Our Takes Daily

Single-minded viewing

Mercator.net

American television programming promotes a singles lifestyle, an Italian professor told the XVII International Congress for the Family in Rome last week. Paolo Braga argued that many TV shows, such as “House” and “CSI,” are aimed at perpetuating and reinforcing the singles culture while ignoring traditional families. The reason? TV networks consider the largest and most attractive market is that of singles with typically high disposable incomes, low commitments and with a culture open to change — one most likely to try new products. More info>

Pope takes cautious approach

Chiesa

The letter from the 138 Muslims addressed last month to Pope Benedict XVI and to the heads of other Christian churches received a spectacular collective reply in a message signed by 300 scholars and published in The New York Times, but Pope Benedict appears to be more reserved about the significance of the correspondence. Instead, the pope is asking Islam to make the same journey that the Catholic Church made under pressure from the Enlightenment. Love of God and neighbor must be realized in the full acceptance of religious freedom. More info>

Cardinal Kasper urges self-examination

Christian Today

Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Vatican’s council for relations with other Christian faiths, has called upon the Catholic Church to critically self-examine itself in view of the “exponential” rise of Pentecostal groups. The cardinal was speaking at Saturday’s ordination of 23 new cardinals, including the Archbishop of Armargh Sean Brady. Cardinal Kasper said to Pope Benedict and the 143 gathered cardinals that “self-critical examination of conscience” was necessary for the Church. He continued by saying, “We must not ask first what is wrong with the Pentecostals but ask what our pastoral failings are and come to a spiritual renewal." More info>