Free Republic

A Christian publication already cleared by the Canadian Human Rights Commission on claims its reporting on issues involving homosexuality stem from "bigotry, discrimination and hate" will have to defend itself – again – from the same charges. Officials with Catholic Insight have confirmed homosexual activist Rob Wells, whose earlier allegations against the publication were rejected, has appealed to the Federal Court in Canada. "On Aug. 12, Toronto-based Catholic Insight and its editor Father Alphonse de Valk received notification that Wells had filed an appeal … with the Federal Court of Canada. Wells is requesting that the appeal be heard in...

"Washington - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is making Christian broadcasters nervous. Pelosi, D-Calif., recently said she supports resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine, a 1949 Federal Communications Commission policy that required broadcasters who sent out specific messages to set aside time for opposing views. Such a move would ''really make it impossible to preach the whole counsel of God,'' said Rich Bott, owner of Kansas-based Bott Radio Network, which broadcasts Christian programming across 10 states. It would also, he said, likely put him out of business. "

Focus on the Family is speaking out against a new pro-Obama radio ad airing on Christian radio. The ad calls for "a better Christian witness in politics." The new liberal political action committee Matthew 25 is running pro-Barack Obama ads on Christian radio. Salem Radio affiliate KBIQ 102.7 FM in Colorado Springs, Colorado -- home to Focus on the Family -- aired an ad that came in response to Dr. James Dobson’s recent criticism of the presidential candidate's theological views. Following is an excerpt from the radio ad: "You know it’s an election year when certain people start grabbing headlines...

DALLAS — The creator of the popular religious children's television show "Davey and Goliath" has died. A memorial service will be held May 31 at St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas for Richard Towne "Dick" Sutcliffe. He died May 11 in Dallas from complications of a stroke. He was 90. Sutcliffe created "Davey and Goliath," a Christian-themed children's show about a boy and his talking dog that used stop-action animation. Along with Gumby creators Art Clokey and Ruth Clokey Goodell, Sutcliffe created the Sunday-morning series to spread a religious message without losing younger viewers with overly complicated concepts, his...

WASHINGTON – Today is the last day for public comments on a proposed Federal Communications Commission rule change some say would threaten the licenses of Christian radio stations from coast to coast. At issue is a proposal that would require every radio station to take programming advice from community advisory boards representative of the area's population. Advocates of Christian programming say that would require Christian broadcasters to seek advice from non-Christians and even those opposed to the Christian message. Some radio stations fear organized groups of atheists, for instance, could demand representation on the new FCC-mandated advisory boards that would...

Although not directed specifically at those using the airwaves to disseminate the Good News of the Gospel, potential rule changes could put Christian Broadcasters in an untenable position. If enacted, the proposals could force Christian radio programmers to either compromise their messages by including input from those who don’t share the same values, or to run the risk of costly, long and potentially ruinous government inquiries.

President Bush interview on now. Laura Ingraham later

...when the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod canceled its popular, nationally syndicated radio program "Issues, Etc.," listeners were baffled. Billed as "talk radio for the thinking Christian," the show was known for its lively discussions analyzing cultural influences on the American church. It seemed like precisely the thing that the Missouri Synod, a 2.4-million-member denomination whose system of belief is firmly grounded in Scripture and an intellectually rigorous theology, would enthusiastically support. Despite the show's popularity, low cost and loyal donor base, Mr. Wilken and Jeff Schwarz, the producer of "Issues, Etc.," were dismissed without explanation on Tuesday of Holy Week. Within...

"Hate crimes" laws were defeated in Congress just a few months ago. Just a few weeks ago, Frank Wright of the National Religious Broadcasters Association warned, "We must be one in Christ to face the days ahead" because "hate crimes" laws would create untold new liability for Christians. Now a major Christian ministry has confirmed that such "hate crimes" laws already are setting limits on what it can broadcast. The issue is "hate crimes" laws in Canada, and they are affecting U.S. Christian ministries that broadcast into that nation. WND reported just a week ago on a Christian ministry based...

Most people agree that the wildly popular Harry Potter series has a religious following. But to what extent are the stories about the fictional boy wizard a religious allegory? Danielle Tumminio, a Yale Divinity School graduate student who instructs a course called "Christian Theology and Harry Potter" at Yale would say, "Yes." Her course uses all seven Potter books to examine Christian themes such as sin, evil and resurrection, reports CNN.

Here is video of John McCain talking on Trinity Broadcasting Network about his faith and some of his experiences while a POW in Vietnam. The video was added to YouTube in March 2007, but I'm not sure when the interview actually took place. Very moving and inspirational. . .

