Adopt a Catholic Congressman
A new prayer campaign targeting Catholic Congressial leaders was recently launched by OneNationUnderGod.org.
The faith-based organization said 50 percent of Catholic politicians serving in Congress have accepted large donations from ”pro-abortion” lobby groups “while reinforcing their support for abortion rights legislation.”
OneNationUnderGod.org is inviting people to join its prayer campaign for conversion of Catholic politicians “who hold great influence over the lives of the innocent.”
People involved in the campaign are asked to adopt a Catholic member of Congress and pledge a daily spiritual devotion for their enlightenment and for the continued inspiration of their bishop.
The campaign was launched June 22, the feast day of St. Thomas More, whom Pople John Paul II procliamed the patron saint of statesmen and politicians.
For more information about the campaign, go online to www.OneNationUnderGod.org.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Tweeting nuns on the road
TULSA — The “Flying Nun” of TV yesteryear was make-believe.
Here come the real-life tweeting nuns of today.
Calling it “Chris and Barb’s excellent adventure,” two Benedictine sisters with St. Joseph’s Monastery in Tulsa joined Twitter this week to tweet about their experiences on a recent road trip.
Sister Christine Ereiser, the monastery’s prioress, said she and Sister Barbara Austin, left Tulsa earlier this week headed for Chicago, Ill., where the pair plan to attend an annual meeting of Benedictine women from throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
Ereiser said they chose to travel on old Route 66 and wanted to stay in touch with Ereiser’s 87-year-old mother who lives in Tulsa.
Ereiser said she decided to try Twitter as a way to keep Mom informed and also several friends and the St. Joseph’s community.
Speaking by phone Thursday night after arriving just outside Chicago, Ereiser said she enjoyed sending tweets as part of the Twitter social network. The trip through the old towns on the old highway was “meditative,” she said.
“It’s rejuvenating to travel at a slower pace.”
Ereiser, who sends tweets as ChristineOSB, said she had to think a little about what details would be off interest to family and friends following her tweets.
She’s had some return tweets.
“Some people weren’t aware of some attractions that I’ve mentioned. Some people were giving advice to us to get off (the highway) in different places”
Will she continue tweeting now that she’s found Twitter?
Possibly, but probably not on a daily basis, Ereiser said.
“I think it’s important to have something to say.”
(ABOVE PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN: Sister Christine Ereiser, prioress of St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, poses for this 2007 photo at the monastery.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Summer at the movies: recommendations & warnings
I have not reviewed very many movies in recent months, but the folks at MovieGuide have.
They sent out their warnings and recommendations about the summer crop of movies for people looking for family friendly content at local movie theaters.
The Pixar film “Up” has received glowing reviews from Ted Baehr, founder of MovieGuide.
I thought I’d share their round-up of “the good, the bad and the ugly of summer season film fare”:
May 1, 2009
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”
*** -2
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” tells how Logan, aka Wolverine of the “X-Men,” lost his memory battling General Stryker, the villain in the second X-Men movie. Wolverine is a rousing, passionate action flick with a tragic romance that may appeal to a few women, but its moral worldview is spoiled by some very strong fight scenes and plenty of foul language.
May 8, 2009
“Star Trek”
**** -1
The long awaited “Star Trek” re-imagines the world of the original series by changing its timeline to enter an alternate universe where the characters can literally start over. “Star Trek” is an exciting, entertaining, popcorn movie with a strong moral worldview ultimately, but it takes place in a darker, amoral universe.
May 15, 2009
“Angels & Demons”
*** -3
The movie version of the “Angels & Demons” book stars Tom Hanks as an agnostic professor who stops a dastardly plot to blow up the Vatican and destroy the Catholic Church from inside. The plot in “Angels & Demons” is too convoluted and retains the book’s revisionist history and slanderous tone of smearing Christianity through false information.
May 22, 2009
“Night at the Museum”
*** +1
“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” finds the hero of the first movie and his museum friends trying to stop an evil Egyptian king’s plot to rule the world. “Battle of The Smithsonian” is a charming, creative family adventure sprinkled with humor, romance, excitement and history, including two brief positive references to God and an implied reference to Jesus Christ and His positive impact on history.
