While we celebrate the end of Roe v. Wade and federal abortion law, we have work to do in our state! Abortion is still legal in Iowa.
The Iowa March for Life is an opportunity to proclaim the value of all human life and advocate for the protection of life in our law.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
1pm Rally • 1:45pm March for Life
Iowa State Capitol
Outside on the West Steps
Governor Kim Reynolds & Attorney General Brenna Bird, Legislators, & Pro-Life Leaders have been invited. We will march around the Iowa State Capitol and Supreme Court Buildings.
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE DETAILS:
Sponsored by the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders:
The Life, Learning, and Achievement of my brother with Down Syndrome
By JACINTA HAMILTON
March 21st marks the observance of World Down Syndrome Day—a celebration of the countless individuals that bless our world with this condition.
However, the fight to recognize the value of all life continues, and the statistics are staggering. 95% of babies with Down Syndrome in Ireland are reportedly aborted. Iceland claims to have “eliminated” Down Syndrome by killing 100% of babies with Down Syndrome by abortion. In the U.S, approximately 74% of expectant parents abort a child with Down Syndrome.
A stark contrast
This brutal landscape is in stark opposition to the beautiful experiences of families who choose to give life to babies with Down Syndrome. The reality is Trisomy 21 is not a death sentence, it’s a blessing. I believe that we are at a moment of grace in this country where we can call deeper, and more profound attention to human life with special needs. Ultimately, I think the personal stories and the faces attached to the diagnosis are how hearts will be changed.
Fourteen years ago, upon learning that my little brother was born with Down Syndrome and would do some things more slowly than his siblings, my eight-year-old self spontaneously responded with “It’s not a race!” Words cannot express the blessing that Gabriel is to his parents, six siblings, and to his many other family members and friends.
A fuller life
This young man has had an overwhelmingly powerful influence on those who know and love him. He makes life fuller and richer in every way! Gabriel is the most loving and self-giving person I know, and I believe he has his finger on the pulse of what life is truly about. There is not a thing about him I would change. The fullness of Gabriel’s life is not measured by his external abilities, but rather his eternal value as a child of God.
Just before we entered the hospital room, my dad told my siblings and I that there was something extra special about our new brother, Gabriel. In his words, we had a beautiful and healthy baby brother who was truly a blessing to our family. Dad told us that Gabriel had what is called Down Syndrome. He said that Gabriel was perfect and needed lots of our love. He also said that it may take him longer to learn how to do certain things.
Dad said it was not really a big deal because we were all going to help Gabriel. I distinctly recall telling him in a matter-of-fact way: “Well, it’s not a race, Dad!” Where that came from, I cannot tell you. But I do know that this mantra that life, learning, and achievement are not diminished by a “disability” still holds true today. Not knowing what Down Syndrome was at the time, I can now undoubtedly say that my knowledge of it would not have mattered. Without being able to express it at the time, I somehow knew Gabriel’s Down Syndrome was only a small part of him, it was not his identity.
A celebration of life
Gabriel
“I just felt blessed,” was my mom’s response to what she felt when she learned of Gabriel’s diagnosis at birth. This was a grace. This is not meant to indicate that other responses are not genuine or appropriate. However, my mom’s response shows that a special needs diagnosis does not need to be a moment of grief, but rather a celebration of life. My own experiences tell me that yes, a child with special needs will affect your family life, but in the best possible way! Even though Gabriel may not conform to the “ideals of society,” he clearly teaches me that life, learning, and achievement are not a race, and this has permeated all aspects of my life.
For far too long, persons with special needs have been targeted as not worthy of life. We were endowed by the Creator to reverence all human life. Seeing all life through a lens that celebrates the dignity, self-worth, intrinsic value, and above all the immortal soul of each person will enable us to strongly defend all human life from conception until natural death.
The right to life is uncompromisable and is an exercise of our free will in defense of the most vulnerable. I echo the words of St. John Paul the Great who said,
“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” (Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Journey to the United States of America, 1995).
My hope is that Gabriel’s story will inspire others to see the infinite value of individuals with special needs in their own lives.
