Monthly Archives: March 2010
Evangelicals and the Tea Partiers
By Mark Silk — March 26, 2010
In a comment below, Darren Sherkat questions the (moral) legitimacy of those in the evangelical world who have encouraged Tea Party extremism. In that regard, it’s worth running down the list of those who have signed on to Sojourners’ “Covenant for Civility,” a Christian interfaith document designed to tamp down war of words (and worse). […]
Quebec moves to ban veils for Muslim women
By Tracy Gordon — March 26, 2010
TORONTO (RNS) The Canadian province of Quebec has introduced unprecedented legislation that would effectively bar Muslim women from receiving or delivering public services while wearing a niqab, or face-covering veil. “Two words: Uncovered face,” Quebec Premier Jean Charest told reporters during a press conference in Quebec City on Wednesday (March 24). “The principle is clear.” […]
Victims’ group confronts Vatican over abuse
By Tracy Gordon — March 26, 2010
VATICAN CITY (RNS) American victims of clerical sex abuse protested at the Vatican on Thursday (March 25), charging that Pope Benedict XVI had personally mishandled the case of a Wisconsin priest who molested up to 200 deaf boys more than 35 years ago. “What the pope will not admit is what he knew and the […]
Israeli high court says no bread for prisoners during Passover
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
JERUSALEM (RNS) Non-Jewish prisoners will not be able to eat bread during Passover, Israel’s High Court has ruled. On Wednesday (March 24), the High Court of Justice denied the petition of Mudabba Mahmoud Rayik, a Muslim prisoner incarcerated in a multi-religion facility, who said his civil rights were being trampled by the Israel Prison Service. […]
Pentagon to provide Passover meals, palm fronds to troops
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
(RNS) Although U.S. military personnel around the globe will spend Easter and Passover away from home, the Pentagon is taking to steps to ensure they will be able to celebrate the holidays with traditional meals and supplies. The Defense Logistics Agency’s distribution center in Philadelphia has been working since November to provide Passover meals and […]
India’s highest court has ruled that unmarried couples have the right to live together
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
Film probes Americans’ images of God
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) On the big screen of the movies, God has been played by everyone from George Burns (“Oh, God!”) to Alanis Morissette (“Dogma”) to Morgan Freeman (“Bruce Almighty”). On the small screen of people’s imaginations, God frequently looks like an old man in the clouds, like something out of “The Simpsons.” Or Kenny Rogers. […]
Creationism critic wins Templeton Prize
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
(RNS) A former Dominican priest and outspoken critic of creationism has won this year’s Templeton Prize — an honor awarded to scholars who study how science and religion intersect. Francisco J. Ayala is a professor of both biology and philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, where he has been a leading critic of creationism […]
COMMENTARY: It’s not all about you
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
(RNS) How many narcissists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one. He holds the bulb while the world revolves around him. Naughty narcissist Jesse James has humiliated his wife (and our collective darling) Sandra Bullock with his wandering ways. This after she won the Oscar for Best Actress, and the same week […]
Thursday’s roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 25, 2010
The abuse scandal that creeps ever closer to Pope Benedict XVI has crept one step closer, with the NYT describing how U.S. bishops warned the Vatican about a troublesome priest who was abusing boys at a deaf school. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) didn’t respond to pleas from the archbishop of Milwaukee, and the […]
Tea Party Legitimacy Panic
By Mark Silk — March 25, 2010
Recent threats of violence against members of Congress who voted for HCR raise questions about the nature of the protest movement that has inspired them. As it happens, Quinnipiac yesterday released a poll that gives us a portrait of the movement’s members. The Tea Partiers are spread out evenly among those earning less than $250,000 […]
Religious leaders pledge to combat `stigma’ of HIV/AIDS
By Tracy Gordon — March 25, 2010
(RNS) Religious leaders from around the world pledged at a meeting in The Netherlands to work to eliminate the stigma and discrimination of those living with HIV/AIDS. “Religious leaders can play a vital role in the AIDS response,” said Michael Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS in his opening address […]
Survey detects church support for immigration reform
By Tracy Gordon — March 24, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) A new survey detected broad support among religious groups for comprehensive immigration reform, rebutting a December survey showing most religious communities want to send illegal immigrants home. According to the new study, released Tuesday (March 23) by the Public Religion Research Institute, 86 percent of U.S. voters support a provision for an earned […]
Irish bishop resigns in sex abuse scandal
By Tracy Gordon — March 24, 2010
VATICAN CITY (RNS) An Irish Catholic bishop has resigned following accusations he mishandled cases of clerical sex abuse of children. The Vatican announced on Wednesday (March 24) that Bishop John Magee of Cloyne, 73, had stepped down in accordance with a church law requiring the resignation of a “bishop who has become less able to […]
Archdiocese must open bids on Katrina reconstruction
By Tracy Gordon — March 24, 2010
NEW ORLEANS (RNS) The federal government has ordered the Archdiocese of New Orleans to open millions of dollars in Hurricane Katrina-related rebuilding to public bid, but will not penalize the church for not having done so thus far. Auditors from the Department of Homeland Security told the archdiocese last month the church had to stop […]
