Monthly Archives: November 2008
With Same-Sex Marriage, a Court Takes on the PeopleâÂ?Â?s Voice
By Kevin Eckstrom — November 21, 2008
When the California Supreme Court begins weighing arguments over same-sex marriage – again – in December, some 18,000 such marriages could hang in the balance. And the justices could lose out, too; some are already being threatened with being voted out of office if they rule Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Wyo. settles inmate religious freedom suit
By Kevin Eckstrom — November 21, 2008
The Wyoming Department of Corrections says it will allow Muslim inmates at the state penitentiary in Rawlins to time their meals to accommodate their daily prayers.
Evangelical, Mormon, Evangelical…
By Mark Silk — November 21, 2008
Pax Obama
By Mark Silk — November 21, 2008
I’m betting a nickel that the Obama administration is going to jump into the Israeli-Palestinian situation soon after taking office. The new president has more street cred with the Muslim/Islamic world than any president in history. He’s coming off a huge Jewish vote in the election and has got Rahm Emanuel, Joe Biden, and maybe […]
Church finds a surplus, and gives it all away
By Tracy Gordon — November 21, 2008
DECATUR, Ala.-Kay Campbell reports on what happened at Decatur Baptist Church when Pastor Doug Ripley discovered a $10,000 budget surplus and gave the money back to parishioners with one caveat: the money had to be used to bless someone else.
Archaeologists sketch out Herod’s desert palace
By Tracy Gordon — November 21, 2008
JERUSALEM -Archaeologists who have analyzed artifacts discovered at Herodium, an ancient Judean palace built by King Herod, are more convinced than ever that the famed monarch was buried high atop the complex outside Jerusalem.
Italian Jews cancel interfaith ceremonies with Vatican
By Tracy Gordon — November 21, 2008
VATICAN CITY-Italian Jewish leaders will not take part in an annual day of interreligious activities with their Catholic counterparts next January, to protest a Catholic prayer seeking their conversion to Christianity.
Calif. Supreme Court to hear challenge to gay marriage ban
By Tracy Gordon — November 21, 2008
LOS ANGELES- California’s Supreme Court on Wednesday (Nov. 19) agreed to hear challenges to a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage and will decide next year if the controversial ballot measure was just an amendment or a broader revision to the state constitution.
eHarmony agrees to set up same-sex matching site
By Tracy Gordon — November 21, 2008
The online match-making site eHarmony has agreed to launch a same-sex matching service next March after settling allegations that the company violated New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law by excluding gays and lesbians.
COMMENTARY: Coming clean about my criminal record
By Tracy Gordon — November 21, 2008
Recently my daughter uttered words on the phone that melt every grandparent’s heart: “Your grandchild is eager to speak with you.” When Emma came on the line, she said her third grade class is studying the civil rights struggle. In a worried voice she asked, “Grandpa Jim, Mommy says you were once arrested. Is that […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — November 21, 2008
eHarmony agrees to set up same-sex matching site (RNS) The online match-making site eHarmony has agreed to launch a same-sex matching service next March after settling allegations that the company violated New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law by excluding gays and lesbians. A New Jersey gay man filed a complaint with the state in 2005, saying that […]
COMMENTARY: Coming clean about my criminal record
By James Rudin — November 21, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Recently my daughter uttered words on the phone that melt every grandparent’s heart: “Your grandchild is eager to speak with you.”When Emma came on the line, she said her third grade class is studying the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the civil rights struggle. In a worried voice […]
At 72, gospel’s most successful unknown artist won’t slow down
By Steve Rabey — November 21, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service(UNDATED) Bill Gaither may not be an A-list celebrity or household name, but over a half century he has sold 20 million recordings and 20 million DVDs _ more than any other gospel performer.And the impact of this musical legend far exceeds mere sales figures.He and his wife Gloria have written […]
Church finds a surplus, and gives it away
By Kristen Campbell — November 21, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service DECATUR, Ala. _ Senior Pastor Doug Ripley looked at Decatur Baptist Church’s books and quickly realized the annual budget was totally out of whack. But he knew exactly what to do next. He gave away $10,000. “August and September were two of our biggest financial months,” said Ripley. “We were […]
Passing the bucks
By Daniel Burke — November 20, 2008
With the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s big collection coming up this weekend, the Intertubes have been abuzz. Critics on the right, such as the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, seem to think the campaign is some kind of communist front that funds causes and programs totally out of whack with Catholic teaching. The fact that […]