May 22, 2009
“Terminator Salvation”
*** -1
“Terminator Salvation,” based on the previous “Terminator” movies, stars Christian Bale as John Conner, the prophesied Resistance leader against a group of evil, world dominating machines. John goes on a quest to find his father, who holds the key to stopping humanity’s complete annihilation. “Terminator Salvation” is a thrilling action movie with intense, non-stop action violence and a strong moral, somewhat redemptive theme of fighting evil and sacrificing for others.
May 29, 2009
“Up”
**** +3
“Up,” the new animated feature from Pixar and Disney, is about a 78-year-old widower and a young boy scout who find the adventure of a lifetime on a jungle plateau in Venezuela full of unknown dangers. “Up” is another heartfelt, family-friendly, utterly delightful animated classic from the wonderful team at Pixar and Disney. It is the real winner of the summer season!
June 5, 2009
“Land of the Lost”
*** -4
Though it promised to be family friendly, it did not deliver on that! “Land of the Lost” is a very vulgar remake of what was a children’s TV show, about a foul-mouthed, pompous scientist, his new assistant and a redneck survivalist, who accidentally get trapped in another dimension with dinosaurs, a caveman alien and a group of nasty, but slow-moving lizard men up to no good. Despite some very funny clean moments, “Land of the Lost” is a rambling, abhorrent exercise in offensive, sexual, scatological, stoner jokes.
June 12, 2009
“Imagine That”
*** +2
“Imagine That” is the story of Evan, an executive competing inside his company for a promotion, only to discover that he needs his daughter and her imaginary friends in order to succeed. With little negative content, but some magical elements, “Imagine That” is a heartwarming, funny movie showing the love that can grow between a father and a daughter.
June 12, 2009
“The Proposal”
*** -2
“The Proposal” is a funny story of powerful book editor Margaret talking her younger assistant Andrew into marrying her in order to stop deportation to Canada. “The Proposal” is a very well made romantic comedy, but it contains much sexual innuendo, some near nude scenes and a mixed pagan worldview with positive references to pagan beliefs that warrant extreme caution.
June 12, 2009
“The Taking of Pelham 123”
**** -2
“The Taking of Pelham 123” stars Denzel Washington as Walter Garber, a New York City subway dispatcher who must redeem himself by taking on a foul-mouthed criminal mastermind who is holding about 17 subway passengers for $10-million ransom. “The Taking of Pelham 123” is an excellent, suspenseful thriller with a strong Christian, redemptive worldview, but it is marred by a whole lot of strong foul language and some intense, very strong depicted violence where people are shot multiple times.
June 19, 2009
“Year One”
Jack Black stars as a caveman and the plot borrows from and skewers the Old Testament stories. This will probably have much troubling content for faith-based viewers.
June 26, 2009
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
The sequel to the original hopefully will retain the moral content of the first. The original “Transformers” was honored by Movieguide as one of the Top 10 movies for mature audiences in 2007.
June 26, 2009
“The Stoning of Sorayam”
**** -1
“The Stoning of Sorayam” is a passionate dramatization of a true story about a Muslim woman whose husband disposes of her and the reporter who risked his life to bring the true story to the world. This movie is a powerful, dramatic insight into the evils of Islam, with convincing acting and direction. Though not a movie for children, it is a movie every adult should see.
July 1, 2009
“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs”
The gang is back for the 3rd installment of the “Ice Age” movies. It promises to be family friendly.
July 17, 2009
“Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”
The bespeckled boy witch is at it again with a new installment. We anticipate it to have the same occult outlook as the previous movies.
July 24, 2009
“G-Force”
A group of guinea pigs has to save the world in this family comedy. Looks promising.
July 31, 2009
“Aliens in the Attic”
When children prove immune to the aliens’ mind control device, it’s up to the neighborhood kids to save the planet! Looks family friendly.