[Jacinta Hamilton is a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in Elementary Education. Pulse thanks her for the opportunity to publish her essay.]
Once again, we have proof that the FDA has been lying to us. They repeatedly assert that the morning after pill (Plan B), prevents ovulation and does not end a human life. This article proves otherwise.
In this Sunday’s 2nd reading (Ephesians 5:8-14), St. Paul tells us to live as children of light … to shine the light! We’d like to think Elton John was inspired by St. Paul when he sings those words in his hit song, Philadelphia Freedom, but that might be a stretch.
Here’s the complete reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent:
Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Sin lives in darkness, St. Paul tells us. Truth lives in the light, so to shine the light is to proclaim the Truth.
Have you ever had someone say to you,
“You have your truth and I have my truth”?
In other words, they suggest there is no such thing as absolute Truth, which is nonsense. An obvious example: either Jesus is the the Son of God … or he’s not. And if he’s not Lord, then he is either a liar or lunatic, as C.S. Lewis famously formulated the proposition.
Dr. Peter Kreeft brought the issue of abortion into the conversation in his reflection on St. Paul’s epistle:
“A famous psychologist (Rollo May) once wisely said that the opposite of love is not usually hate but indifference. You can love and hate the same person at the same time — we always do that to ourselves — but you can’t love and be indifferent to the same person at the same time.
Most moms don’t hate their babies when they abort them, but many, sadly, are indifferent. Kreeft continues …
“Well, just as the opposite of love is indifference, the opposite of honesty and light and truth is not usually outright, deliberate lies but indifference, sleepiness, comfortable vagueness, shadows. “It’s a complex issue,” we say about something as simple as the deliberate murder of our own children — God’s children — before they emerge from the womb. No, it’s not. Not in the light of day, it’s not. Not when you look at the lie that that’s just a group of cells. Or that it suddenly became a person as soon as its umbilical cord was cut. You have to lie to yourself to believe that.”
St. Paul says that whatever the issue, abortion, or some other, don’t live in the dark. Don’t lie to yourself. Rather, shine the light! Or as St. Paul said, “arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
[Our Spring Appeal has started. Support Pulse Life Advocate’s pro-life educational outreach with your gift today.]
Pro-abortion apologies are a rarity. But Jane Fonda made one yesterday. As we reported, in an appearance on The View, Ms. Fonda glibly suggested that if the pro-abortion crowd can’t win legislative battles anymore, murder is the next logical step.
We gave Ms. Fonda the benefit of the doubt and assumed she spoke hyperbolically, which she acknowledged:
“While women’s reproductive rights are a very serious issue and extremely important to me, my comment on The View was obviously made in jest. My body language and tone made it clear to those in the room – and to anyone watching – that I was using hyperbole to make a point.”
When you have pro-abortion zealots attacking churches and pro-life women resource centers and attempting to assassinate an anti-Roe Supreme Court justice, clearly subtlety is lost on some. That’s why Fonda’s crack was so horrific.
Nonetheless, she apologized. However, she did not apologize for something else she said, which seems to have gone unnoticed:
“We’re not going back, I don’t care what the laws are. We’re not going back.” [Emphasis ours.]
Our communities are unravelling because an increasing number of people don’t care what the laws are. Violence is spiraling out of control in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York, cities that embrace abortion rights as if they are a sacrament, which brings us to Gavin Newsom.
Gavin Newsom tries to shut down Walgreens
Thanks to the efforts of Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Walgreens won’t be distributing the RU-486 abortion pill in their Iowa stores. Ms. Bird was joined by other pro-life AGs in keeping the abortion pill off Walgreen shelves in their respective states.
California Governor, Gavin Newsom, is enraged by Bird’s actions and Walgreens’ assent to keep RU-486 off of its shelves. He calls for retribution:
“California won’t be doing business with @walgreens—or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk.”
