Monthly Archives: August 2010
Catholic adoption agency loses fight over gay parents
By Tracy Gordon — August 21, 2010
LONDON (RNS) A Roman Catholic adoption agency has lost its fight for the right to continue its policy of refusing to place children with same-sex couples based on religious principles. The agency, Catholic Care, saw its battle to limit its adoption services to heterosexual-only parents collapse in a ruling Thursday (August 19) by the powerful […]
New Catholic Mass approved for 2011 roll-out
By Tracy Gordon — August 21, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) The most sweeping changes to the Catholic Mass in 40 years will be rolled out in 2011, the U.S. bishops announced Friday (Aug. 20) after receiving formal approval from the Vatican. The new English-language translation of the Roman Missal, the official text of prayers and responses used in the Mass, will be implemented […]
Friday’s roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — August 20, 2010
Evangelist Franklin Graham tells CNN that President Obama isn’t a Muslim now (1 in 4 Americans seem to think so) but he was born one. The White House is in damage control overdrive on those numbers, or denial mode, according to the Washington Times. Presidential prayer counselor Joel Hunter says Obama’s silence on his faith […]
`Queen of Muslim bashers’ at center of N.Y. mosque debate
By Tracy Gordon — August 20, 2010
(RNS) By some accounts, the heated opposition to the so-called Ground Zero mosque has been drummed up by a telegenic blogger with a strong New York accent and even stronger opinions. Pamela Geller, a Long Island native who writes the blog “Atlas Shrugs,” said she was the “quintessential New York City career girl,” before the […]
Volunteers flock to rebuild church torched by arson
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2010
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) The Rev. Hillary Chrisley has traveled throughout the deep South, helping to rebuild churches torched by arson, but traveling to the heart of New England was an anomaly for the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Santa Barbara, Calif. “This is our first venture up North,” she said, wiping sweat […]
Church vows to burn Qurans without fire permit
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2010
(RNS) Fire officials in Gainesville, Fla., have denied a permit to a church that wants to burn Qurans on Sept. 11, but church officials said they’ll go ahead with the protest that has garnered worldwide attention. Leaders of the Dove World Outreach Center say “Islam is of the Devil” and plan to burn copies of […]
Books challenge consumer-driven church model
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2010
(RNS) Two new books challenge Christians to restore their faith to its true mission and forsake a consumerist mentality that some churches adapt in a bid to meet members’ needs. “Churches can better shape the faithful by recovering a sense that the life of faith is supposed to be a challenging experience,” said veteran journalist […]
Thursday’s roundup
By Daniel Burke — August 19, 2010
Good morning, mosqueteers. Lots of news today. According to a Gallup poll, 37 percent of Americans disapprove of President Obama’s remarks on the planned construction of a mosque two blocks north of Ground Zero. Four in 10, however, have no opinion on the matter. Obama said yesterday that he has “no regrets” about his comments. […]
Polls: One in four Americans thinks Obama’s a Muslim
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) Two new polls say as many as one in four Americans mistakenly believe President Obama is a Muslim, presenting the White House with the unique challenge of defining a central element of the president’s life story. Asked in a Time magazine poll whether the president is a Muslim or a Christian, 24 percent […]
COMMENTARY: Stormy seas for our ship of state
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2010
(RNS) When a ship tosses about during a gale, passengers rely on the captain to navigate safely through the dangerous water. America is currently in an economic, political and cultural storm. While the 310 million people aboard our national ship of state expect our leaders to plot a successful course, we are also responsible for […]
Israeli vintners seek to grow beyond kosher stigma
By Tracy Gordon — August 19, 2010
JERUSALEM (RNS) When wine merchants Avi Ben and Shmulik Cohen organized Jerusalem’s first wine festival in 2003, they were more concerned with the size of the crowd size than the quality of the wine. At the time, the city was plagued by frequent suicide bombings, driving Israelis to spend their free time elsewhere. The two […]
Episcopal bishop, back in office, vows to stay
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2010
(RNS) The embattled Episcopal bishop of Philadelphia said he erred in not investigating his brother’s sexual abuse of an underage girl 35 years ago, but brushed aside calls for his resignation, saying it is more “interesting” for him to remain in office. Bishop Charles Bennison was removed from ministry in 2007, when he was charged […]
Hispanic leaders warn GOP on repealing `birthright citizenship’
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) As they push for immigration reform, Hispanic evangelical leaders said Republican proposals to repeal the 14th Amendment’s “birthright citizenship” provision could erode support from Hispanic voters. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Aug. 8 a repeal of the birthright provision is “worth considering.” Other Republican leaders, including […]
Baha’i community `stunned’ by `harsh’ sentences in Iran
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2010
(RNS/ENInews) The Baha’i International Community said the harsh prison sentences meted out against seven Iranian Baha’i leaders are an unjust punishment against innocent people and an entire religious community. The five men and two women imprisoned were arrested in May 2008 and later charged with “spying for foreigners,” as well as “spreading corruption on Earth” […]
COMMENTARY: New York’s anti-religious pandemic
By Phyllis Zagano — August 18, 2010
NEW YORK (RNS) Who could be against Mother Teresa? It’s a good question, and one that New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan asked after the Empire State Building refused to light its spire in Teresa’s signature blue and white to honor the 100th anniversary of her birth on Aug. 26. Mother Teresa, as we all know, […]
