During one of his shifts wielding the U.S. Senate gavel, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas found himself reflecting on faith, politics and some of the most famous words in the Gospel According to St. John. Looking down from the dais, he thought: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but... Read more
Look up “mission” in a dictionary and it’s clear why the word makes Hollywood nervous. A “mission” can be “an aim in life, arising from a conviction or sense of calling.” That’s nice and secular. But what if “mission” means a group set apart “by a church or other religious organization to make conversions”? So film insiders flinch when a studio’s mission statement proclaims: “Walden Media believes that quality entertainment is inherently educational. We believe that by providing children, parents... Read more
At the end of their shows, the unlikely duo of Rabbi Robert Alper and Muslim comic Ahmed Ahmed let the laughter die down so they can get serious. It doesn’t matter if the gig is in a synagogue, yet backed by an alliance of Jews and Muslims, or in a community center, with a smattering of Christians in the crowd. The duo has even performed one show in a mosque. “We know what people are thinking. They’ve been laughing together... Read more
One of the great challenges of being a minister is finding something fresh and inspiring to say every year during holiday seasons. The challenge must be especially daunting for liberal clerics who walk a tightrope between ancient doctrines and their own postmodern beliefs. They must say something innovative and daring — Christmas after Christmas, Easter after Easter, Earth Day after Earth Day. Which brings us to a recent epistle by Bishop Charles E. Bennison, Jr., of Philadelphia, an ultra-candid voice... Read more
It’s no surprise that Johann Christoph Arnold opposes the war in Iraq. The senior elder of the Bruderhof communes in America and England opposed U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, the Holy Week bombings of Serbia, the first Gulf War, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. He marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. His social-activist resume covers half a century. “I am more than a pacifist,” he said. “The teachings of Jesus do not permit war. They do not... Read more
It’s time for the Catholic bishops to go to confession. It’s time for all of the Catholic priests to go to confession. Actually, with Easter a few weeks away, this is a time when all Catholics are supposed to go to confession. But most of America’s 65 million Catholics no longer know or no longer care that their church requires them to go to confession at least once a year in order to receive Holy Communion. Confession is especially important... Read more
Attention all families and friends preparing to send “care packages” to U.S. soldiers: Not all gifts are created equal on the Arabian Peninsula. Powered-drink mixes, beef jerky, pretzels and chewing gum are fine, say the veterans at www.West-Point.org. Chocolate will melt. Fly swatters, footballs, lip balm, sun-block lotion, foot powder and other logical items will be appreciated. Do not send pork or tobacco. Do not send religious materials. And do not send pornography. In other words, send nothing that will... Read more
The first thing people do after entering the quiet sanctuary is pause at a table to light prayer candles for friends and loved ones, the tiny flames adding to the glow of nearby candle trees. The ministers wear oat-colored, hooded robes tied at the waist with ropes and guide their flock through ancient prayers, a litany of confession and silent meditations marked by a series of bells. Hymns are accompanied by an ensemble that includes fiddle, acoustic guitar, wind chimes,... Read more
There was a time in the late 1980s when Georgette Forney didn’t want to turn on the evening news because she kept seeing the same frightening scenes over and over. Waves of Operation Rescue activists were doing sit-ins at abortion facilities, often handcuffing themselves to the doors while others collapsed nearby chanting, singing, praying and reading scripture. Then police would drag everyone off to jail. This cycle of civil disobedience kept repeating itself at other clinics, in other towns, in... Read more
In the Hollywood culture wars, Barbara Nicolosi is an army of one, a former nun turned screenwriter who constantly urges angry believers to love the artists who so frequently mock them. “How many of you have complained — or been enraged even — in the last month by something you have seen on television or in a movie theater?”, she asked a recent audience in Los Angeles. Hundreds of hands went up. Nicolosi gently pounced: “Now, how many of you,... Read more
Terry Mattingly
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