Monthly Archives: October 2008
To “evolve” means “to unroll a scroll”
By Francis X. Rocca — October 31, 2008
Pope Benedict reminds the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, as it contemplates evolution, that “there is no opposition between faith’s understanding of creation and the evidence of the empirical sciences.”
The First Amendment
By Mark Silk — October 31, 2008
We’ve entered the wacky pre-election days, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at anything. But the Dole ad is one for the history books, and now we’ve got Sarah Palin claiming that media criticism of her for criticizing Barack Obama threatens her First Amendment rights. That’s a beautiful thing. But, as Cab Calloway once […]
He Who Cannot Be Named
By Mark Silk — October 31, 2008
It’s obvious that the alleged anti-Semite that McCain apparatchik Michael Goldfarb cannot name is Jeremiah Wright, who has made statements sufficient to warrant considering him less than friendly toward the State of Israel. Why can’t Goldfarb name him? I have little doubt that he’s under orders from the campaign not to–and the question is why. […]
The other Antichrist candidate
By Mark Silk — October 31, 2008
A friend from England writes: “Just in case America is tempted to do something stupid on Tuesday please tell everyone you know that “Vice President Sarah Palin” is an anagram of “Is Perhaps Evil Incarnate.”
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — October 31, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Conservative rabbis name woman to top staff job NEW YORK (RNS) Twenty-three years after the Conservative Jewish movement began ordaining female rabbis, a woman has been tapped to lead its Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, 43, will become executive vice president of the 1,600-member global body in July, succeeding Rabbi […]
Vatican says seminaries should screen for gay priests
By RNS Blog Editor — October 31, 2008
VATICAN CITY-Psychological testing should be used to help Catholic seminaries detect traits-including “deep-seated homosexual tendencies”-that render men unsuitable for the priesthood, the Vatican said on Thursday (Oct. 30). The statement appears in a new document, “Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood.”
Queen asked to pardon 17th-century witches
By RNS Blog Editor — October 31, 2008
LONDON -A campaign has been launched in Britain to try to persuade Queen Elizabeth II to grant a royal warrant pardoning more than 400 men and women who were executed as witches in England four centuries ago.
Conn., Canadian dioceses move toward blessing same-sex couples
By RNS Blog Editor — October 31, 2008
Episcopalians in Connecticut and two Anglican dioceses in Canada are pushing for more latitude in blessing same-sex couples, despite widespread opposition in the worldwide Anglican Communion to gay and lesbian relationships.
Conservative rabbis name woman to top staff job
By RNS Blog Editor — October 31, 2008
NEW YORK -Twenty-three years after the Conservative Jewish movement began ordaining female rabbis, a woman has been tapped to lead its Rabbinical Assembly.
COMMENTARY: Is this the best we can do?
By Dick Staub — October 31, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Perhaps it’s the political season that brings on this present melancholy and the realization that the ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes still stands: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun? […]
Cinema churches bring God to the big screen _ and to where the people are
By Ashley Gipson — October 31, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ When the medieval church wanted to communicate the biblical narratives to a largely illiterate society, it used stained glass windows to illustrate the stories. So as the modern church looks for ways to reach a generation unfamiliar with the Bible, the most obvious medium, they say, is movie […]
Vatican says seminaries should screen for gay priests
By Frances X. Rocca — October 31, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ The Vatican on Thursday (Oct. 30) recommended that Catholic seminaries test certain applicants for psychological traits _ including “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” _ that could render them unsuitable for the priesthood. The statement appears in a new document, “Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and […]
COMMENTARY: Is this the best we can do?
By RNS Blog Editor — October 31, 2008
Perhaps we can blame this sense of melancholy on the political season-the realization from Ecclesiastes that “all is vanity.” Or maybe it’s our current economic instability that gives rise to the sense of doom and a certain “thin-ness” of human existence. (Dick Staub is the author of “The Culturally Savvy Christian” and the host of […]
Et tu, Huck?
By Mark Silk — October 30, 2008
A scummy extended version of Dole’s Godless ad–posted on Huck’s blog.
All Hallows Eve
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 30, 2008
That whacky Jim Martin up at America magazine has gotten together with the guys at Busted Halo (always a dangerous combination) for a quick video primer on Halloween, All Saints Day, and why St. Frances Cabrini is the patron saint of parking spaces (I always thought it was St. Jude). The best part is actually […]
Page 1 of 28
