Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, based on Nikos Kazantzakis's novel of the same name, looked at the life of Christ from the main character's perspective and posited that, although Christ was without sin, he wasn't immune to temptation. The film was met with a flurry of protests when it was released in 1988 because it depicted Christ imagining himself engaged in sexual activity, which naturally outraged more than a few Christians. The film's release in 1988 sparked a rash of protests across the country. Chicago was no exception. more ›

We touched on the subject of crucifixion reenactments yesterday. Here's a shot of the man who portrayed Jesus during Pilsen's annual Via Crucis yesterday. Ken Ilio, who regularly contributes to the Chicagoist Photos Flickr pool, has set up a stunning set of shots from yesterday's processional, from the Last Supper all the way to the erection of the cross at Harrison Park at 18th and Damen. Ilio noted that organizers took the Way of Sorrows and made it into a relevant criticism of the nation's failed immigration policy, an important issue among Pilsen's largely Mexican community. more ›

With Good Friday comes the occasion for Christians to commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ. The downtown Way of the Cross should be underway by the time you're reading this post. Starting at Daley Plaza, the processional works its way through downtown before ending at Holy Name Cathedral at 11:30. But this processional is subdued compared to the Passion reenactments in other parts of the city. more ›

PrayerMoments of Silence in public schools could once again ignite the debate between separation of church and state. The Chicago Tribune reports Illinois schools Superintendent Christopher Koch told districts that their students may soon begin to observe a moment of silence at the beginning of the day, just before the pledge of allegiance. Illinois students have not been required to participate since 2009, when District Judge Robert Gettleman declared the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act lawmakers passed in 2007 unconstitutional. more ›

• Tom Dart still isn't saying anything about a mayoral run even as a Rahmbo run becomes more likely.
• Today in "What is wrong with people?" - President Obama is still having to defend his faith.
• Downtown traffic was temporarily disrupted today by a suspicious package.

Yesterday, we reported how Gov. Quinn was against building a 'Ground Zero Mosque' in New York City. Now, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin gave his opinion and vocalized his support for a mosque (and community center) near Ground Zero today:

Durbin says he's had his differences with former President George W. Bush. But Durbin says Bush showed leadership after 9/11 by making it clear that the war was against terrorists who had perverted the teachings of Islam, not with Muslims. more ›

Rob Sherman, an atheist from Buffalo Grove, has made good on a threat to take legal action over state funds directed towards a religious icon. Earlier this year, Sherman asked that Friends of Bald Knob Cross of Peace return the grant because it was unconstitutional. But after they refused, he's taken the next step: filing a lawsuit. Both Gov. Quinn and former governor Rod Blagojevich are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Not that the FOBKC are standing pat. From ChuffPo: more ›

A suburban Chicago man is challenging a fundraising group in Alto Pass, Illinois over $20,000 in state funding he says was used unconstitutionally. Rob Sherman, an atheist from Buffalo Grove, wants the group known as Friends of Bald Knob Cross of Peace to return a grant they received for the restoration of one of the largest cross’s in the Western Hemisphere. The group received the grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. more ›

The Chicago-based Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has officially walked the walk on their gay-inclusive policy allowing for clergy in committed, life-long same-sex relationships to continue serving the church. more ›

• Illinois has made the next move in the game of chess over the Asian Carp Crisis.
• The State House voted today to limit those free CTA rides for seniors; seniors whose income comes in above a certain threshold will have to pay half-fare.
• Religious leaders enter the video poker fray.

Is it okay to pray for the success of a sports team? Or is that just getting God mixed up with Santa Claus? The Daily Herald talked to several local religious leaders and the answers vary. But our favorite quote from the entire story has to be from minister Gregory Barrette: "The idea that God takes sides in a sports contest or any other contest (for) that matter is an absurd misuse of that power. Praying that one person wins and another one loses is not prayer, it's voodoo." [via] more ›

Ah, the early 80s. When the rock band KISS hadn't been reduced to a parody of itself and actually managed to create a ruckus amongst religious groups who insisted the band were inspiring teens to worship Satan. Good times. more ›

On Monday, A Red Orchid Theater began running the Chicago premiere of a musical called A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant. And yes, the point of the show is make fun of Scientology, without actually making fun of Scientology. more ›

If by "Rev. Winkler," they mean Henry Winkler a.k.a. The Fonz, then we're all in. more ›

