Videocast
Millions of young Indian women make up a vast labor force of domestic workers that is largely unrecognized by their government. At a very young age, they leave – or are taken – from poor communities for work, only to receive less than the minimum wage. “It’s one of the biggest incomes for most people.” says Sister Jeanne Devos, a Belgian nun and founder of the National Domestic Workers Movement. “[They] go to the villages, get them poor children, sell them back in the city.” More
“The message of the Gospel is not welfare, is not give my people a better madras or give them some more food. It’s to set them free, and setting them free is this whole movement— right-based, dignity for them, their rights, and empowerment.” More
A new National Geographic film about Jerusalem attempts to transcend the city’s reputation for conflict with sweeping imagery and personal stories of why the city is so loved. “Jerusalem to me is more than a city.” says Farah Ammouri, a young Muslim woman featured in the film. “Its beauty, its spirit, also my religion–but most importantly, it’s my family.” More
“There’s a fear among large segments of the Buddhist population in Myanmar,” says Matthew Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, an independent organization to protect and defend human rights, “that the country is at risk of being taken over by Muslims. It’s a very unreasonable, irrational fear.” More
During the days just before Easter, Christians reflect on the fundamental events that shape their hopes as Christians. “The story of the passion, death, and resurrection, especially the resurrection,” says Father James Martin, SJ, “is at the center of a Christian’s faith.” More
“For a lot of people who are not Christian, some of the rituals may seem obscure. The songs, the rituals, the masses, the liturgies—they’re really carrying us through the story so we can experience it anew for ourselves.” More
The haggadah is the book that guides Jews through the ritual of the Passover Seder, the meal commemorating their ancestors’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. The Sarajevo Haggadah is famous for its artistically illustrated manuscript pages. Created 600 years ago, “It went through so many different cultures,” observes composer Merima Kljuco, “and so many different people took the care of the book and helped it survive.” More
“The central moment in Passover is the use of the material—the use of the tools we have with us in the world to bring us to another place.” More
Hollywood is releasing several stories from the Bible this year, to varying reactions. “We’re talking about sacred characters and sacred stories,” says San Diego State University history professor Edward Blum, “and so it’s not just Noah on screen talking to some powerful force. It’s Noah talking to God.” More
“To treat [Noah’s Ark] as something that’s not poetic and mythical is a mistake….we have goodness and wickedness inside of us, and we have a second chance now to take care of creation and each other. That’s a beautiful, poetic, inspiring idea to learn from and to inspire us to do better.” More
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