August 7, 2009
“G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra”
Based on the popular toy, this action adventure movie has G.I. Joe as a UN Special Forces group based in Brussels. Because of outcry from many fans, especially servicemen, Hasbro has said that movie will be changed to make G.I. Joe an American hero again. We’ll have to wait and see.
Note: The *s represent quality of the movie, with **** being the highest. The number system is for acceptability and ranges from – 4 for unacceptable content to +4 for positive content.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
P.S. I did see “Terminator Salvation” and I agree with MovieGuide’s recommendation on the film. There was a very strong theme of redemption in the movie and that made it much more interesting to me than if it had just been another action film. I have sons so I’m familiar with the genre. “Terminator Salvation” was actully quite good.
New product worth watching
There’s a new product coming out later this month that is worth watching.
There’s a pun there … wait for it.
I’m talking about Shades of Glory sunglasses.
A wire story distributed by the Religion News Service reports that Birmingham, Ala. man and his brother Terry, created the sunglasses that say “I love Jesus” on the sides and “John 3:16 on the lens, with a cross above the bridge of the nose.
According to the story, the Singleterry brothers came up with the idea for the sunglasses after they were laid off last October after working for years in in a warehouse for furniture distributors.
The RNS reports that the sunglasses sell for $12 and may be available in Christian bookstores by the end of this month.
How’s that for a little lighthearted news on a glorious Saturday?
Get out and enjoy the sunshine today.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Speaking out on abortion doctor’s murder
Numerous leaders of faith groups and anti-abortion organizations have been speaking out on the murder of Dr. George Tiller, who was shot dead at his church on Sunday.
Probably the most extreme comment I’ve read thus far is the one reportedly made by the Rev. Wiley Drake, a Southern Baptist pastor in Buena Park, Calif.
“I’m glad George Tiller is dead,” Drake was quoted in an Associated Baptist Press story today.
According to the story, Drake, a former Southern Baptist Convention second vice president, made the comments Monday on his Crusade Radio broadcast.
“There may be a lot who would say, ‘Oh that is mean. You shouldn’t be that way,” Drake said. “Well, no, it’s an answer to prayer.”
Tiller, who attended Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan., was well-known as an abortion provider, particularly of partial-birth abortions.
Among the leaders of faith groups and anti-abortion organizations around the country sharing their comments is an Oklahoma Roman Catholic leader, the Most Rev. Edward Slattery, bishop of the Tulsa Diocese. Slattery, like many of the leaders, condemned Tiller’s slaying.
“Dr. Tiller was one of three doctors in America who was willing to perform late-term abortions. The news of his murder saddens all the members of the pro-life movement in America since it is just such violence that we deplore,” Slattery said.
“For this reason, I want to be among the many in the pro-life movement to publicly condemn this violent action against life,” he wrote in a prepared statement.
“Such violence does nothing to further the cause of life. Rather, it sullies our effort and allows others to dismiss us as terrorists.”
Here are a few other comments from leaders across the country:
Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission: “Murdering someone is a grotesque and bizarre way to emphasize one’s commitment to the sanctity of human life. People who truly believe in the sanctity of human life believe in the sanctity of the lives of abortion providers as well as the unborn babies who are aborted. … Clearly the killing of abortion profiders is unbiblical, unchristian and un-American. Such callous disregard for human beings brutalizes everyone.”
Melinda Delahoyde, president of Care Net, which runs a network of more than 1,100 pregnancy centers providing help and support to those facing unplanned pregnancies: “Care Net strongly condemns the brutal act of violence that ended the life of Dr. George Tiller on Sunday. It is never consistent with the pro-life ethic to take the life of another human being made in the image of God.”
Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, part of the “Values Voter” movement: Our hearts go out to his family and friends. May they find comfort in their hour of grief. We condemn this heinous crime in the strongest possible terms and hope the person responsible for Dr. Tiller’s death is brought to justice speedily.”
Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition: “The pro-life movement is non-violent and does not encouage vigilante justice against abortionists. We seek to bring an end to abortion through peaceful and legal means. As evil as Tiller was in killing late-term babies for profit, he did not deserve to be executived by a vigilante.”