Before local dentist Max Feinberg died, he put in his will that he would disinherit any heirs who married gentiles. Or as the Wall Street Journal oh-so-tactfully puts it, "Marry Goyim, You Get Bupkis." Now an Illinois appeals court has essentially revoked that clause from Feinberg's will, saying it "seriously interferes with and limits the right of individuals to marry a person of their own choosing." [WSJ, Trib] more ›

A new study published in the Chicago-based Archives of Surgery says that 57.4 percent of the general public and 19.5 percent of medical professionals "believe that divine intervention could save a person when physicians believe treatment is futile." [AP] more ›

Yesterday, hundreds lined the streets of Chinatown and Bridgeport for the 88th procession of the Order of St. Rocco di Simbario. The order, founded in the late 1920s by Bruno Bertucci, was named in honor of St. Rocco, the Catholic Patron Saint of Pestilence. more ›

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago announced today that it will pay $12.7 million to settle a suit against 11 priests brought by 16 victims of sexual abuse. Over the last 30 years, the Archdiocese of Chicago has settled 250 such suits. [S-T, Trib]
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Father Carl Morello, the priest at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, recently suggested turning the school's gymnasium into shelter on Sunday nights, from October through April, as part of the PADS ("public action to deliver shelter") program, a network of faith-based shelters throughout Cook County. And his plan hasn't gone over so well. more ›

Abal Zaidi, 31, was a corrections officer for the Kane County Sheriff's Department. He's also an observant Muslim, which he says requires him to have a beard. In December 2006, Sheriff Pat Perez announced that all officers had to be clean-shaven; Zaidi asked for an exception, and he says two days later, he was asked to resign. Zaidi filed a religious discrimination suit, seeking unspecified damages and an apology. more ›

Rev. Michael Pfleger apologized this weekend for his comments about Hillary Clinton and promised to refrain from specific political discussions for the rest of the campaign. He also said the last few days were "the most painful" of his life. From his "statement of apology": more ›

Rev. Michael Pfleger is coming under fire today for comments he made about Hillary Clinton while guest-preaching at Trinity United Church of Christ. Pfleger, a Catholic priest at St. Sabina's on the South Side, is a "long-time friend" of Obama's, according to both the Trib and the Sun-Times. Pfleger recently stepped down from Obama's Catholic advisory council and from the Catholics for Obama committee. more ›

State Rep Monique Davis (D-27) went on an outrageously intolerant tirade against atheism activist Rob Sherman in the Illinois house last week. more ›

The protesters who interrupted the Easter mass at Holy Name church yesterday were in court this morning and held in lieu of $25,000 bail for five of them and $35,000 for one with a record. They all face two counts of felony criminal damage to property and two counts of simple battery for allegedly squirting fake blood on parishioners. Donte D. Smith, Ephran Ramirez, Jr., Ryane J. Ziemba, Mercedes Phinaih, Regan Maher and Angela Haban will all be in court Monday, March 31. more ›

Governor Blagojevich promised $1 million to help rebuild Pilgrim Baptist Church after it burned down in 2006. But church officials say they haven't seen a dime, and even Blago's office admits the money went to an unrelated school that rented space from the church. They were sticking with that story until other local politicians jumped in to call Blago a liar and an opportunist, at which point our governor said he'd find another $1 million to actually give to the church. more ›

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a new study about American religiosity yesterday, and the study says the religious landscape of America is "diverse and incredibly fluid." A lot of oeople are changing religious affiliations, and more are choosing no affiliation at all than ever before. The study found that 16.1 percent of adult Americans characterized themselves as "unaffiliated." more ›

The South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day parade will be held a week earlier than usual this year. Typically, the parade is held the Sunday before March 17, but this year, that's Palm Sunday, a major day on the Catholic calendar. So parade organizers moved the festivities up to March 9 to avoid any conflicts. We're not sure how much local St. Patrick's revelry will actually be affected by the Catholic calendar, since the ways we usually see people celebrate are definitely not Church-sanctioned. more ›

Yesterday's worldwide Scientology protests had a local presence outside the church's center on Lincoln. more ›

In the continuing soap opera that is our state's budget crisis, Governor Rod Blagojevich made a visit to Rev. James Meeks's south side mega-church, House of Hope Sunday to drum up support for his proposal of free rides for seniors on the region's mass transit system. Besides being pastor of the church, Meeks is also an Illinois State Senator, and is often allied with the governor. more ›