The Religion Reporter

2005-12-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

The Pope has compassion for AIDS victims

Just browsing the Associated Press wire, I learned that Dec. 1 marked the celebration of World AIDS Day. Across the University of Florida campus, hundreds of red and white stickers are stuck on backpacks, shirts, jackets and hats, reminding students that every minute five people were to die from HIV/AIDS. Elsewhere, actually in Rome, the Pope is also concerned about this rising epidimic that has been in our history since the early 1980s.

At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI joined the United Nations earlier this week to congratulate the efforts of the Catholic community in its supports of the AIDS virus, says a report from Beliefnet.com.

The statistics are arlarming. Just this year, between 2.8 and 3.6 million people have already died from AIDS, according to figures from Avert.org. Also, there are curently between 36.7 and 45.3 million people living with AIDS, according to Avert.org. Out of that number, an estimate of 2.1 million children have the deadly disease.

In speaking with officials from the United Nations, Pope Benedict said "the church has always considered taking care of the sick an integral part of its mission," adding that he feels "close to those sick from AIDS" and invokes the comfort of the Lord to help aide those living with it, according to an article from Philly Burbs.com.

As this will probably be my last post for the next few weeks, I encourage all who are reading to sincerely pray for those individuals living with the HIV/AIDS virus and to do all you can in support of those organizations that help to fight against the disease.

2005-11-28T16:31:00.000-05:00

Sports fans will have a place to pray

For those sports fanatics who want divine intervention during the championship games, they will soon have areas to pray at the Giants Stadium and the Continental Airlines Arena, according to Beliefnet.com.

The project, conducted by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, followed the detention of five Muslims who were seen praying at the Sept. 19 Giants-New Orleans Saints game.

"We reached out to the people in the community who felt offended and we put in an expert on both Muslim culture and religion to address all our staff in terms of the sensitivities involved," said George Zoffinger, the sports authority's president.

"We've had prayer spaces allocated in hospitals, in airports and universities, places like that, and sometimes they're for Muslims but, more often, they're interfaith prayer areas," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.

This is an important first step in accepting people of faith to pray. It reminds me of a public speaking course that I took in Fall 2002. My persuasive speech was on why prayer should be brought back into the school system. Two of my examples were students frantically praying for an exam they didn't study for and dads huddled around the television praying for their favorite team to win the Super Bowl. I guess, in a way, my prayers were answered.

2005-11-18T08:15:00.000-05:00

Religious freedom is against gays on college campus

Once again religious freedom is on trial as Arizona State University is suing against the Christian Legal Society for not allowing certain people to participate in the college's programs. The society argued that giving gays and non-Christians the privilege to become members of organizations around campus would be detrimental to the university's reputation as a religious institution, according to an article from Beliefnet.com.

In similar cases that involve religious groups, almost always the Christian groups have won the right to restict membership to those who share their beliefs, to the dismay of gays and lesbians, says Beliefnet.

Many universities fund to have fraternities and sororities, such as the Student Government at the University of Florida, so Christians argue that schools can't refuse to support them when they are out to do the same thing, according to an article from the Christian Broadcasting Network.

The First Amendment is the only amendment that guarantees the right to express ourselves freely. Just because someone doesn't share the same faith as another person should not enforce the powers at be to exclude certain individuals from joining particular groups, whether they be religious or not. I do understand though the reasoning behind Arizona State's actions. Like minds should have like hearts, so to speak, and I do believe that admitting people of different beliefs will tarnish a group's focus, but to ensure that everyone is in agreement, there should be a compromise to where both parties can be satisfied.

2005-11-14T10:22:00.000-05:00

Religious equality in Iraq

In Rome Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the religious rights and freedoms of the citizens of Iraq. The two also reviewed the current constitution on Islamic law.

"Religious freedom in Iraq has been a top concern for Vatican officials following the recent approval of Iraq's draft constitution, which regards Islam as Iraq's official religion and 'a fundamental source of legislation,'" says Beliefnet.com.

Since the pope is fairly new to the Christian religion, Beliefnet says more than 12 Chaldean bishops are expected to conduct a synod to advise him on the Christian faith.

