c. 2005 Religion News Service
Falwell Fighting Pneumonia in Virginia Hospital
(RNS) The Rev. Jerry Falwell, fighting pneumonia in a Virginia hospital, expects to be released the week of Feb. 27, his son said.
“He developed a case of pneumonia through the week,” said Jonathan Falwell, executive pastor of his father’s Thomas Road Baptist Church, in an interview Friday (Feb. 25). “They’ve been trying to get his lungs to clear out. The doctors said that he’s doing better this morning. … Our hope is that he can come home the first part of the week.”
The elder Falwell, 71, checked himself into Lynchburg General Hospital Sunday after suffering from a cold the previous week and feeling worse at the start of the second service at his church in Lynchburg. He asked his son to finish leading that service.
“Basically it was just a viral infection that settled in the lungs and turned into pneumonia,” Jonathan Falwell said.
Though he considers his father’s condition to be “nothing life-threatening,” the younger Falwell said he appreciates the prayers being offered on his behalf.
“Obviously, we’re … thrilled with the amount of prayer that has gone up for him throughout the week,” he said. “We’ve known that and felt that as people have shared that they were praying for him.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Traditional Values Coalition Targets Sexuality in `Shrek 2′
WASHINGTON (RNS) The 2004 hit film “Shrek 2” promotes sex-change operations and homosexuality, a conservative Christian group says, and normalizes what it calls a “serious mental illness.”
The charge by the Traditional Values Coalition is the latest indignation voiced by the evangelical community at characters created to entertain children.
“If you want to do a porno film, that’s all right. I don’t have to buy it,” said the Rev. Louis Sheldon, founder of the Washington-based coalition. “But if you’re doing something for children, that’s not appropriate. Children are not ready for sexual arrangements, be it heterosexual, homosexual, whatever.”
In “Shrek 2,” the manly looking Ugly Stepsister, voiced by CNN’s Larry King, wears a dress and dances with Prince Charming, voiced by openly gay actor Rupert Everett. Also, Pinocchio reveals that he is wearing women’s underwear.
“When you take Pinocchio and show him with women’s underwear on, or you have a transvestite bisexual person, what is that trying to accomplish in the mind of a child?” Sheldon asked. “You’re bringing in a social disorder, gender identity conflict, and you’re throwing it to little children. This is like pumping and positively showing alcoholism and brutality.”
Richard Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Religious Leadership Roundtable run by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called that comparison absurd.
“In the case of Shrek, this is a story about what happens after the happily-ever-after, when you have to meet the parents, you have to work through the issues that a couple faces,” Lindsay said. “They are completely missing that because they are still hung up on whether Pinocchio is wearing a thong.”
Earlier this month, Brent Bozell, founder of the Parents Television Council, criticized Fox’s “The Simpsons” after Marge Simpson’s sister revealed she is a lesbian, the Simpsons’ town legalized same-sex marriage to boost tourism, and Homer became an ordained minister to marry gay couples. The episode also featured a man disguised as a lesbian woman.
In January, James Dobson of Focus on the Family created a buzz over whether SpongeBob SquarePants promotes homosexuality because the cartoon character is part of a video that promotes tolerance.
_ Andrea James
`Passion of the Christ’ Earns Multiple Movieguide Honors
(RNS) “The Passion of the Christ” was a multiple winner at the annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards on Thursday (Feb. 24) at a Beverly Hills, Calif., ceremony.
Mel Gibson’s movie was named Best 2004 Movie for Mature Audiences and won the $50,000 John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Price for the Most Inspirational Movie. Actor Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in the film, was honored with the Grace Prize for acting in a movie.
“Every year there is one movie that stands out from the others, that powerfully impresses audiences with a clearer perspective of God,” said Ted Baehr, founder of the awards ceremony. “This year, that movie is `The Passion of the Christ.”’
“The Incredibles” won in the category of Best 2004 Movie for Families and Jamie Foxx was honored with the Grace Prize for acting in television for his portrayal of a former gang leader in “Redemption: The Stan `Tookie’ Williams Story.”
“Doc: Happy Trails,” an episode of PAX TV’s weekly drama, was awarded the John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Prize for the Most Inspirational Television Program, which also was worth $50,000.
“The Question of God” was awarded special honors for best television documentary and “America’s Heart and Soul” was named best movie documentary.
The annual awards honor movies and TV programs that are considered to be morally uplifting with family-friendly content that favors Judeo-Christian values.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Focus on the Family Announces Changes in Leadership
(RNS) Focus on the Family, the Colorado ministry founded by author and psychologist James Dobson, has announced a change in leadership.
Don Hodel, who has served as president and chief executive officer since May 2003, has retired and will be succeeded by James D. Daly, the organization’s chief operating officer, the ministry announced Friday (Feb. 25).
Hodel will continue to serve on the organization’s board, which he joined in 1995.
During his tenure as president and CEO, Hodel worked to reorganize the staff and operations of the ministry, with Dobson saying he “literally revolutionized Focus on the Family.”
“He realized that the Lord had enabled him to accomplish what he had set out to do (and, indeed, what he felt called to do) here at Focus, and that it would be counterproductive for him to try to carry on beyond that point,” Dobson told supporters of his Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry in a newsletter.
Daly has worked for Focus on the Family since 1989 in various roles, including vice president of its international division.
Dobson said in the newsletter that he will continue to be the “chief ministry architect,” spending his time on writing, speaking and recording his “Focus on the Family” radio program.
_ Adelle M. Banks
It’s Now a Little Harder to Impersonate a Priest on a Cruise Ship
(RNS) Responding to a problem of people pretending to be ministers to get jobs on luxury ocean liners, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has formed a program to certify priests for cruise ships.
Since the program started about a year ago, Celebrity Cruises Inc. and Holland America Line Inc. have signed up, and Disney Cruise Line is “interested,” according to the Rev. John Jamnicky, national director of Apostleship of the Sea, which is a part of the bishops conference.
“This is an attractive type of ministry or work for clergy to be able to go on a very nice cruise, where your every need is met in beautiful surroundings,” Jamnicky said. “Everything is provided free of charge for you.”
The 650 priests on the list have been screened and approved by the Catholic Church. They get free room and board on the vessel and, in return, minister to vacationers and the crew.
Many of the priests use their vacation time to minister on cruise ships, Jamnicky said.
“We’ve been reaching out to the other cruise lines trying to get them on board,” Jamnicky said. “Some of them have just been slow in being a part of the program.”
Cruise companies pay about $1,200 per year to have access to the official priest list.
_ Andrea James
Quote of the Day: New York City Councilman Peter Vallone
(RNS) “Pay to pray was never supposed to be here to stay, and it’s time to reconsider it.”
_ New York City Councilman Peter Vallone, a Queens Democrat, on a bill that would rescind some paid parking meters on Sundays. Many parishioners say the rule requires them to leave church to feed the meter. He was quoted by New York Newsday.
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