American Family Association (AFA) and The Inspiration Networks (INSP) are excited about the premiere of their joint project titled Speechless ... Silencing the Christians. Speechless is a TV series that exposes the reality of America's anti-Christian bias and urges believers to put an end to the silence. The series will air as 13 half-hour episodes on three different networks beginning next month. It will debut on INSP Saturday, March 1, at 8:30 p.m. (EST) and i-Lifetv (digital) Friday, March 7, at 9:30 p.m. (EST). Speechless will also air on the Inspiration Network International, which broadcasts in Europe, the Middle East...

Bad news for fans of Boston fans of Bill Bennett, Dennis Praeger, Mike Gallagher, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, and Hugh Hewitt: WTTT AM 1150 has apparently changed its format from conservative talk to Spanish language religion. Salem Communications also owns WEZE AM 590 and WROL AM 950 in town but I don't believe any of the shows will wind up there (we'll see). Boston still has WRKO AM 680 (mostly conservative), WTKK FM 96.9 (mostly conservative), and WBZ 1030 at night (middle of the road)

James Dobson, the founder and head of the evangelical media and counseling group Focus on the Family, is constantly described by the media as a power broker, kingmaker, and "the Christian right's most powerful leader." As such, his endorsement is seen as key by G.O.P. presidential candidates in the 2008 race. On Wednesday night, his political action website Citizenlink.com released assessments of the major Democratic and Republican candidates — and political observers immediately checked in to see whether Dobson's organization was leaning toward Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney, the two G.O.P. candidates who have made the biggest play for the...

Hi I thought every one might be interested in a new Christian multimedia project. The project is a multimedia online book featuring full screen video, symphony orchestra soundtrack and narration by respected English shakespearean theater actor Barry Boys. And all of this is being done on what would be considered a “no-budget” project. Any way take a look at http://theheavenmovie.com and let me know what you think.

"What if you received a letter from hell?" is the opening line in a popular video, "A Letter from Hell," about a usually off-limits topic. Tonight, little children across the country will traipse from door to door costumed as various denizens of the underworld: goblins, devils, zombies, ghosts and demons. The holiday's origins are borderline theological in that it acknowledges the existence of "hallows," an old English word for dead spirits. And a dead spirit is who wrote the "letter." Click to view the video: "Dear Zack," says a voice-over from "Josh," a teenager. "I died today. It's a lot...

Only Christian TV Station in Bethlehem Folds Cites Debt, Threats and "Troubles" With Government BETHLEHEM, West Bank, OCT. 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Bethlehem's only Christian television station, The Nativity, has just one week left to broadcast. "It is with great regret that we are informing you of our decision to close The Nativity -- "Al-Mahed" -- television station," said its director and owner, "in spite of its inestimable service to the Church and to the existence of the Christian community in the Holy Land." Samir Qumsieh, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, founded The Nativity in 1996. The broadcasts of...

27 September 2007 Will EWTN be broadcasting Mass with the 1962 Missal? CATEGORY: SESSIUNCULUM — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 2:21 pm Yes… apparently. A kind reader sent me a copy on an e-mail received from EWTN’s Gordon Siobley responsding to a question about future broadcasts of the older form of Mass. EWTN plans to occasionally air the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, while continuing to regularly air the Ordinary Form, in order “to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place� (Pope Benedict XVI, “Letter to Bishops...

Daystar will air part II Friday Sep 21st on the "Joni" show of interview with General Sada, one of Sadam's generals who witnessed Sadam's intention of use WMD. God bless Daystar! God bless President Bush and PM Blair!

Has anyone noticed how Sean Hannity’s “tele”vision of America has gotten a bit more, shall we say, “religious” recently? In the past few months Mr. Hannity has aired some very interesting documentaries on religious and pro-life issues that never seem to have gotten coverage on cable TV before. His major weekend show even has a feature called “Beyond Belief” which deals exclusively with religious themes such as the Shroud, exorcism, the stigmata, miraculous cures, etc. After the reaction to the famous “contraception” interview I had with him on March 9th, I suspect that Fox News clued into how many traditional...

Megachurch Leader D. James Kennedy Dies By MATT SEDENSKY Wednesday, September 5, 2007 The Rev. D. James Kennedy, a pioneering Christian broadcaster and megachurch pastor whose fiercely conservative worldview helped fuel the rise of the religious right in American politics, died Wednesday. He was 76. Kennedy died at his home in Fort Lauderdale, said Kristin Cole, a spokeswoman for Kennedy's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. The cause of death has not been determined, but Kennedy had not been seen publicly he suffered cardiac arrest Dec. 28. His retirement was announced last month. Kennedy's voice and face were known to millions through...

