Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly listings – September 5

Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyis a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1801 will be fed over PBS at 5:00 p.m. EST on September 5 (check local listings). Heroin and the Faith Community – According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the number of drug overdose deaths […]

Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyis a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1801 will be fed over PBS at 5:00 p.m. EST on September 5 (check local listings).

Heroin and the Faith Community – According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the number of drug overdose deaths around the country has increased 118 percent since 1999, with heroin abuse reaching “epidemic” levels in cities and small towns alike. In an exclusive interview, Managing Editor Kim Lawton talks with prominent evangelical leader Rev. Richard Cizik, whose son, Richard Jr., died of a heroin overdose last year. Now Cizik is pushing faith communities—and churches in particular—to get more involved in the crisis by first acknowledging that heroin abuse is also a problem in their pews. Lawton also talks with the new acting director of the White House office, Michael Botticelli, about the role faith groups can play in anti-drug efforts.

World Without Hate – How one man forgave the murderer who almost shot him dead. A few days after 9/11, in Dallas, Texas, a gunman seeking revenge went looking for Arabs to kill. He found a well-educated former Bangladeshi air force pilot, a Muslim, Rais Bhuiyan, and shot him many times, at close range. As Lucky Severson reports, the hater was arrested and sentenced to death, but, somehow, Rais survived – and promised God he would lead a life of compassion, which he has done. He forgave his assailant many times, including just a few seconds before the man was executed. He has made mercy and forgiveness his life’s work.


 

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