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John Allen Jr., Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter since 2000, delivered a speech earlier this month that humorously took apart five myths about the institution he covers. Candy Czernicki reported on Allen’s speech for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Catholic Herald. Here are the five myths, with quotes from Czernicki’s report.
“Truth is, I’ve been following this movie very closely for professional and personal reasons. My wife is an Presbyterian minister, a hospital chaplain (and, I might add, among the numbers who will not see this movie, though not for the reasons I write about. I have seen the film and will likely see it again.)
The Chicago Tribune reports on a trend of questionable size and gravity: Christians pressuring other Christians to see The Passion of the Christ against their will, and — wait for it — implying that Passion patrons are more holy than those not inclined to add to Mel Gibson’s record-setting box-office numbers.
Kathy Shaidle of relapsed catholic is not impressed (“Makes me want to see it even less”) with Quentin Tarantino’s typically hyper remarks regarding The Passion of the Christ.
It is always interesting to see what newpapers do with the counter protestors at abortion-related marches. The rule of thumb at pro-abortion-rights marches is that reporters lock in on the strangest anti-abortion activists they can find. The standard picture is of a row of screaming men in hard hats or, perhaps, a silent line of appropriately dressed priests and pastors.
One of the most interesting news angles in the coverage leading up to yesterday’s pro-abortion-rights march in Washington, D.C., concerned the Rev. Ignacio Castuera, the United Methodist pastor who is now the official chaplain to Planned Parenthood. In a Q&A interview with the Dallas Morning News, Castuera stated openly what many oldline Protestant leaders say behind the scenes. They believe they can make a spiritual case for the “choice” options in the sexual revolution. Why is that?
The New York Times has a report today on the announcement that Peter H. Coors will seek the Republican nomination the U.S. Senate seat of Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Susan Hogan/Albach of the Dallas Morning News, who sports one of the most colorful bylines on the Godbeat, has written the lede and quote of the month.
