Monthly Archives: April 2008
Old churches find new life as restaurants, condos
By RNS Blog Editor — April 23, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEW ORLEANS _ Buffeted by the weather, inhabited by vagrants and ravaged by a fire that hollowed out its interior, the abandoned Presbyterian church in Charlotte, N.C., looked for almost a decade like one of the charred ruins left behind by World War II air raids. Today, that husk of […]
Old churches find new life as restaurants, condos
By Tom Ehrich — April 23, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) “Church time isn’t like regular time,” laughed a lay leader after fielding a question on a capital project’s timetable. She didn’t mean the difference between “kairos” (sacred time) and “chronos” (worldly time), which clergy sometimes use in sermons to show that they know Greek. She meant slowness: a tendency […]
Summer 2008 Church Convention Preview
By RNS Blog Editor — April 22, 2008
Adieu to His Eminence?
By Kevin Eckstrom — April 22, 2008
The pope had barely taken off from JFK airport when speculation started to mount that one of his first official acts upon landing in Rome would be to send New York’s Cardinal Edward Egan into retirement. It seems to fair to say that Egan will probably be out sooner rather than later, but not quite […]
Renewing Colbert’s Faith in His Faith
By Kevin Eckstrom — April 22, 2008
Our pal Jim Martin sat down with Steven Colbert last night to assess the pope’s first trip to America. Jim’s secret confession: when Benedict strolled out on the balcony after his election, Jim wanted to jump off his own balcony in desperation. But like many American Catholics, Jim has warmed to the new pope.
WHOFBCI
By rvineis — April 22, 2008
Tara Wall hopes that whoever prevails today and in November they will sustain the White House Office of Faith Based Community Initiatives. Wall’s editorial today is part of a quiet discourse about government sponsored religion that hasn’t received as much ink as the candidates’ personal faith.
Blue Populism Rising?
By Mark Silk — April 22, 2008
While the eyes of the country are on PA today, the New York Times‘ Adam Nossiter calls attention to the special election to fill the seat in Mississippi’s first congressional district–the Elvis district in the northeast part of the state centered on Tupelo. There, the Democratic candidate, Travis Childers, seems to be giving his GOP […]
A different pope for a different time
By Bob Braun — April 22, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ The last time the papal airplane, Shepherd One, lifted off from an airport here, its most important passenger could look outside and see that extraordinary architectural achievement, the twin towers of the World Trade Center. In 1995, that passenger was John Paul II, a different pope. The […]
A different pope for a different time
By Bruce Nolan — April 22, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEW ORLEANS _ Catholic Deacon Pat Dempsey, a port chaplain, remembers the day he rode a launch out into the Mississippi River to visit a crew aboard an anchored vessel. In a backpack he carried his book of the Gospels, the music and the sacred vessels he would need to […]
A different pope for a different time
By RNS Blog Editor — April 22, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Former Catholic bishop elected president of Paraguay (RNS) A former Roman Catholic bishop was elected Sunday (April 20) as the new president of Paraguay after being criticized by his church for running for the office. Fernando Lugo, 56, defeated the Colorado Party, which had reigned in the country for 62 […]
Pope laments abuse scandal in Mass with priests
By Daniel Burke — April 21, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service YONKERS, N.Y. _ Pope Benedict XVI used the third anniversary of his pontificate on Saturday (April 19) to energize his U.S. flock, urging young Catholics to follow the example of the saints and work to alleviate suffering in a world that “groans under the weight” of greed. “We must respond […]
New York turns out to greet, cheer pope
By Amy Ellis Nutt — April 21, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue was awash in sunlight and song on Saturday (April 19) as Pope Benedict XVI, ensconced behind the bulletproof windows of his popemobile, waved to tens of thousands of onlookers. The throng along the sidewalks was at least 10 deep; the police helicopters overhead, six […]
Pope warns against `prophetic actions’ by U.S. churches
By Daniel Burke — April 21, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ Pope Benedict XVI on Friday (April 18) strongly urged leaders from U.S. Christian churches to hold fast against “so-called `prophetic actions”’ and to unify under traditional Christian teachings. Though Benedict did not single out any particular action, the remark appeared to be a subtle dig aimed at […]
Indy 7
By rvineis — April 21, 2008
The race for Indiana’s 7th congressional district continues to be one of the most interesting exercises on religion in politics this year. Andre Carson, who replaced his late grandmother in a special election last month, became the second Muslim member of Congress. However, Carson’s honeymoon may be short lived. He faces stiff competition from five […]
Who, Moi?
By Mark Silk — April 21, 2008
Yesterday on ABC: Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., admitted this morning that it was a mistake to accept the endorsement of Evangelical pastor Rev. John Hagee. When asked in an exclusive “This Week” interview with George Stephanopoulos if it was “a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement”, McCain replied “oh, probably, sure.” […]
