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March results 
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In February, March and April, 1999, volunteers
from across the country scanned newspapers for religious content. The results
are now ready. The scan is being compiled and analyzed by Dr. Joyce Smith.
The complete tables and charts can be found at Smith's
web site. A complete analysis of the entire scan is also found on this
site.
There has yet to be a single newspaper studied that does not contain multiple references to religion. Stories that were judged to be mainly about religion originated from the following places: Local 18.42%, Canadian 14.69%, Foreign 58.88%. Following are some highlights of stories which incorporated religious material: |
Another Oscar winner, Canadian director Norman Jewison said of himself: “I’m no spoonfed idealist. I’m a Canadian Methodist.” [Canadian Press, Times Colonist, 21 mar 99]
News
NATO involvement in Kosovo prompted reporting on Orthodox Christianity,
with various commentaries not only on the religious makeup of the area
(and its history of Orthodox monasteries), but also the religious links
between Serbs and Russians. There were also concerns expressed about aid
coming to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) from “Islamic fundamentalists”
in Iran. Pictures of fleeing ethnic Albanians prompt comparisons with Jews
fleeing and being shipped to concentration camps during the Second World
War, and several stories compare Kosovo's significance to Serbs as being
like Jerusalem to the Jews.
The legal battle over cancer treatment for young Tyrell Dueck results in an order to have chemotherapy and amputation, but the boy’s condition worsens, and his Saskatchewan family ends up being able to take him to Mexico for alternative therapy. Their religious denomination is not mentioned, outside of being Christians (sometimes “fundamentalist”), but their faith is almost always referred to with reference to their decision for treatment.
A Macedonian Orthodox priest, Father Ilce Miovski, was killed when a car being pursued by Toronto police hit him. His death, and the following funeral were heavily covered by the Toronto media.
Allan Boesak, one of the most visible personalities during the anti-apartheid struggle, was sentenced to six years in prison for theft of funds intended for children who had been victims of apartheid. Boesak had once been a Reform Church minister, and former president of the World Alliance of Reformed churches.
Hillary and Chelsea Clinton take a trip to Cairo and North Africa, visiting many mosques, and appearing veiled.
John Paul Roby, on trial in Toronto for sexual assaults committed while he was an usher at Maple Leaf Gardens, testified that he had once wanted to be “a priest, a bishop, a Pope,” but that these dreams were destroyed when he was sexually assaulted by a priest while an altarboy.
Sports
In discussing the merits of the final four U.S. college basketball
playoffs, Conneticut’s point-guard Khalid El-Amin was described as having
a “toughness rooted in his Orthodox Muslim faith.” [Edmonton Journal, 27
Mar 99, D5]
Religion
The number of pieces dealing specifically with religion increases over
that of February (2151 in March, compared to 1863 in February). This is
due in part to the occurence of Passover, the hajj, and Easter, celebrations
which all get considerable coverage, ranging from recipes for lamb and
matzoh, to descriptions of gatherings of local Muslim communities. There
was also controversy during the hajj, when Iraq ordered its pilgrims home
from Mecca.
A Pennsylvania man named God in a lawsuit, accusing God of failing to bring him success in proceedings against a former employer, failing to return his youth, and failing to give him guitar-playing skills. God was also accused of neglecting to resurrect the man’s mother and his pet pigeon. A U.S. District judge threw out the case for being frivolous.
The Pope announced that he hoped to visit the Holy Land during 2000 to celebrate the millennium. The visit would be the first by a pope in over 30 years. A CD called Abba Pater, was also released, featuring Pope John Paul II speaking in five languages on 11 tracks about charity, forgiveness and reconciliation.
A Christian television broadcaster proclaims that his fillings have been turned to gold by means of divine intervention. He has to retract the statement when his dentist politely claims the credit.
Another television personality is charged with fraud and pretending to practice witchcraft. The man, who gave astrological advice as part of a program aired on Vision TV, was charged after receiving exorbitant sums of money from a woman who was seeking his assistance.
The Vatican issued De Exorcismis et supplicationibus quibusdam: on exorcism. The document is not media friendly: The other main novelty in the manual is a media blackout. The new rules stipulate that “the presence of media representatives during an exorcism is not allowed under any circumstances.” John Hooper , Scripps Howard News service in Okanagan Saturday (Kelowna Daily Courier), March 27, 1999
Rev. Bill Phipps, moderator of the United Church, stirred controversy saying Canadians should pay their taxes “joyfully.” This statement is mocked by various editorial writers.
Last modified: 6 December 1999