VATICAN 2—FROM ‘LOVE’ TO ‘WAR’
COVER STORY—Pope Francis is moving rapidly to reshape the Vatican’s moral voice in an era when—according to the pontiff—the world is suffering through a tragic “world war in installments.” Last week, we reported on his massive new publication Amoris Laetitia or The Joy of Love. He followed that by publicly endorsing the work of a global summit of peace activists, intent on dismantling the traditional use of “Just War” teachings to justify conflict. NEW—Read our story this week summing up what people are saying around the world about this historic move by Francis.
DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD
The ongoing mission of our magazine is reporting on media—books, films and other forms of expression—that build stronger, diverse communities. Recently, for example, columnist Suzy Farbman reported on a new documentary film about WWII hero Raoul Wallenberg. Meanwhile, Rodney Curtis literally took us up on the roof for an inspiring tale about going solar. And, we held a special spotlight on the PBS series 10 That Changed America, which concludes this week with the final “10” in that nationwide series.
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NEW THIS WEEK—MSU STUDENTS RAISE FLINT VOICES
WATCH IT YOURSELF—Our readers who know that ReadTheSpirit’s headquarters is in southeast Michigan often ask: “What’s the latest news from Flint?” Now, the whole world knows about the tragedy of poisoned water in this blue-color Michigan city—forced on unsuspecting residents by Michigan’s governor who was so determined to cut costs that Flint’s water system was hooked to the city’s polluted river. Despite growing uproar from residents, Michigan officials refused to fix the problem—until doctors revealed that children were being poisoned and some residents had died of Legionnaire’s Disease. Now, the “news from Flint” is a cautionary tale followed by men and women around the world. Recently, Michigan State University sent a team to report from Flint. The audio and video reporting by these students and their advisors first was broadcast in Michigan and now is streaming live online.
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SUZY FARBMAN—GodSigns columnist Suzy Farbman specializes in stories about men and women who improve life in a host of ways from charitable projects to the fine arts. This week, she points out that sometimes the life of a community turns on—a good party. Meet the Schoeniths, among the most famous party planners in southeast Michigan.
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HOLIDAYS & MILESTONES
Don’t miss a date! Remember www.InterfaithHolidays.org, our master calendar.
JAINS CELEBRATE—Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on Mahavir Jayanti, a unique Jain holiday harking back to a spiritual hero nearly 3,000 years ago.
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PASSOVER
COMING APRIL 22—Seder meals will begin this year after sundown on Friday April 22.
FEED THE SPIRIT—Our FeedTheSpirit host Bobbie Lewis brings us a guest column by one of the all-time-most-popular food writers in our magazine: Rabbi Eli Finkelman. Readers still ask about his earlier column on pickles. For Passover, Eli writes about his family’s tradition of gefilte fish—and he serves up a recipe for this treat well-known to Jewish families (but rarely made in non-Jewish kitchens). It’s a challenge: Can you find 2 pounds of fresh carp?
This year, Bobbie also has published other pre-Passover columns: First, she shared a guest viewpoint from Jewish educator Rebecca Starr. Rebecca’s column comes with a recipe for vegetable kugel. Second, Bobbie brought us a new twist to charoset, the apple-and-nut mixture meant to evoke the mortar used in ancient Egypt.
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EASTER
EASTERN ORTHODOX—The majority of the world’s Christians have celebrated Easter (March 27), but hundreds of millions of Orthodox Christians still are in the midst of their fasting season known as Great Lent. They will mark Easter on May 1 this year.
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FILM, FAITH & CULTURE
TALKING ABOUT MOVIES? Enjoy all of the free resources from Ed McNulty’s faith-and-film website by remembering the simple Web address: www.VisualParables.org And, please consider subscribing to Visual Parables Journal, used by individuals, teachers, group leaders and clergy who want to spark discussion with current films. The April 2016 issue is new this week, packed with complete study guides. Then, among Ed’s recent free movie reviews, you’ll find …
- THE JUNGLE BOOK—The latest version of Kipling’s classic is a joy for all ages. Ed McNulty gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
- KNIGHT OF CUPS—Terence Mallick’s films are usually controversial because of his visionary storytelling style. That’s true as well of his latest offering—and its well worth seeing, says Ed. (4.5 stars)
- EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT—Also known as El Abrazo de la Serpiente, this internationally acclaimed film is a mystical journey into the Amazon in two parallel stories. (5 stars)
- ZOOTOPIA—A wonderfully laugh-inducing fable. Ed says: Don’t miss it! (5 stars)
- WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT—Tina Fey shows us that war truly is madness. (4 stars)
- THE WITCH—Director-writer Robert Eggers’ “New England folk tale” is set in a small New England farming community in 1630. (4 stars)
- A WAR—This Oscar contender from Denmark serves as a good reminder that it is not just American families that are disrupted by the war in Afghanistan. (5 stars)
- SIN NOMBRE—Ed McNulty writes: “I wish every American would see this film” about Honduran refugees. (5 stars)
- LADY IN THE VAN—Don’t miss Maggie Smith in this movie, says Ed. (5 stars)
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