Here are today’s dispatches from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

1. Is Rupert Murdoch’s media empire crumbling? From The Wrap: Now more engulfed than ever in a virulent phone-hacking scandal, it appears that Rupert Murdoch’s days amid the upper echelons of media moguldom are numbered. With resignations and arrests occurring daily among News Corp.’s  top newspaper executives and former editors, even some in Murdoch’s elite circle of fellow multi-billionaires have deemed him kaput.
Comment: Granted, the phone-hacking scandal is huge and despicable but the dancing on Murdoch’s grave may be premature. It all depends on, yes, what Murdoch knew and when he knew it.

2. Can Sarah Palin open a movie? From The Hollywood Reporter: The backers of the Sarah Palin documentary The Undefeated claimed victory as the film opened in 10 theaters over the weekend, but the numbers suggest only a so-so debut.

3. Politicians wade into controversy by invoking God and The Bible. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouecJMCG6Ug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD-AVKwJBr0&feature=player_embedded

Comment: The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Rick Perry taking part in an August 6th Prayer Summit. The group cites the Establishment Clause of The U.S. Constitution which says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Well, as far as I can tell Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Mike Huckabee (former GOP Governor of Arkansas) President Obama (a Democrat) and Perry (a Republican) aren’t Congress, aren’t establishing laws establishing or prohibiting the free exercise of religion and are entitled to their free speech and right of assembly.  It seems to me that it’s the lawyers for the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

On the other hand, GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain really does go to far when he speaks of communities having a right to ban mosques.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwvsbI2VyjI

4. Will America ever elect a Mormon president? From The Blaze: In his upcoming film, “A Mormon President,” director Adam Christing explores whether America is ready for a Mormon president. Christing and his team take a comprehensive look at the faith system’s history and the multitude of contemporary thoughts, opinions and controversies that often surround it. Central to the documentary is Joseph Smith, the theocrat, politician and religious leader who founded the Latter Day Saint Movement (also known as the Mormon Church).

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Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11