Monthly Archives: February 2008
Cuts Both Ways
By Kevin Eckstrom — February 29, 2008
Much has been made of the Democratic Party’s attempts to reach out to religiously minded voters or, as many have said, to simply “get religion.” Apparently that hasn’t stopped the DNC from using religion as a wedge, however. After San Antonio pastor John Hagee (who’s so supportive of Israel that he’d make a really good […]
Farrakhan: Obama Still Has My Support
By Kevin Eckstrom — February 29, 2008
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan says his followers should still support Barack Obama, even if Obama doesn’t really want it. “Those who have been supporting Sen. Barack Obama should not allow what was said during the Feb. 26 presidential debate to lessen their support for his campaign. This is simply mischief making intended to […]
Time Out for Some Demography
By Mark Silk — February 29, 2008
Last Monday, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released the first analytical hunk of what it is calling the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (not to be confused with earlier Pew-sponsored “American Religious Landscape and Political Attitudes” surveys). Thanks to the Pew name, a fab marketing strategy, and a really cool website, it has […]
The Complainant
By Mark Silk — February 29, 2008
James Hutchins, the complainant in the IRS investigation of the United Church of Christ, has written in to suggest that I based my earlier remarks on the UCC press release, not the complaint itself. Actually, I based them on the Hartford Courant story and the IRS letter. I don’t think I’d say anything different based […]
Texohio poll
By Mark Silk — February 29, 2008
Today’s Houston Chronicle/Zogby poll of likely voters in the upcoming Democratic primaries in Texas and Ohio shows Clinton up strongly with Catholics, mostly white in Ohio and mostly Hispanic in Texas. Protestants split evenly between Clinton and Obama in Ohio, go strongly to Obama in Texas; others in both states are for Obama. The non-Catholic […]
Pushed to the edge, `Salt’ took time for God and herself
By Rebecca Cusey — February 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When Cheryl James abruptly abandoned her red-hot career as “Salt” of the hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa and became a Christian, she also shattered her relationship with partner Sandra “Pepa” Denton. Ten years after drifting away from the band, James, 43, is trying to be true to both faith and friendship […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — February 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service BAY CITY, Mich. _ Every year during Lent, hundreds of folks come to the Richville Conservation Club to gobble all the fried cod they can eat. The soaring price of fish, however, is munching up club profits. “A lot of the guys who volunteer here are pushing the fried chicken […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — February 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr. dies at 82 (RNS) Conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr. died Wednesday (Feb. 27), following a life in which the Catholic writer, magazine editor and TV host simultaneously angered and charmed liberals while also displeasing both Jewish and Catholic groups with his signature killer […]
COMMENTARY: The unsung heroes of Israeli independence
By James Rudin — February 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) On May 14, Israel will mark its 60th anniversary as an independent nation. President Bush and other world leaders plan to attend the festivities in Jerusalem later this spring. An important new book, “Israel at Sixty: An Oral History of a Nation Reborn” (Wiley) by Deborah Hart Strober and […]
McCain Picks Up Hagee Endorsement
By Adelle M. Banks — February 29, 2008
GOP presidential candidate John McCain picked up the endorsement Wednesday of San Antonio pastor John Hagee, who said at a news conference that he was giving his “vigorous, enthusiastic and personal support to an American hero.” Hagee, national chairman of Christians United for Israel, praised McCain for his anti-abortion record and his pro-Israel stands. KSAT.com […]
Beliefnet Lists Influential Black Spiritual Leaders
By Adelle M. Banks — February 29, 2008
As Black History Month draws to a close, it’s not too late to point out that Beliefnet has continued its practice of naming “The Most Influential Black Spiritual Leaders.” The Dallas Morning News’ religion blog noticed that the names of two Texas megachurch pastors were missing: Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas and Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, […]
UCC: We’re Not an Obama Campaign Office
By Kevin Eckstrom — February 29, 2008
We reported yesterday on the IRS investigation into whether a Barack Obama speech at last year’s UCC General Synod crossed the line into improper church politicking. Obama, you’ll recall, is a longtime member of a UCC church in Chicago The UCC says they weren’t aware of any problems, and say the event passed muster. Now […]
Sister: Don’t get it twisted
By Daniel Burke — February 28, 2008
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, responded sharply to an op/ed published in the Washington Post last weekend that criticized the bishops for prioritizing abortion above all other political issues and presumably aligning themselves with Republican John McCain. (You can find that editorial, written by former National Catholic Reporter […]
Donate, Then Stay Home
By Daniel Burke — February 28, 2008
The Episcopal diocese of Washington’s blog, the Lead, has word that Bishop Gene Robinson, who is openly gay and who has yet to be invited to the decennial meeting of all Anglican Bishops in England this summer, has, nonetheless, been asked to fork over $7,000 to support the meeting. Read more here.
Bad News For Boston Parishes
By Daniel Burke — February 28, 2008
The Boston Globe has a front-page story on the Vatican’s high court siding with Cardinal Sean O’Malley in his decision to shutter a parish in Lowell, Mass. Though the ruling is legally limited to St. Jeanne d’Arc in Lowell, it has unwelcome implications for the scores of other parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston fighting […]
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