Perhaps the good governor doesn’t realize that Mifeprex (RU-486) puts women’s lives at risk. Its label admits it:
“Although cramping and bleeding are an expected part of ending a pregnancy, rarely, serious and potentially life-threatening bleeding, infections, or other problems can occur following a miscarriage, surgical abortion, medical abortion, or childbirth … Serious infection has resulted in death.”
How many deaths? Twenty-eight, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Another 4213 women experienced ‘adverse events;’ another 1048 women were hospitalized (but didn’t die); 604 experienced so much blood loss that they required transfusions; and 414 suffered severe infections.
So, to be clear, it is the abortion pill that puts women’s lives at risk, NOT Walgreens, which is simply abiding by state laws. And that’s what gripes abortion zealots like Jane Fonda and Gavin Newsom. They think abortion should be above the law.
The Wall Street Journal editorialized in defense of Walgreens:
California Governor Gavin Newsom
“Walgreens last week drew the fury of the abortion left when it said it wouldn’t distribute the drug in some 20 states out of legal caution. This includes several states where abortion is legal, but retail pharmacies aren’t allowed to dispense the drug directly to patients. Pharmacists who violate the state laws can be punished with prison.
Enter Mr. Newsom, who on Monday vowed to bar Walgreens from doing business with the state, including potentially its vast Medicaid business unless it violated other state abortion laws. Walgreens responded that it “plans to dispense mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so” and “consistent with federal and state laws.”
Don’t expect any more pro-abortion apologies
Governor Newsom doesn’t care. He intends to use the financial clout of his state to club businesses into submission who refuse to dispense the dangerous abortion pill.
Pulse Life Advocates applauds Iowa AG Brenna Bird for keeping this poison off the shelves in Iowa. She need make no apologies for her good work in keeping Iowa women safer. On the other hand, Gavin Newsom and Jane Fonda have much to apologize for in their call to ignore abortion laws, but don’t expect any pro-abortion apologies to be forthcoming any time in the near future.
Jane Fonda just went on The View and said Pro-Life politicians need to be "murdered"
When given the opportunity to call it a joke, she refused. pic.twitter.com/Kq6mFS9Eoc
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 10, 2023
Jane Fonda went on The View television show and made a point of standing up for human abortion. Said Ms Fonda:
“We have experienced many decades now of having agency over our body, of being able to determine when and how many children to have. We know what that feels like, we know what that’s done for our lives. We’re not going back, I don’t care what the laws are. We’re not going back.”
When pressed on what else can be done to support human abortion legislation other than marching and protesting, Fonda replied:
“Murder.”
When hostess Joy Behar asserted that she was joking, Fonda didn’t respond to clarify whether she was joking or not.
Pulse is willing to give Ms. Fonda the benefit of the doubt that she simply made a bad joke. But when discussing such a highly-charged subject as abortion, which is a violent act against an innocent human being, humor of this nature can be misread.
She should know better, unless her mental acuity is in free fall.
As a reminder to coddled celebrities like Jane Fonda, abortion activists have perpetrated hundreds of acts of violence over the past few years:
- 72 Catholic churches have been attacked since last May, bringing the total to 210 since 2020.
- The violence includes, arson, destruction of historic churches, spray painting and graffiti of satanic messages, windows broken by rocks and bricks, and statutes destroyed, often with heads cut off.
- Since last May, 66 women’s pregnancy resource centers have been attacked, with two of those attacks occurring here in Des Moines.
Two terrorist groups take ‘credit’ for the attacks: Jane’s Revenge and Ruth Sent Us. They spray paint threatening messages, such as:
“If abortion ain’t safe, you ain’t safe!”
High profile activists such as Jane Fonda pour gasoline on the fire with hyperbolic rhetoric that suggests murder is a legitimate response to not getting your way in the abortion debate.
Either Jane Fonda was joking (we hope); or she meant it (we doubt it); or at the age of 85, she is slipping mentally and can’t control her mouth.
You be the judge and watch the clip above.
By Tom Quiner, Pulse Life Advocates Board President
Dear Judiciary Committee Member:
Tom Quiner, Board President
Iowa needs the Life at Conception Bill to be passed for a variety of reasons:
1. Human dignity. The unborn are human at the instant of fertilization. They have human parents. Their genetic code is fully intact. They have all 46 chromosomes present in their little bodies. They are fully human deserving of all of the same human rights and kindness afforded the most vulnerable born members of our society.
