Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly Listings – October 3

Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyis a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1805 will be fed over PBS at 5:00 p.m. EST on October 2 (check local listings). Doctors Without Borders – The worldwide movement of 25,000 volunteers in 70 countries who care for the medical needs of the victims of violence, […]

Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyis a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1805 will be fed over PBS at 5:00 p.m. EST on October 2 (check local listings).

Doctors Without Borders  The worldwide movement of 25,000 volunteers in 70 countries who care for the medical needs of the victims of violence, disease and natural disasters. The leaders of Médicins Sans Frontieres, or MSF, also speak out strongly about the unmet needs of the suffering and the urgent responsibilities of those who can help. As Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, one reason Doctors Without Borders has been so successful is that it works so hard to preserve its independence – from governments and all sides in each conflict.

Prison Beards – The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term on Monday and on Tuesday will hear arguments on a case about prison beards. As Tim O’Brien reports, the issue is whether Arkansas prison officials can forbid a prisoner from growing a beard when he claims a half inch beard is a requirement of his Muslim faith. Also whether prohibiting a beard would violate a law, enacted in 2000, guaranteeing the religious liberty of inmates.


Vatican Meeting on the Family – On October 5, 2014, Pope Francis will convene a special two-week long meeting of bishops from around the worldto address some of the key challenges the Catholic Church faces in ministering to families. Several hot button issues are expected to be discussed, including the controversial question of whether there should be changes to the current ban on communion for divorced Catholics who are civilly remarried. Host Bob Abernethy and Managing Editor Kim Lawton discuss the meeting with Religion News Service Editor-in-Chief Kevin Eckstrom.

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!