Monthly Archives: November 2015
Donald Trump cancels event with black pastors, stands by his 9/11 Muslim remarks
By Reuters — November 29, 2015
WASHINGTON — Trump came under fire last week after saying at a rally and on television that he had seen thousands of people in Jersey City cheer the collapse of the twin towers in Manhattan.
Under tight security, pope urges peace in central Africa
By Reuters — November 29, 2015
BANGUI — The Central African Republic's government is deploying around 500 police and gendarmes to secure the visit. More than 3,000 peacekeepers from the MINUSCA U.N. mission will also be deployed
Is the Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting terrorism, a hate crime, or what?
By Tobin Grant — November 29, 2015
It's a hate crime, not terrorism...legally.
The Presidential Turkey Pardon, explained
By Mark Silk — November 29, 2015
Or, does the ritual of the two turkeys have anything to do with the ritual of the two goats on Yom Kippur?
Planned Parenthood attack kills a policeman, a mom and a veteran
By Reuters — November 28, 2015
The Colorado Springs clinic, which includes abortion services, has been the target of repeated protests by anti-abortion activists. The policeman who died was a co-pastor at an evangelical church.
Ugandans line the streets ahead of Pope Francis’ arrival
By Tonny Onyulo — November 27, 2015
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) Some waited more than 12 hours along the route outside Entebbe International Airport.
Why Michele Bachmann’s push to convert Jews is so retro (COMMENTARY)
By A. James Rudin — November 27, 2015
(RNS) When she visited Israel earlier this month, Michele Bachmann urged Jews to convert to Christianity as soon as possible because the end times were near.
Are humans wired for violence? Evolutionary biology begs to differ (COMMENTARY)
By Marcia Pally — November 27, 2015
(RNS) The idea that our gravest aggression is not biological but cultural suggests that we don’t need to alter our cooperative nature but to address perversions of it.
Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor were seriously Jewish, exhibit explains
By Lauren Markoe — November 27, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) Both Marilyn Monoe and Elizabeth Taylor converted to Judaism. But if you think they did it just to please their Jewish husbands, think again. A new exhibit at New York's Jewish Museum chronicles their Jewish journeys.
Islamic State claims attack on Bangladesh shrine
By Reuters — November 27, 2015
Muslim-majority Bangladesh has seen a rise in Islamist violence in recent months, with two foreigners, four secular writers and a publisher killed this year.
Salvadoran priest fired over alleged sex with minor
By Reuters — November 26, 2015
Jesus Delgado was the biographer and personal secretary of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was shot by a right-wing death squad while saying Mass in 1980.
Pope Francis on interfaith dialogue: ‘It is not something extra or optional’
By Fredrick Nzwili — November 26, 2015
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Bridging divisions between Muslims and Christians is not a luxury, the pope said, alluding perhaps to the conflict with al-Shabab militants who have inflicted multiple terrorist strikes on this mostly Christian nation.
After uproar, German town warms to refugees who took over church
By Reuters — November 26, 2015
When news of the plan to house 50 refugees in the church and suspend Sunday services spread through the town, angry residents pressed church and city officials to reconsider. But nearly a month on, the uproar has died down and residents are beginning to warm to the refugees.
Survey: Women distrust churches for abortion advice
By Timothy C. Morgan — November 25, 2015
(RNS) Fear of gossip and judgmental reactions routinely prevents churchgoing women who are considering an abortion from first seeking the counsel of pastors or others in their church, according to a new survey by an evangelical polling group.
Guardians of ‘Christmas cred’ reap publicity, donations, struggle with Cyber Monday
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — November 25, 2015
(RNS) But on Cyber Monday, the self-appointed guardians of "Christ in Christmas" advertising can't see you on line to assess your devotion to the "Christmas" word.
