A woman uses hairspray to fixe the hair on a nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten to become a tough nut to crack in an unlikely place — a small company whose factory nestled deep in the hills of eastern Germany produces painstakingly hand-crafted nutcrackers that are snapped up by American collectors "I hereby declare the nutcrackers of Steinbach Volkskunst to be an essential infrastructure asset of the United States," it says all Steinbach nutcrackers shall be exempt from all tariffs and taxes — for life." The limited-edition nutcrackers titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," is seen at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A woman works on nutcrackers of a cowboy at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg manager and owner of the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory Fabrics for nutcracker costumes are stored on the shelf at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg Nutcrackers are displayed at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg The desk of the limited-edition nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," is seen at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A nutcracker commemorating the coronation of Britain's King Charles III stands alongside other nutcrackers at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A man walks on the road near the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A man works on a lathe in the carpentry of the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg Two limited-edition nutcrackers titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," are seen on a table at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A woman fixes a coat on a nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg An Uncle Sam nutcracker with an American flag stands between other nutcrackers at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg nutcrackers showing Britain's King Charles III Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam are displayed at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A woman combs the hair on a nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg Trump's tariffs threaten to become a tough nut to crack for a small German company that produces painstakingly hand-crafted nutcrackers that are snapped up by American collectors China-founded e-commerce sites Temu and Shein said they would make "price adjustments" starting April 25 though neither provided details about the size of the increases It challenged Trump’s claim that he could arbitrarily impose tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act President Donald Trump is circumspect about his duties to uphold due process rights saying in a new interview that he doesn't know whether U.S citizens and noncitizens deserve that guarantee Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account In their Pastoral Letter released on the third Friday of Lent “Elections represent significant moments that engage the attention of all citizens an occasion for the people to assert their sovereignty through the free and deliberate choice of their leaders.” The Bishops remind Cameroonians that in the current context of the country takes on a very important stake that deserves to be approached in an informed and conscientious manner when voting.” The Bishop said “The purpose of this Letter is to help rediscover the sense of politics to provide clear guidelines for reflection and to enlighten conscience so that you can make a free and responsible choice.” And to Christians the Cameroonian prelates want to “remind in particular that true Christian faith and hope consist not only in beseeching God’s blessing but also in working for justice and peace.” particularly those from Vatican II documents and the guidance of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis including the Church’s involvement in politics we cannot ignore the intimate connection between evangelization and human progress and the inevitable social dimension of the proclamation of the Gospel we want to establish for the lay faithful a moral duty of consistency within their conscience Reminding the faithful that the “tasks accompanying responsibilities in social and political institutions demand a strict and articulated commitment that is able to demonstrate clearly the absolute necessity of the moral dimension in social and political life through thoughtful contributions to the political debate Launching the call in a special way to the lay faithful the Bishops remind that “there is a Christian way of doing politics while at the same time urging them to discern as Church what is likely or not to help our country grow.” The Bishops reiterate: “It is the right and duty of everyone to participate in political life And there is no reason why Christians should fail to take an interest in politics.” for compatriots to not only denounce problems but to commit themselves with others in analyzing situations “the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in public life which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good,” In this respect politics is not interference but “is a worthy and demanding expression of Christian commitment of service to others The pursuit of the common good in a spirit of service the development of justice with particular attention to situations of poverty and suffering respect for the autonomy of earthly realities the promotion of dialogue and peace in the context of solidarity: these are the criteria that must inspire the Christian laity in their political activity,” reads part of the Pastoral Letter Although the context of insecurity highlighted in the Pastoral Letter of 24 August 2018 has certainly seen some positive signs the Bishops underline some challenges in the country that subsist These include the persistent of numerous pockets of resistance from certain armed militias in the far North North-West and South-West