Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air

Feb 25, '17, 7:04 pm

meltzerboy Forum Elder   Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 26,642 Religion: Jewish

Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air This weekend marks the end of a 20-year run of the PBS show, "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly," which I watched religiously (pun intended). The show presented political stories dealing with ethical and religious issues, portraits of religious and spiritual leaders, some of whom are not well known, religious customs and practices, and sundry other items dealing with religion and ethical values. It covered a whole host of religious traditions and provided equal time for various viewpoints on hot-button issues. It was hosted by Bob Abernathy, who was also its executive editor, as well as featuring several excellent journalists. I will miss the show. Has anyone else been a viewer?

#2   Feb 25, '17, 9:20 pm

SAVINGRACE Regular Member   Join Date: March 18, 2013 Posts: 2,572 Religion: Western Catholic since 2010

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air No I haven't but it sounds like a fantastic show. Any media which seeks to promote understanding and education between people from various religious and non-religious backgrounds is a good thing. Not enough of that type of media around, especially in my neck of the woods. It's a pity they are cancelling the show. __________________ "Who do you say that I am?"

#3   Feb 25, '17, 9:33 pm

7 Sorrows Forum Elder Greeter Prayer Warrior Forum Supporter Book Club Member   Join Date: September 23, 2008 Posts: 43,905 Religion: Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air Nope! Never heard of it! __________________ You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb. (13) when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there----you saw me before I was born. (15) ~~~Psalm 139

#4   Feb 25, '17, 9:41 pm

ATraveller Regular Member   Join Date: December 7, 2016 Posts: 865 Religion: Protestant Christian

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air I've heard of it and can watch PBS from north of the border but it's too early. It's quite unfortunate news. Quote: Originally Posted by SAVINGRACE No I haven't but it sounds like a fantastic show. Any media which seeks to promote understanding and education between people from various religious and non-religious backgrounds is a good thing. Not enough of that type of media around, especially in my neck of the woods. It's a pity they are cancelling the show. There's 'Heart and Soul' on the BBC World Service and 'Sunday' and 'Beyond Belief' on BBC Radio 4, all of which are accessible online to those outside the UK. __________________ [A]s long as the ‘[W]est’ doesn’t rediscover Christianity, it flails dangerously about, mistaking strength and wealth for virtue. It puts its faith in reeking tube and iron shard, in bigger weapons, and in [‘tougher security'], in consumer goods and in its own luxurious hedonism - Peter Hitchens

#5   Feb 25, '17, 10:54 pm

gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,044 Religion: Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air Oh, this is sad. My TiVo often would surprise me by recording this show on its own -- always a welcome occurrence.

#6   Feb 26, '17, 12:45 am

christofirst Regular Member   Join Date: June 23, 2009 Posts: 5,280 Religion: Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air Yes, I often watched that show through the years, depending on when my schedule and their programming schedule coincided. I hadn't seen it for some time recently though. I do like hearing episodes of "Heart and Soul" on BBC radio, and NPR still runs the show "On Being" which I sometimes enjoy as well.

#7   Feb 26, '17, 5:45 am

Michael Mayo Regular Member   Join Date: March 7, 2012 Posts: 4,905 Religion: Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air Yes, wonderful program. Funding or what? __________________ “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. - Pope Francis

#8   Feb 26, '17, 7:46 am

ToeInTheWater Regular Member   Join Date: September 23, 2010 Posts: 2,893 Religion: Thinking About Catholicism...

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air Quote: Originally Posted by Michael Mayo Yes, wonderful program. Funding or what? I wasn't a regular watcher but I'm not surprised it's coming to an end. Not much of a market out there anymore for any attempts at even-handed reporting on controversial topics such as religion. I was unfortunate enough today to watch part of a local news program, that is meant to feature journalists interviewing local politicians in a "Meet the Press" type format. Usually there are two journalists interviewing two politicians, one a Democrat, one a Republican. Standard Sunday morning fare, I usually keep it on in the background while I make breakfast. But today's episode was all about the 2 journalists venting about how horrible Trump is, and how they personally felt insulted by his comments about the media, and asking their guests "you agree with me, right"? Now, the 2 guests today weren't actual elected politicians, but "political scientists", one was conservative and one was liberal. But even the liberal one seemed to be a little taken aback per the look in her face, I think she was thinking something like, "Um, it's OUR job to rant and rave about politics and politicians, not yours!" The 2 journalists involved were actually proving Trump's point, at least when it came to themselves. They were obviously not even attempting to be objective towards him.

#9   Feb 26, '17, 8:01 am

meltzerboy Forum Elder   Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 26,642 Religion: Jewish

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air Quote: Originally Posted by Michael Mayo Yes, wonderful program. Funding or what? I don't know. Maybe it is due to funding or maybe there is not enough demand for such a program. Bob Abernethy, the host, is now 89 and perhaps he wishes to retire. Still, I'm sure PBS could find someone else to replace him if it wanted to.

#10   Feb 26, '17, 8:45 am

sunnygirl807 Junior Member   Join Date: September 10, 2005 Posts: 151 Religion: Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air I watched the show although not as faithful as I had previously. Hopefully they will make a similar show. It will be missed. __________________ Practice what you preach

#11   Feb 26, '17, 6:01 pm

Dwyer Regular Member   Join Date: February 26, 2007 Posts: 1,361 Religion: Byzantine Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air I watched it a lot when it first came out but I then understood it was really just another PBS program / news program, politically liberal (in my opinion), and not much positive coverage of the Catholic Church. They did talk a lot about other world religions which was interesting. I still watched it occasionally; the last program I saw was towards near end of 2016 which featured a segment with the program's two main Journalists Bob Abernathy and Kim Laughton; and E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post, and a few other people discussing "2016: The Year in Review." Bob Abernathy towards the very end of the discussion remarked that one of the most overlooked news stories of 2016 was that Pope Francis attended a "Commemoration" of the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. Kim Laughton pointed out to Bob that the Vatican had told reporters that the event was not a Commemoration but some sort of Ecumenical event, and Bob sheepishly grinned and said something like "Well . . . " which, for me, pretty much sums up, their coverage of matters Catholic over the last 20 years. If you're a Journalist and not going to pay attention to the importance of words in as an important a subject as religion, where words matter greatly, that's not doing your job well as a journalist in my opinion. The Archdiocese of Detroit's Catholic Television Network of Detroit which broadcast the "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly" program until around 2011 when it became an an affiliate of Boston-based CatholicTV Network, eventually had to run a Disclaimer before airing the program stating that the show was independently produced and did not reflect the opinions of the Archdiocese of Detroit or the Catholic Church, I presume due to complaints to CTND. __________________ "It's a free country; you can say whatever you want." --Old American Saying (U.S. Postal Service stamp-- from 1977 Americana series which extols freedom of speech and features a Speaker's Stand decorated with an American Flag shield.) Last edited by Dwyer; Feb 26, '17 at 6:19 pm.

#12   Feb 26, '17, 6:48 pm

Maxirad Regular Member   Join Date: May 2, 2011 Posts: 2,260 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air http://current.org/2016/12/wnet-will...ligion-ethics/ http://religionnews.com/2016/12/15/p...r-20-year-run/

#13   Feb 27, '17, 8:13 am

tomarin Senior Member   Join Date: April 25, 2007 Posts: 7,539 Religion: Catholic

Re: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Going off the Air That's unfortunate (though I have to admit I haven't watched it in recent years). __________________ If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither, let my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember you -- Psalm 137