Similar to our constitution, Iraq's constitution, as of October, guarantess "the full religious rights of all individuals to freedom or religious belief and practice," according to an article from Yahoo News.

The Dhimmi law, an Islami code that applies to Jews and Christians, allows non-Muslims to practice their faith, but they are still in subjection to the Islamic rule, says Yahoo News. The tensions rise when Chrisitans try to share their faith and spread the gospel to Muslims.

This post is of great interest to me as a Christian. I would have never believed that Christians and Muslims would agree on anything, especially when it comes to their belief system. In the Holy Bible an in the Quran, there are some overlapping passages of scripture in the Old Testament, but I am glad to see that these two dominant religions are making an effort to accept each other's faith.

2005-11-10T16:57:00.000-05:00

Billy Graham ends classic crusades

Evangelist Billy Graham, 87, has announced that he will be ending his crusades. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is still going strong with President Franklin Graham as its overseer and coordinator.

Due to failing health, Evangelist Graham is enjoying queit time at home in Montreat, North Carolina where he recently celebrated his brithday on Nov. 3. The association said that while the crusade phase of his evangelistic ministry may be over, Graham still has plenty to do, according to an article from Beliefnet.com.

Graham recently participated in the groundbreaking and dedication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters in Charlotte and still is the chairman of the association's board, says Beliefnet.

For years I have enjoyed the ministry of the Graham family and I will surely miss Evangelist Billy Graham's presence as one of the leading pioneers in the Christian arena.

2005-11-08T04:58:00.000-05:00

Discovery of ancient church

Israeli arcaeologists in Jerusalem have found one of the oldest churches in the history of Christianity, according to the head of the project, Yotam Tepper. The church dates back to the third or fourth century and was found in the Holy Land near Armageddon, which is believed to be the site of the final war between good and evil, says Times Leader.com.

The Israel Antiquities Authority have gathered archaeologists to dig for the past 18 months at the Meggido prison in Northern Israel. Tepper states the discovery could provide some important information on a significant period in Christianity, which was banned by the Romans until the fourth century, according to an article by the Gulf News.

Tourism in Israel could be on the rise because of the archaeological find, says Israeli Tourism Minister Avraham Hirshzon. Besides touring the Holy Land, people will be interested in learning more about this ancient church.

2005-11-04T04:31:00.000-05:00

Squabble over stadium prayer

Visualize it's almost halftime, and the Giants just advanced to the New Orleans Saints 22-yard line. The fans are going wild. In the midsts of the crowd's cheers, five Muslim football fans decide to go a have a prayer, as they must pray five times a day. Just imagine your in a stadium of about 90 thousand people and you and a few friends decide to have a prayer for your favorite team to win, and all of a sudden three security officers escort you to a different section of the stadium, just for quietly expressing your faith, would you be offended?

The Muslims were detained and questioned because they were near an air duct on the same night former President Bush was in the stadium, said an article from ABC News.

Some of the Muslims said they did not know they were in a sensitive area, according to ESPN, and had complained they were being racially profiled for praying. After the game, three guards escorted them to their cars when they left the stadium, says the Herald-Sun.

FBI agent Steven Siegel, a spokesman for the bureau's FBI office, said the men had aroused suspicion because they were congregating near the main air intake duct. "It was where they were, not what they were doing," Siegel said, according to the Shely Star report.

2005-10-31T12:25:00.000-05:00

India: The Catholic Church and "Indianisation"

Dressing up for Halloween is acceptable in this culture, but hundreds of years ago in the Catholic Church, missionaries were far from pretending to be witches and goblins in celebration of a holiday, they were pretending to be like Hindu sadhus when they first came to India, according to the Hindu Press International. You may ask why would a bunch of misionaries dress up like the holy men of India? My only answer would be that the missionaries were trying to bring Christianity and Catholicism into India, and the only way to do that, was by adapting to the practices of the Hindu's rituals.

In response to the efforts of those first missionaries, the Catholic Church in India will plan to make itself more accommodating to Indians. The church will plan to teach Sanskrit, an ancient language spoken in India, according to Webster's New World Dictionary. Members of the church will also move towards indianisation if about 400 priests and five bishops approve the endeavor in Pune, India.