National Talk Show Host Reuben Armstrong will be filing a Racial Discrimination and Breach of Contract Suit against the largest Christian website

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344777/ Here is short synopsyss from IMDB: Six is well done picture. I am glad to see that the movies that can be labeled "Christian" are improving. The plot line of six is mostly believable. The actors do a good job with making you feel as though you are with them in their experiences. The movie covers a time during the reign of the Anti-Christ. It does not attempt to cover more than just a narrow time. There are a couple of things that are not really believable. The writing on the walls will not be something that is allowed...

I've produced three books, The Rock & Roll Rebellion, Faith, God & Rock n' Roll and Pop Goes Religion, all making the case for lowering the wall of separation between faith and entertainment. But if the result is both dumbed-down religion and comedy as in the box office flop Evan Almighty, it may be the strongest argument yet for reinstating that wall and keeping religion and the movies as far apart as possible. In its aftermath, once again the chatter from Hollywood is how, despite another earnest and sincere attempt to make a movie for "those people," the elusive faith-based...

ATLANTA -- Here at the International Christian Retail Show it is, to borrow a phrase from Charles Dickens, the best of times or the worst of times, depending on whom you ask. Two years ago organizers stopped calling this expo the Christian Booksellers Convention. Book and Bible publishers are no longer the dominant force. They now share the exhibit floor with a dizzying array of T-shirt manufacturers, greeting card companies and even Christian candymakers. Book publishers point out that Christian retailers are no longer their primary sales channel. Online sellers such as Amazon.com, and such "big box" stores as Wal-Mart,...

WHAT EVERY FAMILY NEEDS TO KNOW... The adventures of the boy wizard have provoked a vigorous debate among Christians. Whether your children have read the series or are planning to in the future, The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide will help you appreciate and address the series' underlying moral and spiritual themes.Using her natural teaching skills and parenting experience, author Nancy Brown has created a must-read for every Catholic family as she walks you through her journey of discovery: Are the stories compatible with the Catholic faith? What moral and spiritual issues are addressed? What kind...

Knoxville, TN- Cable Pro of Knoxville has for years had to put man hours and money into the problem of cable company clients who were delinquent in their payments. The practice has traditionally been that cable customers who persisted in not paying their bills would, after three notices, have their cable service cut off until their account was settled. While this practice has been successful in rooting out non-paying customers, it still costs the company an estimated $60,000 per year in lost time, and man hours. But recently Cable Pro president, Larry Maezell experimented with a new idea that has...

Scheduled for release in August, Bella bucks the desire to provide a neat and painfully obvious Christian message in favor of a realism and moral complexity that may affect the lives of women struggling with abortion. In Passion: Films, Faith, and Fury, a recent British documentary on the tumultuous relationship between religion and film, a Christian filmmaker was interviewed concerning his involvement in the 1979 epic film Jesus. Also known as The Jesus Project, the film has been translated into hundreds of languages and show at gigantic screenings across the globe. The filmmaker described the project as being inspired by...

The JESUS Film has been viewed by more than 201 million people, in some 950 languages and is used as a powerful evangelism tool by over 1,500 Christian agencies. Jim Green, executive director of the JESUS Film Project, spoke to The Christian Post on Wednesday about the film’s effectiveness in transcending barriers, and about the new JESUS Film initiative to send 3.6 million videos and audios to Asia. CP: What about this project makes it so effective? Green: The Jesus Film is a movie on the life of Jesus taken from the Book of Luke. It is really the Word...

Maybe you're familiar with the computer-animated cartoon "Veggie Tales," a video series targeted at children ages 2 to 8, and which features moral and religious tales hosted by Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. Beginning in 1993, the series was distributed on VHS tapes, telling biblical stories like the Battle of Jericho, David and Goliath and the tale of the Good Samaritan. Each show ended with a Bible verse. And it's been a marketing phenomenon. Without any broadcasting or syndication on television, "Veggie Tales" has sold more than 50 million "Veggie Tales" DVDs and videotapes -- primarily, but quietly,...

IT’S SPRING AGAIN; TIME TO SOW YOUR SEED! Now, I am not talking about planting seeds in a literal outdoor garden, rather it’s time to sow a seed in the form of a financial donation to, what some would call, the one and only means of the Gospel being preached to the entire world, that is the great Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN for short). During the week of April 17th TBN held the first of two annual fundraisers they call…the Praise-A-Thon! I took some time to watch this weeklong circus; of course I did not spend every waking moment watching...

