Monthly Archives: January 2007
A Spiritual Retreat Is No Vacation; It’s a Journey Within
By Madi Alexander — January 20, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. _ The sky is clouded but promising the first day of my solo retreat at Earth Sanctuary on Whidbey Island. I brush my teeth and dress, ready to go for my early-morning walk. But before I can go, I must feed the four feral cats that live […]
Merton’s Abbey; Earth Sanctuary
By RNS Blog Editor — January 20, 2007
Friday’s RNS report features a look at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Ky., where silence speaks louder than words. Roy Hoffman reports: Like a pale fortress over the scarlet hills, the Abbey of Gethsemani rises at the end of Monk’s Road. Founded in 1848 by French Trappist monks, Gethsemani is now home to about […]
Episcopal Mother Church in Georgia Stays…
By Daniel Burke — January 20, 2007
After some edgy moments (see here http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=16979 and here http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=16914) tensions between Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia, the diocese’s mother church, and Bishop Henry Louttit seem to have eased a bit. The scrum was over funds and theology. Christ Church had not paid is annual dues; Bishop Louttit seemed to be losing patience. According to […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — January 19, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service Catholic Bishops Urge Parishes to Tighten Financial Oversight (RNS) The nation’s 19,000-odd Roman Catholic parishes should tighten internal controls to protect against financial improprieties, according to a committee of experts that advises the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The lay-led committee, which recommended keeping a closer eye on the collection […]
Paris vs. Jesus
By Tracy Gordon — January 19, 2007
Quote of the Day: Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi “I believe in the culture war. And you know what? If I have to take a side in the culture war, I’ll take their side. Because if you give me the choice of Paris Hilton or Jesus, I’ll take Jesus.” -Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, talking to The New York […]
Vatican to Examine Harder Line Towards China
By RNS Blog Editor — January 19, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ The recent consecration of bishops in China without the approval of Pope Benedict XVI is prompting the Vatican to reevaluate its push to restore diplomatic relations with Beijing. Benedict’s top policy makers on China will meet Friday and Saturday (Jan. 19-20), the Vatican confirmed in a statement […]
COMMENTARY: Planting and Preserving for Future Generations
By James Rudin — January 19, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Whether by chance or by choice, the current environmental debate between computer executive Michael S. Dell and Ken Caldeira, an ecological scientist, coincides with the upcoming Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu B’shevat in Hebrew. It will be celebrated this year on Feb. 3, the 15th day of […]
Will Canadian Secularism Spread South of the Border?
By Douglas Todd — January 19, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service VANCOUVER, British Columbia _ In Denys Arcand’s Oscar-winning 2003 film, “The Barbarian Invasions,” an aging priest laments the decline of Christianity in heavily Catholic Quebec. “In 1966,” the priest says, “all the churches emptied out in a few weeks. No one can figure out why.” That scene, said American religious […]
Defiant Catholics Leave the Church, Keep the Faith
By Jeff Diamant — January 19, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) She grew up Roman Catholic, but like millions of others, Rebecca Ortelli came to disagree with church teachings on contraception, communion and priestly celibacy, among other things. Many like-minded Catholics drift away from the church or join other denominations. But Ortelli, 57, wanted to maintain both her Catholic identity […]
Muslims Carry Liquid Memento Home from Mecca
By Kathleen O'Brien — January 19, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) It makes perfect sense to carry water to the desert. But why would anyone take the trouble to bring some back? If it is “zamzam” water, the answer is 1,400 years old: Muslims returning from the Hajj pilgrimage value it as a liquid memento from the holy city of […]
RELIGION BEST-SELLERS
By RNS Blog Editor — January 19, 2007
RELIGION BEST-SELLERS (Editor’s note: This January list is compiled by Publishers Weekly magazine from data received from general independent bookstores, chain stores and wholesalers within the month of December. Copyright 2007 Publishers Weekly. Distributed by Religion News Service.) HARDCOVER 1. The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins. (Houghton Mifflin, $27) 2. The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick […]
Vatican v China; Defiant Catholics; Water from Mecca; Canadian secularism
By RNS Blog Editor — January 19, 2007
Vatican correspondent Stacy Meichtry reports in Thursday’s RNS report that the Vatican is considering taking a harder line towards China: The Vatican’s push for dialogue with China is set to go under the microscope Friday (Jan. 19), when a group of the pope’s top advisers will meet to discuss whether the Vatican should take a […]
Voice of the Faithful at Five
By RNS Blog Editor — January 18, 2007
RNS’ Daniel Burke profiles Catholic lay movement Voice of the Faithful, in this week’s full text article. Quote: As VOTF passes the five-year milestone-an accomplishment rare among social movements-it faces crucial questions about the church reform it lobbies for, as well as the younger Catholics and momentum the group will need after the headlines and […]
Evangelicals, Scientists Work to Overcome Mutual Suspicion
By Adelle M. Banks — January 18, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ They sat together on Wednesday (Jan. 17) at a long table, a dozen representatives of the scientific and evangelical communities, to declare their joint concern over global climate change. But even more surprising, both groups said at the National Press Club, is that they actually like each other. […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — January 18, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service Former Salvation Army Leader Named to NAE Post (RNS) The National Association of Evangelicals has chosen a former top official of the Salvation Army to serve as its new executive director. W. Todd Bassett, the former national commander of the Salvation Army, has been a member of the NAE’s Executive […]
