Monthly Archives: December 2010
Market bumps raise concerns about church pensions
By Tracy Gordon — December 14, 2010
(RNS) Religious denominations have long provided retired clergy and staff with secure pension payments — more secure, in some cases, than corporate retirement plans. But some recent bumps have drawn attention to the vulnerabilities of so-called “church plans,” which are exempt from federal regulations aimed at safeguarding retirement funds for private-sector retirees. As cash-strapped states […]
Line between divine inspiration and religious insanity is a narrow one
By Tracy Gordon — December 13, 2010
(RNS) A teenager says God and Jesus appeared to him in a grove and told him to start a new Christian church. Another person claims the Almighty talks to him through the radio. A French girl gets messages from heaven to lead an army against the British, while a Utah woman thinks she is meant […]
Monday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — December 13, 2010
Another wave of WikiLeaks-released diplomatic cables shows Vatican officials pressuring Ireland over its sex abuse investigation, worrying about violent repercussions to its welcoming of Anglican converts, and lamenting that PR woes have muted the pope’s “moral megaphone.” In particular, the Vatican pressured Ireland to grant church officials immunity from sex abuse charges resulting from the […]
Bush legacy
By Mark Silk — December 13, 2010
The ethnic cleansing of Christians from Iraq. Great job, Georgie!
Insane but guilty?
By Mark Silk — December 11, 2010
Hardly anyone, including me, is likely to lose any sleep over yesterday’s verdict in federal court in Salt Lake City that found David Brian Mitchell guilty of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart and transporting her across state lines for purposes of sexual activity. And yet, it’s hard not to believe that Mitchell is crazy as a bedbug–as […]
Black church group criticizes congressional tax cuts
By Tracy Gordon — December 11, 2010
WASHINGTON (RNS) The newly launched Conference of National Black Churchescriticized Congress on Thursday (Dec. 9) for linking extension of unemployment benefits to tax cuts for the wealthy. “Based on our prophetic responsibility to speak to those in power on behalf of the poor, underserved, and vulnerable, we find it utterly shameful that those who insisted […]
Turkish church fears cover-up over bishop’s murder
By Tracy Gordon — December 11, 2010
WARSAW (RNS/ENInews) The head of Turkey’s Roman Catholic bishops conference has rejected medical findings that the man who brutally murdered his predecessor, Bishop Luigi Padovese, was insane. “The Turkish Justice Minister seemed quite sincere when he promised the truth — but our church is being silenced by this manipulation of the court and public opinion,” […]
Liturgy leaks
By Francis X. Rocca — December 11, 2010
Catholics in the United States won’t start using the new English-langauge translation of the Mass until next November, but they can read it now, thanks to a very unauthorized posting of the text on a site called Wikispooks. The site also offers some “semi-confidential very strong criticism” of the translation, which has been controverisal for […]
Ex-cons look to clear records in hopes of `fresh start’ and ideally, a job
By Tracy Gordon — December 10, 2010
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) It’s tough enough finding a job in this economy, but for Kerry Sifford, a trained security guard and graphic designer who was arrested years ago on a minor offense, it has been nearly impossible. Sifford served a week in county jail in 2001 for shooting a man in the leg with a […]
Friday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — December 10, 2010
POTUS and FLOTUS lit the National Christmas Tree last night (photo, left), and two word choices stick out: He wasn’t afraid to say “Merry Christmas,” and this line: “It’s a story that’s dear to Michelle and me as Christians…” Two new figures to add to your Christmas creche: Ismeria, identified by researchers as Jesus’ great-grandmother […]
Hearting OSV
By Mark Silk — December 10, 2010
When the Catholic lumpen-laity needs to be told what the Church teaches, Our Sunday Visitor is there to teach it. So it should not be surprising that, in the wake of the brouhaha over Pope Benedict’s statement on condoms, OSV should get on the horn to Father Martin Rhonheimer, the Opus Dei professor who has […]
Study: Religious people happier when share pews with friends
By Tracy Gordon — December 10, 2010
(RNS) Close friendships among congregants, rather than theology seem to be the key to happiness among religious people, according to a new study. One-third of Americans who attend religious services weekly and have three to five close friends in the congregation said they are “extremely satisfied” with their lives. In comparison, only one in five […]
Oregon releases policy for religious clothing at schools
By Tracy Gordon — December 10, 2010
(RNS) Oregon state officials released a policy on Wednesday (Dec. 8)intended to give school districts guidance in applying Oregon’s new law on religious clothing. A statewide ban on teacher religious dress was originally enacted in 1923 to keep Catholic nuns from teaching in public schools during a time of anti-Catholic bigotry. State lawmakers repealed the […]
Celebrating Christmas before Dec. 25? Bah humbug!
By Tracy Gordon — December 9, 2010
(RNS) It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — earlier and earlier every year. The evergreens at Rockefeller Center and the White House were decorated in November, radio stations started playing carols after Halloween, and stores have been promoting Christmas sales for months. But at Nick Senger’s house in Washington state, the carols and […]
Oklahoma’s top lawyer at center of fight over Shariah
By Tracy Gordon — December 9, 2010
(RNS) Backers of a referendum that would bar Oklahoma courts from considering Islamic law admit they suffered a setback when a federal judge issued a temporary injunction against the measure last month. But they are pinning their hopes on Attorney General-elect Scott Pruitt, a minor league baseball team owner and former state senator who has […]
