We look into some of the ethical challenges raised by solitary confinement in prisons; visit best-selling Catholic crime-novel writer James Lee Burke at his home in Montana; and replay our 2012 story about a mock hajj for Muslim American children in Virginia as this year’s annual pilgrimage to Mecca approaches.
Author Archives: Fred Yi
James Lee Burke
“A Franciscan told me once, ‘Don’t keep track of the score. The score will take care of itself.’” Writer James Lee Burke’s best-selling crime novels are full of biblical imagery, messianic language, the influences of his Roman Catholic boyhood, and a longing for redemption.
The Francis Factor, Supreme Court and Prayer, Pakistan Polio Campaign
A panel at Georgetown University discusses the influence of Pope Francis six months after his election; correspondent Tim O’Brien examines a pending Supreme Court case over the constitutionality of prayers at government meetings; and correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the significant challenges hindering polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.
The Francis Factor
On October 1, Georgetown University hosted a panel to discuss the influence of Pope Francis’ leadership on American public life six months after his election. The discussion was moderated by John Carr, director of the new Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. He was joined by PBS NewsHour’s Mark Shields; Kim Daniels, a spokeswoman for the Catholic bishops; Alexia Kelley, representing Catholic philanthropists; and columnist David Brooks of the New York Times and the NewsHour.
Supreme Court and Prayer at Government Meetings
“For the protection of government as well as for the protection of religion, they need to be separate. I think when government gets involved in religion, it corrupts religion, and I think when religion gets involved with government, it can corrupt government,” says plaintiff Susan Galloway.
Pakistan Polio Campaign
The polio virus has been eradicated in most of the world, but Pakistan is one of the few countries where it is still a problem. Programs to vaccinate children have been hampered by suspicions about the purpose of the vaccinations, religious concerns about the vaccines, violence from extremists, and critics who say Pakistan has more pressing problems to deal with.
Pakistan’s Christians, Implementing Obamacare
In the wake of last week’s bombing of an old Anglican church in predominantly Muslim Pakistan, we have a report from Karachi on increasing hostility toward Christians; and we go to Los Angeles to talk with people of faith and others on all sides of the debate over Obamacare as it nears implementation.
Pakistan’s Christians
In this predominantly Muslim nation, religious extremism and resentment of the West contribute to violence against Pakistani Christians. “We feel most of the time we are not equal. Not only not equal, but the growing feeling is that we are not even wanted,” says the Catholic archbishop of Karachi.
Implementing Obamacare
“As a person of faith, if I am to turn my back on people who have needs, medical needs, physical needs, I have turned my back on my faith,” says Rev. Art Cribbs, executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. But Biola University religion and ethics professor Scott Rae believes Obamacare takes too much authority out of the hands of individuals.
Shinnyo Lantern Floating for Peace
On Sunday, September 22nd, thousands of New Yorkers gathered for the first Shinnyo Lantern Floating for Peace in Central Park. Orchestrated by Shinnyo-en, an international Buddhist community, more than 2,200 candle-lit paper lanterns with individually written messages of peace were set afloat onto a large reflecting pool in the center of Trump Rink, in honor of people who have dedicated their lives to the cause of peace. Photos by Noelle Serper.
