Monthly Archives: January 2009
Interim leader named permanent head of Russian Orthodox Church
By Tracy Gordon — January 29, 2009
(RNS) Metropolitan Kirill, interim head of the Russian Orthodox Church since the death of Patriarch Alexy II last month, was elected to the permanent position on Tuesday (Jan. 27). Kirill, 62, will be formally enthroned in Moscow next Monday. An overwhelming majority of about 700 clergy and lay representatives from more than 60 countries voted […]
Pope, under fire, expresses solidarity with Jews
By Tracy Gordon — January 29, 2009
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Seeking to quell an international uproar over his rehabilitation of a Holocaust-denying bishop, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the Nazi genocide of “millions of Jews” and expressed his “full and indisputable solidarity” with the Jewish people. Benedict spoke Wednesday (Jan. 28) at the conclusion of his weekly general audience at the Vatican. His […]
Churches free this year to broadcast Super Bowl
By Tracy Gordon — January 29, 2009
(RNS) Churches can hold parties to watch the upcoming Super Bowl with fewer restrictions this year. The Rutherford Institute, which joined members of Congress in challenging the National Football League’s previous rules, has reminded churches that they can host viewing parties on Sunday (Feb. 1) on large-screen televisions in their buildings. “As long as they […]
Workplace discrimination claims on the rise
By Tracy Gordon — January 28, 2009
(UNDATED) Complaints of religious discrimination in the workplace are on the rise, but civil rights advocates say that may not be such a bad thing. That’s because a likely reason for a steady rise in reported incidents has nothing to do with intolerant corporate cultures but rather religious minorities who are more aware of their […]
200 years later, Lincoln’s faith remains an enigma
By Tracy Gordon — January 28, 2009
WASHINGTON-Seven score and four years ago, Abraham Lincoln stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and said North and South alike must suffer for the sin of slavery. “If God wills that (the war) continue until … every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, […]
10 minutes with … Robert Bellah
By Tracy Gordon — January 28, 2009
(UNDATED) Though he has written numerous books and articles, Robert Bellah knows he will always best be known as the author of “Civil Religion in America.” The seminal 1967 essay, which popularized Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s notion of shared cultural ideas, illuminated the subtext beneath cherished American myths and ideals. Chief among these, Bellah argues, is that […]
COMMENTARY: Time to get a grip
By Phyllis Zagano — January 28, 2009
(UNDATED) The sudden storm over Pope Benedict XVI’s lifting the excommunication of four schismatic bishops reignites the slander that the Catholic Church-or the pope himself, or God forbid, all Catholics-is rife with anti-Semitism. Somehow a comment by one of the bishops-he doubts the gas chamber murders of millions of Jews were a “deliberate policy of […]
Haggard’s wife knew of his struggles
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
Former evangelical pastor Ted Haggard’s wife says she knew about his struggles with same-sex attraction for years and felt he was “winning the battle” before a scandal involving a male prostitute triggered his downfall in late 2006.
Advice from on high
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday that its getting harder for Catholic journalists to do their jobs. Moneyquote: The work of Catholic journalists, says the pope, “anchored in a heritage of principles that have their roots in the Gospel, … is even more arduous today. To your characteristic sense of responsibility and spirit of service, you […]
Stimulus bill has faith-based funds
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
Religion Clause has the story. Moneyquote: “Among the many items in the proposed economic stimulus bill, HR 1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is a provision for funding of $100 million for grants to faith-based organization through the Compassion Capital Fund. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the purpose […]
China casts late Tibetan monk as ally
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
China is marking 20 years since the death of the second-most senior figure in Tibetan Buddhism by lauding him as an enemy of separatism in the restive region as it enters a year laden with tense anniversaries.
Lawn care?
By Kevin Eckstrom — January 28, 2009
So Tony Perkins is at it again, unleashing his hyperbolic doomsday rhetoric over the economic stimulus package currently making its way through Congress. In his most recent Action Alert from the Family Research Council, Perkins bemoans the package’s “$200 million for lawn care in Washington, D.C., $360 million to potentially be used to put on […]
Big game mixes faith and football
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
This year many players on both teams preparing for Sunday’s Super Bowl aren’t hesitating to invoke the name of God as they prepare to play a violent game where there will be no mercy shown on either side.
Rick Warren goes quarterly
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
He has written one of the best-selling books in history. But can pastor Rick Warren sell a magazine? The test starts this week, with the debut of Purpose Driven Connection, a quarterly publication from Reader’s Digest Association to be sold as part of a bundle of multimedia products its backers hope will connect Christians to […]
Russian Orthodox Church elects new leader
By Daniel Burke — January 28, 2009
he interim leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, seen as a modernizer who could seek a historic reconciliation with the Vatican and more autonomy from the state, was overwhelmingly elected patriarch Tuesday.
