Symbols & Substance in Alabama

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm By tmatt

Susan Pace Hamill’s colleagues on the law faculty at the University of Alabama were puzzled when she decided to spend her hard-earned sabbatical studying the Bible. Why study Greek at Samford University’s evangelical Beeson Divinity School? What was a tax-law specialist who had worked in New York City and Washington, D.C., supposed to do with a Masters in Theological Studies degree? Hamill wasn’t exactly sure herself, but she certainly wasn’t trying to start a political crusade. “If you divide the... Read more

Vanilla values on the DC mall

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm By tmatt

The program opened with a homily by President Bush about American values, teamwork, dedication and the National Football League. It ended with Aretha Franklin singing the National Anthem, with the glare of red rockets reaching the dome of the U.S. Capitol. Washington Redskins great Joe Theismann reverently called it “a national moment of remembrance,” saluting thousands of uniformed military personnel in the crowd. ABC Sports and “New Pepsi Vanilla and Diet Pepsi Vanilla, the Not-So-Vanilla Vanilla” simply called it “NFL... Read more

Sept. 11 — Dreams of St. Nicholas

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm By tmatt

The first thing police found at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was a piece of a wing and landing gear from American Flight 11. Then the World Trade Center’s north tower fell on the humble, white-washed walls of the tiny sanctuary across the street. It took time for work crews to find much of anything after that. Eventually they found a paper icon of St. Dionysios of Zakynthos, but never found its frame or silver cover. They found an embroidered... Read more

Free speech movement, for believers on campus

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm By tmatt

It took a few minutes for leaders of the Bisexual, Gay & Lesbian Alliance at Rutgers University to realize something was wrong at their back-to-school meeting. The hall was full of unfamiliar students wanting to become members. Most were carrying Bibles with markers in the first chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. They also had copies of the campus policy forbidding discrimination on the basis of “race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital... Read more

The roots of King’s dream

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm By tmatt

The telephone rang after midnight and sleep was not an option for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., after he answered it. It was late 1956. Years later, King quoted that hellish voice: “Nigger, we are tired of you and your mess now. And if you aren’t out of this town in three days, we are going to blow your brains out and blow up your house.” King ended up in the kitchen, meditating on the mystery of evil and worrying about his family.... Read more

Catholic college culture wars

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:05 pm By tmatt

Anyone trying to understand the Catholic college culture wars can start with last spring’s commencement address by Cardinal Francis Arinze at Georgetown University. Media coverage was guaranteed, since many list the Nigerian prelate as a top contender to succeed Pope John Paul II. Who knew he would dare to mention sex and marriage? “The family is under siege,” said Arinze. “It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalized... Read more

Faith Crisis in Blogosphere

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:05 pm By tmatt

The news from Rome infuriated the most quotable Catholic, gay, HIV-positive, political conservative in cyberspace. But Andrew Sullivan knew where to find comfort after the Vatican’s recent reminder that gay unions are in no way “similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.” He poured out his frustration at www.andrewsullivan.com and his online community responded. “Times are terrible,” wrote a Catholic priest. “The church says gay people are not permitted to get married, ordained or adopt... Read more

An Orthodox parable for today

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm By tmatt

MIAMI — The elderly husband and wife were screaming at each other as they waited for an audience with the Orthodox archbishop of Tripoli. Metropolitan Theodosius VI could hear them and so could his young Lebanese assistant. Finally, the couple stormed into the office. They agreed on only one thing — divorce. “I will deal with you separately,” said the archbishop. Then he gestured for his aide to linger. This was going to be a learning opportunity for Philip Saliba, a master class in the... Read more

Harry Potter for grownup believers (of all kinds)

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm By tmatt

ORLANDO — Lee Hillman’s nightstand contains a copy of Sir James George Frazer’s classic “The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion.” It’s a condensed version, not the two-volume 1890 epic or the12-volume monument from the following decades. The single volume contains more than enough magical minutia for ordinary readers. Six dense pages will usually put Hillman to sleep. Nevertheless, the practicing pagan keeps reading. It has helped give perspective on her other passion — reading and writing about a certain young wizard in England.... Read more

Facing the Russian icons

Last updated on: January 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm By tmatt

As was his custom, the thief began his day with prayer before an icon of Mary and Jesus. But then the image began to move and he saw bleeding wounds on the Christ child’s hands and feet. Trembling, he cried out: “Oh lady, who has done this?” “You and other sinners,” said Mary, “who crucify my Son anew with your sins.” In this classic Russian icon called “Unexpected Joy” the thief repents and begins a new life. The icon is complex, yet contains a... Read more