Monthly Archives: January 2008
RIN!
By Mark Silk — January 23, 2008
I’m happy to be able to let you know that the latest issue of our magazine, Religion in the News, is up on the web. There’s a special section, God’s Own Party, dealing with electoral politics, mostly as concerns Republicans. Of particular note is Bill Lindsey’s exploration of the Missionary Baptist roots of Mike Huckabee’s […]
Catching up with Cardinal Law
By Kevin Eckstrom — January 23, 2008
The National Catholic Reporter’s John Allen has a lengthy-but worth reading-update on Cardinal Bernard Law’s life in Rome, five years after his mishandling of the clergy sex abuse crisis led to his resignation as archbishop of Boston. Law is now overseeing the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. It’s a post that his critics […]
Talk about strange, um, bedfellows
By Kevin Eckstrom — January 23, 2008
It’s not often that you see the ardent conservative groups extending an olive branch to the ardent gay groups, so when it happens, it’s worth noting. Last week, Concerned Women for America issued an alarmist press release that lambasted gay men for the spread of MRSA, a really ugly staph infection that, unfortunately, is spreading […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — January 23, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service American raises funds for Baghdad church MOBILE, Ala. (RNS) Cmdr. Scott Rye doesn’t claim to be a saint. Raising funds for a Baghdad church surrounded by razor wire just seemed like the right thing to do. A partner and executive vice president of a Mobile advertising and public relations firm, […]
As abortion rates fall, opposition keeps up
By Gregory Trotter — January 23, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ The anti-abortion pilgrims came from far and wide Tuesday (Jan. 22), by bus and by plane, bundled up in the cold and drizzle to support their cause. For some, it was their first March for Life. For others, the event has become a yearly journey. On the 35th […]
New Jesuit leader confronts internal, external challenges
By Frances X. Rocca — January 23, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ Jesuits are famous for efficiency and hard work, so it’s characteristic that their newest leader has lost no time in taking on his job. The Rev. Adolfo Nicolas, who on Saturday (Jan. 19) was elected the 30th superior general in the 468-year history of the Society of […]
New Jesuit leader confronts internal, external challenges
By Tom Ehrich — January 23, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) My writing world has gone topsy-turvy. First, I started using an iMac at work _ not all that different from Windows, but different enough to require learning. Second, with two business trips coming up, I began looking for ways to escape schlepping a heavy Dell laptop through airports. The […]
They’re Both Wrong
By Daniel Burke — January 23, 2008
Watching the American Experience documentary about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement yesterday, some inchoate idea finally found its voice. In the tussle between who was more important in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964-with Sen. Obama (and his supporters) emphasizing the role of MLK and Clinton (and her supporters) stressing the role of […]
Somewhere, Muhammad is rolling in his grave
By Kevin Eckstrom — January 22, 2008
Sure, we like to think of ourselves as serious people who do serious things and even have an occasionally serious blog. But then there’s this: The folks over at Merinews.com (whoever they are) tell us that Britney Spears is considering converting to Islam so she can persue a relationship with “paparazzi boss Adnan Ghalib.” How […]
Obama Fights Back
By rvineis — January 22, 2008
Attacks on Barack Obama’s faith have intensified this week. A whisper campaign using email and robocalls has spread the rumor that Barack Hussein Obama is Muslim. David Brody of the CBN has Senator Obama’s take on the attacks. Obama: “Basically the e-mail falsely states that I’m Muslim, that I pledged my oath of office on […]
Separation
By Mark Silk — January 22, 2008
Beliefnet’s Dan Gilgoff has an interview with Obama on religion that’s worth a scan. Nothing especially new, but this answer to the “charitable choice” draws the critical distinction. You wrote in “The Audacity of Hope” about the role that faith and faith-based programs could play in confronting social ills. Isn’t your view on that similar […]
The State of Obama
By Mark Silk — January 22, 2008
Today’s Columbia State endorsement of Obama ties onto the candidate’s MLK Day message: He is harsh on the failures of the current administration – and most of that critique well-deserved. But he doesn’t use his considerable rhetorical gifts to demonize Republicans. He’s not neglecting his core values; he defends his progressive vision with vigorous integrity. […]
To Huck?
By Mark Silk — January 22, 2008
So Thompson’s gone. That should give Huckabee a bit of a boost in Florida, as evangelical devotees of “Law and Order” turn to reruns of “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
Outreach
By Mark Silk — January 22, 2008
No one except maybe John Edwards was turning the other cheek at last night’s Democratic debate in Myrtle Beach, but Obama did play the Christian card: So, I think it’s important for us not to assume that we can’t reach out to people of all — of all persuasions, and I want to just take […]
Huckabee and the Born Again Vote
By johngreen — January 21, 2008
In a previous post, Mark noted Huckabee’s similar performance among born again voters in Iowa (46 percent) and South Carolina (43 percent) and wondered if the religious differences among evangelicals haven’t been overstated. This is a good point: Evangelicals may be more alike than different in the context of a Republican primary. But a look […]
