Monthly Archives: June 2011
`The Book of Mormon’ wins nine Tonys
By Tracy Gordon — June 13, 2011
(RNS) The irreverent and hilarious “The Book of Mormon” musical dominated the 65th annual Tony Awards on Sunday (June 12), winning the award for Best Musical and becoming one of the most honored productions in Broadway history. Broadway neophytes Trey Parker and Matt Stone thanked their “South Park” fans and the audiences who are packing […]
Vatican to brief bishops, religious orders on abuse
By Tracy Gordon — June 13, 2011
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican will use online education and other methods to help the world’s Catholic bishops and the heads of religious orders deal with clerical sex abuse of minors. Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University will host a Vatican-sponsored symposium on pedophilia next February, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Monday (June 13). The […]
Monday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — June 13, 2011
Big news from Broadway: “The Book of Mormon” won nine Tony Awards last night, making the musical Sunday’s runaway winner. Accepting the award for best musical, Trey Parker, better known as one-half of the “South Park” creative duo, gave a shout out to Mormon founder Joseph Smith, “You did it, Joseph, you got the Tony!” […]
Temple weddings leave some on outside, hurting inside
By Tracy Gordon — June 13, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) You see them on Temple Square nearly every day, pacing nervously or strolling aimlessly, staring down at the tulips or up at the spires. They are parents, siblings, cousins and friends of Mormon couples being wed inside the LDS sanctuary. But, for one reason or another, they are not allowed inside. […]
The Evangelical Play Today
By Mark Silk — June 13, 2011
Back in the day–the day being, oh, the 1980s and 1990s–the religious right flew under the radar screen, mustering white evangelicals for this or that candidate in a stealthy way, at least in those places where non-evangelicals were thick on the ground. That changed during the George W. Bush regime, as religious right leaders stepped […]
Evangelicals wade into circumcision debate
By Tracy Gordon — June 11, 2011
(RNS) The National Association of Evangelicals is siding with Jews and Muslims in opposition of a proposed ban on infant male circumcision in San Francisco. “Jews, Muslims, and Christians all trace our spiritual heritage back to Abraham. Biblical circumcision begins with Abraham,” NAE President Leith Anderson said in a statement. “No American government should restrict […]
Anglican leader slams British austerity budget
By Tracy Gordon — June 11, 2011
LONDON (RNS) Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has touched off a fury by accusing the British government of causing widespread “anxiety and anger” with its new austerity budget. The leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans crossed swords with the government of Prime Minister David Cameron over his “radical, long-term policies for which no one […]
With an eye on China, Vatican issues new bishops’ policy
By Tracy Gordon — June 10, 2011
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Catholics forced to participate in ordinations of bishops without the pope’s approval may be exempt from the usual penalty of automatic excommunication, the Vatican said on Friday (June 10). Bishops who consecrate other bishops without a papal “mandate” incur automatic excommunication, as do the men they consecrate and all other ministers who […]
Friday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — June 10, 2011
Memo to Catholic bishops and evangelical culture warriors: people in the pews feel increasingly comfortable holding their own views on abortion and homosexuality, no matter what you’re preaching from the pulpit. Speaking of divided loyalties, two competing conferences in Detroit this weekend reflect the divide in the Catholic Church: liberals will meet in “one of […]
Catholic bishops to take second look at abuse rules
By Tracy Gordon — June 10, 2011
(RNS) A review of church sex abuse guidelines will top the agenda when the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops meet in Seattle next week (June 15-17). But no major changes have been proposed, according to church leaders, even after several recent reports have raised questions about the rules’ power to remove abusive priests. The stakes at […]
Pro-choice/pro-life Americans
By Mark Silk — June 10, 2011
How can two-thirds of Americans say they are both pro-choice and pro-life? Are they confused about what those terms mean? I wouldn’t say so. The Public Religion Research Institute’s important new survey of attitudes toward abortion (and, to a lesser extent, homosexuality) makes clear that most Americans take a nuanced view. As the title puts […]
Americans see room to disagree but remain faithful to religion
By Tracy Gordon — June 10, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Significant majorities of Americans say it is possible to disagree with their religion’s teachings on abortion and homosexuality and still remain in good standing with their faith. The findings, released Thursday (June 9) in a detailed survey by Public Religion Research Institute, held true for major religious groups, including Catholics and white evangelical […]
Principal at paddling school vows to remain in job
By Tracy Gordon — June 9, 2011
NEW ORLEANS (RNS) The embattled president of the nation’s last Catholic school to employ corporal punishment said he plans to remain on the job in spite of a weekend order that abruptly recalled him to Baltimore. The Rev. John Raphael unexpectedly appeared at a Wednesday (June 8) rally at St. Augustine High School, electrifying hundreds […]
First Amendment’s `Free Exercise’ at heart of abuse cases
By Tracy Gordon — June 9, 2011
(RNS) Jeremiah Scott was 11 when the abuse and molestation began in 1990 at the hands of an elder in his Mormon church in Portland, Ore. After the man died in 1995, Scott’s mother sued the church in 1998 for putting her son at risk. His mother said when she reported the abuse of Brother […]
Thursday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — June 9, 2011
Not to be all self-pitying and such, but it’s 100 degrees today in Baltimore, which makes me seriously question Rob Bell’s theology of universal reconciliation and the absence of a fiery, punishing hell. Speaking of sinfully hot places, what happens in Vegas may stay there – but the people don’t, which means lots of empty […]
