COVER STORY: Where do you turn if a child in your neighborhood, congregation, classroom, athletic team, scout troop or community group suddenly changes due to a little-known condition known as PANS/PANDAS? An ever-growing number of people in our communities nationwide are encountering this disorder and need answers to basic questions.
So, you’ll be glad to learn: Help is on the way. That’s our Cover Story this week, featured in the pages of our Front Edge Publishing website. Over the past two decades, the Michigan State University School of Journalism’s award-winning Bias Busters project has produced two dozen books to help Americans understand our neighbors who seem different. As of this month, the Bias Busters are starting to work on a book about understanding families living with PANS/PANDAS.
Please read and then share this cover story with friends via social media. You may be surprised to discover someone in your congregation, school or community group who is grappling with this condition. Sharing public awareness of PANS/PANDAS is helpful to countless families coast to coast—say the national nonprofit family-advocacy groups who are helping with this effort.
.
.
And from our other writers—
Our ‘Sanctuary’ authors continue to encourage compassion
.
A search for truth, dating way back to the turbulence of the Vietnam War
AS A PUBLISHING HOUSE, we are honored to have been chosen by National Catholic Reporter to publish their landmark history, called Beacon of Justice, Community, and Hope. A central figure in producing that book is the former head of that award-winning newspaper, Thomas C. Fox—who was one of the courageous American news reporters on the ground in Vietnam in the 1960s. Now, Fox and some filmmakers who have created an independent documentary called, The Stringer, are trying to “right” an apparent mistake made in attributing a famous war-time photograph to a particular photographer. It’s a complex and challenging story, but Fox is as determined as ever to pursue truth and to correct an injustice. We thought our readers would want to learn about the latest effort by Fox to help correct the journalistic record.
.
Holidays & Festivals
Prayag Kumbh Mela becomes the world’s largest peaceful congregation of people.
HOLIDAYS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton reports on the complex issues involved in this Hindu gathering that already has topped 100 million people and is expected to continue growing before it ends in late February.
.
WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com
.
.
.
Faith & Film
Hollywood’s Best on Dr. King
WE ARE CONTINUING to feature the following list of “Ed McNulty’s recommended films related to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” because our next weekly issue of ReadTheSpirit magazine (appearing on February 3) will honor Black History Month.
Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time Faith & Film columnist Edward McNulty died and we mourned his passing. As we start 2025, we will be publishing occasional columns in this space contributed by our many writers—as well as links to some of Ed’s past reviews as those films become timely again.
RUSTIN—Ed enthusiastically recommended this 2023 film.
SELMA—Similarly, Ed gave a full 5 stars to Ava DuVernay’s inspiring feature film about the courageous march in 1965.
KING—Even though it was a TV production made way back in 1978, Ed always recommended Paul Winfield’s performance as Dr. King in this NBC feature.
THE LONG WALK HOME—For context, Ed urged his readers to include this 1990 drama in any film series about King and the civil rights movement.
SELMA, LORD, SELMA—Especially for younger viewers, Ed included this Disney production from 1999.
THE VERNON JOHNS STORY—Finally, Ed highlighted this often overlooked feature starring James Earl Jones as the prophetic preacher who played a key role in Dr. King’s career. Amazon Prime users can stream the film for free right now. If you’re seaching for it, the movie sometimes is titled The Road to Freedom.
And here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out
LEAP OF FAITH—Gail encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.