Comics I 10B WHOM TO CONTACT Galen Holley, I Abby I 11B FAITH RREELLIIGGIIOONN Religion Editor 678-1510 & I & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009 PAGE 7B Briefing INDIANA ‘Praying robber’ suspect seeks mercy I INDIANAPOLIS – He may have hugged the clerk. He may have prayed with her, too. But prosecutors say Gregory Smith’s contrition during a crime in progress doesn’t change the fact he still robbed a check cashing store. URPLE A judge entered a not guilty P plea Tuesday for Smith, who ap- peared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” last week after a security video showing a gunman pray- ing with clerk Angela Montez during an Oct. 19 robbery of an Indianapolis check cashing business. The 23-year-old apologized &LOOD and said he was driven to the B robbery after he lost his job and his family was threatened with Author Anne Rice has lived in eviction. RHODE ISLAND both the darkness and the light Kennedy to meet RI bishop on health care I PROVIDENCE – Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island has he narrator of the poem “The Dark Night agreed to meet with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence after a public argument over of the Soul,” written by the Christian mys- the national health care over- haul. tic St. John of the Cross, speaks of being Bishop Thomas Tobin re- quested the meeting in a letter wakened in the night and led, as if by a to the Democratic lawmaker, and Kennedy agreed on Thurs- Tspiritual force, through the outer darkness and day.A date hasn't been sched- uled. into the waiting embrace of a lover. Kennedy last week criti- cized Catholic leaders who op- The metaphor for man’s alienation sure that, in some mysterious way, it pose universal health care and return to God, with its haunting, all serves the glory of God. plans unless the plans include erotic imagery, is also a perfect Among all her characters, Rice more restrictions on abor- metaphor for the spiritual journey of identifies most with the vam- tions. author Anne Rice. Since her first novel, “Interview Turn to PURPLE on Page 11B Tobin said Kennedy's com- with the Vampire” debuted in ments were "irresponsible" and 1976, Rice has sold nearly 100 demanded an apology. million books, most of them fea- Kennedy, who is Catholic, turing characters who are either says that he never meant to witches, spirits or, like her most fa- slight the church and that it has mous protagonist, the vampire Le- every right to promote its be- stat, one of the legions of the undead liefs. feeding on the blood of the living. But he says the issue facing Rice’s signature style – part florid Congress is, in his words, "ac- Southern Gothic, part historical fiction, cess to health care and nothing part fantasy – draws heavily from the else." Catholic symbolism and piety that col- ored her childhood in New Orleans. “My mother, Katherine, taught me a WASHINGTON, D.C. great love for the world of the invisible, the world of spiritual values, the world Swine flu concerns of truth,” Rice said, speaking on the face annual hajj phone from her home in California. I Some of the millions who Despite her religious upbringing, Rice travel to Saudi Arabia next was a committed atheist most of her lit- month for the annual hajj will erary life. Today she’s come back to the faith into which she was baptized, and be greeted with face masks, her work has taken a bold, new direc- hand sanitizer and fever tion. checks as health officials strive Rice recently spoke to the Daily Jour- to stem spread of swine flu nal about her return to the church, as during the world's largest pil- well as about her work and how she’s grimage. The Saudi Health Ministry, aided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven- BY GALEN HOLLEY tion, is setting up an emergen- cy operations center to get DAILY JOURNAL real-time reports from area hospitals and clinics to track how many are sick and will need the free anti-viral medi- cation stockpiled for the dense gathering. The hajj, a pilgrimage re- quired of all able-bodied Mus- HEARERS OF THE WORD lims at least once in their life- time, attracts about 3 million people from 160 countries. GERMANY Life in an old chaos of the sun Lutherans elect first female leader ctober Saturdays at our house and buying diesel cemetery. sweaters. Are they playing tonight?” I BERLIN – Germany's Luther- are sepia-colored, cat-lazy, at the bait-and- “We could go to Square Books, or at “Yaz’um,” I tell her, but not each an Church has elected a smell like cut grass and Pine tackle shop, nod- least to Cracker Barrel in Batesville,” the other. woman to lead the nation's Sol, move to the delayed ding to the addicts wife says, but that’s a lot to ask, and I’m A cup of half-time coffee with a dash Protestants for the first time in O“throp, thropping” of Harleys gliding that amble in with not up to it. of old grandpa is good to start you to- its history. down 301 South, Delta-wise, toward the fistfuls of sweaty “I’m pleased to hear the ‘mew’ of yard ward your rest. Margot Kaessmann was over- casinos on a charity run. bills and craven kittens under the evergreens along the Third quarter I