regions in addition to migration juvenile delinquency and widespread unemployment are situations that could hinder the holding of peaceful elections such as corruption in its varied forms: the misappropriation of public resources the justification of power by force or the arbitrary appeal to raison d'état “Who should I vote for?” but “Is it even of any value to go and vote?” Doubts about the legitimacy of the candidates are compounding the problems most complained about with every presidential election in Cameroon: violence during campaigns (some candidates not being welcome in certain constituencies) post-election violence triggered by disputes over the official results The Bishops launched a call: “Despite all the prevailing difficulties we invite Catholic Christians and all Cameroonians of goodwill to exercise their duty and right to vote instead of resigning themselves to indifference driven by despair and fear “Elections also help to preserve stability and ensure that constitutional terms of office are respected be seen as a historic opportunity to carry out significant reforms” the Catholic Church will accompany the electoral process through the Episcopal Commission of Justice and Peace The Commission will “carry out its role of monitoring the electoral process through education observation and the peaceful prevention of election-related violence The prelates invite Commission for Justice and Peace and the various diocesan commissions to “carry out activities or workshops to promote civic participation political awareness and election of competent honest and responsible candidates; to carry out diocesan and parish awareness-raising A call was also addressed to all the political parties involved in the current electoral process to work effectively to ensure that “the elections are conducted in peace transparency and justice because respect for the rights of voters and their wishes is a guarantee for safeguarding unity and social cohesion and lasting peace in the Country,” observe the Bishops The Bishops conclude by insisting that citizens should not limit themselves to dropping a ballot paper into a ballot box “More than just the act of casting a ballot we need to make a long-term undertaking to respond to the questions we face …With this commitment in mind we offer this Letter to all our fellow citizens to enlighten our consciences at the time of voting and also to enable us to discern the path along which we must commit ourselves Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here President Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten to become a tough nut to crack in an unlikely place — a small Germany company producing painstakingly hand-crafted nutcrackers that are snapped up by American collectors In a factory nestled deep in the hills of eastern Germany craftspeople put together classic fare such as a variety of Santas Scrooge and the Mad Hatter — as well as American-themed items like Uncle Sam also makes collectibles like a coronation-themed tribute to Britain’s King Charles III a limited-edition creation titled “Resolute Desk of the President,” featuring a seated Trump-like figure signing a “presidential proclamation,” is taking shape at Steinbach’s factory on the edge of the small town of Marienberg Steinbach Volkskunst sells more than 90% of what it makes to the United States It is looking at ways to lessen the impact of tariffs initially imposed a 20% tariff on goods from the European Union but the administration suspended that for 90 days while leaving a baseline 10% tariff in place The “made in Germany” label is important to the company's appeal and the focus on the U.S market is deeply embedded in the company’s history Its manager says it will “keep faith with America.” nutcrackers showing Britain's King Charles III A nutcracker commemorating the coronation of Britain's King Charles III The desk of the limited-edition nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," is seen at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A woman combs the hair on a nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A woman fixes a coat on a nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg The limited-edition nutcrackers titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," is seen at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg Two limited-edition nutcrackers titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," are seen on a table at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg A woman uses hairspray to fixe the hair on a nutcracker titled "Resolute Desk of the President," featuring a seated figure signing a "presidential proclamation," at the Steinbach-Volkskunst nutcracker factory in Marienberg British Columbia (AP) — The premier of Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta said Monday she will hold a referendum on separation from Canada next year if a citizen-led petition reaches the required number of signatures Danielle Smith said she personally does not support the province leaving Canada and expressed hope of a “path forward” for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada continue to attack our province as they have done over the last decade ultimately that will be for Albertans to decide," she said Smith’s announcement comes just one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal Party to a fourth consecutive federal government President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada with tariffs and talk of the country becoming the 51st state Carney and Trump are scheduled to meet in the White House Tuesday Smith’s United Conservative government recently introduced legislation that would reduce the bar petitioners need to meet to trigger a provincial referendum The bill would change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require a petition signed by 10 percent of eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 percent of total registered voters to