It’s really a great experience to look back and see what was happening in times gone past. Here at RNS, we’ve got some archives from past years, so I will occasionally pick up and look to see what was happening on a given date in, say, 1989, or maybe 1994. I don’t have links to any of them, of course, but I do have some of the highlights from the stories that I will share.

In July 1989, the world had finally gotten somewhat accustomed to that wall that split Berlin. Fashion style called for sweaters (zebra arm optional) with big hair and lots of denim. And Madonna had still not been overshadowed by Lady Gaga.

In the news on this day in 1989, however, there were nine headlines that were sent out on the RNS wire, some of which have some interesting modern-day correlations:

NEW YORK: Evangelicals say White House ignoring their wishes on FCC post

It seems that evangelicals have always had an issue with the FCC. And, as well, that James Dobson has been in the news for way too long:

Several evangelical leaders, angry that their choice to head the (FCC) was rejected, are complaining that the White House is ignoring loyal constituents who helped elect President (George H. W.) Bush. In sharply worded letters to the White House, James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Ed McAteer of the Religious Roundtable and the Rev. Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association have charged that the administration is taking them for granted.

Some of the evangelicals were angry because of a comment made by Republican Party leader Lee Atwater last year that evangelical activists are, in a barnyard phrase, “sucking hind tit” and “have nowhere else to go” except to the GOP. Mr. Wildmon cited the quote in a letter to President Bush and then added, “We didn’t ask for much, just crumbs, and we didn’t even get those” with regard to the FCC.

Kudos to the reporter for getting the Atwater quote.

Today, the problem is a federal court’s ruling that strikes down the FCC’s indecency policy. Many evangelicals fear that this will lead to an inordinate amount of conscious expletives that will be touted as accidents.

PHEONIX, Ariz.: Bishop makes public apology for child sex abuse by priest

Goes to show that these scandals have been going on for at least two decades.

Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien of Phoenix has made a public apology for failing to do more to show support for the families of three boys who were molested by a priest in his diocese.

…The bishop said he was ‘as outraged and angry as anyone about what happened to those children.’ But he said neither he nor any other representative of the church had personally contacted the families to offer support, counseling or reimbursement for counseling because he had been advised by lawyers that such actions could be considered an attempt to place pressure on the families to drop the charges.

Ouch. I wonder if these are the same people that recommended the Vatican place women’s ordination in the same document about sex abuse. Oops.

The rest of the titles sent out include:

GLENDALE, Calif.: Baby boomers are returning to church but not always joining.

ATLANTA: United Methodists encouraging poor to establish their own churches.

DENVER: Denver archdiocese responds to complaints from Hispanics.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Southern Baptist agency hires full-time Washington lobbyist.

NORTHFIELD, Minn.: Disenchantment with churches said to help New Age movement.

NEW YORK: Descendant of Orthodox St. Innocent sees Soviet, U.S. bond.

and finally,

MANILA: Evangelicals find new approaches are needed to reach Muslims.