Catholic leaders have already administered numerous practices and traditions, according to the Hindu Press International, that have spurred from the Second Vatican Council. Several leaders are hoping to make the Catholic Church in India "truly Indian and genuinely Christian," said John Vattanky, a Catholic leader in Pune.

2005-10-26T17:20:00.000-05:00

Cairo: Muslim leader ends anti-Christian unrest

The thematic elements in religious movies and in the entertainment industry itself should be universal to all religions as to not offend any one. Some movie producers will go too far in overtly portraying scenes that are sterotypical of certain religions. One DVD in Egypt has caused a riot from Muslims who have deemed a movie offensive to their faith, says the Denver Post.

The play "I Was Blind But Now I Can See" was converted into a DVD and angered some 5,000 Muslims who killed four people in a Christian neighborhood in Alexandria as it tells the story of a young Christian converting to Islam, only to become disillusioned, according to the Web site TimesLeader.com.

In response to the turmoil, Imam Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi has addressed some 120 conservative delegates, including clerics, from the Anglican churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America, according to the Daily Advance.

It is hurtful to see two of the world's most largest religions fighting, to the point of death, over a video premiere. I can understand the reasoning behind the Muslims' anger, but if I was directing a movie that was to be distributed to most of the people in a particular country, I would arrange a private screening of the movie before its release. The leaders and officials of that particular country would help me ensure there were no scenes or hidden elements that would pose offensive to a certain religion.

Other Useful Sites
1. The Aljazeera
2. The Seattle Post Intelligencer
3. Fort Wayne News-Sentinel

2005-10-25T04:07:00.000-05:00

The first black Archbishop receives hate mail

According to scripture, those who are followers of Christ must suffer persecution, but what if those persecutors are out to banish you from your position as a man or woman of faith? Well, that's exactly what happened to the first black Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu.

Born in Uganda, Sentamu says that he has been getting racist letters, according to the Yorkshire Post. Despite his awful experiece, Sentamu, who will be inaugurated in York next month, said he does not believe Britain is a racist country. In response to the anonymous letters, he will pray that God will give the writers love and mercy.

In an article by the Independent News, Sentamu told reporters that forgiveness is what he is seeking for those who wrote the hateful letters with racial slurs telling him to go back to his home country.

"You see, the gospel offers forgiveness for the past, new life for the present, and hope for the future," he told BBC reporters. "In the end, when I get those letters, I actually pray for the person who's written them."

In addition to the letters of hate that Sentamu has received, he has also gotten many letters supporting his endeavors as the head of the Church of England. Citizens from York and other supporters have written giving him encouragement not to be disheartened by the abuse, said a BBC article.

Born and educated in Uganda, the 56-year-old practised as a barrister, an English lawyer trained in higher court trial law, and a judge, according to to the Ekklesia Web site. Sentamu was an outspoken critic of Idi Amin's regime, before coming to the UK in 1974. Ordained in 1979 after serving in a succession of London parishes, accordomg tp BBC News, he was appointed as the Bishop of Stepney in 1996 and the Bishop of Birmingham, England in 2002.

Opposition will always be present when people are showing the love of God, but in those times, we should heed to Sentamu's words and pray for those who are rejecting our stance in representing the life and character of Christ.

2005-10-20T08:03:00.000-05:00

Starbucks to launch 'God quotes' on cups

Waking up to begin a new week can sometimes be the most difficult task for a person to face, but soon mornings will be more enjoyable when Starbucks introduces its new line of advertising.

Coffee and espresso drinkers alike will soon get a spirtual lift in the spring when Starbucks begins putting God-filled quotations from the Rev. Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose-Driven Life," on its cups, according to the Web site beliefnet.

The Way I See It is the company's campaign to print the quotations. This will mark the first time in Starbuck's history when the use of holy sayings from God and other uplifting messages could pose its customers to think about what really matters in life. To continue the coffehouse's tradition in facilitating conversation and discussion, this year, Starbuck's began printing a total of 63 positive quotations from writers, scientists, musicians, athletes and other professions, according to USA TODAY reporter Cathy Lynn Grossman.

Warren came up with the idea after reading a quotation on evolution from paleontologist Louise Leakey on evolution, who submitted her saying to Starbucks. Warren entered a quotation for 2006 that was approved by spokeswoman Sanja Gould to be used on cups, said a Arizona Republic report.

