Rev Donald E Wildmon

In a stinging rebuke of the party's expected nominee, Republican platform writers Monday shredded Bob Dole's proposed "declaration of tolerance" on abortion--dramatically underscoring Dole's lack of control over his party on the eve of his nominating convention. At the same time, the platform panel also opened a new conservative front in the continuing controversy over illegal immigration, approving a call for a constitutional amendment that would deny U.S.

The controversial movie "The Last Temptation of Christ" will be released next Friday, more than a month earlier than expected, Universal Pictures announced Thursday. The announcement--from Universal and Cineplex Odeon Films, which co-financed the film--came as a surprise strategic move in the escalating war between Universal and protesters of the fictional account of Christ's life.

In a case watched closely by educators and religious interests, a federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that textbooks used widely in California schools violated the state and federal constitutions by promoting the "religions of witchcraft and neo-paganism." U. S. District Judge William Shubb, ruling on a suit brought by a couple from Woodland, Calif.

"I was mute, tongue-tied, burdened by shadows and silence. Now I speak, and my burden is lightened, lifted, free." This is Marlon Riggs bashing demons in "Tongues Untied." He is anguish, passion, rage and defiance, using the camera to undermine prejudice and ignorance while boldly and eloquently celebrating diversity. Dark eyes blazing, Riggs is also pushing America's anxiety button, for his exciting, free-form film is about black men loving black men.

An art gallery and its director were acquitted Friday of obscenity charges by a jury that rejected prosecution claims that sexually graphic photos by Robert Mapplethorpe lacked artistic value. The obscenity trial was the nation's first of an art gallery. "What a great day!" gallery director Dennis Barrie told reporters. The jury of four men and four women returned the verdicts after slightly more than two hours. Barrie smiled slightly as a clerk read the verdict.

Why is a man like Larry Pratt, who has spoken to white supremacist groups and helped to introduce the idea of militias to the underground right wing, serving as a co-chairman of Patrick J. Buchanan's presidential campaign?

On Oct. 26, 1988, near the beginning of the strike-plagued 1988-89 TV season, ABC aired "Crimes of Passion," a "reality-based" special about people who have committed crimes against their loved ones. On April 29, 1989, at the end of the 1988-89 TV season, ABC abruptly yanked the sequel, "Crimes of Passion 2," from its schedule. In a terse statement, the network said "Crimes of Passion 2" was pulled because it failed to get advertiser support. ABC Television Group president John B. Sias said the network, concerned about its image, would be taking a harder look at its reality-based programming in the future.

The host, a genial woman with a friendly smile, says: "Sit down, grab a bowl of popcorn and get ready for a preview party." Some party. What follows is a half-hour paid commercial for "Animated Stories From the New Testament," a set of 12 videos depicting the Bible with the kind of ugly, anti-Semitic stereotypes of Jews that have been used to debase and ridicule them through the ages. Christian children are the target audience.

In 1983, I participated in a symposium of two dozen art critics organized by the National Endowment for the Arts to evaluate its tiny grant program in art criticism. The 10-year-old program was a mess; the meeting was meant to recommend a course of action. In reality, the gathering turned out to be an opening salvo fired by political conservatives against the very concept of public funding for the arts. The symposium was a setup.