Until someone proves they are not human, and no one ever has, a just society must protect our fellow human beings in the womb.
2. Religion: Iowa is a state of church goers. The unborn are God’s creation at conception. In fact, sacred scripture tells us God knew us before we were born. We matter in God’s eyes. Public policy that allows them to be killed because they are inconvenient is bad public policy. Besides, according to Lutheran Family Services, we have Iowans standing in line to adopt, but there are simply not enough babies, because we are aborting them.
3. Demographics. Iowa is one of the oldest states in the union in terms of our citizenry’s media age. And we’re getting older. In 2010, Iowans over the age of 65 represented 14.9% of all Iowans. By 2021, their share had climbed to 17.7%.
We need young blood to replace these aging Iowans when they die. We need young blood to help care for the aging and to keep our economy growing.
And yet our fertility rate is only 1.82, below the replacement level of 2.1. We are aborting our posterity. Iowa’s population has only grown 1.5% in the last half a century. Since Roe v Wade was decided, our population has increased only 336,802. At the same time, we allowed 269,000 babies to be aborted.
This is demographic suicide.
Human abortion is holding back Iowa economically, morally, and spiritually.
I respectfully encourage you to advance the Life at Conception Bill for the well-being of this great state.
Iowa needs the Life at Conception Bill. Thank-you for reading.
Tom Quiner, Pulse Life Advocates Board President
[Contact the Judiciary here and tell them Iowa needs the Life at Conception Bill: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/committee?ga=90&groupID=689]
Dear Fellow Pro-Lifer: Big news! The Iowa House judiciary committee has just filed a Life at Conception Bill!
Pulse and our allies in the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders have been working towards this moment for decades!
But it has a long ways to go.
The bill’s do or die date is THIS Friday. I need you to contact members of the House Judiciary Committee here and urge them to send the bill to committee before the March 3rd funnel date.
You can read the bill in its entirety here.
The passage of this bill would be the culmination of Pulse Life Advocates’/Iowans for LIFE’s 50 year quest to overturn Roe (accomplished!) and end human abortion in Iowa.
You have tremendous clout. Make your voice heard. Contact members of the Judiciary Committee immediately and join us in ending abortion right here in our own backyards.
Thank-you for all your support!
Maggie Dewitte, Executive Director
By Tom Quiner
A small contingent just finished up our Rosary in front of Planned Parenthood on this chilly afternoon praying on behalf of the unborn during 40 Days for Life.
Many people drove by giving us a thumbs up and a thank-you. We always get a few folks express their sentiments by extending a middle finger, sometimes even on both hands (hopefully not the driver!).
I noticed a couple drive by the busy street by which we prayed. They were especially demonstrative in expressing their disapproval of our pro-life position. A few minutes later, the couple pulled into the parking lot behind us, rolled down the window, and a ‘conversation’ began, going something like this:
Him: You can’t tell a woman what to do with her body!
Her: “F*#@ you!”
Him: “F*#@ you!”
Her: Stop shaming women!
Both: “F*#@ you!” “F*#@ you!” “F*#@ you!” “F*#@ you!”
I should interject that their voices, especially hers, were not ‘inside’ voices. It was a full-throated screech. She was enraged.
I said,
“Thank-you for stopping, we will pray for you.”
Not what they wanted to hear.
Her: “F*#@ you!” “F*#@ you!” “F*#@ you!”
Perhaps to mimic her voice, the tires screeched as they peeled triumphantly out of the parking lot with four hands thrust out of the windows of the car displaying four “you’re #1!” finger gestures. (I’m not sure how she managed to steer.)
As the exhaust cleared, it hit me that they were the reason we were there. Clearly, nothing we could say would make a difference to them, because they were too busy yelling at us to hear anything. Clearly, she had had an abortion.
But we knew God would hear our prayer offered up for this misguided couple, who may not have a whole lot of people praying for them.
