Monthly Archives: March 2009
Obama Notre Dame speech draws fire
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2009
WASHINGTON (RNS) President Obama’s planned commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame continues to spark controversy, as the local Catholic bishop said he will boycott the event because some Obama policies contradict church teaching. Bishop John D’Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (Ind.) said Tuesday (March 24) that “as a Catholic university, […]
Jewish leaders try to combat Passover price gouging
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2009
NEW YORK (RNS) Led by a state assemblyman and the director of a kosher soup kitchen, 30 ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis have signed a religious edict forbidding food manufacturers, distributors and stores from “Passover price gouging.” During Passover, which begins April 8 this year, Jews traditionally avoid eating anything containing fermented grains, including barley, rye and […]
Conservatives talk abortion reduction with White House
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2009
WASHINGTON (RNS) Leaders from several prominent conservative Christian groups met Tuesday (March 24) with the head of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships to discuss ways to reduce abortions. Concerned Women for America President Wendy Wright sought the meeting with Joshua DuBois, executive director of the revamped White House office. “It was […]
Open up your mind and say Ommmm …
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2009
CLEVELAND — Before the group of about 50 people finished their break and found a comfortable spot in the open meeting area for their fourth and final meditation, Venerable Kong Dow, a Buddhist nun, gave them some advice. “You catch the thoughts,” she said, her hand shooting out from the side of her red robe […]
Baptist runs again for office he bilked
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2009
A thriving church. A loving family. A $700,000 waterfront house in Florida. And a prestigious job as the president of the Nashville-headquartered National Baptist Convention USA, the largest African-American denomination in the U.S. Then on July 6, 1997, it all went up in smoke.
Tutu pulls out of peace conference over Dalai Lama ban
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2009
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has condemned as “disgraceful” the decision of the South African government to refuse the Dalai Lama a visa for a peace conference meant to promote the 2010 World Cup.
Good question
By Daniel Burke — March 25, 2009
John Dickerson of Slate riffs on Obama’s we’re-all-in-this-together mantra during last night’s press conference. Dickerson says: “Lovely sentiment, but the times seem to call for a stronger pitch. Why should people join together when bailouts are rewarding people who didn’t act in the common interest? Among those being rescued are Wall Street bankers, AIG financial […]
FBI and American Muslims at odds
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2009
Law enforcement efforts to root out home-grown terrorists are jeopardized by deteriorating relations between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muslim and Arab-American communities.
Pride & Prejudice
By Daniel Burke — March 25, 2009
Catholic Bishop John D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend Indiana says he’ll boycott President Obama’s commencement address at Notre Dame. D’Arcy says: “This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president…But a bishop must […]
Does faith prolong suffering for cancer patients?
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2009
BOSTON — Two years ago, Kevin Brumett was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 29, and had never smoked in his life. After an initial round of successful treatment, the cancer has since spread to his brain. Still, Brumett is determined to fight the disease, and says God is on his side every step of […]
More Canterbury tales
By Daniel Burke — March 25, 2009
Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop at the center of the controversy in the Episcopal Church over homosexuality and the Bible, preached in Boston on Sunday. Michael Paulson says the bishop threw away his prepared text and spoke extemporaneously. This passage particularly caught my eye. Robinson is talking about his only meeting with […]
COMMENTARY: Where the boys are
By Phyllis Zagano — March 25, 2009
(UNDATED) To scorekeepers in the Catholic excommunication derby, it looks like it’s Men-3, Women-0. Here’s a recap: 1. A rogue bishop named Richard Williamson has his excommunication lifted — before the world, and the pope, learns that he denies the Holocaust. 2. A 9-year-old Brazilian girl has an abortion. A bishop says her mother and […]
Morocco clamps down on Shiites
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2009
RABAT, Morocco — Morocco’s government is clamping down on homosexuality and alleged Shiite propaganda, saying it will tackle any group that threatens moral and religious values in the Sunni Arab kingdom.
Breakaway Episcopalians lose bid to keep building
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A judge has ruled that a Colorado Springs church building belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and not a breakaway parish.
US judge strikes down policy on religious visas
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2009
SEATTLE — A federal judge has struck down a long-standing government policy that made it tougher for religious workers from other countries to remain in the United States.
