The ordinary is Bishop Mark E. Brennan.The diocese maintains two cathedrals: the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Wheeling, West Virginia, and the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred . As attendance grew, services moved to a local barbeque restaurant, and in 2013, the congregation began leasing the sanctuary of the New First Baptist Missionary Church, where it worships today as The Episcopal Church on Edisto. The court based its decision on a variety of factors, including whether the 29 ACNA parishes in question had created an irrevocable trust in favor of the National Church and its diocese. It concluded that 14 had done so and 15 hadnt. Myrtle Beach A new lawsuit accuses a Charleston priest of sexual abuse. Babick has been the parish administrator at Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Folly Beach. We will respond to the pleading in due time. Gross is an investigative watchdog reporter focusing on public safety and law enforcement for The Greenville News. Attorneys representing the case held a press conference in Mount Pleasant on Thursday. The diocese declined further comment. A lawsuit accusing Bransfield, the former bishop of West Virginia's Roman Catholic diocese, of molesting boys and men has been settled. Founded in 1820 by Pope Pius VII, it is one . Those cases are still pending. Woodliff-Stanley, who was consecrated in October, contacted her ACNA counterpart the day after the April 20 ruling and suggested a meeting later that day. z8*a|z>2}}oJ4b) u3ivW.??]GWhV]7M}^ +%NZE?tI@NNYufPYY0$,W-"`4x~r\0ba rf\ =LX7Xs;~T Follow him on Twitter @RCDJunior. That day, school officials quickly covered the windows, Aselage said, and have since replaced them with a brick wall. GREENVILLE, S.C. . In October 2012, the newly established Disciplinary Board for Bishops concluded that Lawrence was guilty of abandoning the church because of legal and canonical steps he and other diocesan leaders had taken to sever their Episcopal affiliation. Since then, Episcopalians in South Carolina have found ways to worship and serve their communities amid a series of legal victories and setbacks in the church property lawsuit. Increased parishioner support of the 2022 Catholic Sharing Appeal enabled the diocese to earmark funds for parish food pantries, Catholic school tuition assistance and other outreach efforts towards children and families, regardless of religious affiliation. Grace Church Cathedral, in particular, saw a large increase in membership, growing from about 1,700 members to more than 3,000 in the past decade. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is denouncing the Diocese of Charleston after allowing a priest to resume . On April 22, they sat for a joint interview with a Post and Courier reporter. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston began its own internal investigation of all documented cases of credible abuse accusations earlier in 2018. . While I definitely understand the severity of what I did, I can assure you that the video never did go anywhere else, Scofield said at his bond hearing. Under the category . Seacoast employee arrested, police say, 2YH: Women not treated as effectively for AFib as, Firefighters locate missing cats after apartment, CCSO releases doorbell video in Awendaw shooting, SLED chief speaks after Murdaugh sentenced in family, Police: 1 dead in shooting at Charleston apartment, Man, 67, charged for attacking roommate with nunchucks, Photos chronicle Paul Murdaughs drinking problem, Detailed timeline presented in Murdaugh murder trial, Alex Murdaughs property in Colleton County has been, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She previously covered crime and courts at The Dallas Morning News. Theyre not looking back. Also the dioceses three pastoral centers in Huttonsville, Charleston and the Eastern Panhandle have evolved in their use, which has led to added cost savings. Contrary to the claims in the lawsuit, the Catholic Diocese of Charleston takes protection of childrenvery seriously. The suit alleges that Doe lost consciousness and awoke to Babick performing sex acts on him. Diocesan leaders also are working out the transfer of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center back to the Episcopal diocese. 0eK*g)Tr*D-}BS L_=D=mO6g6{Kkk2|Z*`[xd;.1}&n"s"l+AL19i3q_xCt1P)-AsbGwSlLi {p`>Z9b[!6E7I$LZYI[ ccJECWb|?ARv+R,!uk{lm}f_97e/LKv~g|It~? Nevertheless, we are preparing for the next steps in bringing this dispute to a resolution and charting a creative path forward for the entire diocese, the ACNA diocese said. ajackson@postandcourier.com. Bryan Babick, Bishop of Charleston, The, Bishop of the Diocese of Charleston, The ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ASCDC-10387106. !EbU)Y X[p?lC|Hk2 dOG s&|.HZIZ-UR4-k',@5Df"DRN(.Z=Y_*8_r=}A*P4{$iMftx6N)RGi%roGY\__qWzy\|FD2C>-F:i:mY7:out-bqerq?6zA)VOm"ZpJ(K%Aa"jQP@Ld* )t)\@6%G0G2\p1>W4M`PaGo}axlIAUxKMP5#=4x:t]Vv1h6pwkV/bGUvt!3S4L JnBEC% Xd+&E/O7RMGS EyAG2c-x/f'tdE-/"FByP.JDxLiKqu8'\V,_. Stay connected! At that bond hearing, a Charleston police victim advocate said the victims families were shocked that a trusted staff member had recorded their children. School Leaders It now is one of the 20 largest congregations in The Episcopal Church. The victim filed a report weeks after the alleged incident happened. "This case stems from the Catholic Churchs continued failure to police their priests," the lawsuit states in its opening page. ), filed by John Doe 197. . The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston covers the entire state of South Carolina with Charleston as its See city. Columbia If you are looking for a parish community, we can help you find one close to you. CHARLESTON West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday that his office filed a response to the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston's motion to dismiss a civil case calling . "This case stems from the Catholic Church's continued failure to police their priests," the lawsuit states . Fifteen Anglican parishes, including the historic St. Michael's Church and St. Philip's Church in Charleston . They havent forgotten that thats part of both the pain and the courage that theyve had.. . The terms of the recent settlement are confidential, Wheeling-Charleston Diocese spokesman Tim Bishop said in a statement. The 14-page complaint was filed by Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone, the head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Catholic Priest Lawsuit by Sarah Nelson on Scribd. Lori has said that Bransfield was able to get away with his behavior for so long because he created a culture of fear of retaliation and retribution that weakened normal checks and balances in the diocese. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleson Diocese, said there would be no rash decisions when it comes to the dioceses spending. The complaint states in May 2019, after the victim graduated from a seminary college, he met . A former personal altar server sued ex-Bishop Michael Bransfield and the diocese in March, saying he was sexually assaulted in 2014 and harassed for years prior. Beaufort In December 2006, leaders in the diocese of San Joaquin were the first to vote to sever ties with The Episcopal Church. The lawsuit was filed by Bishop of Charleston, a Corporation Sole, dba Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, on behalf of its 33 K-12 schools throughout the State of South Carolina. Grace Beahm Alford gbeahm@postandcourier.com, Bishop England High faces $300M lawsuit over windows that let staff watch kids change, By Sara Coello and Rickey Ciapha Dennis Jr. Even members with deep generational ties to St. Pauls were accepting of the court ruling that left their former church in ACNAs hands, he said. A year later, Scofield pleaded guilty to a single count of voyeurism, saying his crime was a one-time occurrence. "Concealment of Mwapes conduct (and sexually abusive priests in general) has been the hallmark and policy of the Diocese and the Catholic Church.". Episcopal Peace Fellowship - Palestine Israel Network, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, joint interview with a Post and Courier reporter, would not seek a review of the state Supreme Courts ruling, baptized membership topped 29,000 in 2011, affirmed the actions of Lawrence and the standing committee, now known as Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, New Library at Seminary of the Southwest to be named for the Rt. Photo: Molly Hamilton. Get to know what schools we have in each deanery of the state: Aiken He strongly denied ever abusing anyone and the diocese said it had disproved the claims. Each window was visible from within, but students can't see through the blinds, Richter said. Bransfield served as the bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese from 2005 until his resignation . But attorney Larry Richter, who has represented victims in previous lawsuits against the diocese, said at a news conference in his Mount Pleasant office on Feb. 4 that perspective is shortsighted at best. "Mwape exploited this knowledge and engaged Plaintiff in increasing forms of sexual behavior. He has disputed the findings of Loris investigation, telling The Post none of it is true, but declining detailed comment on the advice of his lawyers. We cannot fall asleep at the switch. /E%:||K 07D^Ipa(JDpsDa K;pSMn)~$ Ug~(`(q89RZl/c(&KXMy86^LQC1G,f3T11c1g 3.;2oGsi,& G{u~\5= EarI4NoQ+4!9%3m,uPP%!sy+O/nq 0Q|)+E2$V=?I February 24, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse. Learn how the Diocese of Charleston protects children and creates safe environments for our youth. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A lawsuit accusing the former bishop of West Virginia's Roman Catholic diocese of molesting boys and men has been settled. Class-action lawsuit filed in Berkeley County's court system on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston and Bishop England High School. Neither Mwape or the woman and her lawyer responded to messages from the newspaper. In May 2019, a student using a school device found video that had been shot through one of the windows, showing underage students changing. His replacement, Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mark Brennan, is set to be installed Thursday in Wheeling. The Charleston-based Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina once counted as many as 78 worshipping communities across the southeastern half of the state, including along the Atlantic Coast. The diocese was established on July 11, 1820, by His Holiness Pope Pius VII making it the seventh oldest Roman Catholic district in the United States. Blinds on the office side of the glass allowed for some privacy, but enabled employees to peer in. On 03/11/2022 John Doe 197 filed a Personal Injury - Other Personal Injury lawsuit against Bishop of Charleston, The. Independently, however, eight ACNA parishes filed a petition requesting their own reviews of the ruling, a process less lengthy