Religious Offerings: 7/7

‘Pope Francis and his critics’

The Rev. James Bacik continues his lecture series on Thursday. “Pope Francis and His Critics on Clergy Sex Abuse” will explore the way the pontiff “handled the scandal he inherited, his initial efforts blocked by the curia, his misreading of the situation in Chile, his apology to victims, and his efforts to hold bishops accountable,” according to the Sylvania Franciscan Village.

The lecture runs 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Franciscan Center at Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. Tickets are $10 per lecture in advance or $15 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Laurie Bertke at lbertke@sistersosf.org or 419-824-3515 or go to sylvaniafranciscanvillage.org.

Father Bacik is a widely regarded theologian, writer, lecturer, and retired diocesan pastor. His local lectures are presented by the Sylvania Franciscan Village, which encompasses the Sisters of St. Francis in Sylvania and their ministries, and have explored numerous themes related Pope Francis.

Toledo Jewish Film Festival

The Toledo Jewish Film Festival continues with a double feature, Joe’s Violin and Itzhak, on Monday. The screening begins at 7 p.m. at the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. Admission is $7 at the door; tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling 419-724-0362 or emailing hallie@jewishtoledo.org.

Joe’s Violin is an Academy Award-nominated documentary short. It follows a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor and musician who donates his violin at an instrument drive, changing the life of a 12-year-old schoolgirl and his own. It is presented in Hebrew with subtitles.

Itzhak is a full-length documentary on renowned Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman. It is presented in English.

This is the film festival’s sixth year. It wraps up July 16 with 1945. For more information on the festival or this week’s films, go to jewishtoledo.org/filmfestival.

Former Cleveland Indian and two-time All-Star Andre Thornton is the guest speaker at Lakeside Chautauqua’s Prayer Breakfast Aug. 3.

André Thornton at Lakeside

Former Cleveland Indians first baseman André Thornton is the keynote speaker for Lakeside Chautauqua’s second annual Prayer Breakfast on Aug. 3. Seating is limited and tickets, $20, are available now at lakesideohio.com.

Lakeside Chautauqua is a resort community on Lake Erie that offers programming based on four pillars, one of which is religion. At the prayer breakfast, Mr. Thornton will reflect on his faith journey, including the way he held onto his Christian faith in the midst of tragedy: His wife and 3-year-old daughter died in a car accident in 1977.

Mr. Thornton also debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 1977, hitting 28 home runs that season. His career high, 33, followed a year later. He reflects on the accident and testifies to his faith in a memoir, Triumph Born of Tragedy, published in 1983.

The prayer breakfast begins at 8 a.m. in the Wesley Lodge at Lakeside Chautauqua, 510 Central Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. A lecture follows at 10:30 a.m. in Orchestra Hall, after which Mr. Thornton will sign books. A luncheon, $25, is at 12:30 p.m.

For questions on tickets and registration, email advancement@lakesideohio.com.