Media Watch
Hitler in Heaven?
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN, May 1 — An upcoming film asks whether the men who commit the greatest evils are beyond redemption, the Ottawa daily reported.
Michael Moriarty, best known as the former star of the hit show “Law and Order,” wrote the script and starred in “Hitler Meets Christ,” the story of two mentally ill, homeless men. One man believes he is Hitler; the other believes he is Christ.
The Ottawa Citizen sought guidance in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, noting that the Catechism states, “God predestines no one to go to hell” and that “we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.”
More Latinos Leaving Church
LOS ANGELES TIMES, May 6 — With each generation, more Latinos leave the Catholic Church for Protestant denominations, the Los Angeles daily reported.
A new survey found that only 18% of first-generation Latino Americans are Protestant, but that number jumps to 33% for third-generation Latinos. Overall, 70% of America's Latinos are Catholic and 22% are Protestant.
Latino Protestants tend to agree with Catholic views on abortion, to oppose the death penalty, and to favor immigration.
Why a Rabbi Thanked a Euthanasia Advocate
JEWISH WORLD REVIEW, May 2 — Everything Princeton philosopher Peter Singer teaches goes against the teachings of Rabbi Avi Shafran's faith, the rabbi wrote in the online magazine.
So why is he blessing Singer's soul?
Singer advocates killing severely handicapped infants and elderly people, and believes that since humans are just animals, they can ethically engage in practices like abortion and even bestiality.
Singer performed a service by showing “the sort of interesting places to which societal rejection of the concept of ‘morality’ must inexorably lead,” Rabbi Shafran wrote. He said that Singer's most outrageous calls for euthanasia and bestiality are just logical extensions of the principles used to justify abortion, assisted suicide, homosexual relationships and adultery.
Dorothy Day's House Razed
VILLAGE VOICE, May 8 — A developer with ties to New York's Republican establishment won the right to demolish the Staten Island cottage of Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, the New York weekly reported.
Day, whose cause for sainthood is under consideration by the Vatican, lived in the cottage for most of her final decade before her death in 1980. The Catholic convert started a nationwide chain of 120 homes and farms to serve the poor.
For over three years, supporters have tried to get the cottage designated a historic landmark. But developer John Discala bought the land and razed the cottage.
Discala, his family and his business partners are major donors to New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York Gov. George Pataki, Staten Island Congressman Vito Fossella and Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari. The Voice speculated that their support might have allowed Discala to get his demolition permit.
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- May 20-26, 2001

