American Catholics — in public and in transition

Featured at The Washington Post

Ever notice how restaurants feature all manner of fish specials during Lent, even at fast-food spots known for burgers and chicken? It’s not just for health reasons. The Lenten season focuses curiosity and scrutiny on a faith that fascinates, even if you know it only from headlines — from sex-abuse scandals to a pope with rock-star status. The influence of one faith that claims 75 million followers in America seems most evident in a solemn season that began this week with Ash Wednesday, when those who span the spectrum of Roman Catholic devotion return to tradition to spend the day wearing a visible manifestation of religious belief.

But that nod to tradition belies a group of believers in transition. A Pew research study released Thursday shows that like many other institutions, questions about the church’s direction run deep. (The survey of 1,821 adults included 351 Catholics.) Would it be any other way in an American society that is changing?

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Mar072014 TAGS: , ,

Soul Searching During Lent

Featured at WCCB Rising


CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Lent is underway and it’s a solemn time in the church calendar. Columnist Mary C. Curtis is connecting the observance of Lent to the crisis in Ukraine.

Some world leaders can take the time during Lent to do deep thinking of their own.

Internationally, Curtis says President Putin needs to give up the delusions he’s stated in justifying the use of troops in Ukraine. During a press conference, he denied that troops were even there.

Back in the states, politicians on both ends of the political spectrum can also use the 40 days and 40 nights to soul search. Recently, there’s been more selfishness and a love of in-fighting and they seem to disagree just because they don’t want to agree with the other side.

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Mar052014

Mission to Keep CIAA Tournament in Charlotte

Featured at WCCB Rising

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The CIAA Education Day kicks off for 5,000 students in the Charlotte area at the Convention Center.

It’s one of the many benefits of keeping the tournament in town.

Columnist Mary C. Curtis explains why the tournament is so sought after.

The crowds are expected to contribute up to $40 million to the local economy as they enjoy parties, concerts and basketball games. The city puts in about $1 million to host the tournament.

The CIAA didn’t renew the commitment to keep the tournament in Charlotte. They’re taking bids from cities, including Atlanta, Raleigh, D.C., Greensboro, Baltimore, and Brooklyn.

Cities want to host it because it’s the third largest tournament in the NCAA behind the ACC and Big East.

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Feb262014 TAGS: ,

LGBT equality is an ‘American value’ — the theme of HRC North Carolina gala

Featured at The Washington Post

CHARLOTTE – The scene looked like any formal event, from prom and beyond, with couples patiently waiting in line, ready to take a turn posing and smiling in front of a backdrop and getting that photo snapped to show they were there. On Saturday, that event was the Human Rights Campaign 2014 North Carolina Gala, and the more than 1,000 in attendance wanted to show they were there, supporting LGBT equality.

The star-studded crowd was a mix of politicians, celebrities — in the case of congressional hopeful Clay Aiken, a bit of both — visitors from across the country, many with North Carolina connections, and citizens of a Southern state that illustrates progress and challenges when it comes to working toward HRC goals.

The theme was how those goals reflect North Carolina and American values, as speaker after speaker emphasized.

 

 

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Feb242014 TAGS: , , ,

Soledad O’Brien’s ‘Black in America’ town hall in Charlotte

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Soledad O’Brien poses the broad question, “What does it mean to be black in America?” It comes off the heels of the Michael Dunn verdict in Florida.

Columnist Mary C. Curtis was at the town hall meeting; it was a discussion that could have gone all night.

O’Brien discussed race issues in Charlotte. A panel included Urban League’s Patrick Graham.

 

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Feb192014

No justice for Jordan Davis, more worry for parents of black children

Featured at The Washington Post

Lucia McBath said she would pray for Michael Dunn and continue to wait for justice. She stood at the microphone, reacting to the news that a jury had deadlocked on the charge of first degree murder of her son, Jordan Davis, who would have celebrated his 19th birthday on Sunday. She was distraught and destroyed, but more composed than I could ever be.

When it was his turn, Jordan’s father, Ronald Davis, said it wasn’t in his nature to be stoic, but that his calmness through anger and grief honored the memory of his son. Then he reminded everyone that the son who was killed when Dunn shot into a car full of teenagers returning from the mall was a good kid. That he had to say out loud that Jordan Davis’s life mattered to a country that seems as undecided of that fact as the jury was also a crime.

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Feb172014 TAGS: , , , , ,

What Does It Take to Be the Black ‘It’ Girl?

Featured at The Root

In some ways, Lupita Nyong’o fits the fashion-plate standard of beauty that’s changing, ever so slowly, but still frequently looks for a certain type: She’s thin and sculpted, with regal cheekbones and bearing to match. And her accent doesn’t hurt, either, in an America that’s still New World enough to be impressed by such things.

In a word, she’s gorgeous.

But in other ways, she’s something apart from the blond icons—from Jean Harlow to Marilyn Monroe to today’s ubiquitous Jennifer Lawrence—whom Hollywood normally presents as the ideal. Nyong’o—the 30-year-old, Mexican-born Kenyan who stepped out of the Yale School of Drama into fame and an Academy Award nomination—is dark-skinned, with a short, natural haircut, and no apologies.

Read the rest atThe Root
Feb132014 TAGS: , ,

Cash for teachers? Politics, money and education

Featured at WCCB Rising


 

CHARLOTTE, NC: Governor Pat McCrory announced an increase in base pay for new teachers. Washington Post columnist and local political writer Mary C. Curtis talks with Terrance Bates about why some are criticizing the Governor’s plan.

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Feb122014 TAGS: , , , ,

Shirley Temple, an optimistic icon who knew it was an illusion

Featured at The Washington Post

Some things are best left to memory.

When I think of Shirley Temple – the child star, not the adolescent actress or grown-up American diplomat – she is always petite, dimpled and smiling. Hearing of her death Monday night at the age of 85, it was hard to imagine her as anything else.

Read the rest atThe Washington Post
Feb112014 TAGS: ,

Rand Paul’s Bill Clinton-bashing is political. But he has a point.

Featured at The Washington Post

Rand Paul, the U.S. senator from Kentucky and an all-but-certain contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, is hitting Democratic Party claims to be the party for women with attacks on Bill Clinton’s infidelity with an intern in the White House.

Is it a political maneuver to tarnish top rival Hillary Clinton with guilt by association? Of course. Is Paul taking aim at a popular Democratic Party fundraiser, just as the former president is about to campaign for 2014 candidates, including Alison Lundergan Grimes, who is challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Paul’s own state of Kentucky? You bet.

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Feb102014 TAGS: , ,
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