Monthly Archives: September 2009
Diverse faith groups agree on disaster-relief ethics
By RNS Blog Editor — September 24, 2009
(RNS) More than 20 faith-based organizations, from Scientologists to Buddhists to Catholics, have come together to produce a guide on addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of disaster victims. The document was released by the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, an organization made up of 49 U.S. non-profit groups whose missions includes disaster response. […]
Canadian judge dismisses polygamy charges
By RNS Blog Editor — September 24, 2009
TORONTO (RNS) A judge on British Columbia’s Supreme Court has dismissed criminal charges against two alleged polygamists who say Canadian law protects their right to have more than one wife. Supreme Court Justice Sunni S. Stromberg-Stein on Wednesday (Sept. 23) threw out polygamy charges against Winston Blackmore, 53, and James Oler, 45, leaders of rival […]
Muslim march organizers find an unlikely ally
By RNS Blog Editor — September 24, 2009
ELIZABETH, N.J. — Plans to attract thousands of Muslims to Capitol Hill on Friday (Sept. 25) for prayer have drawn anxiety, praise, enthusiasm and criticism, but they’ve also made unlikely allies of the New Jersey mosque where the idea was born and a conservative Christian group. Organizers at the Dar-Ul-Islam mosque would seem to have […]
Next week, blasphemy gets its own holiday
By RNS Blog Editor — September 24, 2009
TORONTO — You’ve never seen Jesus like this before: dripping red nail polish around the nails in his feet and hands, an irreverent riff on the crucifixion wounds. The provocative title of the painting: “Jesus Does His Nails.” Blasphemous? Absolutely. Deliberately provocative? You bet. It is part of an upcoming art exhibit in Washington that […]
Need a High Holy Day ticket? Have you tried Craigslist?
By RNS Blog Editor — September 24, 2009
(UNDATED) Alex Marmur wanted to go to synagogue on Yom Kippur, but didn’t want to pay temple membership dues to get tickets. So he turned to Craigslist. “I use it for buying and selling all types of concert tickets,” said Marmur, a 44-year-old business analyst from San Francisco. “So I figured Yom Kippur is not […]
Racism in the Catholic Church?
By Daniel Burke — September 24, 2009
Catholic Bishop Terry Steib of Memphis has drawn a lot of attention recently for saying that racism persists in the church, and offering the controversy over President Obama’s appearance at University of Notre Dame as an example. In Philly earlier this month to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the U.S. black bishops’ pastoral letter, “What […]
God-talk at the UN
By Daniel Burke — September 24, 2009
As might be expected, there was a good bit of God-talk at the UN Wednesday, as world leaders lined up for open mic day. For instance, President Obama framed the turmoil between Israel and Palestine thusly: We must remember that the greatest price of this conflict is not paid by us. It is paid by […]
The gay LoveGuv speaks
By Kevin Eckstrom — September 24, 2009
WaPo’s OnFaith host, Sally Quinn, talks with former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey about sex, scandal and seminary. McGreevey, as you’ll recall, was a rising star in the Democratic constellation until he came out as a “gay American” and resigned his office. There were also allegations of sex with a staffer, and a nasty divorce […]
Thursday’s religion round-up
By Daniel Burke — September 24, 2009
Religious leaders meeting in Pittsburgh outside the G-20 Summit were told their concerns for the poor will be discussed at the conclave. The White House Faith-based (…) office held a town hall meeting in New Hampshire (primary state already?) on fatherhood, and Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists will mark 10 years since they agreed on how […]
Atheist on the warpath
By Mark Silk — September 24, 2009
PZ Myers, biology prof and proud atheist, takes umbrage at what he see as a dishonest effort to reassure the public that all those Nones are not really Big Bad Unbelievers but mostly just skeptics about organized religion. No doubt, there are some who push in this direction–notably those (like Pew) who insist on referring […]
Dalai Lama joins Vancouver Sun as guest editor
By Tracy Gordon — September 24, 2009
(RNS) The Dalai Lama will join the staff of the Vancouver Sun as guest editor when he is in town for the 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit. Saturday’s (Sept. 26) edition of the Vancouver Sun will follow the theme “Educating the Heart,” including stories written by Vancouver Sun reporters and the Dalai Lama himself. “The Dalai […]
Archbishop says no funerals for pro-abortion politicians
By Tracy Gordon — September 23, 2009
(RNS) The American archbishop who heads the Vatican’s supreme court said Catholic politicians who support abortion rights should not receive the sacraments, including funeral rites, according to a report by a conservative Catholic Web site. Archbishop Raymond Burke, who led the archdiocese of St. Louis until he was appointed prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of […]
Father in faith-healing case released from jail
By Tracy Gordon — September 23, 2009
OREGON CITY, Ore. — An Oregon father who was convicted of second-degree criminal mistreatment in the faith-healing death of his daughter was released from jail Tuesday (Sept. 22). Carl Worthington had been sentenced to two months but was released six days early since he did not have disciplinary issues while in county jail. Inmates may […]
Christian leaders urge sanctions against Iran
By Tracy Gordon — September 23, 2009
WASHINGTON (RNS) High-profile evangelical leaders and religious liberty groups called for get-tough sanctions against Iran on the eve of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (Sept. 23). The group, Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran, sent a letter to Congress calling for sanctions on refined petroleum exports and […]
Memorizing Quran helps Muslims keep faith intact
By Tracy Gordon — September 23, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. — The rich, deep voice reciting the Quran sounds like an imam leading prayers in a mosque. The cadence has a pulse of its own: prolonged syllables, followed by rippling shorter ones. Up the scale and down. It stops just short of music. The chant is smooth, reverent, prayerful. And, suddenly, it stops. […]
