The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

Faith-Family Film Review: This Is It
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting

This Is It: Posthumous documentary capturing the planning and rehearsals for the titular series of comeback concerts by the controversial “king of pop,” scheduled to begin in London in July, but forestalled by Jackson’s untimely death at age 50 the previous month. Using footage originally intended for other purposes, director Kenny Ortega, who was one of the singer’s principal collaborators in crafting the ill-fated live show, creates an energetic, largely unobjectionable tribute that, while casting little light on the eccentric — if not inscrutable — personality of an iconic entertainer, does provide insight into the talent, vision and discipline that lay behind his global professional success. Some skimpy costuming and suggestive dancing, and at least one vaguely crass term. A-II — adults and adolescents. (PG) 2009.  Full Review:

Faith-Family Review: Paranormal Activity
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting

Paranormal Activity— Cohabiting San Diego yuppies (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) use a video camera to record disturbing phenomena they fear are being caused by a demonic spirit that has pursued the young woman since childhood. Writer-director Oren Peli’s ostensibly fact-based feature debut is mostly gore-free, playing instead — subtly and quite effectively — on viewers’ primal fears of the unseen, but his script fails to show the same restraint with regard to language and sexual topics. Some sexual content, including a premarital situation, an off-screen encounter and a few jokes and references, a half-dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude terms, and at least two obscene gestures. L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2009.  Full Review

Growing quantity of `Christian’ films now focus on quality
By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service,

(RNS) Director Brian Baugh’s upcoming teen film “To Save a Life” may be many things, but one thing it’s not, he says, is a “Christian” movie.  The upcoming film about a star basketball player who copes with a friend’s death is edgier than others—with violence, marijuana and a brief sex scene. Conservative friends who’ve screened the movie worry it doesn’t have enough faith in it, while others think it may have a bit too much. “That’s what makes it fun,” said Baugh, a film photography director whose new movie will be distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films. “Can we walk that line? It’s a great challenge.”

A graduating college student and aspiring journalist credits her parents for her accomplishments in life
by Kristin Sherrard
Holt International, Oregon

…My story begins on March 23, 1988, not on the date of my birth, but the start of my life. At eight months and ten days, I was still new to this world and didn’t know much. But from the moment I was held in the arms of Gene and Pat Sherrard, I knew I was home.  My parents have always played an important role in my life. Birthdays and vacations, sporting events and school projects, they were there for every one. It is with their love and guidance that I have become the person I am today.

Throughout my life, people have asked me if I ever wanted to try to track down my “real parents,” and every time I respond in the same way: I already know who my parents are and have no interest in finding my birth parents. While I would love to travel to South Korea one day as a tourist to see what it is like, I have everything I need and could ever want here in Kentucky.

By Oregon Faith Report,

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Washington state officials from releasing the names and addresses of those who signed a petition referring gay rights legislation to the November ballot.   The ruling temporarily blocks a federal appeals court ruling that had ordered the release of the names.  The Supreme Court order will remain in effect while it considers whether to involve itself in the matter.

The Washington state legislature passed a domestic partnership law for same-sex couples during its last session.  A group called Protect Marriage Washington circulated a petition, Referendum 71, which would repeal that law.  The group has been fighting the state to keep the names of the petitioners confidential, asserting that signers have a constitutional right to partake in politics privately if they face a threat of harassment from political opponents.

Central Arkansas CityFest: Tremendous Success
Excerpts from Luis Palau Press Release;
Beaverton, Oregon

(North Little Rock, AR) Global evangelist Luis Palau wrapped up his Central Arkansas CityFest campaign this past weekend with local leaders expressing amazement over the unprecedented cooperation among churches, businesses, and government…The CityFest project began 15 months ago when area pastors committed to bringing their congregations and resources to the effort. Of particular appeal to the churches, businesses, and civic leaders was a new component of Palau festivals called the Season of Service…

By festival weekend on October 24-25, more than 4,500 volunteers had served in the Season of Service at more than 175 projects. The concept of combining acts of service with an evangelistic festival has drawn the attention of cities across North and South America, Europe and Asia. Dozens of delegates from potential future cities came to Little Rock to observe and learn from CityFest. Pastors said the Season of Service effort revolutionized their congregations and they look forward to sustaining the effort into the future.The festival itself drew a crowd of 55,000 over two days to the North Shore Riverwalk in North Little Rock.

Oregon Faith Report Survey,

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Highlights of comments

This year, the annual White Ribbon Against Pornography (WRAP) Week runs Sunday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 1. WRAP Week is intended to inform the public and public officials about the harms of pornography and the need to enforce obscenity and related laws.  Resources for individuals and groups are available at www.moralityinmedia.org (“WRAP Campaign”). These include information about ordering white ribbons and a sheet describing what citizens can do during WRAP Week and throughout the year, sample letter to U.S. Attorney General Holder, sample letter to state prosecutors, sample Proclamation, and sample prayers and sermons.

By Traci Scott,
Oregon faith Reporter,

As conveyed in his recent book, “Golden Leaf:  a Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor”, Kilong Ung was a “golden leaf” propelled by the wind that blew him from one terrifying part of the world to the next.  Through adverse weather, turmoil and calamity, he was subjected to a barrage of horrors. While two million other leaves disintegrated along the way, Ung persevered against all odds, rose above the devastation, and landed safely here in Oregon.  His legacy is the tree that took root and the many branches he has utilized to reach out to others who have experienced a similar plight.

For more than 30 years, Kilong Ung, currently a Portland software engineer, struggled with nightmares, insomnia, paranoia and haunting memories of nearly starving to death in a slave labor camp where his parents and other family members perished before his very eyes.

