State of Belief Goes to Hollywood

Washington, D.C. – On this Sunday’s “State of Belief,” The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s show on Air America Radio, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy celebrates the Academy Awards by looking at the role of religion in recent films.  Billy Ray, director of the new film Breach, joins Welton to discuss his film about FBI turncoat Robert Hanssen.  In spite of acting as a spy for Russia, Hanssen was a devoutly religious person, and Ray said that dimension of his personality made Hanssen such an intriguing character.  Rev. Gaddy also welcomes the entertainment editor of Beliefnet.com, Michael Kress, who organizes the website’s annual awards for spiritual movies.  Also, TIAF staff member and former Episcopal Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon tells Rev. Gaddy that a schism in the Episcopal Church over gay rights is inevitable.  Bishop Dixon says the current situation in the church is incredibly painful, but it may also be irreversible. 

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Reclaims Catholic Faith

Washington, D.C. – On this Sunday’s “State of Belief,” The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s show on Air America Radio, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy welcomes former Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who has written a new book, Failing America’s Faithful: How Today’s Churches are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way.  Townsend tells Rev. Gaddy the Catholic Church is too narrowly focused on issues of sexuality, and that Church needs to reclaim its mantra of supporting social justice issues.  Also, the general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Holly Hollman talks to Rev. Gaddy about the recent Supreme Court hearing on the president’s faith-based initiatives.

Film Producer Recounts Rwandan Genocide

Washington, D.C. – On this Sunday’s “State of Belief,” The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s show on Air America Radio, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy welcomes David Belton, who co-wrote and produced a new film about the Rwandan genocide entitled Beyond the Gates.  Belton is a former journalist who covered the Rwandan genocide for the BBC and turned his first-hand observations into a screenplay about choices people make – some regretful, some inspiring – in the face of savage brutality.  Also, journalist Dan Gilgoff joins Rev. Gaddy to discuss his new book, The Jesus Machine, which chronicles the rise of Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family.  And, Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Churches, discusses Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 9-12.

Statement of Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy On the House Education Committee Rejecting Religious Discrimination in the Head Start Program

Washington, DC – Today Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance, praised the House Education and Labor Committee for reauthorizing the Head Start program without sanctioning religious discrimination:

 

By an overwhelming, bi-partisan margin, the House Education and Labor Committee acted responsibly on Head Start yesterday. After years of attempts to politicize Head Start by allowing providers to commit religious discrimination in choosing teachers and volunteers, the committee rejected an amendment that would create this unconstitutional practice.  The current bill, H.R. 1429, is a very positive step forward towards safeguarding this vital and successful government program.  We cannot allow tax-payer dollars to subsidize Head Start providers that refuse to hire teachers and volunteers solely because they are of a different faith tradition.

 

The Interfaith Alliance calls on the full House and Senate to follow the example set by the House Education and Labor Committee.  The uplifting opportunities that Head Start provides should be made available to all eligible families, regardless of their religious affiliation.