collect the required 177,000 signatures Smith accused previous federal Liberal governments of introducing different legislations that hamstring Alberta’s ability to produce and export oil which she said has cost the province billions of dollars She also said she doesn’t want the federal government meddling in provincial issues “We don’t ask for special treatment or handouts,” she said “We just want to be free to develop and export that incredible wealth of resources we have Freedom to choose how we provide health care education and other needed social services to our people even if it’s done differently than what Ottawa has in mind.” Smith has met with Carney and said he “had some promising things to say about changing the direction of his government’s anti-resources policies.” Smith said her government will appoint a negotiation team to try to bring an end to federal policies that have long irritated the province She also will chair an “Alberta Next" panel hosting a series of town halls to hear ideas and grievances from Albertans a political scientist at MacEwan University in Edmonton he isn’t sure if it will lead to voting to separate “I think the prospects of separation are highly unlikely The largely French-speaking province of Quebec held referendums in 1980 and 1995 over separation Soroski said Smith may be following the lead of Quebec politicians who have used the threat of separation when dealing with the federal government but I think it’s very useful for the province to have in its back pocket the idea that there’s this large number of discontented Albertans,” he said Smith said she will work with Carney “in good faith” but wants “tangible proof of real change.” accompanied by other Council of the Federation members speaks to reporters at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington We keep you informed. Counter-protester and UNC religious studies professor Evyatar Marienberg raised an Israeli flag at the pro-Palestinian protest organized by Students for Justice in Palestine on Thursday Two days after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct a tenured professor in the religious studies department “I am not functioning in the last few days or think about the midterm at this point,” he said in the Oct Marienberg was born in Israel and came to the University in 2009 According to his biography published on the religious studies department’s website contemporary Catholicism and the social history of Jews and Christians in Medieval Europe Three days after the message, Marienberg attended the Oct. 12 pro-Palestine demonstration in front of Wilson Library as a counter-protester He raised an Israeli flag in front of the protesters as they chanted "Free Marienberg shouted “Nazis" at pro-Palestinian protesters UNC Police escorted him from the scene but did not arrest him Marienberg remains employed as a member of the UNC faculty Marienberg did not respond to The Daily Tar Heel's multiple requests for comment more than 20 UNC religious studies graduate students and alumni signed a public statement denouncing Marienberg’s actions The statement was circulated via a listserv for graduate students in the UNC Department of Religious Studies a religious studies doctoral student who signed the statement said it came together because some graduate students wanted to provide a different perspective within the department apart from Marienberg's “Marienberg is not new to this kind of behavior: on numerous occasions dating back to 2016 he has targeted faculty in our department who are Muslim and have shared information about boycott and sanction efforts in support of Palestinians facing little-to-no repercussions or formal disciplinary actions from department heads,” the statement said.  The DTH obtained a 2016 email that Marienberg sent to graduate students and faculty in the UNC Department of Religious Studies. In the email he reacted to a previous listserv email that shared information about Religious Studies Scholars for Boycott Divestment Sanctions an organization that supports divestment efforts in solidarity with Palestine He said that supporting BDS with "department resources" did not show "high social skills." Marienberg continued claiming many who supported BDS could not "pinpoint where Israel and Palestine are on a world map."  he also said it is "very trendy to make Israel the source of all evils."  "He also argued that it was hypocritical for scholars to participate in a boycott against Israel," Annie O'Brien he said "many Muslims are very much involved in recent years in horrific acts of violence against minorities A graduate student who requested anonymity works in Carolina Hall where Marienberg's office and the religious studies department are located “To hear him call [protesters] the word ‘Nazis’ over and over and over again I think really diminishes Jewish pain from the past,” they said the graduate student filed a report with the UNC Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office concerning Marienberg's behavior at the protest.  a professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literature and the faculty advisor for UNC Students for Justice in Palestine She said Marienberg’s actions at the protest were “inappropriate” because there’s an “age difference” and “power difference” between him and undergraduate students According to the Freedom of Speech and Expression University Policy UNC says it provides "an inclusive and flourishing environment for free speech and expression consistent with the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution and Section 14 of the North Carolina State Constitution.” Most comments on Marienberg's page of Rate My Professor — a website where individuals can anonymously review university professors — are positive Knows a lot about his field and really cares for the students.” a global studies senior and one of Marienberg's current students said Marienberg’s class is a “really great learning environment” and one of her favorite classes “He offers a lot of really interesting insight because he’s Jewish on the current situation with the Israel and Hamas war,” she said Pawloski also said she was not aware of Marienberg’s involvement at the protest and was "shocked" when she found out about his involvement “I did not know about the protest,” she said “That’s not something we talked about in class But he’s let students in a little bit on how hard the situation has been for him emotionally.” UNC religious studies professor Yaakov Ariel said the chair of the Department of Religious Studies is the only member of the department who can offer an “authorized response” on Marienberg's behavior at the protest and the role of faculty in campus expression Styers redirected The DTH’s request for comment to UNC Media Relations Media Relations provided a link to UNC’s free speech policy and said it could neither confirm nor deny any current or past complaints as well as any other protected information of a state employee @maddieahmadi @dailytarheel | university@dailytarheel.com Home » South Florida’s Medical Experts 2022: Evelyn S iMPRUV-U Health & Wellness Medspa 100 Plaza Real South, Suite F, Boca Raton 561/757-5814 impruv-u.com esmmedica.com  with decades of extensive expertise in hospital-based and freestanding clinics including academic and research institutions at Stony Brook University School of Medicine (SUNY) followed by a postdoctoral internship in internal medicine at Danbury Hospital (Affiliate and in radiation oncology at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Marienberg is now dedicated to preventing cancer as well as improving the health and quality of life for people of all ages.  As an active member of the Age Management Medical Group (AMMG) and primary wellness and nutrition consultant at ESM-Medica I join a growing number of physicians committed to prevention and elimination of degenerative diseases and conditions associated with aging.  What are the key factors you address with patients?  My practice focuses on discovering the underlying causes of disease and engaging the patient and the practitioner together in a partnership to improve the patient’s health and longevity How does DNA screening inform patients about their health?  Understanding lifestyle genetics through a DNA swab kit can provide valuable information about what supplements you may need and those you should stay away from and even what type of exercise you are suited for If you follow your genetics and do what you are supposed to do Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Boca Raton magazine is on the front lines of local issues and events in South Florida covering the lighter side of life like dining news and fashion Privacy PolicyAboutAdvertise With UsContact Us 2023Get email notification for articles from Judy Maltz FollowAug 3 but Itay Marienberg-Millikowsky was probably the first Israeli to take to the streets in what has since become the biggest protest movement in the nation’s history The overnight weekend pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Marienberg culminated in the consecration on Sunday morning Pope Francis not only appealed for peace in Ukraine but also threw his support behind the national pilgrimage in Cameroon “The Bishops and faithful of Cameroon today are making a pilgrimage to re-consecrate their nation to the Mother of God and entrust it to her protection,” said Pope Francis He added that Catholics in Cameroon were praying for “the return of peace in their country which has been wounded by violence in several regions for five years,” the Holy Father said Bishop Abraham Boualo Kome of Bafang Diocese in his role as President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon The Archbishop of Bamenda Archdiocese and Apostolic Administrator of Mamfe Diocese Archbishop Nkea said the Catholic faithful in Cameroon needed to become apostles of justice and peace if the country was to return to peaceful co-existence it once had had only one scope: To implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for reconciliation and peace in Cameroon when the Marienberg national pilgrimage and prayer vigil was announced “The National Pilgrimage and Prayer for Peace to take place in Marienberg is an expression of solidarity of all our brothers and sisters towards the people of the troubled regions of our country that suffer in a visible way,” he said There are hardly any headlines about the conflict in Cameroon there are several conflicts happening in the country According to crisisgroup.org “Cameroon is beset with two major violent conflicts but also faces rising ethno-political tensions on and offline The bigger conflict between the government and separatists from the English-speaking minority started in 2017 and has killed over 6 000 people of whom over 70 000 are refugees in Nigeria 2.2 million of the Anglophone regions’ four million people need humanitarian support about 600 000 children have been deprived of effective schooling because of the conflict The country also faces a reinvigorated jihadist insurgency with deadly attacks in the Lake Chad area displaced about 250 000 and triggered the rise of vigilante self-defence groups Nascent ethnic clashes along the border with Chad have displaced thousands too and particularly following the October 2018 presidential election ethnic discourse is heightening political tensions on and offline.”  Cameroon’s Marienberg Shrine is a remote location that sits on the outskirts of Edea The weekend’s pilgrimage started on Saturday with the arrival of various delegations from various dioceses of Cameroon Most of Saturday afternoon was centred around the recitation of the rosary personal prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament the overnight prayer vigil commenced and continued right up to early morning in time for people to prepare for the procession and Sunday Mass The vigil comprised prayers animated by various devotional groups and teaching on what consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary means UNC students and community members supporting Palestine stood on the steps of Wilson Library during a protest organized by Students for Justice in Palestine on Thursday UNC's Students for Justice in Palestine held a protest Thursday morning on the steps of Wilson Library to advocate for Palestinians amid the recent escalation to war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.  