Monthly Archives: October 2015
On the synod, Catholic conservatives fear worst is yet to come
By Mark Silk — October 28, 2015
But what are they so afraid of?
Texas student: Teacher taught ‘God is not real’
By Josh Chapin — October 28, 2015
KATY, Texas — The Katy Independent School District has since apologized and the principal of West Memorial Junior High School determined the assignment wasn't necessary for students.
Cardinal Wuerl: Catholic Church moving from legalism to mercy
By David Gibson — October 27, 2015
ROME (RNS) “The frame of reference is now going to be: ‘What does the gospel really say here?’" said Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl in a Q&A summing up the momentous Vatican synod that just concluded.
The Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships awards grants to strengthen Christian unity and interreligious relationships
By Religion News LLC — October 27, 2015
NEW YORK — Today, the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships (OCUIR) is announcing the recipients of its 2016 Local Initiative Grants. These grants were awarded to organizations who lead special projects designed to strengthen ecumenical and/or interreligious relationships. A special fourth grant was also awarded to encourage the involvement of seminaries in ecumenical […]
Invigorating Jewish life: Is the “Statement on Jewish Vitality” the right approach?
By Tobin Grant — October 27, 2015
A new statement by Jewish leaders rekindles the debate over the future of American Jewish life.
Pope Francis’ 2 new Italian archbishops ‘attentive to poor’
By Rosie Scammell — October 27, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Both appointments are seen as strategic for the pontiff’s push to create a “poor church.”
GOP 2016 contenders sling God talk, prep for debate
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — October 27, 2015
(RNS) The official debate topic is economic issues, but it might be hard to quell mention of Donald Trump's religious dig at Ben Carson.
How to have a Christian Halloween
By Laura Turner — October 27, 2015
Some helpful hints for celebrating Halloween as a Christian.
The ‘Splainer: Why is the Halloween witch mean and green?
By Kimberly Winston — October 27, 2015
(RNS) The first witches were healers, herbalists, midwives and wise women. How did our image of the Halloween witch evolve, and why? Let us ‘Splain ...
World Congress of Families is full of Mormon connections
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — October 27, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY — The conference will tackle topics such as “ways to strengthen marriages and families; the social costs of pornography; human trafficking; global health care initiatives; the bioethics of cloning and genetic modification.”
Why Myanmar’s Nov. 8 election won’t be ‘free and fair’
By Brian Pellot — October 27, 2015
The military is harassing and arresting Facebook users, Rohingya Muslims can’t vote, and chief opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains barred from the presidency, even if her party wins.
Open sectarianism in Saudi Arabia frightens Shiites
By Reuters — October 27, 2015
QATIF, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) The fate of Saudi Arabia's 2 million or so Shiites is closely watched because of the country's intimate involvement in the region's sectarian conflict through its rivalry with Iran and the teachings of its influential clergy that Shiism is heretical.
Iowans: Trump’s attack on Carson’s faith will fail
By Jennifer Jacobs — October 27, 2015
DES MOINES — Iowa Republicans say Donald Trump's sneak attack on Ben Carson's religion won't work.
Zionism Unsettled breaks out into digital arena
By Religion News LLC — October 27, 2015
Released in January 2014 to immediate critical acclaim, the best seller Zionism Unsettled (ZU) is now available in a Kindle version with full color pictures and hundreds of hyperlinks, taking the reader to different places in the book, endnotes, and sources online. The Kindle version is also linked to the accompanying video episodes online, which […]
Yitzhak Rabin deserves his own fast day
By Jeffrey Salkin — October 27, 2015
Yitzhak Rabin was a soldier for peace. Who will follow his example?
