Mary and the Mets

NEW YORK POST, May 28 — A gift from New York Mets vice president Bob Mandt to catcher Mike Piazza was meant to do more than raise the slumping all-star's batting average, the New York daily reported in an article called “Mets Never Lost Faith in Piazza.”

Piazza attended a pre-game Mass May 27, after which Mandt gave him a Miraculous Medal of Mary that had been blessed by two popes. Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn Ignatius Catanello also gave Piazza a statue of his namesake, St. Michael.

Piazza hit a homer a few hours later, his first since May 7, and led the Mets to a come-from-behind victory over the Florida Marlins.

Is ‘Prayer of Jabez’ Just Greed?

USA TODAY, May 24 — The national daily examined the lessons taught in the best-selling The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life, which urges readers to use an obscure Biblical prayer to gain material well-being.

Jabez, whose prayer appears in I Chronicles 4:9–10, asked God “that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory…”

While some Christians criticized The Prayer of Jabez for encouraging a focus on selfish needs and material wants, the book's author, Bruce Wilkinson, argued that many poor Christians are right to pray for food, rain for their crops, and other material needs.

The Guilt for Jesus' Death

WALL STREET JOURNAL, May 18 — In the wake of several comments that the Jewish people are collectively responsible for the death of Jesus, the New York daily printed a discussion by a Jewish scholar.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, New York Knicks point guard Charlie Ward and conservative activist and Catholic deacon Paul Weyrich all spoke recently of Christ being crucified “by the Jews.”

David Novak called that accusation “crude and simplistic,” pointing out that the Catholic Church has rejected the notion of collective Jewish guilt. Moreover, he wrote, “the New Testament holds all humanity responsible for the death of Jesus.” Jewish leaders called for his execution; Roman officials executed him; and Peter, a Jewish Christian, denied him. Thus, Novak wrote, “Jesus' death on the cross is atonement for the sins of all humans, even the sins of his followers.”

New Movie: Ireland ‘Haven’ for Catholic Bigots

CATHOLIC LEAGUE, June 1 — “A Love Divided,” a BBC-made movie that just opened in the United States, “portrays the Catholic Church and the Republic of Ireland as a haven for bigots and bullies,” according to one reviewer.

The Catholic League announced that the movie's producer has denounced Ireland, while the lead actress, Orla Brady, has called Pope John Paul II “a voice for evil.”

The film portrays a Protestant woman married to a Catholic in 1950s Ireland. She pledges to bring up their children Catholic, but then reneges. A local priest objects, and the woman flees to Northern Ireland. Irish bishops stage a boycott of Protestant goods and services, sparking a national outcry.