Religion and Politics News Roundup
Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 06:42:37 AM PDT
Today's topics: Pope Bobblehead is not funny afterall, Sesame Street welcomes a Hindu character, the Compassion Forum coming up this weekend...
Hi friends, I've had a very hectic week; please excuse (or enjoy!) the levity in today's post.
Goodbye Benedict Bobblehead
The D.C. Metro released (and later pulled) an ad depicting a Pope Benedict XVI bobblehead doll (really, what were they thinking?!) Here's a quite educational response from the Vatican, in the Washington Post:
"Our concern is that this was a bad bobblehead," said Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington. "You had unauthorized merchandise, and you had a misdressed pope."
The bobblehead in the Metro video wears a red skull cap, known as a zucchetto, and a red cape. "Popes don't wear red skull caps," and they don't wear red capes, only white ones, Gibbs said.
Hat tip to Dallas Morning News.
Hello Leela
Visi Tilak, at Beliefnet's "Idol Chatter," celebrates the welcoming of a Hindu character to Sesame Street:
...a new character, Leela, will soon bring international culture and flair to the on the popular, long-running PBS show[.] Children who watch Sesame Street will be able to relate to an Indian accent and to Indian festivals and holidays, thanks to this latest cast member—the first Hindu— to arrive on Sesame Street. The new episodes, featuring a young Indian American actress, Nitya Vidyasagar, will start airing in August 2008 during Sesame Street's 39th season.
Compassion Forum coming up soon
Faith in Public Life will be hosting the Compassion Forum, on Sunday, April 13. Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama will attend the Pennsylvania event. Faith in Public Life's blog explains:
Now more than ever, Americans motivated by faith are bridging ideological divides to address domestic and international poverty, global AIDS, climate change, abortion, genocide in Darfur, and human rights and torture. The Compassion Forum will provide the opportunity for candidates to discuss how their faith and moral convictions bear on their positions on these important issues.
Ruling on clergy spouse rejected from jury
Howard Friedman at "Religion Clause" reports on a recent district judge ruling allowing the rejection of a jury member due to her husband's position as a clergyperson.
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