Catholic schools that become charter schools are no longer “Catholic” in any sense of the word
By National Catholic Educational Association,

WASHINGTON– Are charter schools another way to keep Catholic schools alive, as some proponents suggest? Absolutely not, according to the president of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the professional organization representing K through 12 Catholic education in schools and parishes. Writing in the September issue of NCEA Notes, NCEA President Karen Ristau dispels the notion that a Catholic charter school is a possibility. “Catholic school leaders must be very clear about the difference between charter schools and the goals and aims of Catholic education,” she wrote.

Faith and Family Film Review: Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant – PG 13
By Catholic Office of Film and Broadcasting,

A strait-laced high school student (Chris Massoglia) and his rebellious best friend (Josh Hutcherson) get mixed up in a centuries-old conflict between a race of human-friendly vampires (led by John C. Reilly) and a group of homicidal bloodsuckers known as the Vampaneze. Director and co-writer Paul Weitz’s unfocused adaptation of three novels in Darren Shan’s “Cirque du Freak” series of children’s books, which gets off to a stylish start but bogs down in a meandering plot and overlong fight scenes, offers such a bleak outlook on conventional family life that joining the community of the undead and being adopted by the traveling sideshow of the title — populated by a beard-sprouting lady (Salma Hayek), a Japanese giant (Ken Watanabe) and the like — is presented as an inviting alternative. Considerable hand-to-hand and knife violence, some crude and crass language, and a pornography reference.  A-III — adults. (PG-13) 2009.  Full Review

Faith-Family Film Review: Amelia PG
Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting

Hilary Swank portrays aviatrix Amelia Earhart in a handsome, mellifluous biography suitable for viewing by multiple generations yet which nevertheless fails to soar as an adventure or romance. No one could expect director Mira Nair, using two literary biographies as source material, to offer the definitive take on Earhart’s personality, let alone solve the mystery of her disappearance over the Pacific in 1937, but the vague insights into her character and relationships, both with husband George Putnam (Richard Gere) and intimate friend Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor), though ultimately affirming the bonds of marriage, prove frustrating, particularly coupled with the film’s lack of sustenance for aviation buffs. Discreetly handled adulterous and premarital sexual situations, one instance of crass language, and one use of profanity.  A-II — adults and adolescents. (PG) 2009. Full Review

Below are excerpts on the upcoming Episcopal Bishop election from the Oregon Episcopal Church News. Read the whole article here.

Delegates to the 121st Diocesan Convention, taking place November 19-21 at the Eugene Hilton, will have the historic duty of electing the Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Oregon. The convention begins with an evening Eucharist at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene, followed by a business meeting in the church. Sandy Hampton, diocesan assisting bishop will preside and Bishop Jerry A. Lamb, provisional bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, will preach….The theme of this year’s convention is “Jubilee,” chosen to reflect the joy and celebration of this time in shared diocesan life in anticipation of the election of a new bishop.

Meet the candidates

By Traci Scott,
Oregon Faith Reporter

The ongoing investigation of an Ashland-based Islamic charity has recently brought into the spotlight the concerns of national security and unfair targeting of Islamic charities.

Recent federal court filings in the pending criminal case of Pete Seda, who led the now defunct Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc. charity, revealed an unusual exchange that took place late last year between U.S. prosecutors and Russian officials.  During the exchange, prosecutors provided copies of ten computer hard drives that were seized from the charity more than five years ago in return for Russian intelligence information on the charity’s financial and other activities.  The information from the hard drive that prosecutors provided to Russian officials may help them in accounting for Russian soldiers who were either captured or killed fighting Islamic forces in Chechnya, according to the Salem Statesman Journal.

Evangelist Luis Palau’s Season of Service was recently  featured on “Religion & Ethics” for which PBS aired thorough coverage about Portland’s Season of Service.   This is a great video.

Father Andrew Trapp, Priest of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, entered a national televised poker contest and out-hustled poker rivals for the top winning spot of $100,000. Father Trapp plans to dedicate those funds to construct a new church building in South Carolina. Over $5 million is needed to complete the project.

Trapp entered the contest in hopes of showing people there are young priests with normal hobbies. Almost as an afterthought, he realized he may actually be selected for the show and win some money. So he decided to donate any winnings to his parish’s building fund. Trapp will compete for a million dollars when he appears on the game show again in December. So far, the parish has raised about $3.5 million for construction. Trapp says winning the competition would be a big boost toward starting construction. Parishioners say the construction is certainly needed. ‘The church is always, always, always packed,’ commented parishioner Virginia Fazio. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a church make such use out of folding chairs.’ WMBF News Reported.

Below is a Georgene Rice KPDQ-FM interview with Chris McDaniel author of Dying to Give, moving from the idea of generosity to personal application.

Chris McDaniel: I think money has become such a taboo topic over the years because of scandal and because of those who raise their voices loud enough. Church leaders have turned away from this subject because they are fearful about it. We are willing to talk about other spiritual disciplines, willing to challenge and push each other in prayer, but because we are not talking about it no growth is happening.  What I am talking about is not what we give or how much we give. Pride is warned directly in the Scriptures. The heart of what I am saying is that we need to grow. Through that we see God release more resources through His people.

Georgene: It is difficult for many of us in our consumer society to equate giving and generosity to joy and contentment. We want to give but not to the point that we have to sacrifice.

CINCINNATI — Liberty Counsel will present oral argument at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in defense of the “Foundations of American Law and Government” display, which includes the Ten Commandments. Liberty Counsel represents McCreary and Pulaski Counties in Kentucky. These are the same cases Liberty Counsel argued at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005. The High Court only ruled on the preliminary injunction.  The “Foundations of American Law and Government” display contains the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Magna Charta, the Star-Spangled Banner, the National Motto, the Preamble to the Kentucky Constitution, the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution, and a picture of Lady Justice.

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Do you believe that giving money to sign holders on the side of the road…

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