Here is what we prayed:
The St. Michael the Archangel prayer
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen
This prayer extends to all women and men who have been victims of abortion, as well as all the people trapped in jobs in abortion factories that kill our unborn brothers and sisters.
They need our prayers as much as the unborn, probably more, because abortion separates us from Christ, who is the source of our life.
Do you see why 40 Days for Life and the Rosary we pray are so important? The unpleasant people who screamed at us today are desperate for our prayers. They just don’t know it.
[Tom Quiner is board president for Pulse Life Advocates. Be sure to subscribe to our blog. Donations always appreciated.]
By TOM QUINER
People like stepping up their game during Lent, and that includes focusing on entertainment with good values. I’ve blogged on top religious films for Lent for over a decade. Movies come and go from my list depending on what I’ve seen recently. I dropped The Mission from this year’s list, even though I love the film. But I saw some others that moved me that I thought deserved a little recognition.
I’m sure you’ve read about recent research detailing the alarming, rising suicide rate in teens, especially teen girls. Suicide is complicated. Ultimately, though, people become desperate when they reach a dead end and think there’s nowhere else to go, and that their lives have no meaning. That life itself has no meaning.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Movies on this list all model hope. All the protagonists face seemingly insurmountable obstacles: Moses’ mother is forced to abandon her son; no one believe the visionaries at Fatima; an abandoned young man with a crack head for a mother has no place to sleep and no prospects for the future; another young man aspiring to play pro football finds himself stocking shelves in a grocery store; a young medic is persecuted for his refusal to use a gun during a world war.
Life isn’t for sissies. And yet in the midst of seemingly impenetrable darkness, a light appears which burns brighter and brighter, replacing despair with hope. The source of the light is Christ.
Good religious movies help us appreciate the profound meaning of our lives as it ultimately draws us nearer to Christ. It reveals the Truth, with a capital T. If you have not had the good fortune of watching any of these films yet, then you may want to see what your Cable TV package has available and where you could watch these with your entire family.
My list of top religious movies for Lent changes from year-to-year. Classics like the “Ten Commandments” and “Ben-Hur” come and go, replaced by something either newer or more relevant for the times. My list this year includes several movies I recently revisited that came out 20+ years ago, and one I watched for the first time the other day.
A theme emerges in many of these films especially relevant for our age: courage. We live in an era of cowardice. The Cancel Culture threatens people’s jobs, relationships, and public standing. The pro-life movement needs strong, proud voices to speak up in the public square on behalf of our unborn brothers and sisters. Could you use a jolt of courage? Watch some of these movies this Lent. They remind us that God is with us. Always.
Okay, here’s my list for 2023. I sincerely believe you will enjoy these films. Let me know your favorites.
#10 PRINCE OF EGYPT. Some two decades have passed since I first viewed this 1998 film. I watched it again last year and was simply delighted from beginning to end. Maybe it’s because I was watching with my grandkids, but I loved this movie more than I did the first time. How could one not love it? It tells the story of Moses. The visuals are stunning. The songs catchy and singable, written as they were by the great Stephen Schwartz (Godspell) with a score by Hans Zimmer. The all-star cast of voices includes a Hollywood who’s who from the late 90s: Val Kilmer; Ralph Fiennes; Patrick Stewart; Helen Mirren; Steve Martin; Martin Short; Michelle Pfeiffer; Sandra Bullock. Its $70 million budget ensured that no expense was spared in retelling a classic biblical story. This is a great animated family film the adults will love at least as much as their kids and grandkids.
#9 FATIMA. Fatima is an odd, historic event from 1917. Do you know the story? Mary, the Blessed Mother of God appeared to three young Portugese children in Fatima, Portugal. No one else could see the woman. Only the children could hear her. The event created an uproar when the children refused to renounce what they saw. Eventually, Mary provided a sign of her presence in a phenomenon known as the “miracle of the sun.” Thousands of believers and non-believers witnessed it. The Fatima Movie (2020) tells the story for a new generation to enjoy and understand. It is immediately relevant, as the same passions that roiled Portugal then continue to agitate events now. You hear a line in the movie that makes you think of today: “Progressive ideas will free people from their religious superstitions.” Parents need to watch this movie with their children and grand children as a beautiful witness to the power of courage in the face of adversity. As one of the children says later in life: “faith begins at the edge of adversity.” What are our choices when faced with adversity? Trust God, or give up. The Fatima Movie inspires us to trust God.
