Monthly Archives: April 2009
Stem Cell Compromise
By Mark Silk — April 21, 2009
The NIH’s draft guidelines on stem cell research funding have gladdened the hearts of common ground conservatives, as rounded up by Faith in Public Life. Scientists and hard-line conservatives, not so much, though both camps seem more shocked into silence than anything else. No one seems to have expected that the administration would propose a […]
Advocates say NIH guidelines are sensible middle ground
By Tracy Gordon — April 21, 2009
WASHINGTON (RNS) Some anti-abortion religious leaders are welcoming new draft guidelines from the National Institutes of Health on embryonic stem cell research as a balanced approach to the controversial procedure. The guidelines, issued Friday (April 17), permit federally funded research on stem cells derived from embryos that are no longer needed for fertility treatments. Most […]
Study: Nearly half of new priests were discouraged against seminary
By Tracy Gordon — April 21, 2009
(RNS) Conversations around the kitchen table may be more responsible for the shortage of Roman Catholic priests in the U.S. than influences from American culture, a new study suggests. Almost 45 percent of Catholic priests planning to be ordained this year said they were discouraged from considering the priesthood, according to a survey produced by […]
In another step away from Armstrong, Worldwide Church of God changes name
By Tracy Gordon — April 21, 2009
(RNS) The Worldwide Church of God, which re-examined and later rebuked the teachings of founder Herbert W. Armstrong after his death in 1986, has changed its name to Grace Communion International. It’s the second name change for the denomination that Armstrong founded as the Radio Church of God in 1934, and church leaders say it’s […]
BBC on BHO and UND
By Kevin Eckstrom — April 20, 2009
BBC Radio asked me to come on and dissect the ongoing controversy over Notre Dame’s invite to President Obama to deliver the commencement address next month. The Brits didn’t splice out the various segments; I come on at around the 24-minute mark.
National Day of Prayer events overshadowed by politics
By Tracy Gordon — April 20, 2009
WASHINGTON — Every year between 2001 and 2008, former President Bush’s calendar was cleared on the first Thursday in May to mark the National Day of Prayer in the White House East Room with prominent evangelicals. Now the Obama White House is facing questions of inside-the-Beltway etiquette: Should Obama maintain the open door to conservative […]
God in Gov
By Mark Silk — April 20, 2009
I‘ve been meaning to tip my hat to a new playmate in the religion-and-politics sandbox–WaPo’s God in Government, featuring the newspaper’s two religion reporters, Michelle Boorstein and Jacqui Salmon. This a.m. they’ve got a couple of must-read posts, an interview with Rich Cizik by the latter and a scoop by the former on the faith-based […]
Getting Past Torture
By Mark Silk — April 20, 2009
There was a touch of the Lincolnesque in President Obama’s statement on the release of the four Bybee memos last week. It smacked of the promise at the end of the Second Inaugural Address to “bind up the nation’s wounds.” This is a time for reflection, not retribution. I respect the strong views and emotions […]
Quote for the day
By Mark Silk — April 19, 2009
“If I had my way, I’d destroy all the mosques and spread the whores around a little more. At least they’re not sectarian.” –Baghdad police detective, New York Times
Common Ground We Can Believe In
By Mark Silk — April 19, 2009
If I were a religious progressive eager to change America for the better by forging a broad national consensus on an issue of profound moral concern, then I’d focus my efforts on putting pressure on the Obama administration and the Congress to pursue truth and justice in the matter of Bush torture policy. Last week’s […]
N.Y. gay marriage bill faces tough political road
By Tracy Gordon — April 18, 2009
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (RNS) Despite support from all statewide elected leaders, prospects for a same-sex marriage bill passing the state Legislature this year appear shaky at best. Political observers say its fate will hinge on the votes of a handful of state senators — particularly Republicans who are willing to make up for defections from the […]
Vatican blasts Belgian attempt to `intimidate’ pope
By Tracy Gordon — April 18, 2009
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Denouncing what it characterized as an organized effort to “intimidate” Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican on Friday (Apr. 17) strongly criticized Belgian lawmakers for condemning the pope’s recent statement that condoms aggravate the spread of HIV/AIDS. On a flight to the African country of Cameroon last month, the pope told reporters that […]
Canadian Sikh cleared of charges in ceremonial dagger attack
By Tracy Gordon — April 18, 2009
TORONTO (RNS) A Canadian Sikh boy has been found not guilty of assault using his kirpan, a ceremonial dagger, in a schoolyard spat. But the 13-year-old from suburban Montreal, whose name was not released because he is a minor, was found guilty April 15 of using a hairpin in the fight with two classmates. The […]
Chinese students find faith, and a home, in a foreign land
By Tracy Gordon — April 18, 2009
BOULDER, Colo. — The baptismal pool at the Boulder Chinese Baptist Church was filled with water as a small woman dressed in a white robe, inched down the stairs. “This is Sister Wang Shuang,” Pastor William Fu, a Taiwan native, said in Mandarin to his mostly mainland congregation. “She came to our church last September […]
Krumping gives movement to the spirit’s call
By Tracy Gordon — April 17, 2009