So the next time you order a beverage from Starbucks, please consider the messages as a reminder to treasure the valuable things in life because you never know, one cup of coffee just might make your day a little brighter. Yes, some might say it's the taste that brings fulfillment to one's morning, but words that lift the human spirit are much more worth while.

2005-10-17T17:46:00.000-05:00

Lutherans and Protestants can't agree on 2010 assembly

Officials from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) had hoped that their next global assembly will join the Lutheran World Foundation, but their plans have changed.

The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the alliance's president, announced Thursday that the LWF has "decided to proceed on their own with an assebly in Stuttgart in 2010," despite thieir willingness to continue to have gatherings in the future.

The split between the Reformed and Lutheran Protestants were because of various religious doctrines during the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Kirkpatrick in September was proposed with the idea for the two groups to hold the next assembly in the same place, although constitutional elements would create conflict.

The church groups are all sponsored by the Ecumenical Center in Geneva all hold separate assemblies every few years, but the joint meeting will hopefully eliminate the financial pressures of churches.

Kirkpatrick thinks it is still possible to have the meeting in 2010 and wants the two organizations to set an example of membership and leadership for all churches to follow.

Other Useful Sites

1. United Church News

2. Lutheran World Federation

2005-10-13T22:06:00.000-05:00

The spiritual life of college students

In high school, parents told their children to believe what they were accustomed to, in terms of a child's faith and religion. Now, the child has graduated and moved away to college to experience the meaning of spirituality, life and God. Upon entering the college scene, many incoming freshman often try to develop their own philosophy about life and what it means to be committed to God.

The spiritual make up of college students' lives have sparked a recent study to determine who is searching for meaning, who is skeptical about faith and who is committed to church.

The study of more than 100,000 feshman was conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. It will look at a range of attitudes and practices and will measure the students again in their junior year.

African-American students scored the highest on the three measures of spirituality: Religious commitment, spiritual quest and ethic of caring. Gender was also taken into account within the different racial groups.

Despite the numerous differences, the study highlights the broader scale of what college students share in their spiritual development.

Other Useful Sites
1. College Students: Of Gender, Race and Sprituality
2. Blog: The Spiritual Life of College Students
3. Spirituality in Higher Education

2005-10-10T19:33:00.000-05:00

Dad sues Air Force Academy for religious differences

The battle for First Amendment rights are on the loose as a Jewish father of two Air Force Academy cadets sues the Air Force for officers forcing Christian beliefs on others at the school.

Over the past 10 years or so, the lawsuit claims that academy officials have created an atmosphere of religious intolerance at the Colorado school in violation of the First Amendment.

The lawsuit was filed by Mike Weinstein who claims that evangelical Christians have forced students to attend religious services and participate in prayers. My only problem with Weinstein's course of action is that religious freedom and expression should be tolerated in a public setting, such as a school's campus. Weinstein's opposition with the acaedmy's religious practices are understandable, if he is of a different faith, but I think his battle will lose in the court system.

The Air Force not only engouraged religious intolerance, but on Aug. 29, they implemented guidelines that have discouraged public prayer at official events and have put limits on individuals expressing their faith.

2005-10-06T07:04:00.000-05:00

'Intelligent Design' trial is under way
The debate on "intelligent design" has made its way into the Philadelphia court system with scores of reporters, high school students and clergymen awaiting the final decision of this religious and scientific controversy.

U.S. District Judge John Jones III is hearing a lawsuit aimed at stopping the school board in York County from introducing intelligent design in science classes as an alternative to lessons about evolution.

Reporters from across the county in the United States and worldwide have attended the trial and stories have appeared in newspapers from Beijing and Ankara, a city in Turkey.

The National Center for Science Education defends those individuals who are in favor of evolution and the Discovery Institute in Seattle promotes intelligent design by the use of blogs.

Incoporating intelligent design into our school's science classes is a great way to getting students learning about other methods of the scientific process. The theory of evolution doesn't have all of the concrete answers to most of man's questions, but intelligent design provides greater insight into the creation of the universe and our world.