#8: BLIND SIDE. The movie is based on the true story of “Big Mike” Oher who improbably became a star football player in college (and went on to the pros) in spite of a rough start to life. Sandra Bullock won an academy for her portrayal as Leigh Anne Tuohy, a strong-willed wife and mom who takes him into her home and navigates him towards success in life. Mike’s natural father abandoned him, and his mom was a crack addict. “Big Mike” was one of 12 kids growing up, living a life he characterized as “nomadic:” 9 different schools in 11 years and many different sets of foster parents. When Big Mike’s plight came to the attention of the Tuohy family, they interceded on his behalf, eventually adopting him. This is a feel-good movie and models an idea presented by the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel who calls on us to “stand in the gap” on behalf of others. The Tuouys did just that, and it makes for an entertaining and uplifting movie.
#7: AMERICAN UNDERDOG. Another feel-good football story. This 2020 film chronicles the improbable career of the 2000 Super Bowl MVP, Kurt Warner. Anyone living in Iowa knows the story. He played football for the University of Northern Iowa, but no NFL team drafted him, so he ends up stocking the shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery story. Ultimately, he gets a chance to make some money playing football, only it’s with the lowly Arena Football League, playing for the Iowa Barnstormers. When he finally gets his shot in the big leagues, he makes the most of it, eventually playing in three Super Bowls, and winning the first in a record-setting performance. What’s the film about? Perseverance and family values. Warner falls in love with a divorcee with two young kids. Despite some tough obstacles, they stick together, and the film pays offs with some awesome football action. American Underdog encourages all to dream big and trust in God’s providence, as Kurt and Brenda Warner did.
#6: THE SCARLET AND THE BLACK. Get ready for a tense game of cat and mouse as a Vatican priest and a German Lieutenant Colonel clash in Nazi-occupied Rome. This film is based on true events. Gregory Peck portrays Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty who heroically saved the lives of thousands of Jews and escaped Allied POWs by hiding them from the Nazis. Christopher Plummer portrays the Nazi officer in charge of rounding them up. The battle of wits between the two antagonists makes for great cinema, especially in the hands of two pros like Messrs. Peck and Plummer. Be sure to watch the ending credits for the remarkable epilogue to this great story!
#5: GRAN TORINO: Surprised to see a Clint Eastwood movie on the list? No one less than Bishop Robert Barron called Gran Torino “one of the great presentations of the Christ story.” Eastwood, who directed and starred, portrays grouchy Walt Kowalski, an old geezer who’s wife just died. His kids want to move him into an old folks home. His working class neighbor in Detroit is getting dangerous as gangs move in. Walt is a cantankerous, racist s.o.b. who hides his decency under the surface. He’s a heroic figure who uses violence to ward off violence directed at his Laotian neighbors … until he realizes it’s just not working. Violence begets violence. I really don’t want to say much more, because you need to see this film if you haven’t. Be warned that there’s violence and there’s no shortage of profanity. Suffice it to say, Bishop Barron said it was one of the best examples of what the church fathers called the “Christus Victor Theory.” Watch it.
#4: THE PASSION of the CHRIST. This was more than a movie, it was an event that either united or divided people, much like Christ Himself. Mel Gibson’s movie was controversial. The violence is grotesque. It is not a fun movie to watch. I have seen it thrice, and I will see it again … someday. Jim Caviezel was perfect as Jesus. The movie is important because it gives modern man an inkling of what Christ did for us. I heard Fr. John Riccardo once say about Christ’s crucifixion: “If this is the cure, can you imagine the disease?” This movie forces us to think about that question seriously. The scene of Christ’s scourging is horrendous. Do you know why He was lashed 39 times? Because 40 was considered “death” by the Romans. It was unsurvivable. I would recommend the edited version with some of the violence excised. After watching this film, fall to your knees and thank Christ for what He did for us.
