Monthly Archives: October 2011
Monday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — October 31, 2011
Hope our Protestant friends had a lovely Reformation Sunday. Today, of course, is Halloween; or Samhain, if you’re into that kinda thing. Or, perhaps you’re celebrating Jesus Ween. Whether it’s tricks or tracts your after, be sure not to don a cross-gender costume in Utah, says an LDS bishop. Trying to resist the temptation to […]
U.S. seminaries consider radical changes
By Tracy Gordon — October 31, 2011
(RNS) Reports last month that Iran plotted to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S. have enflamed animosity between the two Muslim powers, and raised concerns that violence could mar this year’s hajj pilgrimage that starts on Friday (Nov. 4). More than 1.7 million pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca, the Saudi city where Islam […]
Iowan evangelicals
By Mark Silk — October 31, 2011
Kudos to the latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll for asking respondents the Born Again/Evangelical question. Not so much for failing to put up charts with cross tabs. Still, the paper has provided enough in the way of information to determine how evangelicals are breaking in their preferences for the Republican caucuses two months hence. […]
At Virginia Tech
By Mark Silk — October 29, 2011
I’m at Virginia Tech to participate in a symposium on the Judeo-Christian tradition and yesterday had a chance to visit the memorial erected to the victims of the April 16, 2007 massacre perpetrated on campus by Seung-Hui Cho, a mentally disturbed student. The memorial sits at the head of the the Drillfield, the large open […]
Friday Godbytes
By Jack Jenkins — October 29, 2011
So, yes, some Christians are debating whether or not to celebrate Halloween. But you know what’s also this Sunday? That’s right – Reformation Sunday! Scott Alan at The Christian Century makes the case for celebrating the little-known holiday, and Christian scholar Diana Butler Bass is getting jazzed about the festivities as well. Heck, Killing the […]
Bishops again blast nun’s popular book about God
By Tracy Gordon — October 28, 2011
(RNS) The nation’s Catholic bishops again condemned a prominent nun’s book about God, in a move that may further fray relations between the hierarchy and Catholic theologians. Given the popularity of Sister Elizabeth Johnson’s, “Quest for the Living God” in parishes and universities, the bishops’ renewed criticism may not help their, credibility in the pews, […]
Historic London cathedral reopens and moves to evict protesters
By Tracy Gordon — October 28, 2011
LONDON (RNS) London’s historic St. Paul’s Cathedral reopened its doors to visitors Friday (Oct. 28) for the first time in a week, as authorities moved to evict hundreds of camped-out protesters. The church and the London entity that governs the area will ask a court to force the removal of 200 or so Occupy London […]
Crystal Cathedral endorses offer to end its bankruptcy crisis
By Tracy Gordon — October 28, 2011
(RNS) Crystal Cathedral officials have endorsed an offer from a nearby California university to purchase the glass-walled megachurch and end its bankruptcy crisis. Despite their decision, church leaders say they are still hoping for a miracle that will prevent the sale, which could move forward in mid-November. “Nothing is final until November 14!” said Sheila […]
Lawyer charges Catholic University with civil rights violations
By Tracy Gordon — October 28, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) A famously litigious lawyer has filed charges against the Catholic University of America (CUA) for not providing Muslim students with prayer rooms that are free of Catholic iconography. John F. Banzhaf III, a law professor at George Washington University who had earlier filed charges over CUA’s switch to same-sex dorms this summer, filed […]
Work-time prayer a struggle for U.S. Muslims
By Tracy Gordon — October 28, 2011
(RNS) Dr. Syed Malik is a devoted Muslim who tries, and mostly succeeds, to pray five times per day, as demanded by his Islamic faith. He is also an accomplished general surgeon in Orlando, Fla., who does complex operations that can last hours. Malik, 66, would never leave an operating table to pray. Instead, when […]
Friday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 28, 2011
Concerned about (real or imagined) sagging fortunes among Jewish voters, the White House has scheduled POTUS to address the Reform Jewish movement when it meets near D.C. in December. A law professor at GWU who’s never met a lawsuit he didn’t like has filed a complaint against Catholic University over the alleged inability of Muslim […]
Thursday Godbytes
By Jack Jenkins — October 28, 2011
We are apparently in the midst of a “Digital Bible Explosion,” according to the New Yorker. Floods might be wreaking havoc in Southeast Asia, but these pictures from the Atlantic indicate that Thai Dhammakaya monks are lending a helping hand. When I think Indiana, I think of Jewish life in the 1950s. Wait, you don’t? […]
Pope convenes interfaith summit, but prayer is optional
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2011
ASSISI, Italy (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI hosted some 300 representatives of world religions here on Thursday (Oct. 27) for an interfaith summit on justice and peace, with distinct changes made to the event first convened 25 years ago by Pope John Paul II. Benedict, who had been critical of John Paul’s 1986 event, welcomed a […]
Faith, political leaders find out how far food stamps go
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Religious leaders and members of Congress this week are getting a firsthand taste of what it’s like to eat on $4.50 a day as part of the “Food Stamp Challenge.” In the challenge, participants try to live for a week on the average amount received by people who use food stamps, now known […]
Bishops warn Congress on threats to `freedom’
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) U.S. Catholic bishops dispatched their new point man on religious freedom to warn Congress on Wednesday (Oct. 26) that religious people risk being labeled as “bigots” without greater conscience protections. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., chairman of a new Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, […]
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