2005-10-03T21:03:00.000-05:00

Catholic Bishops' meeting begins at the Vatican

As Pope Benedict XVI began his first major event at the Vatican since his election in April, more than 250 bishops from around the world discussed the future of the Catholic Church.

In the midst of cardinals, patriacrchs, prelates and other clergy from 118 countries, Benedict conducted a two-hour service held at the St. Peter's Basilica to open the three-week Vatican synod. From Oct. 2 through Oct. 23, bishops of the Catholic faith will make reccommendations on how the pope should run the church. The issue of the Eucharist, the ritual in which Catholics partake in Communion, was of greatest concern to those in attendance.

"People long for the Eucharist and they believe that it is the Eucharistic gift that will make them fully [understand] the church," said Cardinal Angelo Scola, key moderator of the Synod of Bishops.

To examine the Eucharist in its importance to the overall church is much needed, as it provides the foundation for Catholics to fully understand the reasoning behind the body and blood of Christ.

Numerous topics will be discussed, including whether or not Communion should be given to Catholic politicians who believe in abortion and to divorced Catholics who wish to remarry without an annulment.

2005-09-29T06:15:00.000-05:00

Former Christian Brothers Academy teacher pleads to rape charge

With the individuals who are positioned to teach our nation's children, it saddens me to believe that there are some who will take advantage of young people by abusing their innocence. Teachers and school administrators should never be put into situations where children could be harmed, especially if the child has been raped or seriously injured. Teachers who teach in Christian schools are put at a higher standard because of their reputation to serve others by Christian character and their morality. We rely on teachers to educate youth about the necessites of life, and it's hard to fathom someone tarnishing a child's life through rape.

Sandra Beth Geisel, former writing teacher for the Christian Brothers Academy is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student. Geisel's plea on Monday landed her a 6-month jail term and 10 years probation.

The 42-year-old mother of four will be listed as a state sex offender and receive treatment for alcohol and mental health issues.

Geisel's case has received national attention and local debate about whether statutory rape cases are handled differently depending on the gender of those involved.

Those affected by rape are obviously not at fault, I blame the accusers and attackers for performing these devastating acts on children. Even though Geisel did deny that the student forced her into having sex, I am still firm on the fact that teachers, and adults for that matter, should not corrupt children by unlawful sexual acts.

2005-09-26T19:31:00.000-05:00

Science vs. the Supernatural

The theory of evolution has been taught in public schools as part of the science curriculum, but now 11 parents of high school students in Pennsylvania along with members of the American Civil Liberties Union, are suing the Dover School District for allowing students to consider alternatives to evolution such as "intelligent design." Intelligent design in the controversial belief that an intelligent agent rather thaan the undirected process of evolution is responsible for certain features of the universe and living things. The basis for the parent's argument is that the First Amendment does not allow religious teachings or advances the concept of religion.

Since the Supreme Court ruling in 1987 that prohibited biblical accounts of creation in public schools, the debate of alternatvies to evolution and "intelligent design" continues to appear in the court system. The only problem with the Pennsylvania case is when the lawyers present the opening and closing arguments. In almost all cases that are conducted by the Supreme Court, there has to be a point where substantial evidence has to be shown. In my studies evolutionists and the like use vague terms such as "probably" and "i'm not an expert" to assert their claims.

To know whether or not something is a theory is by the answers that follow certain questions. Some well-intentioned, well-meaning people think evolution is a reasonable theory explaning man's questions about the universe, but I believe that evolution is a conceived belief by man to oppose or replace the existence of God as the Creator.

Other Helpful Sites
1. Intelligent Design in Public Schools
2. The Future of Intelligent Design

2005-09-21T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Short Bible

The No. 1 bestseller, in my opinion, is the Holy Bible, but why are so many of them collecting dust sitting on bookshelves? The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has fascinated believers and non-believers alike. My only problem with the story of Jesus, is that it takes too long to get to the end. There are 66 books in the Holy Bible, 39 in the Old Testament and 28 in the New Testament. One reason for the dust factor might be that people just don't have enough time to actually read the Bible. To reduce the time it takes to read the Bible and to make it more fun, the Rev. Michael Hinton, of the Canterbury Cathedral has developed the 100-Minute Bible.