or extensive than an appeal. "The plaintiffs claim that the windows were installed for the sole purpose of exploiting students is simply ludicrous," said Maria Aselage, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Charleston. Brennan outlined the findings in a letter to the diocese. He died in 2010 and cannot be named as a defendant. Parish and school subsidies accounted for nearly $5.3 million in diocese expenses last fiscal year, compared to $4.1 million in the 2021 fiscal year. Subscribe to The Greenville Newsat greenvillenews.com/subscribe. To strengthen our efforts to ensure the safety of our young people, I have asked for onsite audits of parish and school safe environment measures to be conducted annually in our Diocese rather than every three years, he added. "In 2018, referring to a particular case in Chile, Pope Francis accused victims of fabricating allegations, but by April, was apologizing for his 'tragic error' and by August, was expressing 'shame and sorrow' for the tragic history," the suit states. The live-filmed cop show featuring Richland and Berkeley deputies, On Patrol: Live, is now on the streaming service Peacock, with the potential to reach a wider audience. Attorneys allege the victim then went unconscious and woke up naked with the chaplain allegedly performing a sex act on him. Episcopal leaders consider the case effectively closed. Members who wanted to remain Episcopalians began worshipping instead in homes with the help of retired priests. Jeffrey Walton on April 21, 2022. Bransfield had been investigated for an alleged groping incident in 2007 and was implicated in court testimony in 2012 in an infamous Philadelphia priestly sex abuse case. Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Wants Former Bishop Michael Bransfield Case Dismissed Joselyn King, Wheeling Intelligencer, May 11, 2019 Talk of schism led to lawsuits in dioceses across the United States as conservative leaders sought to lead their congregations out of The Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Charleston has been the subject of 2 sexual abuse lawsuits in one week's time, according to coverage by Live 5 WCSC.In one suit, a man details 2 years of abuse in the mid-1970s, and in another, a woman alleges abuse against her and her sister, as well as a systematic coverup within the church from 1961 to 1966.. St. John's Catholic Church and Cathedral School CHARLESTON West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday that his office filed a response to the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston's motion to dismiss a civil case calling . gyee@postandcourier.com rdennis@postandcourier.com, By Avery G. Wilks With stronger policies, careful administration and trust in Gods Providence, we will seek to balance our budgets and live within our means.. 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The suit alleges that Doe reported the abuse to his vocations director and asked for mental health counseling. The findings, first reported by The Washington Post, determined Bransfield had spent church funds on dining out, liquor, personal travel and luxury items, as well as personal gifts to fellow bishops and cardinals in the U.S. and Vatican. rdennis@postandcourier.com, By Angie Jackson The court concluded a group that left the church and joined the Anglican Church in North America, or ACNA, must return 14 church properties it claimed in 2012 to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, as well as diocesan properties that include St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Seabrook Island. Babick has been the parish administrator at Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Folly Beach. Typically, The Greenville News does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault and abuse, however in this case, Jentsch-McKay has publicly identified herself in court documents. The Missouri-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said the legal system not the church should determine the legitimacy of the claims. A spokesperson for the Diocese . Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones, Churchwide Global Mission Conference: Journey Into Healing. 148 Williman Street The lawsuit alleges that the church knew about McLeans behavior and covered it up. Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston spokesman, Tim Bishop, released a statement regarding the ongoing lawsuit . After 2012, about 30 former members of St. Pauls began worshipping in homes, a library and a United Methodist Church before renting and renovating a commercial space to serve to house the congregation now known as Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. V@8$ze'DC?^n4rG|%}sI0j]Lghpn+r{PFXjmQ~Avgk;?Xa(1Npv,;I@DW[{c>XAl6w*Qm|vezpyTM[YcB:M'<9 i# Ahprz;Xs)WoS/xEAmhs3 $B:B> sq: Rather, we seek long-term financial stability so that our Diocese can continue its mission in a balanced manner. Finding Home in God with Yale Professor Miroslav Volf 3-Part Online Series, Birds of the Air with the Rev. The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina continues to be a constituent part of The Episcopal Church, even if a number of its leaders have departed, then-Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in a pastoral letter issued two days before the special convention vote. Soon afterward, the windows were covered and were subsequently removed and replaced with a block wall. Ignatius, Discernment, and You with the Rev. The filing asserted Bransfield would consume at least half a bottle of liqueur nightly and had drunkenly assaulted or harassed seminarians. With about 7,500 members in 31 congregations, it is focused on advocating for racial and social justice in its communities, fostering healing among its congregations and building the future church, Woodliff-Stanley said. Diocese of Charleston Faces Two Priest Abuse Lawsuits. But Richter also is worried about students from other schools who used the locker room before games. The charges were filed by a woman referred to as Mary Roe 1818. Theyve done all manner of things, Woodliff-Stanley said of the Episcopal congregations that reorganized themselves. