Monthly Archives: October 2010
Dolan Agonistes
By Mark Silk — October 22, 2010
I’m afraid to say that His Merry Rotundity Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, is bidding fair to turn into the ecclesiastical twin of His Grumpy Bullyship William Donohue, president of the Catholic League. They’re both of a size, and though when they show up on your doorstep it’s Tim the Good Cop and Bill […]
ACLU questions Sunday morning voting at churches
By Tracy Gordon — October 22, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) The American Civil Liberties Union is criticizing plans by two Iowa churches to host early voting during worship services. “Combining polling places with religious services is an invitation to the abuse of both religion and the civic act of voting,” said Ben Stone, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, […]
Investor sues over poor returns for Bible.com
By Tracy Gordon — October 22, 2010
(RNS) A disgruntled investor has sued Bible.com, saying the website’s name alone should make it a “goldmine” — or at least more profitable than it is. James Solakian filed suit against Bible.com Inc in Delaware Chancery Court, according to the Reuters news agency. He says the website should be worth as least as much as […]
Ohio priest ordered to pay back almost $4 million
By Tracy Gordon — October 22, 2010
CLEVELAND (RNS) A federal judge sentenced the Rev. Samuel Ciccolini to one day in prison and ordered him to pay almost $4 million in fines and restitution for evading banking regulations and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors say Ciccolini, known locally as Father Sam, has more than enough money to repay the funds. Ciccolini founded […]
A Complicated Clinton
By Daniel Burke — October 21, 2010
Michael Takiff’s massive new oral biography of President Clinton, “A Complicated Man,” hit the shelves this week. Oddly, despite reporting that Clinton called faith “probably the most important thing in my life,” religion gets precious little attention in the 496-page tome. Two passages, however, stuck out. The first is a reminiscence from the Rev. J. […]
Thursday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — October 21, 2010
After the elevation of 24 new cardinals, including two American archbishops, an Italian is the odds-on favorite to succeed Pope Benedict XVI if and when he shuffles off this mortal coil, according to Irish bookmaker Paddy Power. The NYT looks at why their local guy, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, didn’t make the cardinal cut this time […]
Poll: Americans say religious messages fuel negative views of gays
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
(RNS) Most Americans believe messages about homosexuality coming from religious institutions contribute to negative views of gays and lesbians, and higher rates of suicide among gay youths, a new poll reports. While split on whether same-sex relations are sinful, Americans are more than twice as likely to give houses of worship low marks on handling […]
Palin, at center of political stage, keeps mum on faith
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
(RNS) Sarah Palin once pursued politics out of a religious sense of calling, and considered her choice as vice presidential candidate by 2008 GOP nominee John McCain part of “God’s plan.” But now, as the midterm elections loom and Palin positions herself as the heroine of the Tea Party, Palin has become less vocal about […]
COMMENTARY: A change in my Facebook status
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
(RNS) “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.” So goes the tagline for the new film, “Social Network,” which explores the disputes, betrayals and lawsuits surrounding Mark Zuckerberg’s founding of Facebook. That Zuckerberg made enemies is indisputable. But the real question “Social Network” asks all of us is, “Can you […]
Curialism on the March
By Mark Silk — October 21, 2010
The new collection of cardinals named by Pope Benedict yesterday is heavy with officials of the Roman curia. According to Tom Reese (in an emailed piece not yet posted now posted here), the curial component of the College of Cardinals has increased from 24 percent to 28 during Benedict’s papacy, and relatedly, the percentage of […]
Study: More link Christian faith to being American
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
(RNS) As the U.S. has grown more diverse, more Americans believe that being a Christian is a key aspect of being “truly American,” researchers say. Purdue University scholars found that between 1996 and 2004, Americans who saw Christian identity as a “very important” attribute of being American increased from 38 percent to 49 percent. Scholars […]
Study: More link Christian faith to being American
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
(RNS) As the U.S. has grown more diverse, more Americans believe that being a Christian is a key aspect of being “truly American,” researchers say. Purdue University scholars found that between 1996 and 2004, Americans who saw Christian identity as a “very important” attribute of being American increased from 38 percent to 49 percent. Scholars […]
Last holdout Episcopal diocese ordains female priest
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
(RNS) Women have been ordained as priests in all 110 dioceses of the Episcopal Church, after the last holdout, in Quincy, Ill., ordained its first woman on Saturday (Oct. 16). The Rev. Margaret Lee, a grandmother of five and former chemist, is the first woman ordained a priest in the Peoria-based Diocese of Quincy’s 133-year […]
Washington archbishop speaks softly and carries a light crozier
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) In the U.S. Catholic Church, few posts are as prominent asArchbishop of Washington, whose seat in the nation’s capital guarantees a platform that extends far beyond local pews and parishes. Archbishop Donald Wuerl’s influence will only grow after Pope Benedict XVI named him a cardinal on Wednesday (Oct. 20), giving him the pontiff’s […]
Pope names two Americans among 24 new cardinals
By Tracy Gordon — October 21, 2010
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Two American archbishops, one serving in Rome and the other in Washington, D.C., will be granted a cardinal’s red hat in a ceremony at the Vatican next month, Pope Benedict XVI announced on Wednesday (Oct. 20). Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl and Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, who heads the Vatican’s supreme court, […]