"Zola Levitt Presents," a long-running, issue-oriented weekly TV program often critical of the jihadist ideology within Islam, has been canceled by the Trinity Broadcasting Network, producers says, because of efforts by TBN to cater to its growing audience in the Arab world. Though spokesmen for TBN were unavailable over the weekend for comment, the cancellation, effective today, would make it the second long-time program scrubbed by the largest Christian broadcaster because of sensitivities about Muslim content. In January of this year, Hal Lindsey's "The International Intelligence Briefing," notified TBN he would not be back because of what he considered to...

MEDIA MATTERS TBN cancels 2nd show for criticism of Islam Producers of 'Zola Levitt Presents' claim Christian network caters to Arab nations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 28, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Zola Levitt "Zola Levitt Presents," a long-running, issue-oriented weekly TV program often critical of the jihadist ideology within Islam, has been canceled by the Trinity Broadcasting Network, producers says, because of efforts by TBN to cater to its growing audience in the Arab world. Though spokesmen for TBN were unavailable over the weekend for comment, the cancellation, effective today, would make it the second long-time program scrubbed...

BRANSON — In the wake of Big Idea Productions' bankruptcy and sale to new owner Classic Media, VeggieTales characters are struggling to define their post-Big Idea lives. In a modest but clean condominium in Branson, Mo., Bob the Tomato sits on a rented couch and nibbles cheese curls. The window overlooks the busy thoroughfare jammed with tourist traffic. Bob's chin shows three days of stubble, his eyes the emotional scars of a recent bout with depression, but tonight he'll be performing again for the first time since Jonah — A VeggieTales Movie. After bouncing around the country for the past...

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Sanitizing movies on DVD or VHS tape violates federal copyright laws, and several companies that scrub films must turn over their inventory to Hollywood studios, an appeals judge ruled. Editing movies to delete objectionable language, sex and violence is an "illegitimate business" that hurts Hollywood studios and directors who own the movie rights, said U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch in a decision released Thursday in Denver. "Their (studios and directors) objective ... is to stop the infringement because of its irreparable injury to the creative artistic expression in the copyrighted movies," the judge wrote....

EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Trinity Broadcasting Network Run by Atheists Officials say goal was to make Christians look stupidSANTA ANA, CA - For everyone who has ever tuned into the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)—broadcast on satellite and cable systems across the country—and thought, "This can't be serious," it turns out you were right. Local and federal law enforcement officials have uncovered an elaborate scheme engineered by an atheist group and aimed at embarrassing the Christian religion; a scheme that has been going on for nearly 30 years. Among other startling discoveries, officials have learned that TBN—which has claimed from the beginning to...

Religious Right Power Brokers The Top Ten by Rob BostonThe United States is home to dozens of Religious Right groups. Many have small budgets and focus on state and local issues; the most powerful organizations conduct nationwide operations, command multi-million-dollar bank accounts and attract millions of followers. They have disproportionate clout in the halls of Congress, the White House and the courts, and they wield enormous influence within the political system.What follows is a list of the nation’s Top Ten Religious Right groups, as determined by publicly available financial data and political prominence. (For budgetary data, Church & State used...

WASHINGTON -- A Christian-themed movie about a football coach's faith in God is finding an audience in Congress -- not so much for its inspirational message, but for the PG rating it received. House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and other lawmakers are demanding explanations after hearing complaints that the movie "Facing the Giants" was rated PG instead of G due to religious content. The Motion Picture Association of America claims the controversy arose from a miscommunication with the filmmakers. It says religion was not the reason for the rating. "This incident raises the disquieting possibility that the MPAA considers...

How could the American Film Institute have missed The Return of the King when picking its list of the 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time? And not a single movie about Jesus? What's up with THAT? Last week, the American Film Institute posted its list of the 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time. It's a good list, especially with It's a Wonderful Life and To Kill a Mockingbird occupying the top two spots. Rocky, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Breaking Away are all in the top 10. Very nice. But like all such lists, it's certainly open...

A low-budget, inspirational football movie made by Baptist pastors in Georgia has triggered a flood of attacks by Christian groups that accuse Hollywood's main trade association of penalizing the film by giving it a PG rating. In the last week alone, the Motion Picture Assn. of America, which oversees the rating board, has been swamped with more than 15,000 e-mails arguing that "Facing the Giants" deserves a more family-friendly G rating. The complaints — the number of which may be 10 times the previous record for reaction to a ratings decision — say the movie is being unfairly targeted for...

Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said Wednesday it would create a new channel of Catholic-themed programming with the Archdiocese of New York. The channel, which will launch in the fall, will carry live daily Mass from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York as well as talk and music programming. Financial terms of the arrangement weren't disclosed. Sirius already carries other religious-themed programming, including Catholic-themed syndicated talk shows, news and teachings from the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network as well as programs from FamilyNet, the broadcast arm of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Those shows are also...

