Church offers guide aimed at helping teens deal with ‘Harry Potter’ books, witchcraft
A guide designed to help Christian teens deal with the growing trend of books related to the occult, i.e. Harry Potter, etc. , has recently been released.
The Religion News Service reports that the Catholic Truth Society, the publishing arm of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has released “Wicca and Witchcraft: Understanding the Dangers.” The guide is aimed at helping teenagers deal with 21st century witchcraft, the RNS reported.
The booklet is said to offer advice to parents who find their children showing an interest in Wicca, paganism and the occult.
Apparently the book was written by a former Wiccan who became a Catholic, Elizabeth Dodd. 
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
New posting: Celibacy and the priesthood
The issue of celibacy and the Roman Catholic priesthood was the subject of a recent USA Today story.
The shortage of priests has brought the priests’ celibacy requirement to the fore again. Catholic priests are forbidden to marry but the USA Today report ponders whether the pope (pictured) would consider eliminating that prohibition to solve the priest shortage.
The Sunday Oklahoman features a story about the priest shortage in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. In the story, the Rev. William Novak, vocations director for the archdiocese, shares his thoughts about the impact the celibacy requirement may be having on men considering the priesthood.
Check out the Sunday Oklahoman for his comments.
To read the USA Today story, click here: Might Pope Benedict Consider Married Priests Again?
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Lunch time surprise
I recently met with Archbishop-designate Paul S. Coakley and I could tell one thing about him right off the bat:
He enjoys Italian food. 
That’s probably not a shock to anyone, but hear me out. nch.
I recently traveled with Oklahoman photographer Jim Beckel to Salina to interview Coakley at the Diocese of Salina chancery. Coakley will be installed as the new archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City on Feb. 11.
Beckel had joked on the way to Salina that we would tell Coakley where we had lunch and he would probably know something about the place.
We drove around downtown Salina and passed several different eateries before selecting an Italian restaurant. Therefore, I just thought it was such a coincidence that we chose the eatery where Coakley also was having lunch.
We had to laugh when we realized that he was there and we introduced ourselves. I promised him that I knew that our interview was at least an hour later. I also told him we were not stalking him!
Look for more information about Coakley in future stories in The Oklahoman. There’s more to Coakley than his superb taste in eating establishments.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
TV show to focus on exorcism rite
Entertainment Weekly is reporting that the Discovery Channel is planning a TV show focusing on exorcism.
No start date has been set as yet, according to the magazine.
I predit that folks interested in this touchy topic will be waiting in anticipation of how the cable channel will approach the subject.
One tidbit that EW writer James Hibbard included in his Inside TV column did catch my eye. Hibbard writes that people involved with the new show, to be called “The Exorcist Files,” have had access to the Vatican’s case files on exorcism.
The column made me think back to last fall when I was researching information for my Oct. 15 story about exorcism. The topic came up when a Satanist church rented a public room at the Civic Center Music Hall where they performed what they called a “satanic exorcism.”
I do believe I’m going to watch this new show since my curiousity has now been piqued.
Read EW’s Inside TV column for more information: “Exclusive: Discovery, Catholic Church team for exorcism series.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
New “Saint of the Day” app
St. Anthony Messenger Press just released its new Catholic iPhone app, “Saint of the Day.” 
Each daily entry includes a brief saint biography, commentary on the saint’s relevance to present-day life, and a reflective quote from Scripture, the saint, or another spiritual writer. The unique audio option allows consumers to listen to the entries if they choose, or read from the user-friendly screens. Special features include an extensive database — searchable by saint or cause — an interactive calendar, and a list of patron saints.
The app, which uses material from the best-selling book, “Saint of the Day,” has been the company’s most popular Web feature since 1997.
For more information, visit: “Saint of the Day”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
St. Francis Day in a Box
Many churches are preparing for their annual St. Francis of Assisi observances. 
These typically include the Blessing of the Animals, a fun and furry event the entails bringing pets of all shapes and sizes up to the altar of the church to receive a blessing.
I know that I’ll be getting information about these events in the coming weeks because St. Francis of Assisi Day is Oct. 4. Some churches tend to host their observances around that date if not on the date itself.
Some of the items include:
“The Green Bible Devotional”
100 2010 All Creatures Great and Small postcards
“Eating Mercifully” documentary
Mission Humane Action Guides, one each for youth and teen level service learning projects
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
“Pope Joan” movie making waves
A movie about a female pope is causing a stir among some in the faith community.
I wonder if it is causing contention because it brings up questions about things people would rather not talk about, ala “The Da Vinci Code.”
The German film is based on a book that was written about a mysterious legend that holds that a woman disguised herself as a man and rose to the rank of pope of the Roman Catholic Church for as long as two years.
It sounds intriguing and far-fetched — and those stories apparently make for the most-talked about movies.
Read more here: “Pope Joan”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Art work sparks debate, comments
Judging from the amount of comments generated by today’s story on the crucifix at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, the icon will continue to spark debate.
Some people apparently see it as a blatent attempt at the sexualization of Jesus, while others simply see it as artwork resembling the original crucifix it was reportedly made to look like.
My colleague John Estus wrote the story about the controversy swirling around the crucifix in question.
I looked at a picture of it and saw what was troubling opponents of the artwork. I then did an Internet search about the San Damiano crucifix that it is styled after. All of the San Damiano images on the Internet also show Christ with what looks like a distended abdomen and that may be because that was the way abdomens were painted back then. The crucifix at St. Charles Borromeo does look to be different from those images in that the abdomen area is much more pronounced.
It all makes for an perplexing situation for the Oklahoma City church and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Do they take the crucifix down and try to end the controversy that way? Do they have the artist, Janet Jaime, make modifications to her work to appease people who are displeased with it? Do they leave the artwork alone and leave it where it is?
Those are questions that come to mind.
If you are curious about the San Diamiano crucifix, here are links to related Web sites:
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Stations of the Cross meets iPhone
The Stations of the Cross devotions are well known among Roman Catholics as well as people who ascribe to other faith traditions.
Now the ancient stations have been combined with the technology of today. 
Ava Maria Press is debuting its new Stations of the Cross application for iPhone and iPod touch today through Sunday at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress.
The prayer companion is free for download and is based on the book “John Paul II’s Biblical Way of the Cross” by Amy Welborn and Michael Dubruiel.
“With gorgeous station paintings by artist Michael O’Brien, this app transports users anytime, anywhere to a prayerful journey of solidarity with Christ from the Garden of Gethsemane, to his betrayal and arrest, and on his agonizing way to the cross,” representatives of Ava Maria Press said in a news release.
“The Stations of the Cross iPhone app has been created with busy people in mind and is the perfect pocket devotional, especially during this Lenten season.”
Tom Grady, Ava Maria Press publisher said the company is exploring creative digital ways of keeping their readers connected to God through prayer.
The ancient Stations of the Cross devotion commemorates the Passion and the death of Christ.
The new app is available in the iTunes App Store.
(Photo by Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman: This Stations of the Cross sculpture is featured on a wall at St. Joseph Old Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Catholic bishops launch Web site on health care reform
Health care reform is on everybody’s lips these days.
Some faith groups have joined the fray.
They have their own opinions and they want to share them.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently launched a new Web site to promote its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.”
You can find it here: www.usccb.org/healthcare.
The page includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.
A news release about the new site said people can access Web videos of conference policy staff discussing the bishops’ position on health care.
Expect to see facts and statistics about Catholic health care in America, as well.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
