Daniel Burke
Daniel Burke worked for Religion News Service from 2006-2013. He now co-edits CNN's Belief Blog.
All Stories by Daniel Burke
Chinese lama says communism is just dandy
By Daniel Burke — February 1, 2008
The AP has word that the 17-year-old boy Chinese communists installed as the Panchen Lama (after kidnapping the real Panchen Lama and his family) pledged his support for communism in a rare public appearance. He also, surprise, surprise, said his fellow Tibetans should get with the program. The Panchen Lama is supposed to be chosen […]
Calling the IRS
By Daniel Burke — February 1, 2008
Church-state watchdog group Americans United for Separation of Church and State is urging the IRS to investigated “biased” voter guides for the presidential election. In complaints filed with the IRS today, AU says the American Family Association and WallBuilders have made “guides” that “are clearly designed to promote Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.” (Does Barry […]
Bart Simpson Donates $5 million to Scientologists
By Daniel Burke — January 31, 2008
Er, rather, the actor that plays Bart, Nancy Cartwright, did, according to London’s Daily Mirror. According to the tabloid: Cartwright, 60, donated twice as much as Tom Cruise, 45 – Scientology’s most high-profile member. The US actress, who is rumoured to earn £125,500 per episode of The Simpsons, gave the equivalent of almost two years’ […]
A Tortuous Debate
By Daniel Burke — January 31, 2008
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture is at it again, criticizing Attorney General Mukasey for not saying that waterboarding is torture. “The Attorney General today essentially said that the definition of torture depends on the information being sought,” said Linda Gustitus, NRCAT’s president, adding that Mukasey’s position is “wrong spiritually, morally, and legally.”
Calling All Scientists
By Daniel Burke — January 30, 2008
The United Church of Christ is launching a web-based ad campaign directed at scientists “with hopes of mending a millenniums-old feud between religion and science.” “Our hope is to begin to move the church to the place where its public image, public witness and public identity is one of a community of faith that is […]
Feeling A Little Alone in Fresno
By Daniel Burke — January 29, 2008
Sounds like a country song, don’t it? The Fresno Bee has a story about Episcopalians there who are re-organizing the diocese of San Joaquin after the bishop and standing committee voted to leave the Episcopal Church and hook up with the Argentina-based Anglican Church of the Southern Cone. About 250 attended the meeting this past […]
Religious strategy heading into Super Tuesday
By Daniel Burke — January 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ With primaries or caucuses in 24 states, the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primary could very well produce the next presidential nominee for both major parties _ but how much of a factor will religion be? Super Tuesday will test a candidate’s appeal to evangelical strongholds in the Bible […]
The Hold Steady
By Daniel Burke — January 24, 2008
The Jesuit magazine America has a great online story about The Hold Steady, surely one of the most Catholic (and literary) bands on the scene today. Lead singer Craig Finn weaves tales of young and awkward lovers stumbling through high and mostly low culture with the panache of a Flannery O’Connor and Bruce Springsteen lovechild. […]
Must See TV?
By Daniel Burke — January 23, 2008
A site called Anglicantv.org has posted video of Episcopal Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s deposition in the trial over the 11 Virginia churches that have left for the more conservative Nigerian branch of the Anglican Communion. If you have the time and are interested, here it is. I learned a few things.
Why I Didn’t Inhibit Duncan, Either
By Daniel Burke — January 23, 2008
Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia says that he, too, voted against preventing Bishop Robert Duncan from exercising his episcopal duties. Here’s why, he said: “I along with the two other most senior active bishops in the House of Bishops were asked by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to review the evidence and give consent to […]
Blocked Shot
By Daniel Burke — January 23, 2008
The St. Louis Dispatch has word today of a contest between Rick Majerus, basketball coach of St. Louis University, a nominally Catholic school, and Archbishop Raymond Burke. Apparently, Majerus (best known for former stints coaching Utah U. and commenting on ESPN) showed up at a Hillary Clinton rally and said that he was pro-choice. He’s […]
They’re Both Wrong
By Daniel Burke — January 23, 2008
Watching the American Experience documentary about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement yesterday, some inchoate idea finally found its voice. In the tussle between who was more important in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964-with Sen. Obama (and his supporters) emphasizing the role of MLK and Clinton (and her supporters) stressing the role of […]
Episcopal Bishop: Why I Didn’t Inhibit Duncan
By Daniel Burke — January 19, 2008
Episcopal Bishop Don Wimberly of Texas has released a statement about why he refused to bar Bishop Bob Duncan of Pittsburgh from ministry. Wimberly says “Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori asked me along with the other two most senior bishops (Peter Lee of Virginia and Leo Frade of Southeast Florida) for consent to move forward […]
“Amish Grace” Authors Donate Royalties
By Daniel Burke — January 19, 2008
The authors of “Amish Grace,” (which, by the way, is excellent) have donated their $40,000 in royalties to the Mennonite Central Committee for the benefit of children suffering due to war, poverty or natural disasters. I used to live in Lancaster, Pa., where the MCC is headquartered, and can testify to their great work. They’re […]
An Episcopal First
By Daniel Burke — January 19, 2008
According to the Interfaith Power & Light project, Grace Cathedral, in the Episcopal Diocese of San Francisco, has named the denomination’s first canon for environmental ministry. The Rev. Sally Bingham, founder of The Regeneration Project and IPL, works to “deepen the connection between ecology and faith,” according to a news release. Bishop Mark Andrus of […]
