Current Events Archives

The Arizona Shooting

Mourners will gather tonight in Tucson, Arizona for a Memorial Mass at St. Odilia’s Church for victims of Saturday’s tragic shooting.

Amidst the unspeakable sadness and act of remembrance, there is a beautiful poignancy to the purpose of such ritual. As part of the Catholic rite of the Mass, communion will be shared. While there are distinctives regarding communion among various traditions, it remains a vital part of Christian worship for believers the world over. To reenact Christ’s Last Supper is to be reminded not just of Jesus’ sacrificial death, but the hope His rising from the dead brings to those of the Christian faith.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news January 11, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Remembering Dr. Ben Armstrong

Dr. Benjamin L. Armstrong was the first executive director of the National Religious Broadcasters(NRB) Association. He arrived from Trans World Radio in 1966 and served as NRB’s leader and main visionary until his retirement in 1989.

He saw potential where others saw problems. When told something couldn’t be done, he was dismissive of the negativity and would instead respond with a two-word reply: “Why not?”

When he died this past December the 12th at the age of 87, his passing was not widely noted outside industry news and periodicals.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, entertainment, faith December 29, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thank You, Larry King

When Larry King signs off tonight for the final time as host of his award-winning CNN TV show, what will his last words be? Only Larry knows, but chances are they’ll be simple, sincere and straightforward.

Just like him.

When Lawrence Zeiger tried to break into radio back in 1957, moving from Brooklyn to Miami to live with his Uncle Jack, he had to convince his boss to let him get on the air. He was hired to clean the station studio and office, but the 23-year-old had big dreams beyond his initial assignment.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, news, pop culture December 16, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Like Keith Fitzhugh

You’ve never heard of him?

Neither had I until I heard what he did.

Keith Fitzhugh is a conductor for the Northern Southern Railroad just outside of Atlanta. He is 24 years old.

Prior to joining the railroad, Keith played football for Mississippi State and then chased his dream of playing in the NFL for the better part of two years. He spent time with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, but never secured a steady spot on any roster.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, family, pop culture December 13, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thoughts on Leslie Nielsen

The actor Leslie Nielsen died yesterday in Florida from complications associated with pneumonia. He was 84.

I read something in his obituary that struck me as somewhat instructive. I thought I’d shared it with you here.

Most people remember the Canadian native as a comedic actor, especially for his role as the bumbling Dr. Rumack, a passenger in Airplane, a spoof movie from the 1980s. In the latter part of his career, Mr. Nielsen was the king of the deadpan and dry delivery and became famous for exchanges like this one from Airplane:

Dr.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture November 29, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is Marriage Going Out of Style?

On Thursday, USA Today published a story highlighting new research from the Pew Center claiming marriage to be obsolete.

A gross exaggeration?

You think?

Christianity Today very graciously invited a response and just published it in today’s online edition.

I would welcome your thoughts and reaction.

To view the piece as it appears in CT, please click here or simply continue reading below…

Marriage in Obsolescence

Why recent headlines on marriage don’t do the new Pew survey justice.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, marriage November 19, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Black and White Problems

Bob Herbert is a respected and decorated opinion columnist for The New York Times. On the paper’s website he’s referred to as a journalist known for his “fearless articulation of unpopular truths.”

This past Monday Mr. Herbert lived up to his billing when he opined about the heartbreaking state of the African-American family.

The veteran columnist served up a one-two punch. After noting that black boys and girls are three times more likely to live in single-parent households than white children and twice as likely to have a parent without a full-time job, he dove directly into the heart of the crisis:

The first and most important step (to fix the problem) would be a major effort to begin knitting the black family back together.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, husband, news November 18, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

An Excess of Democracy?

Life is beginning to return to normal in the Daly house following Tuesday’s historic election.

By “normal” I mean it’s been three days since our home phone rang five times during dinner with candidate robo-calls and our mailbox was overstuffed with campaign flyers!

The pundits will continue to analyze Tuesday’s results and draw their subjective conclusions. I have mine; you have yours. At a Wednesday press conference, President Obama qualified the outcome as a “shellacking” – a candid admission by any measure.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, policy, pop culture November 5, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Day After

I’m on my way to California today. Tonight, I’ll be in Palm Desert speaking to a group at the Desert Springs Church. Tomorrow, I’ll be addressing a wonderful gathering of pro-life supporters at a pregnancy resource clinic banquet in Newport Beach. These are true stalwarts. One of their clinics (in Long Beach) is literally situated between two abortion providers. In this year alone the facility has saved 191 babies!

On a related note, results from last night’s mid-term elections are continuing to roll in.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, policy November 3, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Television Moms and Dads

Given the endless challenges facing the state of the faith, the family, the country and even the world, you might not think I should be spending my time writing about television parents, but please humor me, won’t you?

By now you’ve probably heard of the passing of the always elegant Barbara Billingsley, that supermom of the 1950s iconic television program, Leave it to Beaver. Mrs. Cleaver cooked and cleaned the house in a dress and pearls and was always there to welcome home the boys, Wally and Theodore, and her faithful husband, Ward.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, family, news, pop culture October 22, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura