Monthly Archives: August 2009
Film asks how the Gospel became so divisive
By Tracy Gordon — August 20, 2009
(UNDATED) Even though he was always taught that religion and politics shouldn’t be discussed in polite company, Dan Merchant decided someone needed to start the conversation. In his documentary-style film, “Lord, Save Us from Your Followers,” which hits theaters nationwide on Sept. 25, Merchant marches around the country asking everyone he meets why what he […]
COMMENTARY: Love thy family as thyself
By Tracy Gordon — August 20, 2009
(UNDATED) “Love the Lord your God” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you can do these two things, Jesus said, you’ve obeyed all the law. Jesus obviously never took a family vacation. Our second daughter is headed to Los Angeles for a film studies program. My lovely wife, Kathy, thought a family road trip […]
Zeffirelli pans the Pope
By Francis X. Rocca — August 20, 2009
In a characteristically colorful interview with the New York Times, Franco Zeffirelli faults the bookish Pope Benedict XVI for not being “larger than life.” “When they elected him, I felt the church was making an image error,” says the veteran opera and film director. “Catholic is another thing … It’s open, it’s theatrical, it’s flashy.”
Canadian woman to oversee Anglican ecumenical affairs
By Tracy Gordon — August 20, 2009
TORONTO (RNS/ENI) The Anglican Communion has appointed a female Canadian priest to a key ecumenical post, even though some Anglican provinces and many ecumenical partner churches do not allow women’s ordination. The Rev. Alyson Barnett Cowan, an Anglican priest who lives in Toronto, was named director for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion […]
Fiji Methodists continue standoff with government
By Tracy Gordon — August 20, 2009
LONDON (RNS/ENI) Nine Methodist leaders in Fiji who appeared in court on charges of breaching public emergency regulations have been released on bail until another hearing on Sept 24. The nine leaders, including the church’s president, the Rev. Ame Tugaue and the general secretary, the Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu, pleaded not guilty to the charges, according […]
Variegated faith-based council
By Adelle M. Banks — August 20, 2009
Members of the advisory council for President Obama’s office on faith-based issues are a varied lot religiously, notes the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. They include a Hindu priest, a Moravian Church minister, a former prison chaplain and at least two people who can be described as “a self-described secular member of the […]
How the Amish Saved Civilization
By Daniel Burke — August 19, 2009
If the Internets has taught us anything, it’s that, in the near future, no one will be able to read ink on a page. Newspapers will be delivered to inboxes, not mailboxes; books will be read on Kindles, not leaves; and the silver screen will satiate our need for stories. Only one group can stop […]
Does Lit 101 lead to unbelief?
By S.J. Velasquez — August 19, 2009
(RNS) — Social science and humanities majors are more likely to prompt students to question their religious upbringings.
COMMENTARY: Saved by `Grace’
By Cathleen Falsani — August 19, 2009
(UNDATED) In a recent episode of the superb TNT series, “Saving Grace,” the character Father Johnny Hanadarko (Tom Irwin), the brother of anti-heroine Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter), makes a revealing confession about his faith: “When I was a kid, I tried to figure out how God could be everywhere at once. I’d think of the […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: Walking the walk amidst the health care talk
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2009
WASHINGTON — At Providence Hospital, barely five miles from the U.S. Capitol, a broken arm gets you a cast — and a new pair of shoes. A pain in your right side leads to an appendectomy — and a new shirt. At Providence, homeless patients find quality medical care and practical assistance at the Sister’s […]
S.C. bishop distances diocese from Episcopal Church
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2009
(RNS) Upset over the Episcopal Church’s recent moves to lift a ban on gay bishops and allow blessings for same-sex couples, the bishop of South Carolina has suggested that his diocese withdraw from the denomination’s governing bodies. “We face a multitude of false teachings,” Bishop Mark Lawrence told clergy from the 75 congregations in his […]
Book on Muhammad cartoons won’t include controversial images
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2009
(RNS) Yale University Press will not include infamous illustrations of the Prophet Muhammad in an upcoming book, “Cartoons That Shook the World,” which explores a Danish newspaper’s controversial decision in 2005 to publish cartoon depictions of Muhammad. The book, by Jytte Klausen, professor of comparative politics at Brandeis University, is due out in November. The […]
Census won’t count overseas Mormon missionaries
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2009
WASHINGTON (RNS) Mormon missionaries serving abroad will not be counted in the 2010 U.S. census, despite the hopes of Utah congressmen that the missionaries would be included, the Census Bureau said. “Past experiments, including in 1960 and 1970, have demonstrated the difficulty of getting anywhere near a complete and accurate count of private citizens living […]
Churches, again, wrestle with gay debates
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2009
(UNDATED) It was Aug. 5, 2003, and bishops at the triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church had voted for the first time to let an openly gay man become a bishop. Louie Crew of East Orange, N.J., who has been active in Episcopal Church politics for decades, was there in Minneapolis and vividly remembers […]
A baby step
By Daniel Burke — August 18, 2009
In an important procedural vote last night, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America defeated efforts to require a two-thirds majority for passage of upcoming resolutions that would open the door for gay, partnered clergy. A church council had recommended that the resolution remain up for majority vote, but other Lutherans sought the super-majority hurdle. According […]
