“I said, ‘How?’ He said, ‘Gambling.’”
CHR Comment: This story illustrates the problem with gambling, which may appear like a innocent form of entertainment but too often leads to addictive behaviors and abuse. Father Amer Saka is a Chaldean Catholic from Iraq; the funds were intended to support other Chaldeans fleeing the war in Iraq. Lord, have mercy.
Source: Canadian priest gambled away $380K meant for refugees, church says
CHR Comment: Mother Angelica (1923–2016) was Rita Rizzo of Canton, OH. She joined the Poor Clares at 21-years old, helped found a monastery in Alabama (1962), and Eternal Word Television Network (1981)—a fascinating life. She died on Easter Sunday, 2016.
Source: Global Catholic Network founder Mother Angelica has died
Buried for more than a thousand years, Scotland’s “Galloway hoard” may include rare artifacts looted from medieval monasteries.
CHR Comment: Medieval monasteries and churches served like treasuries just as ancient temples did, including the Jerusalem temple. This accumulation of wealth led to issues of corruption in medieval Christianity and made churches and monasteries the target of Viking raiders whose pagan religious beliefs did not deter them from attacking clergy. The article includes beautiful photographs of medieval artifacts.
“Namaste” banned after complaints, but lessons will continue.
CHR Comment: The stretching and meditative elements of Yoga do reduce stress. But studies show that Christian prayer and even simple stretching exercise that one does before a run or a workout will also reduce stress. If time is taken out during the day to practice Yoga, why not let Christians exercise themselves in prayer at school?
Source: Christian Parents Freak Out Over Yoga Lessons At Georgia Elementary School
It’s believed to have belonged to the legendary Joan of Arc.
CHR Comment: A great summary of issues surrounding Joan of Arc, attempting to separate history from legends. The ring is worn by French actresses at a theme park that memorializes the famous saint associated with French nationalism and conservative Catholicism.
Source: Why the British and French are feuding over a medieval ring – The Washington Post
The Christian holiday has many customs from around the world.
CHR Comment: This article includes a fascinating list of cultural observances that have grown up around the Christian celebration of Easter, many of which have little or nothing to do with the actual religious remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. These examples show how pre-Christian and coincidental observances can become attached to a religious holiday and can even distort or overshadow the intended message. The second article below is about secularization of Easter in the United Kingdom by refocusing the holiday on the eating of chocolate. As the religious features of a holiday fall away, the other cultural features come to the fore.
Source: Easter Traditions: Bunnies, Eggs, Whippings, and Crucifixion
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/03/25/easter-eggs-united-kingdom/82251482/
CHR Comment: The article proposes that the Last Supper was not a Seder because of potential differences between the record from John’s Gospel and the record provided by the other Gospels. One should note, however, that there were different ways of describing time in the first century, which likely explains the differences in these accounts.
Today’s Seder meals and Haggadith are historically recent developments although they are based on the ancient Passover meal described in Exodus. Jesus and His disciples would have celebrated Passover according to practices in the first century, a time when devout Jews had a variety of practices, which may also contribute to confusion about the events that night. The best explanation is still that Jesus and the disciples observed Passover on the night when He was betrayed.
Source: The ‘Splainer: Was the Last Supper a Passover seder? | Religion News Service
The pontiff called the assault on the Belgium capital an “act of war, of destruction … by people who do not want to live in peace.”
CHR Comment: Based on Jesus’ example and teaching about humility in John 13, the popes practice foot washing as a symbolic act of humility and kindness toward others. The article describes those whose feet were washed this year, focusing on the fact that Pope Francis has included non-Christians at the foot washing events and citing his belief that Christians and adherents of other world religions worship the same God.
Source: ‘We are brothers’: Pope Francis washes feet of migrants
A Chaldean Catholic bishop in Syria has warned that two-thirds of all Christians in the war-torn country have left since the conflict began in March 2011, marking the exodus of close to a million believers.
CHR Comment: The article describes how the majority of Christians in Syria have fled due to the conflict and that the city of Aleppo is especially affected by the migration. It also describes the ascending poverty rate and worsening conditions for all citizens. Lord, have mercy.
Source: 66 Percent of Syrian Christians Gone, Chaldean Catholic Bishop Says Amid Civil War
Four words that reveal what his followers really believe.
CHR Comment: Theologian Michael Horton describes Donald Trump’s historical connections to the positive thinking theology of Norman Vincent Peale and Joel Osteen, using the terms/categories of creation, sin, Christ, and leadership. The article seems mistitled. It does not well enough separate the political campaigning from what Trump may or may not personally believe. Christian voters might benefit from asking Trump more specifically about his personal views.
church history review 