Monthly Archives: March 2009
Bad News for Bishops
By Mark Silk — March 31, 2009
We’ve long known that Catholics have roughly the same views on social issues like abortion and homosexuality as the rest of the population. What is so striking about yesterday’s Gallup survey is the liberalism of observant Catholics–those who attend church regularly–compared to their non-Catholic counterparts. Indeed (look at the moral acceptability of homosexual relations), they’re […]
Poll finds Catholics to the left of U.S. on social issues
By Tracy Gordon — March 30, 2009
(RNS) American Catholics are more liberal than the general population on social issues like divorce and homosexuality, despite the Catholic Church’s longstanding conservatism on both issues, according to a new survey. Catholics are more likely than non-Catholics to say that homosexual relations, divorce, and heterosexual sex outside wedlock are morally acceptable, according to an analysis […]
Jews prepare to `bless the sun’ before Passover
By Tracy Gordon — March 30, 2009
NEW YORK (RNS) Traditionalist Jews and tree-huggers alike are coming together for Birkat HaHammah, a Jewish holiday that falls only once every 28 years, marking the sun’s return to its original position at creation. This year, the celebration takes place at sunrise April 8, followed by the start of Passover at sunset. The timing is […]
Pakistani-born Anglican bishop abruptly steps down
By Tracy Gordon — March 30, 2009
LONDON (RNS) The Church of England’s first (and so far only) Asian bishop, who received death threats after criticizing Islamic extremists last year, stunned the church by announcing his resignation to take up a job defending Christians. The often outspoken Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali disclosed Saturday (March 28) that “I have decided that the time is […]
`Good Book’ in six words
By Daniel Burke — March 30, 2009
Today, I’m “reviewing” David Plotz’s “Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible.” My six-word review: `Good Book’ makes God look bad. For an explanation of the thinking behind six-word reviews, please see here.
Gay marriage fight shifts back to New England
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 30, 2009
Vermont was the first state to outlaw slavery. Neighboring New Hampshire declared its independence from England before any other colony. Maine led the way with Prohibition. These days, Yankee activism has another cause – gay rights.
Abortionist Tiller acquited on all counts
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 30, 2009
After years of investigations and four days of testimony, jurors here took just 45 minutes on Friday to acquit a controversial abortion doctor of charges that he performed 19 illegal late-term abortions in 2003.
Judge dismisses challenge to `under God’
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 30, 2009
A judge has dismissed the claims of an atheist parent who sought to remove the words “one state under God” from the Texas pledge of allegiance.
Atlanta pastor taken down by sex scandal dies
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 30, 2009
Bishop Earl Paulk gained the attention of presidents and preached to hundreds of thousands of people, but he may be remembered for the sex scandals that rocked the Atlanta-area megachurch he started. Paulk, the 81-year-old founder of the Cathedral at Chapel Hill in South DeKalb County, died Sunday at Atlanta Medical Center after battling cancer […]
RNS, NPR and PBS
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 30, 2009
An update on my adventures through public broadcasting on Friday: My take on President Obama’s first couple weeks with his revamped faith-based office, with NPR’s Michele Martin, and dissecting the pope’s recent trip to Africa, with Bob Abernethy of Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.
Group wants more Muslim hires at White House
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 30, 2009
In a bid to get more Muslim Americans working in the Obama administration, a book with the resumes of 45 of the nation’s most qualified — Ivy League grads, Fortune 500 executives and public servants, all carefully vetted — has been submitted to the White House.
Easter hats fall victim to economic downturn
By Adelle M. Banks — March 30, 2009
SILVER SPRING, Md. — There are many things that Paula Settles is willing to forgo in these budget-conscious times, but an Easter hat isn’t one of them. “I wouldn’t consider going to church without a hat on,” said Settles, an African-American retiree of a certain age who’s already planning her outfit for Easter services at […]
Fighting the Fighting Irish
By Mark Silk — March 30, 2009
In today’s WaPo, Ken Woodward makes the case for inviting President Obama to give the commencement address at his alma mater, Notre Dame. The president is the president, after all, and it’s a longstanding tradition for Notre Dame to invite presidents. Catholicism is no isolated sect that declines to engage the world. Offering the commencement […]
Commongroundniks
By Mark Silk — March 29, 2009
One hates to dump on people of good will, but it’s time to recognize that talking about common ground on abortion is creating more ill will than just going ahead and staking out some territory. A few days ago, progressive Catholics Simone Campbell and John Gehring contributed an op-ed piece to the Cleveland Plain Dealer […]
Orwell in Tibet
By Daniel Burke — March 28, 2009
China has designated March 28 “Serf Liberation Day” in Tibet to mark the “light” and “affluence” they’ve brought to the benighted masses since invaded the Himalayan highlands in the 1950s. They’re not fooling anyone, says USA Today in an editorial today. “Tibetans and most of the rest of the world know better: that a Chinese […]