decide if I’ll get to whelmingly voted into the “Have you filled the bird feeder?” the faces. edge of the drive,” I tell her, “waiting to Mass next morning early enough to be church's top position on wife asks, over the sizzle of bacon. Like intestinal be eaten by jealous Toms, and I like see- asked to read. Most times not. I’ve Wednesday. “No, maw. I ain’t.” parasites they’re ing that concrete ditch between me and never been able to properly explain my- The 51-year-old bishop holds I open a can of ranch style beans with good for harvesting the rest of the world.” self before 11 a.m. a doctorate in theology and has my eggs and she tells me that’s the work the dried crust of Galen But that’s not Christian, and I don’t “I have a mind to recite ‘Sunday four grown children. She is one of the devil. deli bologna; good HOLLEY care. Morning’ by Wallace Stevens if I’m of only two women to serve as Rather be whipped than go shopping for a snaggle- By 6 p.m. my phone nearly vibrates drafted,” I tell her, then dissolve into bishop in Germany's Protestant but mama can’t carry 40-pound sacks of toothed quip about off the table, but that’s time to start get- lily-livered gibberish about green wings church. cat litter so I put on clean socks and tell the stuffed bear looming over the “Cat- ting deloused, hunkered down for the and oranges. She was ordained in 1985 myself it’ll all be over quick, like peeling fish Charlie.” SEC night game. She watches my mind fly out over the and has held many offices with- a bandage. Once and again of a Saturday the A good ration of smoked meat will do, wide water of our not-yet pond and tells in the church. Kaessmann is Impossible to tell who I’ve offended Presbyterians bury somebody, half-mile and a book of Barry Hannah’s short sto- me be content with watching the birds viewed as being politically ac- each week so checking my e-mail is like chain of pickups and domestic sedans ries for when I mute the commercials. feed. tive and media savvy. reaching my hand into the garbage dis- stretching to the intersection of 304. I “I like Uga, or Smoky,” the wife says, The Associated Press posal. disengage the PTO, tilt back my hat and sounding the barks of the mascots of Contact Daily Journal religion editor Galen Holley at Early afternoons I’m sipping coffee just sit till they make the hill of the Georgia and Tennessee. “They wear 678-1510 or [email protected]. NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY JOURNAL AT YOUR LEISURE/ADVICE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009 I PAGE 11B

SUDOKU PUZZLE (SOLUTION ON THIS PAGE) NAMES IN THE NEWS Bullet hits Dobbs’ N.J. Dobbs says he had been receiving A. Knopf has not set a date for a digi- threatening phone calls for weeks. On tal version. home with wife nearby his radio show, he connected the gun- “We’re not releasing an e-book at I WANTAGE – Police in New Jersey are shot to his advocacy for a crackdown this time but may consider releasing trying to determine who fired a bullet on illegal immigration and to his oppo- one in the future,” Knopf spokesman that struck CNN nents’ rhetoric. Paul Bogaards said Thursday. commentator Lou The home is on a farm in Wantage, E-editions also have been withheld Dobbs’ home as about 50 miles northwest of New York for Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue,” Ed- his wife stood City. ward Kennedy’s “True Compass” and nearby. It is small-game hunting season, but Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” as State police Sgt. no hunters were seen in the area. publishers worry that the growing e- Stephen Jones says market will take business from the Dobbs’ wife and more expensive hardcovers. driver were outside Agassi’s memoir publisher In Agassi’s book, No. 9 on the best- the home Oct. 5 DOBBS withholds e-edition seller list of Amazon.com as of Thurs- when they heard I NEW YORK – If you’re eager to read day afternoon, the tennis great ac- the gunshot. Jones Andre Agassi’s memoir, don’t expect to knowledges using crystal meth in the says the bullet didn’t penetrate the sid- download it any time soon. 1990s and then lying to the Associa- ing and fell to the ground outside. Agassi’s “Open” will not be available tion of Tennis Professionals tour after Cover of “Open” by Andre Agassi Dobbs mentioned the bullet earlier as an e-book when the hardcover failing a 1997 drug test. this week on CNN and his radio show. comes out, Nov. 9, and publisher Alfred The Associated Press

