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Another show, pitched as "kind of Northern Exposure in a rectory" (gotta love "original" television), is CBS's Father Lefty. The New York Post says the show about a heroic priest, produced by Sylvester Stallone, is in trouble because of the current scandal, but the Times says it's just trying to incorporate pedophilia themes into its plotlines. And that's not all:

FX is exploring ways to make a movie about pedophilia and sexual abuse in the church. NBC could also end up weaving Catholicism into its comedy lineup. The pilot for an NBC television-newsroom farce includes a nun who lands a job as a weather forecaster because she is the cousin of the station manager. … The season finale of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit on May 17 will feature a murder linked to the diocese's cover-up of a top-ranking priest's pedophilia.

Well, we said we wanted more people of faith on TV shows … (By the way, does anyone know what happened to the King of the Hill spinoff that The Hollywood Reporter said was going to focus on vigilante priest Monsignor Martinez?)

Clergy abuse scandal:

• Father fixit | Since the scandal began, 177 priests have been removed from their posts. Who tends the flock? (Newsweek)
  
  
• Some see review of seminaries as reassuring; others call it unnecessary | Some worry review would oust homosexual seminarians (The New York Times)
  
  
• Protestant ministers face own sex scandals | Reports suggest that while most Catholic cases involve homosexual priests latching onto young boys, Protestant cases tend to be ministers preying on women. (The Washington Times)

Abuse opinion:

• Extent of abuse in church not understood | Crucial data is still needed to understand the extent of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. (Peter Steinfels, The New York Times)
  
  
• Can gays be good priests? | Catholic tradition holds that God can find good even in the most profound evil. (Douglas W. Kmiec, Los Angeles Times)
  
  
• The cardinals and bishops just don't get it | Abuse cover-up has been the source of personal reminiscence. (John D. Hough, The Seattle Times)

Pop culture:

• Mission statement | Spiritual relief on video. (Rod Dreher, National Review Online)
  
  
• John Tesh expresses his Christian beliefs in new CD | It's the most overtly Christian record of the dozens he's released; he's better known for his light-pop, piano-based instrumental tunes. (Associated Press)
  
  
• Undue air time to TV preachers | All the major channels have sold hours of religious proselytizing to them. (Vanguard, Lagos)

Missions & Ministry:

• Fear torments captive U.S. missionary couple | Burnhams are struggling in pain, misery, Filipino witnesses say (The Dallas Morning News)
  
  
• Franklin Graham takes own approach to father's ministry | He's determined to be his own man—an evangelist who praises Christ, speaks his mind and doesn't worry about the fallout. (Charlotte Observer/Dallas Morning News)
  
  
• Bikers gather for Christian rally | More than 10,000 expected at Thunder Over Texas Motorcycle Rally (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
  
  

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May (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46