Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Please note that managing editor Kim Lawton hosts the program. Show #1541 is fed over PBS on Friday, June 8 at 5:00 p.m. (check local listings). PROGRAM NOTE: Due to pledge, please check local listings.
• Catholic Bishops: What’s at Stake? - The US Catholic bishops hold their semi-annual meeting next week in Atlanta. Their agenda includes a tenth anniversary assessment of guidelines to prevent clergy sex abuse and a new campaign to promote religious liberty. The meeting also comes amid new tensions between US nuns and the Church, and a swirling scandal at the Vatican over leaked documents. Guest anchor Kim Lawton talks about what’s at stake for the bishops with Kevin Eckstrom, editor-in-chief at Religion News Service and Patricia Zapor, staff writer at Catholic News Service.
• Female Circumcision – Also known as genital cutting, it is a painful rite of passage for girls across a wide swath of African and Middle Eastern countries. But as Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, an ambitious program in Senegal is showing promise that, with the involvement of men, women---and religious leaders---communities may begin to abandon the practice. (Originally aired July 15, 2011) www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/july-15-2011/female-circumcision/9145/
• Religious Commitment Ceremony – Many elderly men and women who have lost their spouses and want to be in a new committed relationship feel they can not marry because of the financial problems it would cause. Host Bob Abernethy reports on one couple’s service of commitment – a religious ceremony with no involvement with the state. No marriage license, no legal status, no mention of husband or wife but a great satisfaction for the man and woman involved. (Originally aired September 16, 2011) http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/september-16-2011/religious-commitment-ceremony/9512/
Contact
Lindsey Bernstein
212-560-6609
