The women who have taken vows to become nuns do not always follow their exclusively male leaders in lock step. And lay women who care passionately about their church can often be harsher in their critiques than outsiders - ask Sinead O'Connor.  

In the last critical days running up to the health care reform vote, nuns in large numbers defied the direction of the church hierarchy and demonstrated in favor of the law's passage.  Afterall, they more often than their male cohorts minister to and care for people experiencing illness and hardship and see the issue through the struggles of those in need. 

Remarkably enough, a group of women who are mistresses of Catholic priests recently sent an empassioned letter to the Pope Benedict imploring the church to allow priests to marry - to experience the fullness of life so that they may better serve their church, their god and humanity.  More on that letter here.

In New York, the politics of the Church have become quite local.  The Empire State Building is well known for shading the lighting of its topmost floors with various colors to observe holidays and all manner of events and people.  The building management turned down the request of the Catholic League wishing to see the tower lighted in colors to honor Mother Teresa to mark the centennial of her birth.  Local politicians have joined in as you can read here -- surprising passions and conflicting agendas abound. 

There was also a heartbreaking story from May on NPR about a nun ex-communicated for allowing an abortion to be performed on a woman in grave health.  Read about her plight here and consider the difficulty any serious person encounters balancing ideals and priniciples against the complex urgencies of real, daily life.

Barbara Rick's IN GOOD CONSCIENCE delves into the journey of one nun, Sister Jeannine Gramick whose work with gay and lesbian parishioners led to her ministry being closed by Papal edict.  Whether you are interested in the Catholic church or not, this story of personal courage and compassion is moving and filled with a life-embracing humor.  Shot by Albert Maysles, produced by Tom Fontana and directed by Ms. Rick, the film will touch your heart. 

If religion in general is your interest, there are nearly two hundred titles touching upon different faiths and philosophies to keep you learning and debating and contemplating for days.

Reframe Subject > Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality (117 Films)

In Good Conscience by Barbara Rick

On a less weighty note, read the BBC report about Ugandan Nuns and the marijuana plants growing on an acre of convent land.  Never judge a woman by her habit!

A great beauty, talent and humanitarian.  She was the great-granddaughter of freed slaves and her grandmother was a civil rights activist.  According to The Daily Beast, Horne had not actively involved herself with the civil rights movement prior to an incident in 1945.  Entertaining the troops at an Army base that year she was struck to realize that German POWs were seated in the front while African American soldiers were relegated to the back ranks.  The inexplicable injustice of that arrangement moved her from that moment forward.  She worked with various artists and organizations over the years to bring attention to the common humanity we all share regardless of the color of our skin, including working with Reframe Collection Partner, Eric Tait.  She lent her voice to narrate Tait's THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME project.  Tait's project details the hidden history of African Americans in the US. Watch the trailer to remind yourself of the loss of light we are experiencing with the passing of this inspiring woman whose beauty ran as deep as it was great.

Learn more about Eric Tait's work as a ground-breaking journalist here.  For more information about TCM's schedule look here.

DeVivo's documentary, CROSSING ARIZONA, presents a nuanced and humanizing picture of the people caught up in the tangle of conflicting policies and formal and informal structures that is immigration to the US through its border with Mexico.  The doc provides no easy answers or cardboard villians though its goal is maintain the humanity of all those involved, front and center.  Thus, it is especially relevant given the furor over the new law of Arizona's land. 

Arizona's new law comes full of bluster and frustration to deal with an issue that is really not one issue, but many:  border security, exploitation of labor, food security, the role of peace officers versus that of federal agents, political necessities of balancing traditional voter bases against the backdrop of the changing demographic nature of the population of the US.  Depending on where you and your interests lie, you may be for or against this law, but wherever you land, you are as likely as not to only be viewing this mass of issues through your own narrow interests.  The beauty of CROSSING ARIZONA is that it creates a portrait of all those interests, people and issues not unlike the technique Chuck Close uses - the parts add up to much more than you might expect.

Find out more about the film here.  Learn more about Daniel DeVivo here.

This act of parental rejection dominated the weekend news cycle and prompted the Russian government to cease adoptions of Russian children to the US.  Adoption advocates are appearing on the cablenets to explain that this is a truly rare event and to do their best to work on behalf of the children and potential parents now caught in legal limbo as the two countries work through this disruption. 

This incident stirs emotions and brings to light realities we all would rather not have to face.  While we hope that every person becoming a parent does so, whether adoptive or biological, with clear intentions and a loving, open heart, the reality can be far different.   A child can bring purpose and vitality to a home.  That child can also bring problems without easy solutions and intense heartache.  Adopting an older child comes with its own set of added concerns and an older child from a different culture only multiplies those concerns.

From Russia, For Love, by Julia Ivanova, follows two couples from North America over the course of 3 years as they adopt older Russian children, deal with the foreign bureaucracy, travel to remote locations and handle the emotional strains inherent in making these young strangers family.  For more insightful work from Julia Ivanova, please visit the InterFilm page at Reframe Collection here.

Reframe came across Representative Clarke's remarks here at the HuffingtonPost and strongly recommends them.  Truly, there is no understanding of the history of the United States without the contributions of African Americans. 

Please consider the history that is all around us, particularly in the New York City area.  Streets over which we now walk had once been a place where a church stood or the sacred ground for burials.  Then I'll Be Free to Travel Home is a three-part series from noted journalist Eric Tait that explores that hidden history of African Americans in New York City and deftly connects it to contemporary political issues.  Metro NY recently featured Eric Tait and his tireless work to provide people with the tools for political struggles today by educating them about the importance of their past. 

Another film that will remind you to tread lightly on the streets of New York is The African Burial Ground: An American Discovery.  This winner of the National Educational Media Golden Apple Award provides a fine guide to New York history and the experience of African Americans.

What are your historical touchstones or inspirations that demonstrate Representative Clarke's reminder that Black History is American History?