ADVICE Dear Abby: As a fire officer, I have seen far too Thank you, Abby, for help- depressed because his mom works and doesn’t many families fall victim to accidental home fires. It ing us spread this lifesaving have time for him. His dad doesn’t live with them, is devastating to find out that a life could have message to your readers. — so Ricky feels he has only me to talk to. He wants to YOUR HEALTH been saved if someone had only taken that simple Jeffrey D. Johnson, Presi- marry me, and I don’t want to lie and say I will. It step of replacing a dead battery in a smoke alarm. dent, International Associ- disturbs me that he still wants to be together even Dear Dr. Donohue: horrified. I don’t want her Nearly 96 percent of American homes have at least ated of Fire Chiefs though he knows I’m not happy with him. He be- When my son was 3, our to have the same bulging one smoke alarm. But did you know that 19 percent Dear Jeff: I’m glad to lieves that if he’s happy, I will be, too. Please tell me pediatrician said he had a muscles that he has de- of American homes lack a working smoke alarm be- help, and I know my readers what do. — Troubled in Salinas, Calif. heart murmur. He didn’t veloped.They’re fine on cause the batteries are missing or dead? are grateful for your timely Dear Troubled: I’m sure the news that you want- say anything needed to be him.They won’t be fine on For 22 years, the International Association of Fire reminder. It may seem like ed to break up was painful for Ricky to hear — done, and he didn’t say the her.What do you think of Chiefs and Energizer have been committed to a menial task, but safe- Dear hence the tears — but saying his life is in your boy couldn’t be as active weightlifting for girls? — changing this statistic through the “Change Your guarding yourselves and ABBY hands was a form of emotional blackmail. For your as he wanted to be. Now P.G. Clock Change Your Battery” campaign. This partner- your families is extremely sake, please don’t fall for it. my son is at an age where I’m all for it. Just ship encourages families to change the battery in important — so change those batteries this week- Ricky appears to be needy and immature. Call his he wants to play organized about everyone in the fit- their smoke alarms when they set their clocks back end! mother, tell her that you are ending the relationship sports. He has to have a Dr. ness world endorses an hour on Nov. 1. This message also serves as a re- and that he isn’t taking it well. She’s in a better po- physical exam. Should I weightlifting for girls.They minder to communities nationwide to change the Dear Abby: For the last two years I have been sition to see he gets emotional and psychological mention the murmur to the DONOHUE endorse it for people of batteries in their carbon monoxide detectors. going out with a guy I’ll call “Ricky.” My problem is I support than you are. doctor? — S.R. all ages and both sexes. As winter approaches, more people will begin don’t love him anymore. A few weeks ago I told him Sure, mention it. The doctor will be Your daughter won’t develop the using gas appliances to heat their homes and may I no longer wanted to be with him, and he started Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as extra careful when listening to the same bulging muscles that your son find themselves at risk of carbon monoxide poison- crying. He scared me when he said his life was in Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline boy’s heart. has developed. She doesn’t have the ing, called the “silent killer” because this gas is col- my hands. Phillips.Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Murmurs are noises made because same amount of testosterone he does. orless, odorless and tasteless. Abby, I want to end it. Ricky suffocates me. He’s Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. of eddy currents developing in the Testosterone is the hormone that pro- blood when it flows from one heart motes muscle growth. She will, howev- chamber to the next. In many young er, become stronger, and she will be a I SUDOKU SOLUTION children, murmurs are heard because better athlete — if that’s her goal. If it CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS they have thin chests.A thicker chest isn’t her goal, she’ll do her bones a great favor. She’ll lessen her chances wall would silence such noises.Those I Today: Folk singer Tom is 48. Guitarist Johnny Marr Schelsinger of Fountains of murmurs are innocent murmurs, not in- of developing osteoporosis later in life. Strong bones are built at young ages. Paxton is 72. Actor Ron of Modest Mouse (and The Wayne is 42. Musician Rob dicative of any heart problems.They Rifkin is 70. Actress Sally Smiths) is 46. Actor Dermot Van Winkle (Vanilla Ice) is disappear as the child grows. Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to Kirkland is 68. Actor David Mulroney is 46. Drummer 41. Singer Linn Berggren of I wouldn’t be the least surprised if Ogden Stiers (“M.A.S.H.”) is Mikkey Dee of Motorhead is Ace of Base is 39. Actor the examining doctor hears no mur- answer individual letters, but he will incor- porate them in his column whenever pos- 67. Actress Deidre Hall 46. Country singer Darryl Eddie Kaye Thomas (“Ameri- mur. (“Days of Our Lives”) is 61. Worley is 45. Actor Rob can Pie”) is 29. Guitarist sible. Readers may write him or request Director Peter Jackson Schneider is 45. Guitarist Frank Iero of My Chemical Dear Dr. Donohue: My 15-year-old an order form of available health newslet- (“Lord of the Rings”) is 48. Adrock of the Beastie Boys Romance is 28. Anchorman Dan daughter is using her 17-year-old ters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL Drummer Larry Mullen of U2 is 43. Musician Adam The Associated Press Rather is 78 brother’s weightlifting equipment. I am 32853. today.

