Free Republic

PHOENIX: FEMA has suspended the Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team. The Federal Emergency Management Agency took the action after the Phoenix team sent armed police officers in to protect firefighters after recent hurricanes. Phoenix officials are now threatening not to respond to dangerous deployments in the future. They want the rules changed to allow teams to bring in their own security, even if it means police with guns. Assistant Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan says the department is also questioning FEMA's ability to manage working conditions, security and communications. Khan says given the instability in the Gulf...

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A US judge has finalized the settlement of a lawsuit brought by movie-goers who accused Hollywood's Sony studios of using a fake critic to trick them into seeing mediocre films, lawyers said. ADVERTISEMENT Sony Pictures' Entertainment agreed to pay 1.5 million dollars to resolve the class-action suit filed in 2001 claiming the studio invented a bogus critic to heap praise on its movies, said the movie-goers' attorney Norman Blumenthal. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl finalized the decision in late July pre-empting a hearing in the case that had been scheduled for Tuesday, Blumenthal revealed....

Humbly asking for all of your prayers for a former patient and friend, Michael. He suffered an unexpected stroke about a month ago at age 46. CT scans not only revealed a spot on his liver and kidney, but he has been diagnosed with Polycythemia, an abnormal over- production of his red blood cells. They are not certain yet if it is the "vera" type, which is fatal. There is a possibility of them scheduling a bone marrow biopsy in the near future to determine if it is. In the meantime, he will be undergoing an ultrasound on March 11th...

We will be having a priest come to our parish March 13-16th to speak about the "On-going Call to Conversion: Lived Out Through the Liturugy and the Sacraments." His name is Fr. Richard Fragomeni, I have never heard of him (which isn't unusual). He has recently spoken at the Catechetical Congress in Los Angeles (first hesitation), and some staff members at our (liberal) parish are very enthusiastic that he is coming to our community. It is being highly encouraged that all parishoners attend his talks during that time. Are any of you familiar with his writings? Work? More and more...

Mel Gibson might be my favorite feminist. If he's not number one on my list, he's pretty close, in competition with Pope John Paul II. As you probably suspect, I don't have in mind the usual definition of "feminism." I can guarantee you there'll be no fawning Ms. magazine cover story on Gibson (or JPII). But give me a few minutes to fawn a little. I, like others, have now seen an in-progress version of Gibson's remarkable film. There is so much to be said and that will be said about the movie. Folks who get turned off by nonsensical...

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com Why is it that so many of those decrying anti-Semitism so often overlook the real threat in favor of phantom threats – or, worse, in favor of attacking friends? Synagogues are being bombed in Turkey; Anti-Jewish sentiment in Europe has never been higher since the Holocaust; Israelis are under siege – not only from terrorists and Arab neighbors, but from the United Nations and most of the world; Islamist leaders make little attempt to hide their hatred of Jews, whom, they claim, control the world; Even while a U.S.-led military coalition has destroyed one Jew-hating terrorist state...

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Bishops and cardinals waiting for a special Vatican (news - web sites) screening of a controversial Mel Gibson (news) film about Jesus Christ are going to have to wait a little longer, the Hollywood star has told them. Reuters Photo The select audience were hoping to have a private screening of "The Passion of Christ" on Tuesday evening as part of a convention on spirituality in film. But Gibson's Icon Production company told organizers in an email on Monday night that the actor-director was still working on the final version and asked them to wait because...

NEW YORK (AP) - Two scholars who have criticized Mel Gibson (news)'s film on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ said Thursday they have received hate mail in response to their comments. Sister Mary Boys, a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, said she has received harassing phone calls, hate mail by post and has saved about 85 e-mails from Gibson supporters. Paula Fredriksen, a Boston University professor, said she had also been targeted, calling the missives "drive-by e-mail." The women made the comments at a panel discussion about The Passion of Christ at a national meeting of...

LOS ANGELES - Mel Gibson (news) is negotiating with Newmarket Films to distribute his embattled Biblical epic "The Passion of Christ" in the United States. Gibson's company, Icon Productions, will retain all rights to the film but will pay a percentage of the earnings to Newmarket in exchange for domestic distribution, the trade newspaper Variety reported Wednesday, adding that he will distribute the film himself in the United Kingdom and Australia. Variety reported that the pact with Newmarket was a done deal, but Gibson's spokesman, Alan Nierob, said that was premature and declined further comment. Newmarket officials also refused to...

Making the gospel less offensive, something non-believers were unable to achieve for 2,000 years, may be accomplished by today’s politically correct and theologically sensitive. Mel Gibson, “under fire from Jewish groups,” according to the Religion News Service, has agreed to “soften” his portrayal of Jews in his upcoming film’s depiction of the death of Jesus Christ. “The Passion,” which will be released next March, will add sympathetic Jewish characters to the storyline and have them shout unbiblical words of opposition to Jesus’ crucifixion, lest moviegoers get the impression that Jews actually wanted God’s Son put to death. The movie apparently...

Mel Gibson must be doing something right, because he has Hollywood in an absolute uproar. His new film, The Passion, has incited one of the hottest Hollywood controversies of recent years--and the film will not even be released for months. The Passion is more than just another movie project for Gibson. The film depicts the passion, death, and crucifixion of Jesus with a realism never before seen on the big screen. Those who have seen the movie describe it as an emotionally wrenching experience. Evangelical Christian columnist Cal Thomas described the film as "the most beautiful, accurate, disturbing, realistic and...

ROME - "Okay, cameras are rolling! Silence, please!" shouts the production assistant. Mel Gibson is staring intensely at the monitors in front of his director's chair at Rome's Cinecittà Film Studios. Actor Jim Caviezel (High Crimes, Count of Monte Cristo, The Thin Red Line) is dressed only in a loincloth. His arms are shackled to a low, granite pillar and he is dancing about in his bare feet on the cold pavement in order to keep warm between shots. "The Scourging at the Pillar!" comes the voice again. "Scene 2! Take 3!" After five hours of makeup, Caviezel's body is...

<p>The Greatest Story, Newly Told Mel Gibson on "The Passion," and the passion behind it.</p> <p>ROME--Bounding around Studio 5 on the Cinecittà lot, not far from the catacombs, Mel Gibson is giving the performance of his life. In the shadow of an olive tree, wrapped in blue fog, he is at first a trembling Judas yanking at his lip, now a torch-toting member of Herod's guard. After expelling a cough (the remnant of a flu bug) and running a hand though his mane, he is suddenly a placid Messiah.</p>