SJP’s demonstration was met with counter-protests from some members of the University community who support Israel The protest coincided with a nationwide day of resistance as declared by the National Students for Justice in Palestine It was co-sponsored by a number of other organizations including NC Triangle Democratic Socialists of America the North and South Carolina branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and UNC's National Lawyers Guild the same time as the University Day ceremony to celebrate UNC's 230th anniversary Many wore masks to shield their identity.  many of whom wore masks to conceal their identities held signs as they stood on the steps of the library The group voiced chants in between various community and student speeches occupation and apartheid in Palestine,” a member of SJP “We're here to host this rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”  several pro-Israel counter-protesters walked across the Quad toward Wilson Library. They held signs and Israeli flags as they faced the pro-Palestine protesters Pro-Israel counter-protesters held signs and Israeli flags as they faced the pro-Palestine protesters UNC students Justin Sonnenreich and Dan Stompel said they organized the counter-protest to show support for Israel.  UNC students Justin Sonnenreich and Dan Stompel said they organized the counter-protest to show support for Israel noting that the counter-protesters wanted to "go out there and show that there are people who support the other side." “The whole point of this was for solidarity,” Stompel said “The fact that these people chose now as the perfect time to have these protests against what they call resistance more than 1,000 Israelis were systematically slaughtered.” executive director of Voices for Justice in Palestine spoke at a pro-Palestine protest on the steps of Wilson Library on Thursday we understood in this broader context they were Palestinian freedom fighters using armed resistance in [an] attempt to throw off their Israeli colonizers,” he said in his speech A little over an hour into the demonstration Israeli counter-protester and UNC religious studies professor Evyatar Marienberg moved closer to the students and community members protesting for Palestine He then raised an Israeli flag in front of the protesters as they chanted "Free free Palestine" and raised a Palestinian flag.  Israeli counter-protester Evyatar Marienberg clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators in front of the steps of Wilson Library on Thursday Marienberg is an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies at UNC with the pro-Israel counter-protesters standing in front of a line of pro-Palestine protesters Marienberg walked past the line of supporters of Palestine The protest escalated, tensions seem high between students. A counter protester, UNC religious studies professor, began shouting "Nazis" at the protestors supporting Palestine and was escorted away by UNC Police. pic.twitter.com/PPv8AU4Rs7 Marienberg motioned for other counter-protesters to join him before he was escorted to a nearby area by UNC Police Marienberg said a protest attendee threw a liquid that sprayed his back “I don't like people that justify the rapes and massacres Global studies professor Michal Osterweil attended the protest in solidarity with Palestinians.  “I feel sad that faculty are trying to shame and shut down students,” she said Osterweil described Marienberg’s behavior as “so inappropriate” and “unfortunate” and said she felt sad that students were not able to speak without being “heckled.” Sonnenreich and Stompel said Marienberg’s actions went “too far” and were “not the right message to send.” Osterweil said she does not think simplistic “black and white” or “good guy bad guy” framing of the situation is most helpful.  “I think we fall back on words and political ideologies and political sides because it’s easier than being with that tremendous described the demonstration as “a big spectacle” and added that it was not productive.  Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz acknowledged the conflict's impact on UNC students during his remarks we are focused on our people and supporting them during this difficult time My leadership team and I have been reaching out and meeting directly with those who are hurting Please see my statement from University Day regarding the terrorist attacks of Hamas in Israel and the devastation in Gaza pic.twitter.com/xjQTPmbGGx UNC Board of Trustees member Perrin Jones said he knows administrative efforts are being made to support faculty and students but he does not know “the specifics." Osterwiel said she has not heard of any efforts from the University to support students and faculty right now.  Although the anonymous pro-Israel protest attendee said they do not think the current discourse is productive they respect that the University allowed protesters the freedom of speech.  @torinewbyy | @abbypenderr @dailytarheel | university@dailytarheel.com Essaying the pop culture that matters since 1999 Evyatar Marienberg explores links between the rock icon’s Catholic upbringing and the religious themes in his lyrics In the popular imagination, Sting contains multitudes before transitioning into a wildly successful solo career He is the erudite former English teacher who wrote pop songs containing allusions to Homer and crafted a concept album around Jung’s notion of the collective unconscious He is a defender of social justice who used his platform to support organizations like Amnesty International he is among the most spiritually inclined Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Religious Studies scholar Evyatar Marienberg takes a deep dive into the latter considering the spiritual and religious themes of Sting’s lyrics in the context of the icon’s Catholic upbringing in the north of England In Sting and Religion: The Catholic Shaped Imagination of a Rock Icon Marienberg wisely avoids claims of direct causation and instead juxtaposes Sting’s lived experiences as a Catholic kid and the religious motifs and allusions contained in his lyrics The book’s scholarly project is fascinating as is its structure: Odd-numbered chapters analyze lyrics Even-numbered chapters tell the story of Sting’s youth and describe a smalltown parish and a global church that are both in flux There is much to appreciate in Sting and Religion not the least of which is the access Marienberg gained to Sting himself In addition to interviewing a wide range of schoolmates and parishioners from Sting’s hometown and home parish he conducted several interviews with the book’s main subject who was forthcoming about his life journey highly relevant discussions of the complex relationship between Anglicans and Catholics in England and the ways Second Vatican Council reformed Catholicism during Sting’s childhood the book is well-researched and establishes rich vivid contexts for understanding Sting’s life and lyrics Marienberg is thorough and thoughtful and points to compelling examples of the Biblical allusions the narratives about priests and last rites and the broader reflections on spirituality that pepper Sting’s lyrics But each of the three hermeneutic chapters singles out songs one by one in chronological order Chapter One focuses on Biblical content and walks through selected songs from Sting’s career first in Last Exit (his pre-Police band) This structure is efficient but begins to feel rote Instead of moving through these analytic chapters with the momentum of interpretive claims and so we have to work a little harder to see the connective threads Marienberg saves much of his interpretation for the final chapter and so the chapters focusing on the lyrics are mostly descriptive I found myself wanting to hear Marienberg’s voice more loudly in these chapters helping me make inferences and interpretive leaps Sting and Religion has much to offer fans of the Police and Sting’s solo work as well as those interested in Catholicism’s relationship to popular culture religious themes that Sting takes up in multiple songs makes appearances in one of the Police’s earliest songs (“Visions of the Night”) and one of its latest songs (“Walking In Your Footsteps”) as well as at least one track from his solo days (“All This Time”) The Catholic sacrament of last rites also recurs in several tracks I also appreciated Marienberg’s deep dive into “All This Time” one of my favorite post-Police Sting tracks Marienberg situates the song in Sting’s penchant for “cheerful-sounding musical accompaniment to a rather complex and dark narrative” and also in Sting’s wrestling with his father’s death The song narrates the story of a boy in a seaside town with Roman ruins similar to where Sting grew up who watches as two priests perform last rites on his dying father The boy wishes his father could be buried at sea which Marienberg points out is frowned upon by Catholics Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Sting and Religion is Marienberg’s conclusion which makes a compelling case that Sting is a case study for consideration of several broad important questions: Who is Catholic (anybody baptized in the church Those who actively choose to self-identify as such?) Is there such a thing as a “Cultural Catholic” Marienberg returns in this final chapter to both the lyrics and the lived experiences and offers insightful analysis about how and why Catholics ought to reflect on individual journeys of faith including those journeys away from the institutional church Though the lyrical analysis chapters are flat Marienberg’s contextual chapters offer many historic They benefit from the presence of Sting’s own voice but also from Marienberg’s sharp discussions of church history and even sharper discussion of the church’s future (Arnulfo Franco | The Associated Press) In this Oct A new book examines the Catholicism laced through the singer's music sociologist Andrew Greeley wrote a book called “The Catholic Imagination,” in which he looked at the enduring power of Catholic stories images and sensibilities in shaping the experiences of artists through the ages — from the 16th-century Italian sculptor Bernini to the film director Martin Scorsese Now there’s a new addition to that corpus: the British rock star Sting a historian of religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has written a book about Sting’s Catholic imagination and how it fueled his creativity Before bursting onto the international rock scene as the principal songwriter and lead singer for the Police Sting (born Gordon Sumner in 1951) grew up in the northeastern town of Wallsend attending Catholic schools He was confirmed at 14 and married his first wife in the Catholic Church at age 25 Along the way, Marienberg explains how Catholicism changed in the 1950s and ’60s, during the years Sting was growing up. While he was a teen, the Second Vatican Council opened the door of the church to the wider world and instituted a raft of reforms. The church also saw a sharp decline in its attendance. Marienberg, who grew up in Israel in an Orthodox Jewish home, began listening to Sting with his 1987 solo album, “Nothing Like the Sun.” It was still a vinyl record and its back cover had a photo of Sting standing beside a statue of the Virgin Mary. Marienberg chose the photo for the cover of his book. Although Sting considers himself an agnostic, he still believes in some ultimate reality beyond the physical world. And he’s a fan of Pope Francis. In 2018, Sting was invited to compose a musical piece for an audiovisual show about the Sistine Chapel. He picked a Latin hymn, “Dies Irae,” or “Day of Wrath,” for the choral piece. “I’ve chosen to live my life without the ‘certainties’ of faith, but I do maintain a great reverence for the mystery and wonder of our existence,” Sting wrote in 1983, “and my agnosticism is a tolerant cousin to my curiosity.” Like Sting, Marienberg left his religious upbringing. He now teaches classes on contemporary Catholicism and the social history of Jews and Christians in medieval Europe. His students, he said, have never heard of Sting. Religion News Service spoke to Marienberg about his interest in Sting and how a religion like Catholicism can leave such a long imprint on people’s lives. The interview was edited for length and clarity. