Monthly Archives: February 2014
Passing faith on to the next generation: dogma matters less than love
By Rachel Marie Stone — February 24, 2014
If you hope that your kids will grow up to share your faith, don't worry about imparting lists of rules or doctrines, but keep your relationship with them close.
Pope Francis overhauls Vatican finances, names Australian cardinal as comptroller
By David Gibson — February 24, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The leader of the new Secretariat for the Economy will have sweeping new powers, the most concrete step Pope Francis has taken to try to reform the church's scandal-plagued finances.
Pope Francis warns cardinals against gossip, court intrigue
By David Gibson — February 23, 2014
“You are not a royal court,” the pontiff tells more than 100 scarlet-clad “princes of the church” arrayed before him in St. Peter’s Basilica.
A public statement concerning sexual abuse in the church
By Boz Tchividjian — February 22, 2014
Is silence finally beginning to lose its home within the Church? Christians from around the globe seem to be coming together to grieve, get angry and take action to address a dark and destructive evil that has camped out in the Church for way too long.
Pope Francis charges cardinals to oppose ‘any discrimination’
By David Gibson — February 22, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Retired Pope Benedict XVI was also at the ceremony, his first public appearance since he resigned the papacy a year ago.
Search warrants allege physical abuse in fringe Canadian Jewish sect
By Ron Csillag — February 21, 2014
(RNS) In the warrants, according to reports by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a young woman in the sect said she was hit with a belt and a coat hanger. Another female, a pregnant 17-year-old, told nurses at a hospital she was beaten by her brother, sexually abused by her father and forced to marry a 30-year-old man when she was 15.
Canadian archbishop bans eulogies at funeral Masses
By Ron Csillag — February 21, 2014
(RNS) The Feb. 2 decree from Archbishop Terrence Prendergast reminds the faithful that Catholics gather at funerals "not to praise the deceased, but to pray for them."
Kansas, Arizona bills reflect national fight over gay rights vs. religious liberty
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — February 21, 2014
(RNS) Fights in Arizona and Kansas about denying services to gays and lesbians mirrors the national debate on whether the religious rights of business owners also extend to their for-profit companies.
Muslims criticize judge’s dismissal of NYPD spying lawsuit
By Omar Sacirbey — February 21, 2014
(RNS) Muslim Americans and civil rights groups are criticizing a federal court decision that dismissed a lawsuit alleging the New York City Police Department illegally spied on Muslim Americans in New Jersey.
Tonya and Nancy: 20 years later, can we expect forgiveness?
By Laura Turner — February 21, 2014
Olympic ice skating brings back the memory of the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan debacle in 1994, and a new special set to air this week will address the incident again. Can we expect forgiveness, or is that too much to ask?
Quote of the Day: Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
By Ron Ribiat — February 21, 2014
“I think we got off the track when we allowed our government to become a secular government. (We) stopped realizing that God created this nation, that he wrote the Constitution, that it’s based on biblical principles.” — Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, in an interview with San Antonio pastor Matthew Hagee.
Compilation of 30 years of Buddhist Leader’s Proposals for Peace Launched at UN Headquarters
By Religion News LLC — February 21, 2014
NEW YORK: On February 20, 2014, A Forum for Peace: Daisaku Ikeda’s Proposals to the UN, a unique collection of 30 years of peace proposals by the president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist association, was launched in a high profile event held at the UN Headquarters. Daisaku Ikeda has been issuing annual peace […]
COMMENTARY: The clear anti-Muslim bias behind anti-Shariah laws
By Faiza Patel — February 21, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) It's hard to believe that supporters of bans on foreign law are genuinely concerned about the purported ills of foreign law when they are so ready to make concessions. Instead, "foreign law" provides a convenient fig leaf for supporters to stir up misconceptions and fear about Muslims.
Tim Chey’s ‘Final: The Rapture’ adapts ‘horror movie’ label
By Mark I. Pinsky — February 21, 2014
(RNS) In an interview outside the Orlando multiplex where his film, "Final: The Rapture" is playing, Tim Chey said he’s comfortable with the Christian horror movie label, or even “Christian disaster movie.”
U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke: Pope Francis opposes abortion and gay marriage
By David Gibson — February 21, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The former archbishop of St. Louis blasted those “whose hearts are hardened against the truth” for trying to twist Francis' words to their own ends.
