Category: Mon Dieu

France and Religion

Health risk or national treasure? Why France is warring over wine – The Local

I live in the U.S. where there are mass shootings in schools and the government saves its  outage for climate scientists. In terms of “health risks” – I’ll trade you our GOP-led government, if you give us the Châteauneuf du Pape.

I joke, of course. I love France too much to offer her the Trump Cartel.  Read more of this in French Local story on wine, below.

– Pas de Merde


Should wine be given special treatment over other alcohols when it comes to health? France’s outspoken health minister said ‘no’, but then came the backlash.

Read More at: Health risk or national treasure? Why France is warring over wine – The Local

French Food Waste Law Changing How Grocery Stores Approach Excess Food

NPR 2/24/18
Two years ago, France introduced a law to force supermarkets to donate unsold food to charities and food banks. Skeptics called it unworkable at the time, but there are signs the effort is succeeding.

Listen at: French Food Waste Law Changing How Grocery Stores Approach Excess Food : The Salt : NPR

Why does Pope Francis want us to watch the movie “Babette’s Feast”?

Last night at Maison de Pas De Merde, we watched one of our favorite films Babette’s Feast, to celebrate Valentine’s Day. My wife Linda introduced me to this film some 25 years ago, and we both still love it.

This film is also a favorite of Pope Francis, to whom we also offer a Valentine’s Day kiss.

Read more about Francis’ admiration for Gabriel Axel’s masterpiece in this column from Aleteia 

Babette prepares her feast

In a recent interview Pope Francis again brought up his favorite movie, the 1987 film Babette’s Feast. He mentioned the Danish film while speaking with Avvenire, bringing it up in response to questions about those who criticized his ecumenical endeavors. Pope Francis compared the rigid behavior of those opposed to his ecumenical outreach to the rigid townspeople portrayed in Babette’s Feast.

This is the not the first time Pope Francis has referenced his favorite film. He even referenced it in Amoris laetitia, making Babette’s Feast probably the first film ever to be mentioned in a papal document.

So why does Pope Francis love this movie so much and continue to recommend it? What are the spiritual lessons we can learn from this movie? Continue reading “Why does Pope Francis want us to watch the movie “Babette’s Feast”?” →

Is the Francis Era Ending the Catholic Bishops’ Cozy Ties to the GOP?

The severing of a relationship with a man who accused the pope of fostering “darkness” in the church prompted the USCCB to take the extraordinary step of issuing a statement confirming that the U.S. bishops “always stand in strong unity with and loyalty to the Holy Father, Pope Francis.” | More at: Is the Francis Era Ending the Catholic Bishops’ Cozy Ties to the GOP? | Religion Dispatches