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) - The Diocese of Charleston and four private schools were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the South Carolina High School League. School Teachers Robert E. Guglielmone, the bishop of Charleston, speaks Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at a news conference regarding a federal lawsuit that has been filed seeking to remove the Blaine Amendment from the South Carolina Constitution. The diocese is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond in due time, Aselage said. Religious Ed. However, securities investments fell from $283.6 million in 2021 to $241.9 million in 2022. Coming on the heels of a new wave of sex abuse allegations in the U.S., the Bransfield scandal added to the credibility crisis in the U.S. hierarchy. School leaders have said it was designed for student safety, but did not cover it until a staff member used the opening to illegally record video of young students. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of students and parents at Bishop England High School, seeks tuition refunds and damages for every child who might have been seen. The Daniel Island school, which is overseen by the Diocese of Charleston, boasts several hundred students each year. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. Additionally, Catholic school teachers and staff are required to attend boundary training.. Charleston Though Bishop Edward Salmon had turned 72, the churchs mandatory retirement age, he agreed to a request by the South Carolina Standing Committee to continue to serve as acting bishop until the consecration of his successor, Bishop Mark Lawrence, in January 2008. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A lawsuit accusing the former bishop of West Virginias Roman Catholic diocese of molesting boys and men has been settled. According to the audit, mineral rights investments jumped from $52.1 million in 2021 to $64.9 million in 2022. The Diocese of Charleston has described as "unfounded" a lawsuit's claim that diocesan officials colluded with attorneys who served as counsels in . Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the first openly gay bishop in the church. The diocese released its annual audit Thursday afternoon. He later returned to the Charleston Diocese in 2015. Catholic Diocese of Charleston facing new lawsuit, Lowcountry men accused of possessing child porn, VIDEO: Investigators search for cause of West Ashley weekend apartment fire, publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. If successful, the plaintiffs will ask for tuition refunds totaling about $150 million, by Richter's calculations and another $150 million in damages for the slew of students who could've been seen undressing for gym class or athletic games. We are impacting the lives of our brothers and sisters both spiritually and physically but there is still much to do. Read moreSpartanburg, Wofford remember Jerry Richardson's enduring impact, Leadership at Dockside Condominiums has been given an extension to address problems at the harborfront condo building. Maria Aselage, director of the office of media relations for the Diocese of Charleston, responded to the lawsuit. Diocesan support for both was up significantly in 2022. Class-action lawsuit filed in Berkeley County's court system on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston and Bishop England High School. 901 Orange Grove Road, Charleston, SC 29407, Copyright 2023 Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina | All Rights Reserved | website by, Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina Catholic Parishes, Schools, and Charities, A Journey Through Lent with Sacred Scripture, March Creighton Model NFP Introductory Sessions. The lawsuit alleges assault and battery by a former Bishop England High School chaplain in May 2019. Do you work at your parish or school? She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. Charleston, S.C., Apr 18, 2009 / 17:04 pm. Lynch was released from the clerical state in 2009. . The religious organization mandates that every teacher, other employee, and volunteer who has regular access to children undergo a background screening, attend a child abuse-prevention education program, and sign a code of conduct governing their interactions with minors, Aselage said. The defendant was also a former chaplain at Bishop England High School . The Diocese of Charleston filed a suit against South Carolina on Wednesday challenging the state's "Blaine Amendment", which . Several top churchmen received tens of thousands of dollars in church-funded personal gifts from Bransfield during his tenure in Wheeling-Charleston, which covers the entirety of one of the poorest U.S. states. Discontent also had been simmering under the surface because some conservative dioceses at that time still objected to womens ordination, which