I interviewed Illinois state senator Jacqueline Collins yesterday and she reminded me of an essential truth about journalists. We are here to give voice to the voiceless, and to point the light on stories that otherwise get lost. Collins, who worked as a television news editor for 20 years, then went to Harvard Divinity School before running for office in 2002.

While we religion journalists are getting all worked up about the Passion, there's a possible humanitarian catastrophe about to unfold in Haiti. It's already the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and does not need another coup and even more social disaster. We may see a new wave of boat people , most of whom will never make it to the US, and if they do, won't be allowed to stay.

So take a break from the Passion, and pray for Haiti. It's something even religion journalists can do.