The Rev. Galen Guengerich, board chairman of the Interfaith Alliance, a group which celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights: “The abortion issue evokes deep passion from people on all sides, but resorting to murder should never be an option. The fact that it happened at a church is all the more distressing.”
The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life: “I am saddened to hear of the killing of George Tiller this morning. … Whatever the motives, we at Priests for Life continue to insist on a culture in which violence is never seen as the solution to any problem. Every life has to be protected, without regard to their age or views or actions.”
Shaun Kenney, executive director of the American Life League: “Leaders within the pro-life movement often discuss justice in connection with our mission to end the tragedy of abortion. Today, Dr. George Tiller’s life ended in an act defying those principles.”
(AP PHOTO above: Kip Bloss, of Wichita, Kan., prays outside Women’s Health Care Services in Wichita, Kan., today. Bloss, an anti-abortion demonstrator, was making his regular weekly appearance at the clinic which was owned by Dr. George Tiller who was gunned down during church services Sunday. )
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Redemption and Michael Vick
People have been talking alot about disgraced ex-NFL quarterback Michael Vick these days.
He is the subject of some interesting commentary featured in an e-newsletter from the Humane Society of the United States that popped up in my e-mail today.
I have been listening to talk radio all week and folks are sharing their opinions about whether Vick should be allowed to become an NFL player again since his dog fighting conviction. Vick spent 18 months in Leavenworth Federal Prison and people are wondering if they’ll see him throwing the pigskin at a NFL game in the future.
The Humane Society’s e-newsletter, called “The Humane Steward: Faith in Action for Animals,” is a monthly mix of interesting articles and commentary about the faithful’s call to care for animals. This month’s e-newsletter discusses Vick’s offer to help with the society’s anti-dogfighting campaign. It also includes some narrative about stories of redemption in the Bible and society CEO Wayne Pacelle (pictured below) talks about his recent decisions regarding Vick.
“He’s served his sentence, and now he’s made a personal appeal to The HSUS to involve him in anti-dogfighting and anti-cruelty efforts. Will we continue to flog Michael Vick indefinitely, or will we take advantage of his expressed desire to do better, to be an agent of change for animals?,” Pacelle wrote.
” I knew it would be controversial, but I decided it was the right thing to engage with Michael and give him a chance to participate in our anti-dogfighting efforts.
“We at The HSUS are about change, even the hard cases.”
Read what what else Pacelle has to say: “Talk Back: Michael Vick as Messenger.”
To sign up for the Humane Society’s Humane Steward e-newsletter and read more about the society’s Animals and Religion program, go to www.humanesociety.org/religion.
(AP PHOTO AT TOP: Michael Vick arrives at federal court surrounded by the media for a meeting with his parole officer in Norfolk, Va. on May 22.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Battle against stroke
Many churches across the nation participated in Power Sunday, part of the Power to End Stroke awareness campaign.
On that Sunday, church leaders were encouraged to preach a lifesaving message to their congregations about preventing stroke and the services were dedicated to those who have survived or died of stroke.
Power Sunday is held any Sunday in May, which is American Stroke Month.
Urban gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin kicked off this year’s Power Sunday at his church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.
According to the Power to Edn Stroke blog, Franklin talked to the congregation about the risk factors and warning signs of stroke. Then, he led the congregation in the Power To End Stroke pledge. More than 1,200 church members took the pledge. During the service, Oakcliff’s Pastor Tony Evans reinforced the message, and church member and stroke survivor, Bertha Banks, gave a personal testimony, according to the blog. After the service, the Health and Wellness ministry conducted health screenings and distributed educational brochures.
Oklahomans can look forward to a visit from Franklin as part of the Power to End Stroke “Fight of Our Life” Health tour. He will be appearing along with local performers — church choirs, singers, mime groups and others — at two separate events, one in Tulsa and one in Oklahoma City, sometime in July.
