Monthly Archives: December 2011
Gingrich v. Judge Biery
By Mark Silk — December 19, 2011
Appearing on CBS’ Face the Nation yesterday, Newt Gingrich advocated dispatching U.S. marshals to haul federal judges before Congress to explain controversial rulings, citing what has become his favorite example of judicial overreaching. Let’s take the case of Judge Biery. I think he should be asked to explain a position that radical. How could he […]
What’s wrong with Mormons?
By Mark Silk — December 19, 2011
Bob Vander Plaats, president of Iowa’s Family Leader organization explains to WaPo’s Jason Horowitz thusly: Mormons, he said, had “not only added a whole ‘nother book,” a reference to the Book of Mormon, the scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “but they have changed to adapt a culture. It has changed.” […]
Hitchens on his way
By Mark Silk — December 17, 2011
I met Christopher Hitchens once, when he came to Trinity six years ago to help inaugurate our Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture. He was his usual entertaining self, and dished out his usual kind of provocation. During the panel discussion, he did his riff on metzitzah b’peh, the controversial practice […]
Obama defends his Israel policy at Jewish conference
By Tracy Gordon — December 17, 2011
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (RNS) President Obama told a supportive crowd of Reform Jews here on Friday (Dec. 16) that no other administration in U.S. history “has done more in support of Israel’s security.” “Don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise. It is a fact,” Obama told more than 4,500 people attending the biennial convention of […]
Friday Godbytes: Christopher Hitchens; Pin the Beard on Matisyahu; Jesus Toasters
By Jack Jenkins — December 17, 2011
Christopher Hitchens, famed author, columnist, atheist and overall critic of religion, passed away yesterday after a prolonged battle with esophageal cancer. Traditional media responded quickly: the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Fox News and NPR and others promptly posted obituaries. There were reactions from believers and nonbelievers alike, with nuns from Mother Teresa’s charity offering […]
Pope Benedict XVI’s peace message calls for wealth redistribution
By Tracy Gordon — December 17, 2011
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Noting a “rising sense of frustration” at the worldwide economic recession, Pope Benedict XVI said that a more just and peaceful world requires “adequate mechanisms for the redistribution of wealth.” The pope’s words appeared in his message for the World Day of Peace 2012, released on Friday (Dec. 16) at the Vatican. […]
Religious freedom panel gets 11th-hour reprieve
By Tracy Gordon — December 17, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Congress saved an independent religious freedom watchdog commission that was about to shut down with a last-minute vote on Friday (Dec. 16). The bill reauthorizing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for three years was held up in the Senate for almost three months before passing with an amendment on Tuesday. […]
Religious freedom panel gets 11th-hour reprieve
By Tracy Gordon — December 17, 2011
Christopher Hitchens’ atheism was a gift to believers
By Kevin Eckstrom — December 17, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Christopher Hitchens will be remembered as many things: an acerbic essayist, connoisseur of Scotch and cigarettes and roguish writer whose forceful pen was fueled by an imposing intellect. Yet his impact on American life, which will be felt long after his death at age 62 on Thursday (Dec. 15), is likely to be […]
Friday’s Religion News Roundup: Pink Bibles, Tebowing and Gingrich on celibacy
By Kevin Eckstrom — December 16, 2011
Christopher Hitchens, the acid-tongued atheist and lovably roguish essayist, has met his maker (or not) at age 62. Saith Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a friend and sparring partner: “He was religion’s most vociferous enemy but you could not help but develop an affection for him due to his warmth, wit, and, bizarre as it may sound, […]
On Dec. 25, Atheists celebrate a different birthday
By Tracy Gordon — December 16, 2011
(RNS) Deck those halls with boughs of apples and top that tree with a finger puppet of Sir Isaac Newton. At least that’s what Robin Zebrowski does at her home in Beloit, Wis., where she and her husband, Joshua, observe the birthday of the great 17th-century English scientist and mathematician, Dec. 25, 1642. They send […]
Latinos are not up for grabs
By Mark Silk — December 16, 2011
New Reform Jewish leader promises revitalization
By Tracy Gordon — December 16, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Rabbi Richard Jacobs, who will soon head the congregational arm of the largest Jewish denomination in North America, understands why so many Jews avoid synagogues. His own experience growing up in a Reform synagogue in Southern California, he said, was “dreary” and “shallow.” Citing Jacobs’ willingness to experiment with new approaches to traditional […]
Clinton hosts summit on religious intolerance
By Tracy Gordon — December 16, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up a summit of international leaders this week to explore specific steps to combat intolerance, discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief. The closed-door meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 14) was the first of an ongoing series called “The Istanbul Process.” Representatives came from 30 […]
Church secretary says interracial marriage got her fired
By Tracy Gordon — December 16, 2011
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) A white church secretary is suing her former employer, arguing that she was fired for marrying a black man. Debra Dodd, the former secretary at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Tenn., and the Rev. Tim Smith, pastor of the church, agree on one thing: Most of the members of that congregation […]