#3: HACKSAW RIDGE. Courage and conviction are in short supply these days. So when a movie comes along about a man who stood up for his religious convictions regardless of the cost, it’s worth checking out. I finally got around to watching Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge this year (it came out in 2016). The movie marked his return to directing after a ten year hiatus. Gibson knows how to tell a story. Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss, a simple man from Lynchburg, Virginia, who enlists when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He had a catch: not only would he not use a rifle, he would not even carry one. Although the ‘cancel culture’ didn’t exist in the 1940s, Doss felt the brunt of the military establishment who attempted to ‘cancel’ him via a court martial. They failed. He went on to become an invaluable member of his unit as a medic, rescuing some 75 soldiers at the brutal battle of Okinawa. His courage was contagious. Following a particularly brutal attack, Doss was wounded and exhausted after saving countless of his fellow soldiers. It was a miracle he was still alive. The soldiers were once again called to battle (the entire campaign lasted 83 days). The soldiers wouldn’t go unless Doss was with them. The commanding officer said to Doss: “These men don’t believe the same way you do. But they believe so much in how much you believe. They want a piece of it. They’re not going up there without you.” The moral: courage is contagious.
#2: JESUS of NAZARETH. This film is an epic work of cinematic craftsmanship. Robert Powell is an extraordinarily effective Jesus. It was originally broadcast as a 382 minute mini series on television in 1977. Every single minute of this film is worth it. Nothing is wasted. Director Franco Zeffirelli has created an artistic masterpiece. He is true to the Gospels and creates an ancient Holy Land that seems real to modern man. His presentation of Jesus’ telling of the Prodigal Son is a work of genius, surely inspired by the Holy Spirit! Interestingly, one of the writers was Anthony Burgess, also the author of “A Clockwork Orange.” What a cast. Each star was at the top of their game. In addition to Mr. Powell, James Farantino was a Peter for the ages. Ian McShane was a complex Judas whose motivations are slowly revealed in his deft political maneuverings. Olivia Hussey as the Virgin Mary, and Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene both shine. The list is endless: Christopher Plummer fleshes out the human weakness of Herod Antipas. You can’t stand him in the end. And James Mason brings Joseph of Arimathea to life. The conversation he has with Jesus about the idea of being “born again” draws you irresistibly into the essence of the Gospels. That’s why this film is so good. You feel like you’re walking right alongside of Jesus. Everything seems so authentic.
#1: THE CHOSEN: Not a movie, but rather the first original TV series about Jesus Christ. Three seasons are completed, 24 episodes in all, plus a pilot and Christmas special. What’s interesting is this was made outside of the Hollywood system. It was financed via crowd funding. The writers let us get to know Jesus through the eyes of key players from scripture: His disciples, Mary Magdalene, even little children. You can watch it free on The Chosen app and/or Angel Studios website. They claim over 400 million views so far! If you want to sample an episode, check out the 3rd episode of season two, titled “Matthew 4:24.” The camera work is extraordinary, as a single camera weaves in and out of a crowd without a break for the first eight minutes or so. Watch:
Season 3 wraps up with a creative and thought-provoking take on the feeding of the 5000. Here is an excerpt:
The series is produced by a creative Protestant team. They have worked hard to connect with Catholic leaders to ensure that The Chosen speaks to us all. There have been a few missteps along the way, from my Catholic perspective, but they have been minor, and offset but the creative writing and acting. Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, is in fact a Roman Catholic. He is also a man of conviction. I heard him speak at this year’s March for Life in Washington DC.
Those are my picks. What are yours? Please let me know. I want to watch some great, new faith-filled films this Lent, starting today. So let me know your favorites right away!
[Tom Quiner is board president of Pulse Life Advocates. If you enjoyed this essay, be sure to subscribe to our blog. Every donation helps us expand our reach!]