Monthly Archives: February 2012
Church of England installs alarms to stop copper thefts
LONDON (RNS) The Church of England is spearheading a campaign to install high-tech movement sensors on scores of churches in a bid to stop a rash of lead and copper thieves who have targeted the roofs of religious buildings. By Al Webb.
Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Oscar religion; queasy Santorum; Bevilacqua shredding
Splinter churches realign mainline Protestantism
(RNS) The question now is whether these breakaway Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian groups signal a seismic shift in American Protestantism, or just a few fissures in the theological terrain. By Daniel Burke.
Verizon plans to drop Muslim TV network
(RNS) Verizon FIOS, the national cable television operator, has decided to drop Bridges TV, a pioneering television network that seeks to challenge stereotypes of Muslims and create understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. By Omar Sacirbey.
Experts challenge Santorum’s remarks linking college to faith loss
(RNS) Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum's claim that U.S. colleges drive young adult Christians out of church, was disputed by Protestant and Catholic experts. By Cathy Lynn Grossman.
Re-branding a religion is hard to do, and not always successful
(RNS) Conventional wisdom in advertising and marketing agrees that as tempting as it is for the Southern Baptists to try to solve a missionary slump with a marketing campaign, religious groups -- like commercial businesses -- should think twice before undergoing a brand overhaul. By David Gibson.
NYPD’s Muslim surveillance extended well beyond New York
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) New reports on the extent of surveillance of Muslim groups by the New York Police Department revealed the NYPD had been operating well outside its jurisdiction, cataloging Muslim communities on Long Island, New Jersey and campuses across the region. By David Giambusso and James Queally.
Richard Dawkins says he’s not entirely sure God doesn’t exist
LONDON (RNS) A controversial Oxford University professor billed by many as the world's ``most famous atheist'' now says he is not 100 percent sure that God doesn't exist _ but just barely. By Al Webb.
Repairs, funds are slow-going at quake-damaged National Cathedral
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Washington National Cathedral took 83 years to build, but a rare earthquake last summer took only seconds to wreak damage that will take as long as a decade to repair and cost more than $20 million. By Lauren Markoe.
Friday’s Religion News Roundup: gay baptism; gay marriage in Maryland; black atheists `come out’
There's a new kind of Mormon baptism (and Salt Lake City likely won't be amused) and a tragic kind of baptism at an Indiana church. Fidel Castro may come back to Mother Rome, and Southern Baptists say "no thanks" to a BUBBA name.
For atheists of color, ‘coming out’ can be painful
(RNS) Many African-American atheists say that the act of "coming out" as nonbelievers in their community is to risk everything -- friends, family, business ties -- even their racial and cultural identity. By Kimberly Winston.
‘BUBBA’ and other new names rejected by Southern Baptists
(RNS) As Southern Baptist Convention leaders recently weighed changing their denomination’s name, they were bombarded with suggestions. Hundreds of them. Here are some of the more intriguing rejects. By Adelle M. Banks.
ThursdayâÂ?Â?s Religion Roundup: Political penance; torturing Santorum; Rabbi Boteach
No one sported ashes at last night’s Republican debate. But everyone did penance. Mitt and Rick pounded each other, and Newt had to watch. Then they all got to criticize Obama for promoting policies on contraception that they used to support themselves. Except for Ron Paul: "You don’t blame the pills.”
Lutherans find common with Catholics on Obama mandate
ST. LOUIS (RNS) The conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has not had much in common with Roman Catholics, but President Obama's contraception mandate has led the St. Louis-based church to find "large consensus with the Roman Catholic Church on moral issues," its new president said. By Tim Townsend.
Court says pharmacists can’t be forced to dispense morning-after pill
(RNS) A federal court on Wednesday (Feb. 23) struck down a Washington state law that requires pharmacists to dispense the morning-after pill even if it violates their religious beliefs. By Lauren Markoe.