Long criticized by conservative Christians for profiting from violent or sexually graphic films that corrupt the young, Hollywood is starting to see there is money to be made catering to those critics. "On Sunday, 43 percent of America was in church," Jonathan Bock, head of a movie marketing company that specializes in religious audiences, said at a panel discussion on "What Would Jesus Direct?" at the Tribeca Film Festival this week. "For studios to not recognize that's an audience is like them saying, 'We're not marketing movies to men,"' Bock said. You can read the rest of the story at...

After a long slump, Christian literature is finally experiencing a rebirth—and that’s something to celebrate. The state of Christian fiction was so poor for a while that most Christians have forgotten what a rich heritage we actually have in fiction, from the likes of Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Austen, O’Connor, and so many more. These writers understood that moral literature is one of the most important ways of transmitting Christian truth. That’s why I’m so thrilled to see the success of recent works such as the heartwarming Mitford series by Jan Karon; Susan Howatch’s penetrating novels about the Anglican church; and the...

Hollywood puts its faith in holy films John Harlow, Los Angeles HOLLYWOOD, long accused of promoting Godless amorality, has found religion. Studio executives are praying that a flood of Christian films will rescue them from a slump by performing miracles at the multiplex. Inspired by The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson’s vision of the crucifixion, which earned £400m at the box office, Hollywood is directing Oscar-winning stars such as Hilary Swank and William Hurt to show their spiritual side on screen. First into the cinemas will be The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, due for...

Inspired by box-office smashes such as The Passion of the Christ and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, studios are not only casting an eye to more religious-themed stories, but they're also marketing movies more aggressively than ever to churchgoers. Producers now find themselves making sales pitches to ministers. Executives are screening films in church community rooms. One studio has created a "faith division" to market to the devout. The strategy has two aims: to use faith-based hits to help staunch a three-year box-office slide and to convert those with little faith in Hollywood fare...

The rapture has come, and the believers have been gathered up and taken to heaven. As for everybody else: They've been left behind to duke it out in a smoldering, apocalyptic New York City. That's the scenario in a soon-to-be-released Christian-themed video game. Meanwhile, in the real world, the Christian community is engaged in its own skirmish over the virtues or vices of the concept of a Christian video game that involves killing. "Left Behind: Eternal Forces," which is made for PCs and will be unveiled at the E3 show next month, is a classic struggle of good vs. evil....

Preacher Zola Levitt dies Known for 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem' Zola Levitt Jewish Christian preacher Zola Levitt died today after battling cancer, according to his ministry website. Levitt, known for the tagline, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," had a television program seen on the several Christian networks, "Zola Levitt Presents." He died at home in Dallas, where he led the non-profit Zola Levitt Ministries, Inc. Levitt was diagnosed with cancer Feb. 10, which had spread from his left lung to his liver and brain, according to his son, Mark Levitt, who posted updates on the ministry website....

TORONTO - A decision by Canada's broadcast regulator, the CRTC, yesterday approved a new all-homosexual radio station in Toronto. It is the first new English-language radio station approved by the CRTC since 2001. In 2003 the CRTC rejected the application for an all-Catholic radio station in Toronto. This, despite the fact that about 2 million of Toronto's (GTA) population of 4.5 million identify themselves as Catholic and surveys have demonstrated that only 1% of Canadians identify as homosexual. Evidence of homosexual activism at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is present in the decision rendered yesterday, as one of...

IRONDALE, AL, April 3, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two days ago, LifeSiteNews was forwarded a firestorm of emails from faithful Catholics in Canada regarding the world's largest Catholic media network - Eternal Word Television Network - not airing programs on homosexuality in Canada and Europe. The emails referred to an exchange between a Canadian viewer of the network and a producer at the network. In response to questioning about a show on homosexuality not being aired in Canada, as was scheduled and aired in the United States, Amalia C. Zea, the producer of the popular program Life on the Rock responded,...

Outspoken US Christian evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson has accused Muslims of planning world domination, and said some were "satanic". On his live television programme, The 700 Club, he said radical Islamists were inspired by "demonic power". A US religious liberty watchdog called the comments "grossly irresponsible". Mr Robertson had to apologise recently for calling for Venezuela's president to be killed, and saying Ariel Sharon was struck down by divine retribution. His latest comments were expunged from The 700 Club's website, but Mr Robertson's Virginia-based Christian Broadcasting Network confirmed them with a transcript. 'Crazed fanatics' On the programme, the 75-year-old preacher...