Get Religion is a national and global journalism site focusing on how the mainstream press covers religion news in politics, entertainment, business and sports.
Last week, Stricherz highlighted a Washington Post story about Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit to the states. I’m sure we’ll be highlighting many more stories as the visit approaches, but I wanted to direct readers to a few of the better sites for coverage.
Someone needs to get a good in-depth interview with the staffer (or staffers) on Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley’s staff who is heading up the investigation of televangelists, which seems to be picking up lately. A couple of meager stories trickled out last week about a couple of ministers/evangelists who are responding to the senator’s inquiries.
The New York Times had a fine story the other day about country-music superstar Alan Jackson. No, honest. Read it for yourself. It covers all kinds of territory, including his gospel album that turned into a surprise hit.
Millions of American Catholics loved their parochial school, or remember loving it. There is a whole sub-genre of art about this theme. But why Catholics loved their school is difficult to say. Did they feel close to the Holy Spirit? Do they love its sense of community? Or are they feeling nostalgic?
The BBC published a story last week that should have gotten a great deal more coverage than it has. According to the report, the Turkish government has commissioned a team of scholars to revise the Hadith — the collection of thousands of sayings reputed to have come from the Prophet Muhammad.
The other day, I went to an interesting Pew Forum event linked to the new books by E.J. Dionne (“Souled Out“) and Amy Sullivan (“The Party Faithful“). They should have included another book on a related topic — “Why Democrats Are Blue” — but you knew I would say that.
The Sacramento Bee had a rather interesting politics and religion story Wednesday about statements from a former UCLA basketball player who now heads a fellowship group for California legislators that attack another fellowship that “embraces people of all faiths without insisting that they accept Jesus Christ.”
I’ve never talked to a priest. As a reporter, that is. I’ve talked to bishops and cardinals. I talked even to a former president, which for reporters is a big “get.” But I’ve never talked to a priest.
Is Agence France-Presse even trying any more? Someone sent me a story they published yesterday headlined “Major survey challenges Western perceptions of Islam.” Sounds interesting. Let’s check it out.