People sometimes ask Rice think about this,” she said. ten so much about immortali- attends Mass regularly and im- ed herself to writing for the Purple if she regrets having written “Back then we were told ty, the specter of death was merses herself in reading glory of Jesus Christ. Like the stories about the occult, or the many of the same things. We suddenly very close. Christian theology and mysti- losses she’s experienced in life, Continued from Page 7B erotica she wrote under a pen were given biblical reasons “I’ve never really asked ‘Why cism. no decision like this is ever name. why society would become me?’” said Rice. “It’s quite the In one of Rice’s books the easy, in fact it’s agonizing. pire Louis, the protagonist of “Absolutely not,” she said. decadent and immoral if we opposite. I think bad things are vampire Lestat is given a privi- Those characters will always be her first novel, a lonely, con- “My books are transformative. allowed people of color equal just what we – humans – call leged glimpse of heaven and part of her, but she likes to templative creature who grieves They demonstrate a moral status in society. Nobody today random, and for me they don’t hell, but he’s left wondering if it think that suffering ultimately the loss of his mortality. compass, a real sense of right would think any of that had particularly encourage or dis- was all a delusion. has a redemptive quality. “I was essentially grieving and wrong. Evil isn’t glorified.” any validity whatsoever.” courage faith. They’re just part “I devoutly hope hell doesn’t “It’s a great trust in the mind the loss of my own faith,” said Her recent novels have in- Like her supernatural char- of the life that I see all around exist,” said Rice. “I believe of God,” she said. “Like in the Rice, recalling how as a child cluded two fictionalized ac- acters, Rice remains a great fan me.” there’s some form of justice, old songs, we will understand it she was enraptured with the counts of the boyhood of Jesus, of humanity. Rice’s submission to the mys- where one has to confront by and by. The Catholic imagi- lives of the saints and longed and her 29th book, “Angel “When I was a child it was tery of God has also freed her one’s deeds, but it’s really nation is tinged with purple and very brutal, but today we live frightening that so many Chris- blood, where nothing is wasted. to devote her life to God. Time,” released this week, to enjoy a thoroughgoing love which weaves together the in an unprecedented age of tians believe you can essential- All suffering can be offered up Rice started drifting away of life. She’s a big fan of holi- themes of the heavenly hosts, understanding about homo- ly go to hell by accident.” and reconciled in Christ.” from the church years before days, particularly those with re- she achieved any literary suc- history, and Rice’s long-time in- sexuality and I hope people Despite the clamoring of die- ligious origins, and she detests cess. After her mother’s death terest in Judaism, an interest will continue to learn,” she hard fans, Rice has left the Contact Daily Journal religion editor what she calls the “lingering she moved to Texas, outside that played a large part in her said. vampires behind, and, as she Galen Holley at 678-1510 or the world of parish schools return to Christianity. “How many school teachers, Puritanism” that aligns against puts it, has completely dedicat- [email protected]. and what she came to see as People sometimes wrongly clergy, artists – gay people in them. the authoritarian hand of the assume that when Rice creates all walks of life – need us to “It’s part of the wisdom of church. a character she’s condoning the learn and understand more? our Christian ancestors to take In the ‘70s she and husband character’s actions. Christianity has always had its those pagan observances and Stan Rice made a life inside in- “In fact, when I was writing scapegoats, but we have to translate them into feasts,” she tellectual circles in San Francis- those dark characters, they felt stop this. We have to define said of holidays like Halloween. co, a life that decidedly did not themselves cut off from grace, ourselves without persecuting “Not many people realize include religion. from light, and that’s the way I another group.” that Puritans wanted to outlaw “We met terrific, secular, in- felt, cut off from those same Christmas celebrations be- tellectual people,” she said of things,” she said. “They were Redemptive