convention approved in 1976. He said that several parishes and schools had been able to retire some long-term debt through fundraising campaigns. Later that fall, leaders in the dioceses of Pittsburg, Fort Worth and Quincy announced plans to join their counterparts in San Joaquin in disassociating from The Episcopal Church. The 22-page lawsuit, which was filed Monday, alleges Mwape started grooming Jentsch-McKay to engage in a sexual relationship while pastoring Holy Trinity Church. MOUNT PLEASANT A lawsuit filed Feb. 3 is asking for $300 million from South Carolina's largest Catholic high school, saying an ill-conceived locker room design allowed staff to watch underage students undress. Theyre ready to move on, Sanderson told ENS. Northwest of Charleston, in Summerville, Episcopalians previously had worshiped at St. Pauls Episcopal Church. The South Carolina Supreme Courts April 20 ruling brought joy to some in her diocese and renewed grief to others. In October 2009, a majority of delegates at a special diocesan convention voted to authorize Lawrence and the South Carolina Standing Committee to begin the process of disassociating from The Episcopal Church over General Convention resolutions that endorsed greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the life of the church. ACNA Bishop Chip Edgar, also newly consecrated as of March, agreed, and the two met at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Clear. "It is best to think of the grooming by offenders as a gradual, calculated process.". ]t)Wm]~C|j]g)}_TwX.]^]j{v^]N>\s-Oo\7 o( :GW6jw]mG^pO\$vW! Victim Assistance. We received notice of this lawsuit late this afternoon and will be responding in due course, Aselage said. How do we now walk together in the work of enacting the Supreme Courts decision in a way that has the highest possible reflection of Gospel values?. The Episcopal and ACNA dioceses now are in talks about how to carry out the courts order that 14 church properties be returned to the Episcopal diocese. WHEELING Though economic factors led to an unrealized loss in assets of nearly $29 million, the Most Rev. The Wheeling-Charleston diocese includes nearly 75,000 Catholics and 95 parishes throughout West Virginia. Roe was part of the St. John Catholic Church and School where McLean was a priest and teacher with regular contact with children. Mwape, a native of Zambia, has been in the priesthood for 25 years. While eight of the ACNA parishes that had been worshipping in those churches ask for a review of the decision, no one has contested the transfer of the other six church properties. , Post and Courier, an Evening Post Publishing Newspaper Group. It mandates that every teacher, other employee, and volunteer who has regular access to children undergo a background screening, attend a child abuse prevention education program, and sign a code of conduct governing their interactions with minors. Welcome to the Diocese of Charleston, a territory full of history and heart that covers the entire state of South Carolina. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff, Authorities arrested the sports information director, Jeffrey Alan Scofield, in 2019. Lowcountry men accused of possessing child porn, VIDEO: Investigators search for cause of West Ashley weekend apartment fire, publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555. This lawsuit filed in Charleston County is just the latest in a string of lawsuits claiming misconduct in the Diocese of Charleston. On the other hand, the court allowed ACNA to retain possession of 15 other church properties. In a statement, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston said it learned from the media that Morrisey had filed a lawsuit alleging the diocese had "violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and . the Diocese of Charleston, named a . Brennan also mentioned that the diocese also saw more lawsuit settlements in the fiscal year of 2022. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Bransfield wasnt included. Episcopalians and departing Anglicans in South Carolina have received final word in a mixed ruling that concludes the last major church property dispute in the North American Anglican realignment. The diocese said the windows were a safety feature for the building's three locker rooms. West Virginia's attorney general is accusing the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in an amended lawsuit of failing to publicly disclose allegations of sexual abuse against a Catholic school teacher The terms of the recent settlement are confidential, Wheeling-Charleston Diocese spokesman Tim Bishop said in a statement, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. stream MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - A Mount Pleasant law firm have filed a $300 million class-action lawsuit against the Diocese of Charleston, Bishop England High School and others Thursday morning. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Roman Catholic Church in the Southern United States that comprises the entire state of South Carolina. Our childrens safety is of paramount importance.. This case was filed in U.S. District Courts, South Carolina District Court. Because of such church planting, the diocese has welcomed nine new congregations and worshiping communities in the past decade, such as St. Catherines Episcopal Church, now worshiping in a former shoe store in Florence. [{7XzdBiewMF"w [I&?K9s;A{R:i0nHWzg1>Z:6miQc. You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.