I’ll keep you updated as more details are shared by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Church of Scotland channels LifeChurch.tv
The Religion News Service just sent out a brief article saying that the Church of Scotland is considering ”virtual ministers” to stem a shortage of full-time clergy.
Upon reading the full story, it sounds like the church is taking an idea that Edmond-based LifeChurch.tv has been using to maximum effect for years.
The news service reports that the Church of Scotland wants to use virtual ministers who would preach over a live video link to congregations that do not have a permanent minister.
“Preaching by live video link to vacant congregations is one of many radical changes being proposed by the Ministries Council,” Gordon Bell, media relations officer with the Church of Scotland, told Ecumenical News International.
He said the report to the Presbyterian church’s May 21-27 General Assembly suggests the Kirk, as the Church of Scotland is known locally, should consider the use of video technology in churches which struggle to attract full-time ministers.
The Orkney presbytery, which has 21 congregations spread over more than 10 islands, will be used to test the program by linking four congregations in the archipelago with technology similar to video conferencing.
There are presently an estimated 190 full-time vacancies for clergy across Scotland, which has a population of 5.1 million, the RNS reports.
If successful, church officials say a number of congregations in some of the most remote parts of Scotland would be able to take part in the same service.
Meanwhile, at LifeChurch.tv campuses, whether they be in Oklahoma or beyond (Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Florida and New York), people attend worship experiences with Craig Groeschel (pictured above), senior pastor, or one of the church’s teaching pastors, delivering the sermon via satellite. Groeschel typically delivers the message live at one of the church sites and this is beamed via satellite. They’ve been doing it for years.
Is this an idea whose time has come? Will we see more ministries doing the same?
If so, Oklahoma is well ahead of the game.
(PHOTO by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman: Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, sits in the sanctuary of the LifeChurch.tv headquarter campus at Interstate 35 and Second Street in Edmond in this 2005 photograph.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Max Lucado book giveaway
Fans of popular inspirational author Max Lucado are in luck.
His newest book “His Name is Jesus” is part of a giveaway initiative by publisher Thomas Nelson.
The book contains his writings on Jesus along with color art images that go hand in hand with the theme.
Daily drawings are being held through Friday for free autographed copies of the book.
To sign up for a chance to win a free book, click here: http://www.tngiftbooks.com/his-name-is-jesus.html
I had a chance to hear Lucado speak at a Religion News Writers Association conference several years ago in San Antonio, Texas, where he pastors a church. And of course, Lucado spoke at the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Oklahoma City bombing in 2005.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
New Web site discusses “Angels & Demons”
Westminster Theological Seminary has launched a new Web site seeking to provide answers to the religious questions in the new movie “Angels & Demons.”
The new site is www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com.
“Just as academic institutions and other groups are using the momentum of ‘Angels & Demons’ and the scientific issues it highlights to provoke discussion, Westminster Theological Seminary stands strong and is committed to educating individuals about spiritual and historical truths, in addition to science, as it relates to the book and film,” Vern Poythress, professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster and an expert on the intersection of science and religion, said in a news release.
Many universities around the nation and overseas are launching discussions to address the truth behind the scientific claims central to the suspense in the book and film.
Westminster launched the new Web site on May 13, hoping to help people ”sift through the mix of fact and fiction woven into the novel and film and encourage conversation,” leaders said.
The site contains articles on issues related to religion and science and seeks to provide answers to such questions as: “Is the Bible true?” “Can science answer the ultimate questions?” and “Is there evidence that God created the Earth?”
“Angels & Demons” premiered May 15 and is based on a novel by Dan Brown.
In 2006, Westminster launched a similar online response to l”The Da Vinci Code,” another novel-turned-movie by Brown.
“Westminster commends the scientific community for its strong response and conversation surrounding the film and joins in the pursuit of truth,” Peter Lillback, president of Westminster, said in a statement.
”We hope our site is a catalyst for people of faith to be better equipped to engage in spiritual conversation generated by this significant media and cultural event.”
Westminster Theological Seminary has campuses in Philadelphia, Dallas, New York and London.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
