Here are today’s dispatches from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Ricky Gervais “crucified”<\/em> on cover of New Humanist Magazine. <\/strong>From The Christian Post<\/a>: The September\/October issue of the magazine features Gervais shirtless, but in jeans, holding a mic stand across his back as if he was being crucified. The words \u201catheist\u201d in all capital letters are written above his chest in blood. A crown of thorns also adorns his head. Searching for the perfect image to use as a poster for his next tour dubbed \u201cHumanity,\u201d the well-known English director debated between the crucifix photo and another photo rejected by the Rolling Stone magazine where he painted his face like a clown and held a gun to his mouth. New Humanist\u00a0decided to publish the crucifix photo in their latest issue, which reads on the cover, \u201cYou have the right to be offended, and I have the right to offend you,\u201d spoken by Gervais. 2. Islamic Death threat provides monologue and Top 10 fodder for David Letterman. <\/strong>View here<\/a>. Hey, Letterman (the lousy liberal) offends me sometimes too (am I sounding easily offended?) but I’m content just to turn the channel. Stephen Colbert’s funnier anyway.<\/p>\n 3. Philadelphia’s incoming archbishop says Big Media is unfair to religion. <\/strong>From CNS<\/a>: (Charles) Chaput, the former Archbishop of Denver, made his remarks in an address on religious freedom to a group of more than 10,000 young pilgrims in Madrid on Wednesday. As initially reported in First Things, Chaput told the audience that, \u201cIn the United States, our battles over abortion, family life, same-sex \u2018marriage,\u2019 and other sensitive issues have led to ferocious public smears and legal threats not only against Catholics, but also against Mormons, evangelicals, and other religious believers.\u201d<\/em> 4. Lino Rulli is a Sinner<\/em>. <\/strong>But, then, aren’t we all.\u00a0 The host of The Catholic Guy <\/em>(on Sirius XM’s Catholic Channel) actually does create the kind of culture the soon-to-be archbishop would most likely approve of.\u00a0 Besides his radio gig, he’s out with a new book called Sinner <\/em><\/a>(he’s the title character). I’ve received a review copy (a perk of having a blog)\u00a0 and I can report that he adeptly manages the fine art of irreverent reverence (or is it reverent irreverence?). Whether he’s recounting his own version of The Wonder Years<\/em> (growing up the son of an organ grinder), his college-age misadventures or his stint as a high school religion teacher in the Bahamas (which sounds like a good premise for a sitcom), Lino manages to spin stories that entertain and, somehow (almost accidentally), inspire.
\n<\/em>Comment:<\/strong> Now the clown cover would have been shocking — and, offensive because it’s, you know, anti-clown. While mocking the Crucifixion is definitely offensive to me as a Christian, I’m well past the point where such publicity-seeking stunts garner anything more than a groan of disappointment from me. In this case, I’m disappointed because Gervais can actually be very funny — I just don’t understand his desire to offend me because I’m a Christian. I mean I wouldn’t take any joy in offending him — and would even try to avoid doing so.\u00a0 My Christian faith instructs me to turn the other cheek, let go of anger, do unto others as I would have them do unto me and pray for everyone .\u00a0 And, you know what, when I manage to do so, I’m happier for it. <\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u201cAnd with relatively few exceptions,\u201d he said, \u201cthe mass media tend to cover these disputed issues with a combination of ignorance, laziness, and bias against traditional Christian belief.\u201d<\/em>
\nComment: <\/strong>An alternative to changing the channel (or, you know, jihad) is creating you’re own media to present issues in a way that you think is more fair to your own point of view. With new technology, that’s becoming more possible than ever<\/a>. Don’t complain. Certainly don’t threaten. Create.<\/p>\n
\nFull disclosure:<\/strong> I worked with Lino for nearly two years at the Catholic Channel. I produced the morning show (Seize the Day<\/em> with Gus Lloyd<\/em>) while Lino hosted\u00a0 (still does) his afternoon drive-time extravaganza.\u00a0 Reading the book was almost like listening to Lino speak — except, when\u00a0 I got tired, I could put down the book. Seriously though, a good read.<\/p>\n