Monthly Archives: May 2009
Esthers on Parade
By Mark Silk — May 26, 2009
The exemplary David Gibson has a nice column up on Politics Daily about the attraction American evangelical women seem to have for Queen Esther as a role model. Along the way he makes that point that Esther’s story (the beautiful Jewish girl picked to be queen of Persia who saves her people) “allows conservatives to […]
The Great Equalizer
By Mark Silk — May 26, 2009
Frank Rich devoted his Memorial weekend column to smacking Barack Obama for going mute on the big equal rights issue of his presidency. The promised repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has vanished down the rabbit hole, and as a succession of states has legalized same-sex marriage, nary a peep has issued from the White […]
The Guantanamo Mystique
By Mark Silk — May 24, 2009
At the risk of repeating myself, I will venture a few more words on the Guantanamo issue, which doesn’t seem to be going away. The question is: Why should this, of all things, have become the issue that has led congressional Democrats to cross over and hand the Obama administration the rudest awakening of its […]
Finding your own spiritual path(eos)
By Kevin Eckstrom — May 23, 2009
Our Southern California correspondent, Lilly Fowler, is working on a new project that’s worth a few minutes of your web-browsing time. It’s an ambitious new effort called Patheos, which at first glance seems to a more cerebral approach to what Beliefnet’s been doing for nearly a decade. Both sites are dedicated to helping you find […]
Israeli court rules for Reform, Conservative conversions
By Tracy Gordon — May 22, 2009
JERUSALEM (RNS) Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers promised to fight any state funding for non-Orthodox conversion institutes after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that Reform, Conservative and Orthodox conversion programs must receive the same funding. The ruling is groundbreaking because the government has never before granted money to non-Orthodox religious institutions such as synagogues, insisting it is legally […]
Couple sues debt collectors over WWJD letters
By Tracy Gordon — May 22, 2009
(RNS) A Minnesota couple is suing a debt collection agency for putting the initials “WWJD” on its collection letters, arguing that it breaks an anti-harassment law by portraying debtors as hell-bound sinners. Sara and Mark Neill of Becker, Minn., received three letters from Bullseye Collection Agency, Inc. in 2008 with the letters “WWJD” — an […]
Scottish church to consider `virtual ministers’ to stem shortage
By Tracy Gordon — May 22, 2009
EDINBURGH, Scotland (RNS/ENI) To stem a nationwide shortage of full-time clergy, the Church of Scotland is considering using “virtual ministers” who would preach over a live video link to congregations that do not have a permanent minister. “Preaching by live video link to vacant congregations is one of many radical changes being proposed by the […]
Blogging the Bible
By Kevin Eckstrom — May 22, 2009
Politico tells us this morning that a proposed bill to make 2010 the “Year of the Bible” is the among the most blogged-about piece of legislation. Anywhere. From Politico’s Victoria McGrane: According to GovTrack.us, the resolution is among the most-blogged-about pieces of legislation, with most posts less than complimentary in nature. “Does that mean 2009 […]
Krumping gives movement to the spirit’s call
By Tracy Gordon — May 22, 2009
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — On a peaceful afternoon in a suburban home garage, Demetrus Leslie, 17, jerked like he was dosed with strychnine. His arms lashed menacingly, then he dropped to the floor, only to rear up smoothly. His chest popped in and out, convulsing as if an alien larva heaved within. He ranged around the […]
Sweet Land of Liberty
By Mark Silk — May 22, 2009
The Roanoke News & Advance reports: Liberty University has revoked its recognition of the campus Democratic Party club, saying “we are unable to lend support to a club whose parent organization stands against the moral principles held by the university.“ A new cause for Catholic critics of Notre Dame, Fordham, Georgetown, B.C., Marquette, Holy Cross, […]
Faith in DOD
By Mark Silk — May 22, 2009
What is to be done with religion in the military? Those neat Bible verses adorning the cover art on Don Rumsfeld’s Worldwide Intelligence Updates for the president (thanks, GQ) represent one approach. Some may cavil that this sort of thing puts us in the same boat as our enemies (crusade = jihad), but I’m sure […]
Experts say case of missing teen reflects larger problem
By Tracy Gordon — May 22, 2009
(UNDATED) As authorities search for a missing 13-year-old cancer patient whose mother shunned chemotherapy, an expert on faith healing said the case demonstrates just how these cases can get out of hand — and the need to prevent them in the future. On Tuesday (May 19), Daniel Hauser of Sleepy Eye, Minn., and his mother, […]
Synagogues assessing security after foiled N.Y. plot
By Tracy Gordon — May 21, 2009
(RNS) Synagogues in New York and throughout the country were unaware of a plot to bomb two temples in New York City until it was foiled late Wednesday (May 20). New York City police arrested four men who allegedly believed they were planting bombs near two synagogues in the Bronx. The men also had plans […]
Victims’ group urges church action after Irish abuse report
By Tracy Gordon — May 21, 2009
(RNS) U.S. victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy say the Vatican should publicly rebuke the religious order that fought to keep abusers’ names out of a damning report that details thousands of crimes against minors in Ireland. The 2,600-page report, released on Wednesday (May 20), describes sexual and violent crimes committed against thousands of […]
Jewish leader in Germany urges swift trial for Demjanjuk
By Tracy Gordon — May 21, 2009
TRIER, Germany (RNS/ENI) The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany is urging that the extradited 89-year old alleged Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk be put on trial as soon as possible. “We are dealing with a race against time,” said the council’s president, Charlotte Knobloch. Ukrainian-born Demjanjuk arrived in Munich from the […]
