Monthly Archives: June 2008
Wounded New Orleans finds a savior in Midwestern church
By Bruce Nolan — June 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service TIPP CITY, Ohio _ It is not that Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church sits in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield that makes it notable. Nor even that its pastor preaches in jeans and sandals to a working-class congregation sipping coffee in shorts and T-shirts. More to the point: Of the […]
COMMENTARY: Where would Jesus be?
By Tom Ehrich — June 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Unless catastrophe strikes, next week will unfold something like this: On Monday, those who have jobs will report to work. Most will still have employment come Friday; many will not, thanks to mounting layoffs and worsening recession. Privileged children will start the annual cycle of summer camps, academic-enrichment programs, […]
The Guru from Grenada
By Daniel Burke — June 25, 2008
Three former advisers for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, including her top religious outreach strategist, have joined a veteran religious consultant to form the Eleison Group. Burns Strider, a former congressional insider named by RNS as one the top 12 people helping Dems “get religion” in 2006, headed Clinton’s outreach to religious voters. By many […]
The scandal that will not die
By Francis X. Rocca — June 24, 2008
According to an Italian newspaper, the former mistress of a deceased mobster has told Italian investigators that a 15-year-old girl’s kidnapping and murder 25 years ago was committed on orders from the late Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, the American head of the Vatican Bank who was linked to the Banco Ambrosiano scandal. The head of the […]
SSPX news
By Francis X. Rocca — June 24, 2008
An English translation of the news article behind yesterday’s post on the Society of Saint Pius X is now online.
The greening of the Vatican (continued)
By Francis X. Rocca — June 24, 2008
The Holy See, which last year announced plans to become the world’s first “carbon neutral” sovereign state, continues to come forth with ecologically minded initiatives. The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People yesterday released its message for World Tourism Day (Sept. 27, in case you didn’t know), whose theme this […]
Frisbeeterianism
By Daniel Burke — June 24, 2008
By now you’ve heard the news that George Carlin, the sardonic and witty comic, passed away on Sunday. Carlin, a Catholic-raised Irish-American (is that redundant?) who was educated at New York City parochial schools, was no fan of organized religion, which he called “the biggest bull#%* story ever told.” American Atheists, Inc. mourned his passing: […]
Twin Cities’ Archdiocese halts church’s annual gay pride prayers
By Kevin Eckstrom — June 24, 2008
A Roman Catholic Church decision to prohibit a Minneapolis gay pride prayer service has many in the gay community up in arms, leading activists to call the action a troubling and telling sign from the Twin Cities’ new archbishop.
Religious, political figures urge boycott of Smithfield products
By Kevin Eckstrom — June 24, 2008
A group of Washington-area religious and political leaders focused their attention June 19 on a Smithfield Meats pork processing plant in Tar Heel-the world’s largest such facility-to urge a boycott of Smithfield meat products until the company stops what they said is unfair treatment of its workers.
Dobson accuses Obama of ‘distorting’ the Bible
By Kevin Eckstrom — June 24, 2008
As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement’s biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a “fruitcake interpretation” of the Constitution.
Hoosiers
By Mark Silk — June 24, 2008
Jeepers! SUSA has Obama up by a point in Indiana. Don’t mean to keep harping on this but, it’s the same pattern as elsewhere: regular worship attenders for McCain, occasionals and almost nevers for Obama. But, you say, Indiana’s a big churchgoing state. You’re right, 52 percent of SUSA’s sample are in the regular category. […]
Dobson Ipse Dixit
By Mark Silk — June 24, 2008
OK, you can now listen to James Dobson’s chat with his sidekicks Tim Minnery and Bill Maier about Obama’s views on the proper role of religion in the public square. Here’s the extended direct quote, with elipses to indicate interpolated soundbites from Obama’s 2007 speech to the UCC: He’s trying to make the case that […]
Does Dobson Know Any Better?
By Mark Silk — June 24, 2008
In his radio broadcast today, James Dobson will unload on Barack Obama’s views on religion in the public square, according to a report by AP’s Eric Gorski, who has got hold of a copy. While we await the full text, here’s the most interesting of the reported portions: Dobson reserved some of his harshest criticism […]
New survey tracks range of American beliefs
By Tracy Gordon — June 24, 2008
WASHINGTON-A new survey of more than 35,000 U.S. adults shows the broad religious diversity in the country by examining whether they believe their faith is the only path to eternal life, how much faith plays a role in their politics and how certain people are about the existence of God, among other topics. The Pew […]
First woman elected head of Wesleyan Church
By Tracy Gordon — June 24, 2008
The Wesleyan church has elected the Rev. Jo Anne Lyon as the denomination’s first female General Superintendent.
