Franklin Graham angry at benefit film
When HBO shows a film, it usually precedes it with a warning about whether it includes nudity (or the ever popular "brief nudity"), violence, or other such objectionable material. But now evangelist Franklin Graham is issuing a warning of his own. The HBO film Dinner With Friends, he complains, contains language and themes "morally inconsistent with the values and work of my parents and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association." Of course, that's also true of almost all of HBO's programming, from Sex and the City to G-String Divas. The difference here is that Dinner With Friendspremiered as a fundraiser for the Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Health Center. Actress Andie MacDowell, who stars in the film, is also the national spokesperson for the center, which earned $115,000 from the event. Franklin Graham was reportedly upset that the Grahams weren't warned that the film contained frank sexual discussions and numerous instances of the f-word. But the real news here may be that the film contains no nudity. Imagine that! An HBO film with no nudity! Meanwhile, in the Grahams' hometown paper, Don Hudson suggests that criticizing the film while not returning the money is hypocritical. But could Franklin Graham really return the money? It went to a hospital named for his parents, not a Graham organization.
Taliban may be relenting
Several sources have good news from Afghanistan today. Taliban foreign minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil says the International Committee of the Red Cross will be allowed to visit the eight foreign detainees accused of Christian evangelism. (The flip side of the coin: Mohammad Wali, who is in charge of the religious police, said he was unaware of the decision to allow visits, and Taliban chief spokesman Abdul Hai Mutmaen says "Our stance regarding the visit has not changed.") But in an even more hopeful sign, Abdul Hakeem Mujahid, the Taliban's liaison representative to the United Nations, says the Christians will "absolutely" be able to go home soon. Of course the bad news in all of this is that prospects do not look as good for the 16 Afghans also arrested for evangelizing. And The New York Times reports that the arrests will also hurt the rest of the country as conflicts between the Taliban and aid organizations worsen:
In its fourth year of remorseless drought, in its 22nd year of relentless war, Afghanistan may well be the world's neediest country. The United Nations and hundreds of relief groups provide help that now amounts to more than $300 million a year. But those organizations and the Taliban are often incompatible caretakers, steeped in cultural conflicts and mutual distrust. One dispute follows another, and it seems that when the aid agencies are not threatening to pack it in, the mullahs are threatening to throw them out.
Hollywood and holy names | The misuse of sacred names and places impoverishes our screens, if not our souls. (David Douglas, The Christian Science Monitor)
Chariots of Fire man may pick archbishop | Lord Puttnam, the former film producer ennobled by Tony Blair, has emerged as one of four candidates to chair the body that will choose the next Archbishop of Canterbury (The Sunday Times, London)
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