Monthly Archives: July 2010
Washington in a war of words on how to label terrorists
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) In addition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Obama administration is fighting on another front: a domestic war of words on how to describe the threat posed by “Islamic” terrorism. Earlier this spring, the Obama administration’s National Security Strategy stripped all references to terrorists’ religion, saying that labeling terrorists in religious […]
Warren recovers from “excruciating” eye injury
By Adelle M. Banks — July 22, 2010
Megachurch leader Rick Warren injured his eyes in a gardening accident at his California home Monday, his publicist said. While pruning firestick bushes in his yard, Warren apparently got the poisonous sap from the plants in both of his eyes, said A. Larry Ross on Thursday. “He was using gloves to protect his hands and […]
U.S. Nun Creates Impromptu Oasis To Heal Haitian Bodies And Souls
By Kevin Eckstrom — July 22, 2010
Huffington Post (RNS):Wearing a bright, floral blouse and pink shorts, Mita Jean Louis stares into a mirror, unmindful of the people around her. She is smiling, and someone asks if she’s smiling because she sees the reflection of such a beautiful young woman. The smile vanishes. “I don’t know,” says the 19-year-old, instantly shy. Full […]
Thursday’s roundup
By Daniel Burke — July 22, 2010
Following Sarah Palin into the fray, erstwhile House Speaker Newt Gingrich came out against the mosque planned blocks from ground zero in NYC, calling it “a test of the timidity, passivity and historic ignorance of American elites.” Add another name to the list of young Muslims reportedly radicalized by Yemeni-American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. A National […]
Shirley Sherrod, an old source of mine
By Mark Silk — July 22, 2010
For the story I wrote back in 1993.
Is the Tea Party unbiblical?
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) When conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck warned churchgoers to “run as fast as you can” if their pastors preach about “social justice,” was he also encouraging them to run from the Bible? That’s what some progressive Christian leaders are arguing as battle lines are drawn for the 2010 mid-term elections. They say Beck and […]
COMMENTARY: A waste of time and resources
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
(RNS) Membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA) has dropped every year since the denomination was formed in 1983. The continuing decline and aging membership have resulted in reduced income, fewer congregations and staff layoffs at the denomination’s headquarters in Louisville, Ky. So, why is it that the shrinking membership of the PCUSA is constantly forced […]
Angle glosses Jefferson
By Mark Silk — July 22, 2010
Tea Party paladina and Southern Baptist Sharron Angle, the Republican running to unseat Harry Reid in Nevada, recently offered the following interpretation of Thomas Jefferson’s famous 1801 letter to the Danbury Baptists, in which he interpreted the religion clauses of the First Amendment as erecting a “wall of separation” between church and state. “Thomas Jefferson […]
RNS-TERROR-LABELS: Washington in a war of words over how to label terrorists
By Kevin Eckstrom — July 22, 2010
RNS-TEAPARTY-POLITICS: Is the Tea Party un-biblical?
By Kevin Eckstrom — July 22, 2010
Battle lines drawn on N.J. gay marriage debate
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
TRENTON, N.J. (RNS) With same-sex marriage legislation defeated in the state Senate, Gov. Chris Christie on record opposing it, and a proposal to put the question to voters going nowhere fast, hundreds of supporters and opponents of gay marriage squared off Tuesday (July 20) to prepare for the next expected front in the battle: the […]
Fla. church plans to burn Qurans on 9/11 anniversary
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
(RNS) A Florida church with “Islam is of the devil” signs in its front lawn plans to host an “International Burn A Quran Day,” on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks this year. The Dove World Outreach Center, a non-denominational church in Gainesville, has marked the date in previous years with protests against […]
U.S. Lutheran leader pleads for unity
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany (RNS/ENInews) A U.S. Lutheran bishop on Wednesday (July 21) appealed to members of the Lutheran World Federation to hold together and avoid splits in the face of differences over issues of sexuality. “It is not the time for further traditions of Lutheranism to emerge in the world. We have to find unity,” said […]
Feet and evangelism
By Alfredo Garcia — July 22, 2010
Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, André Bauer, discusses the awe, inspiration, and pleasure that he finds in donating shoes to needy children. His donation, however, combines a form of evangelism in the process. In this interview with Nightline on a Christian network in South Carolina, Bauer discusses how he goes about donating shoes to needy […]
10 minutes with … Matthew Harrison
By Tracy Gordon — July 22, 2010
(RNS) The Rev. Matthew Harrison defeated a three-term incumbent to become president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on July 13, fueled by the support of his denomination’s more conservative wing. Harrison, 48, will lead a 2.4-million member denomination with a drastically reduced structure, which he opposed. After almost 10 years as the denomination’s director of […]