power cause they felt they were too her close friends, many of metaphors for lost souls.” A poem written by Rice’s geared toward feasting and en- whom were homosexuals. The enduring symbolic husband, Stan, begins, “Some joyment. We have to have out- “They were absolutely commit- power of the vampire, Rice things lighten nightfall, and lets for that Dionysian energy ted to making the world a bet- feels, is precisely as one who is make a Rembrandt of a grief.” in life.” ter, more beautiful place.” cut-off, as the ultimate out- That sense of the dark beauty After Stan’s death Rice left Although the couple’s five- sider. in life has characterized all of her home in the Garden Dis- year-old daughter, Michelle, “It’s us, the ones who con- Rice’s work. It has also given trict of New Orleans, the setting died of leukemia in 1972, their template immortality,” she her a calm acceptance that for several of her stories, and atheism remained grounded said. “All of us feel ourselves, at God’s ways are essentially un- moved to California. Today she less in bitterness than in disil- times, to be predators and sin- knowable to man. lusionment, their belief that ners.” In December of 1998 Rice the Christianity they both pro- Rice sees Stephanie Meyer’s went into a diabetic coma and fessed as children simply was- popular “Twilight” books and nearly died. Four years later, n’t tenable anymore. the HBO series “True Blood” her husband of more than 40 After the publication of “In- as examples of vampire fiction years, Stan, died of brain can- terview,” the success of Rice’s that are intelligent, symboli- cer. For an author who’d writ- subsequent novels made her cally rich and which speak to an icon among legions of read- the experience of being TUPELO COMMONS CINEMA ers. They devoured her sump- “other.” advance [email protected] tuous stories about beautiful, For Rice that sense of being Giftbooks, Birthday Parties & Group Rentals Available an outsider extends also to 842-8422 STADIUM SEATING *No Passes N HALLOWEEN 2 [R] LOVE HAPPENS [PG-13] guilt-ridden vampires and fam- *Michael Jackson’s: Where The Wild 725 1025 140 435 720 955 gender and sexuality. She’s felt This Is It Things Are ilies of witches living in de- 12:00 2:30 12:05 2:20 N ASTRO BOY [PG] TOY STORY 2 3D [G] a life-long aversion to overly (PG) 5:00 7:35 10:05 (PG) 4:35 7:00 9:20 155 420 700 920 240 640 1040 crepit ante-bellum mansions. Double Feature - Purchase of a ticket to Toy Story 2 *Michael Jackson’s: The Stepfather N allows free admittance to the following Toy Story stringent gender roles, a trait This Is It 1:25 4:15 CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE showtime (does not apply to the final showtime of She traveled extensively, (PG-13) the day). (PG) 1:00 4:00 7:10 9:40 7:20 9:50 VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT [PG-13] then, in the mid-1990s, as she she’s written into many of her 220 455 730 1005 TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD characters. Her books have en- *Saw VI (R) Law Abiding Citizen ALL BY MYSELF [PG-13] was visiting some of the most 12:10 2:30 (R) COUPLES RETREAT joyed widespread popularity 4:45 7:35 9:55 1:15 4:25 7:10 10:00 [PG-13] 150 430 710 945 awe-inspiring works of reli- 205 440 715 955 WHIP IT [PG-13] within the gay community and *Saw VI (R) Paranormal Activity gious art in the world, like the (R) 12:15 2:30 TOY STORY 3D [G] 145 425 1:10 4:10 7:05 9:20 4:45 7:30 9:40 her son, novelist Christopher 1245 445 845 ZOMBIELAND [R] statue of Christ the Redeemer Double Feature-Purchase of a ticket to Toy Story allows The Final Cloudy w/a Chance free admittance to the following Toy Story 2 showtime. 235 450 705 915 in Rio de Janeiro, she began to Rice, is gay. Destination 12:20 2:20 of Meatballs 12:00 2:15 feel a change coming over her. The Catholic Church holds NON 3-D (R) 4:20 7:25 9:30 3-D (PG) 4:30 6:50 9:05 In 1998 she experienced an that homosexuality is gravely FINE WINES, disordered, but Rice, an avid LIQUORS, emotional conversion nearly CHAMPAGNES Fine Wines, Liquors, Champagnes four decades in the making. student of theology, prays that Four years later she completely will change with time. Thompson Square Shopping Center rededicated her life to Christ “People like me, who grew 972 Barnes Crossing Road, next to Kroger and she’s been a recommitted up in the South in the ‘40s and 662-840-4700 Catholic ever since. ‘50s, should really stop and Mon. – Thurs. 10 – 8:30; Fri. – Sat. 10 – 10