The new Bible was launched today and it can be read under two hours. The 100-Minute Bible is a condensed edition of the Christian holy book which summaraizes every teaching from the Creation to Revelation. Publishers The 100-Minute Press say the book has been written for those who want to know more about Christianity, but don't have the time to read the Bible in full.

The release of this Bible will encourage me to keep turning the pages, and I am certain the ministry and chracter of Jesus will generally become more interesting as readers continue to learn about the holy man.

2005-09-19T07:11:00.000-05:00

Day of Prayer Gets Mixed Response

Prayer has been an important part of our American history. From congressman and national leaders conducting prayer services in Washington D.C., to our nation's students praying around flagpoles participating in See You At The Pole, prayer can unite people from every religion into one mighty unit. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has announced a National Day of Prayer for Friday, Sept. 16.

Americans joined together in churches, mosques and cathedrals to pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but many houses of worship did not participate or drew few people, in part of the federal government's response to the disaster.

On Friday, President Bush attended a service at the Washington National Cathedral with other leaders, evacuees and rescue workers from New Orleans.

In Ohio, no one attended an hour-long prayer meeting at the Statehouse in Columbus, leaving the ministers and a few organizers to pray before about 180 empty seats.

Several pastors around the country have already had services in honor of Katrina survivors. They have voiced that the government, once again, was too late. Around the U.S., prayer gatherings have been scheduled immediately after the tragedy or announced regularly at worship services.

The National Day of Prayer and Remembrance is a great way for getting people praying when destruction and disaster comes, but what about recognizing prayer when things aren't so devastating? I applaud President Bush, his staff and administrators for realizing the need to pray for the nation's safety, but I want America to consider praying more than just once a year for a certain amount of time. Prayers should be heard and felt on a continual basis as a way to ensure hope, togetherness and assurance in a time of confusion and uncertainty.

Other Useful Sites

1. National Day of Prayer Task Force
2. Sept. 11 National Day of Prayer

2005-09-14T18:34:00.000-05:00

Jordanian King hopes to unite Muslim dialogue with Western religions

The Islamic faith is somewhat difficult for us Westerners to understand. Since most Christians in the United States have been "Americanized" by their beliefs and values, it's hard for them to accept any other religion outside of their own. Christianity, Judaism and Islam--although very much distinct, all have similarities concerning Israel's Old-Testament leader, Moses, and the New Testament king, Jesus Christ. One Eastern king wants to foster a greater awareness of the Islamic doctrine to the major religions of the Western world.

King Abdullah II and his wife, Queen Rania, met with Pope Benedict XVI Monday in Rome to discuss possible strategies in fostering relations between Islam and Christianity.

According to Petra, Jordan's state news agency, King Abdullah's visit was part of a tour centered around Muslim-Christian dialogue, which helps "to clarify the true message of Islam [by] establishing peace."

The king plans to further "the joint values and common principles" among Islam, Christianity and Judaism during his meetings in and across the United States.

2005-09-08T08:40:00.000-05:00

An Expression of Kindness in the Midst of Katrina

With all of the devastation happening in New Orleans, there are individuals who are taking the time to assist the hurting and downtrodden people of the state. In a time of turmoil and utter horror, I believe that we as American citizens should assist the victims of natural disasters in any way we can, even if that means forfeiting a national holiday. One business owner did just that. By spending the Labor Day weekend asking for donations of fuel and bug spray to a city near New Orleans, Donald Ferrier, president of Ferrier Builders, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas canceled his plans in Mississippi to supply items to the people of Carriere, a city 40 miles northeast of New Orleans.

Ferrier was transporting three metal tanks of fuel to Carriere, according to journalist Terri Rimmer. The fuel is by far the most dire need, said Ferrier, who says that machines and vehicles need to be fueled so people can recover.

"My main focus this trip will be to transport fuel and containers to leave filled with fuel to Carriere," said Ferrier.

I really commend Ferrier in his efforts to aid the ones who live in Carriere, but to be honest, how many of us would give up a national holiday with family and friends to help bring relief to those who need it the most? His act of kindness is something to consider. This demonstration is only one example of the many things that people can do to give peace and assurance to the families effected by Hurricane Katrina.