Monthly Archives: March 2014
Supreme Court takes up Hobby Lobby’s challenge to the contraception mandate
By Lauren Markoe — March 25, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Hobby Lobby case could be yet another instance where Justice Anthony Kennedy provides the swing vote in the decision of whether a corporation has religious rights, and whether those rights have been trampled by the government's contraception mandate.
Father Knows Best: I’m afraid of marriage
By Martin Elfert — March 25, 2014
It’s time for you and your girlfriend to book a few meetings with an impartial professional and talk these (and still other) questions out.
COMMENTARY: What Pope Francis can teach President Obama this week
By Mary Ann Walsh — March 25, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Two smiling, confident and charismatic leaders will meet at the Vatican this week, each with the opportunity to touch the heart of the other.
The care and feeding of Mormon trolls: A guest post by Stephanie Lauritzen
By Jana Riess — March 25, 2014
The founder of "Wear Pants to Church Day" reflects on death threats and other uncivilized behavior by Mormons online. How do people so easily forget there's a person with feelings at the other end of their rants?
Was Jesus divine? Publisher hedges bets with Bart Ehrman’s new book
By John Murawski — March 25, 2014
(RNS) In a rare publishing feat, HarperCollins arranged to have a team of evangelical scholars write a rebuttal of hot-selling superstar writer Bart Ehrman's new book.
High-level Philadelphia delegation to invite pope to visit
By Mary Beth McCauley — March 25, 2014
(RNS) Assuming Evite is out, how, exactly, does one ask the pope over?
COMMENTARY: Phelps touched on fears and anger many feel
By Tom Ehrich — March 25, 2014
(RNS) In his anti-gay message, Phelps touched on fears and angers that many people feel.
Hobby Lobby case provokes a twitterstorm
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 25, 2014
Supporters and opponents of the Obamacare contraception mandate squared off on social media Tuesday (March 25) with tweets, snowy images and dueling graphics.
SCOTUS Twitterstorm * World Vision revision * Faith fun: Tuesday’s Roundup
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 25, 2014
Brace for Twitterstorms as the Obamacare/Hobby Lobby case is argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. Watch a debate on the limits of religious freedom. Have some fun with God. All that and more at Tuesday's roundup.
Let’s give the pope’s abuse commission a chance
By Mark Silk — March 24, 2014
It's not surprising that long-time victims' advocates have been less than blown away by the naming of eight members to the new papal commission on sexual abuse in the church. But there's reason for a little optimism.
World Vision to recognize employees’ same-sex marriages
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — March 24, 2014
(RNS) Christian relief organization World Vision has announced that it will no longer define marriage as between a man and a woman in its employee conduct manual.
Cocaine-filled condoms intercepted en route to the Vatican
By Eric J. Lyman — March 24, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Police said the cocaine in the shipment would have a street value of about 40,000 euros ($55,000).
COMMENTARY: The bad theology behind opposing the contraception mandate
By Cheryl B. Anderson — March 24, 2014
EVANSTON, Ill. (RNS) Denying contraception to employees is not only poor policy, but also poor theology. Nothing in the Christian tradition suggests that an employer’s scruples deserve greater consideration than an employee’s health.
Q&A: ‘Noah’ director Darren Aronofsky on justice vs. mercy
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — March 24, 2014
(RNS) "Noah" director Darren Aronofsky describes where he got the idea for the film, how he plans to respond to critics and why he focuses the film on themes of justice vs. mercy.
Video: Pope receives toy dinosaur
By Kevin Eckstrom — March 24, 2014
The President of the Republic of Malta, George Abela, visited Pope Francis before the end of his term as head of the Government of the island. During the visit, they discussed political issues. However, Abela's grandchildren became the center of attention, making the Pope and others smile during an official photo shoot and gifting him a toy dinosaur.
