All posts tagged: mercy

Keanu Reeves asks for ‘leniency and mercy’ in Netflix case

Keanu Reeves asks for ‘leniency and mercy’ in Netflix case

Keanu Reeves has asked for “leniency and mercy” for the director convicted of stealing $11million from Netflix.Carl Rinsch, who directed Keanu Reeves’ 2013 movie 47 Ronin, was found guilty of using an $11million (£8.18million) budget from Netflix for personal use. As sentencing approaches, Reeves has written a letter to the judge, supporting Rinsch. “I am writing in support of Carl Rinsch in connection with his upcoming sentencing. I do not know the details of this case. But based upon what I do know about Carl, I did want to take the opportunity to write on his behalf, in the hope that his sentence might be tempered with measures of leniency and mercy as well as justice,” he said, in documents obtained by People. Rinsch’s case is in conjunction with a sci-fi series called White Horse, which he never finished. “In my opinion, Carl is an exceptional artist, and White Horse, in the form in which I saw it, was a superb and visionary work of art, although unfinished,” Reeves wrote. “I am, of course, not …

In Los Angeles, a sister offers shelter and mercy to immigrants convicted of crimes

In Los Angeles, a sister offers shelter and mercy to immigrants convicted of crimes

LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Sister Teresa Groth calls herself a “pardoned sinner” who seeks to be “an instrument of mercy in the hands of God” — words paraphrased from the constitution of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, her congregation. As executive director of Francisco Homes, a Los Angeles housing program for formerly incarcerated men, she says that calling has guided her work. Since 2009, Groth has been welcoming men who served long sentences and easing their transition back into the world.  Groth came to religious life later than most. Widowed at 30 with a baby, she said she threw herself into her parish and, in her early 30s, had a religious experience she describes as God addressing her guilt directly: “Just rest in my love. Trust me.” After her son left for college, she entered the Daughters of Mary and Joseph and came to Francisco Homes in her second year of formation. “First, we recognize that we have received mercy. I have received mercy,” Groth, 70, said. Founded in 2007 as an extension of a project of the …

At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence ‘against those who deserve no mercy’

At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence ‘against those who deserve no mercy’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have “every round find its mark.” “Every month it is fitting to be right here,” he told the gathered civilian employees and uniformed military personnel. “All the more fitting this month, at this moment, given what tens of thousands of Americans are doing right now.” He read a prayer he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.” Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might. “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till …

One year after she urged Trump to have mercy, Bishop Budde leads clergy protests in Minneapolis

One year after she urged Trump to have mercy, Bishop Budde leads clergy protests in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (RNS) — Almost exactly a year ago, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, stood in a pulpit in front of the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump and preached a sermon that called on the commander in chief to have “mercy” on immigrants and other communities. The sermon quickly drew backlash from the president himself, who called her “a Radical Left hard line Trump hater,” and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who called her message “radical.” But if Budde’s message was radical, it’s one that has resonated nonetheless. A year later, she stood in another church in Minneapolis, this time surrounded by an array of clergy who represented the hundreds of faith leaders who flocked to the city this week to protest the administration’s mass deportation campaign. “In our varied and united faith traditions, love of neighbor is not optional,” Budde declared. The bishop sat down with Religion News Service shortly after that appearance on Thursday (Jan. 22) to reflect on the year that has passed since her barn-burning sermon …

Chris Pratt demanded to be locked in an executioner’s chair in new movie Mercy

Chris Pratt demanded to be locked in an executioner’s chair in new movie Mercy

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Chris Pratt remained confined to an executioner’s chair for extended periods during the filming of his new movie, Mercy, at his own request. Pratt, 46, leads director Timur Bekmambetov’s futuristic sci-fi thriller as a captive detective forced to appear in front of an advanced AI judge to prove his innocence in his wife’s murder. Rebecca Ferguson and Kali Reis also star in the movie. Speaking to the BBC in a new interview about his role, the Marvel star explained that because he had “never played a character like this before, in a genre like this,” he wanted to ensure his performance was convincing. To facilitate a realistic portrayal of a captive prisoner, he specifically asked the director to lock him up in the executioner’s chair for up to 50 minutes at a time. “I thought this would help lend itself to …

South Africa manager to show ‘no mercy’ to Cameroon at AFCON 2025 | Africa Cup of Nations News

South Africa manager to show ‘no mercy’ to Cameroon at AFCON 2025 | Africa Cup of Nations News

Hugo Broos lead Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title but will have be no room for sentimentality with his South Africa side. Published On 3 Jan 20263 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share South Africa coach Hugo Broos has promised to show “no mercy” to Cameroon when he comes up against his former side in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. Broos will lead Bafana Bafana out at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat against the nation he led to an unexpected AFCON triumph in Gabon in 2017. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “Tomorrow’s game is surely a special game for me. If you win an AFCON with a country, then a part of them stays in your heart, but tomorrow I can’t have mercy for them because I am the coach of South Africa now and I want to win the game,” Belgian Broos told reporters Saturday in the Moroccan capital. “They are a very good team, a young team, and they …