Monthly Archives: November 2007
The Gospel According to Philip Seymour Hoffman
By Kevin Eckstrom — November 28, 2007
Our pal Jim Martin is excerpting parts of his book, “A Jesuit Off-Broadway,” over at BustedHalo. Today he’s talking about his experience working with Philip Seymour Hoffman on the set of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” where Jim served as a theological consultant. “When I asked Phil Hoffman about his directing style on “The […]
RNS Weekly Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — November 28, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service Labor group alleges crucifixes made in sweatshops (RNS) Some crucifixes sold in the United States are made under “horrific” conditions in a Chinese factory, a labor rights leader said Tuesday (Nov. 20) in front of New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee, told reporters […]
Is Mitt Romney nervous, or should he be?
By Kevin Eckstrom — November 28, 2007
Michael Luo tracks evangelical skepiticism over Mitt Romney-one woman wondered if Mormon prayers “even get through” to heaven-in Iowa in today’s New York Times. But it’s not just about Romney; it’s about the charging locomotive that is the Mike Huckabee campaign. Huckabee, you’ll recall, is not just an evangelical Southern Baptist, but a former Southern […]
Reincarnation Up for a Vote?
By Daniel Burke — November 28, 2007
Elucidating earlier comments, the Dalai Lama said yesterday that the next Dalai Lama, traditionally “chosen” by reincarnation, could be democratically elected. The move is an apparent bid to keep China from appointing a lackey as his successor. For centuries, the search for the reincarnation of religious leaders, known as lamas – including the Dalai Lama, […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — November 28, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service State Baptist conventions urge prevention of child abuse (RNS) Following action taken on the national level this summer, several Southern Baptist state conventions took steps this fall to urge that children be protected from abuse. Baptist groups in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana and Ohio passed resolutions. Most encouraged churches […]
Jewish food a profound and personal link to the past
By Shona Crabtree — November 28, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) While potato latkes are forever linked with Hanukkah, along with dreidels and menorahs, the potato part of potato latkes is actually a fairly recent invention in the history of Judaism. Who knew? Originally made with cheese, latkes are now made with an assortment of vegetables. What’s important is frying […]
COMMENTARY: Feels like we’ve been here before, but what about God?
By Tom Ehrich — November 28, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) It all looks so orderly. A new church year starts next Sunday (Dec. 2). We end Year C in the liturgical calendar and start back with Year A. This time next year, we’ll start Year B, and the cycle continues. With a new church year starting on Advent, Gospel […]
Churches push `Advent Conspiracy’ to teach real giving
By Nancy Haught — November 28, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service PORTLAND, Ore. _ The Christmas contradiction gives Pastor Rick McKinley a headache. Americans will spend about $475 billion this year on gifts, decorations and parties that many won’t even remember next year. They will run themselves ragged _ shopping, wrapping and celebrating. And some won’t pay off their Christmas debt […]
Huckabee: “Christian Leader”
By Kevin Eckstrom — November 28, 2007
Mike Huckabee’s newest ad leaves little doubt who he’s pitching (evangelicals in Iowa) and who he’s swiping (Mitt Romney). The most striking and hard-to-miss aspect of the ad are the giant words “CHRISTIAN LEADER” that scroll across the screen. Hmm … I thought he was running for president, not pope. Anyway, from Huckabee himself: “Faith […]
Beliefnet Seeking Votes on “Most Inspiring Person”
By Adelle M. Banks — November 28, 2007
Beliefnet.com is seeking online votes for “The Most Inspiring Person of the Year.” Visitors can vote by going to Beliefnet’s Web site. Nominees for Beliefnet’s 2007 Most Inspiring Person of the Year are: -Liviu LibrescuâÂ?Â?Self-sacrificing professor at Virginia Tech Holocaust survivor and engineering professor Liviu Librescu threw his body between his students and a gunman […]
Survey: “Merry Christmas” Wins Over “Happy Holidays”
By Adelle M. Banks — November 28, 2007
“Merry Christmas” is more popular as a seasonal phrase in advertising than “Happy Holidays,” says Rasmussen Reports. A new national telephone survey finds that 67 percent of American adults prefer when stores use the Christmas phrase, compared to 26 percent who voted for the more generic one. The polling information distributor found no gender gap […]
His Holiness meets His Holiness? Not this time.
By Francis X. Rocca — November 27, 2007
The Vatican has announced that the Dalai Lama will not, after all, be visiting Pope Benedict in Rome next month, as was widely reported a month ago. As the pope’s spokesman noted, no such meeting had ever been officially announced. But in waiting an entire month to deny the reports, the Vatican effectively acknowledged that […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — November 27, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service Oral Roberts University president resigns OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) The embattled president of Oral Roberts University has resigned amid intense scrutiny over allegations of financial, political and other wrongdoing at the charismatic Christian university in Tulsa. Richard Roberts, son of the university’s namesake founder, submitted a resignation letter to ORU’s board […]
COMMENTARY: On eve of World AIDS Day, a sign of hope
By Dale Hanson Bourke — November 27, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service NGOMBE, Zambia _ Most of us view HIV/AIDS as a statistical tsunami, a tidal wave of numbers so great we can hardly comprehend their significance. But in a country like Zambia, AIDS is personal. It is the face of the co-worker who goes home one day and never returns. It […]
With pomp and circumstance, pope names 23 new cardinals
By Frances X. Rocca — November 27, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ In two days of ceremony and celebration last weekend (Nov. 24-25), Pope Benedict XVI expanded the highest ranks of the Roman Catholic hierarchy by elevating 23 men _ including two Americans _ to the College of Cardinals. The events drew tens of thousands of Catholic faithful from […]
