Katherine Burgess

Katherine Burgess has lived in California, Cambodia and Tennessee. She has covered subjects as varied as a United Nations tribunal, church leadership conferences and a maximum security prison. She is currently based in Washington, D.C.

All Stories by Katherine Burgess

Christian conservatives divided over Common Core education standards

By Katherine Burgess — October 17, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) As 45 states implement new Common Core education standards this fall, some Christians see the heavy hand of government in the state-led goal posts for K-12 students in English and mathematics.

Church news outlets struggle to keep their editorial independence

By Katherine Burgess — October 16, 2013
(RNS) As denominational news services contend with fiscal challenges that have beset secular media as well, church press officials worry these outlets have lost their editorial independence and are increasingly performing public relations roles for their denominations.

Destroyed Episcopal cathedral to be rebuilt in Haiti

By Katherine Burgess — October 16, 2013
Designs to rebuild the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake, were unveiled to the Episcopal Church Executive Council during its Chicago meeting.

Cambodian dancers rededicate Buddhist temples across U.S.

By Katherine Burgess — October 15, 2013
SILVER SPRING, Md. (RNS) Cambodian dance was nearly destroyed under the Khmer Rouge. Now a troupe of dancers is rededicating Cambodian temples in Boston, New York, Washington and Los Angeles.

Looking to get married? Try a Christian college

By Katherine Burgess — October 11, 2013
(RNS) Of the top 25 colleges where men are likely to meet their spouse, all are private Christian institutions, according to an analysis done by Sofus Macskassy and Lada Adamic, researchers on Facebook's data science team. More than 60 percent of the top 25 colleges where women are likely to meet their spouse are also private religious schools.

Ohio court gives lawyer guardianship of Amish girl with cancer

By Katherine Burgess — October 10, 2013
(RNS) An attorney who is also a registered nurse has been named limited guardian of a 10-year-old Amish girl whose chemotherapy treatments were halted in June. The girl's parents said that the treatments made her ill and that they believed the will of God would prevail.

Faithful Filibuster: Christian leaders read Scripture, exhort Congress to care

By Katherine Burgess — October 9, 2013
(RNS) “In the midst of a crisis when we don’t really know what to do, we thought, ‘Let’s read the Bible and hear what God has to say,’” said David Beckmann of Bread for the World.

Conservatives say censorship has increased on Facebook, iTunes

By Katherine Burgess — October 3, 2013
A panel discussion hosted by the National Religious Broadcasters considers incidents of “viewpoint censorship,” when new media companies block conservative Christian speech.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng gets U.S. platform to promote human rights

By Katherine Burgess — October 2, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Chinese authorities first arrested Chen Guangcheng in 2005 after he filed a class-action lawsuit for women who said they had undergone forced abortions and sterilizations as part of China’s one-child policy.

United Methodist high court to consider challenges to gay teachings

By Katherine Burgess — September 24, 2013
(RNS) The Judicial Council hearings come as at least four United Methodist ministers -- including the former dean of Yale Divinity School -- are facing trial for officiating at same-sex weddings, and more than 1,500 clergy have signed a statement offering to marry gay couples.

‘Our Lady of Perpetual Exhaustion’ exhibit probes the spirituality of everyday chaos

By Katherine Burgess — September 24, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The exhibit, creator Cynthia Farrell Johnson said, will hopefully “help people see the absurdity of our existence when we try to pile too many things in one day.”

Muslims name 37 groups that fuel Islamophobia

By Katherine Burgess — September 19, 2013
(RNS) The report, which found that incidents of hatred against Muslims had decreased slightly, lists 37 individuals and institutions that “were at the center of promoting Islamophobia in America” during 2011-2012.

Atheists and humanists launch Freethought Equality Fund PAC

By Katherine Burgess — September 18, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Organizers of the new Freethought Equality Fund political action committee claim there are more than 24 nontheists in Congress, although only Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., publicly identifies her religion as “none.”

Rabbis push Congress on immigration reform

By Katherine Burgess — September 17, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The call for action on immigration reform was issued just days before Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival that commemorates the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.

Bishops rebuke critics of Catholic Relief Services

By Katherine Burgess — September 12, 2013
(RNS) U.S. Catholic bishops have publicly rebuked conservative critics of Catholic Relief Services, flatly denying charges that the group has wavered in its commitment to church teachings on contraception and abortion.
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