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune Hoskins Architects has won an international competition to transform the iconic Marienberg Fortress into an arts and cultural museum for Würzburg The Glasgow and Berlin-based practice – working with Ralph Applebaum Associates and local architect Wenzel + Wenzel – was chosen ahead of seven rival bids to win the 17,000m² commission The project will create a new home for Würzburg’s State Museum of Fine Arts and Cultural History inside the Baroque citadel which currently contains the state archives and a conference centre The project will transform the castle into a new landmark venue for the museum featuring a 4,000m² permanent exhibition area along with a special exhibitions venue visitor infrastructure and administrative spaces The appointment comes 14 years after Hoskins Architects and Ralph Applebaum Associates won an international competition for a new visitor centre for Culloden Battlefield near Inverness and is the fourth collaboration between the two practices Hoskins Architects and Ralph Applebaum Associates have won an international competition to transform the iconic Marienberg Fortress into a new arts and cultural museum for Würzburg Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… Paradise Group has appointed seasoned hotelier Carmen Marienberg in the role of COO to spearhead the development of the nine-year-old company Marienberg was most recently with Alma Oasis Long Hai Resort in southern Vietnam as general manager for a year and a half she served as general manager of La Residence Hotel and Spa in Hue She is also no stranger to the cruise industry the MS Berlin and in several capacities for Carnival Cruise Lines Marienberg brings with her 30 years of hospitality experience around the world and has spent much of her career in the Asia-Pacific region including Australia Seafront stays and heritage charm at Penang Marriott Hotel Is Your Business Listed On TTGmice Planner Online University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Back in the days when Evyatar Marienberg gave tours inGalilee he had a feeling that the information he recited about Christian history was too literal The Hebrew books I read depicted Christians and Christianity in a particular way,says the native ofIsraelwho is at Notre Dame this year as a Fellow in the Erasmus Institute He remembers pointing out,Here is where Christians believe Jesus walked on water … Here is where he sat … Here is where he delivered a certain sermon and I have no doubt some of them understand these issues in different ways Marienberg leftIsraelfor undergraduate studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris This step admittedly made him something of a curiosity among his Orthodox Jewish family members if not the faculty of the institute itself the institute hesitated to officially enroll him they worried an Orthodox Jew would challenge Christian studies in disruptive ways and they were not in the business of offering religious instruction Since completing doctoral studies inParisat École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences) Marienbergs interests have taken him to an array of institutions:TelAvivUniversity,YeshivaUniversityinNew York,McGillUniversityinMontreal Paideia Institute inSwedenand now Notre Dame and ranges from the 20 th century to medieval times In his most recent position as a postdoctoral fellow atTelAvivUniversity he completed a Hebrew-language book on contemporary Catholicism His work this year is set squarely in Catholicism as he studies the Second Vatican Council and the ways in which that monumental effort was formed into our historical memory he already has formed memories that define his sense of Notre Dame It is a place that has exceeded his expectations and one where he feels very comfortable There is the fact that the campus has embraced both he and his wife who is teaching piano in the music department He even has been awaiting our cold and snow whichMontreal,StockholmandNew Yorkhave taught him to love theology books by Notre Dame faculty have always filled his shelves And he has been fascinated by the dialogue Notre Dames president has launched about the Universitys Catholic character and the need to maintain a pervasive number of Catholic scholars I understand that an institution with a religious character would like to keep it by having a significant portion of the faculty sharing its faith,he said.At the same time he discussed the importance of having non-Catholic and non-religious faculty He spoke about how important non-Catholic members are Having spent his early graduate school years inParisamong colleagues who were priests and nuns Marienberg is accustomed to being among Catholic religious Yet various incidents have taken him by surprise among them faculty gatherings opened with a prayer Prayer is less likely to happen at a Catholic university in fiercely secularFrance Nor would it happen inIsraelor at Yeshiva University since Jewish prayers have prescribed times and places Notre Dame News © 2025 University of Notre Dame