Opinion
Naming Jesus
By Mark Silk — June 10, 2009
OMG: Barack Obama invokes the name of Jesus in public more than George W. Bush did! That must mean…what? Politico’s Eamon Javers offers a range of non-mutually exclusive explanations, including Obama’s need to demonstrate that he is a Christian, his desire to appeal to religious conservatives, an interest in reanimating a Christian Left. It’s worth […]
COMMENTARY: All creatures great and small
By Tom Ehrich — June 9, 2009
NEW YORK — On my way to church at 10 a.m., I entered Central Park through the Gate of All Saints, at West 96th Street, and immediately found myself in a kaleidoscope of runners, walkers, tennis players, bicyclists, bench-sitters, stroller-pushers and early picnickers. It was inspiring. It was inspiring to see so many people out […]
Newt v. Grover
By Mark Silk — June 9, 2009
Once upon a time, when the Contract with America beguiled a people tired of a Democratic-run Congress, Newt Gingrich and Grover were allies, bomb-throwing peas in a pod ready to achieve congressional power by any means necessary. They made common cause with religious conservatives because they needed ’em in their low-tax, small- government coalition. Norquist […]
The Faith-Based Office
By Mark Silk — June 8, 2009
Say what you like about, George W. Bush’s Office for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives had a real public policy commitment; to wit: “Our Vision is to educate and assist new and existing Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to apply and qualify for competitive Federal Funding.” Before his administration was run over by the events of 9/11, […]
Oy
By Mark Silk — June 8, 2009
Former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor now considers himself a Jew. At least he also still considers himself a Christian.
The Word from Indy
By Mark Silk — June 8, 2009
The 1st Biennial Religion and American Culture Conference went off nicely in Indianapolis, marking as it did the 20th anniversary of IUPUI’s Center for the study of the same. A formal proclamation, complete with numerous whereases and signed by the governor and the mayor declared a statewide Day in celebration, and there was as much […]
Civil NY Bishops
By Mark Silk — June 6, 2009
Three years ago, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, then archbishop of Washington, gave Wolf Blitzer to understand that he was OK with same-sex civil unions (though he quickly issued a “clarification” making it clear that he did not actually support them). Are the Dolan-led New York bishops, in their notably mild statement against New York’s SSM bill, […]
Churchgoers for Gays
By Mark Silk — June 5, 2009
Sixty percent of weekly churchgoers favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. And 58 percent of conservatives. And 57 percent of Southerners. Bets on when the deal is done? I predict by Thanksgiving.
One Israeli’s Reaction
By Mark Silk — June 5, 2009
I actually intended to tell you how impressed I am with your President. Everything sounded perfect to me .Only one question: will he be able to deliver, i.e. to twist arms strongly enough? Not, it seems, an outlier.
Call to Cairo
By Mark Silk — June 5, 2009
The commentary on Obama’s speech is so voluminous that I’m not inclined at this point to add much to it. Except to note just how much attention the president gave to religion itself. No American leader, of course, has ever been able to come close to Obama’s personal experience of Islam. But neither has one, […]
COMMENTARY: Unconventional converts
By RNS Blog Editor — June 4, 2009
(Pardonable) exaggeration in Cairo
By Mark Silk — June 4, 2009
In his much awaited speech today, Obama said: Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists […]
Strategizing SSM
By Mark Silk — June 4, 2009
With New England now five-sixths on board with same-sex marriage, you figure those planning for campaigns in other states would be embracing what worked up here by way of devising their own strategies. But judging by a new report from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s National Religious Leadership Roundtable, I’m not so sure. […]
COMMENTARY: Supremely qualified
By Phyllis Zagano — June 4, 2009
(UNDATED) Let’s hope the Senate approves Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination and gives us our first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. It’s not so much about her being Puerto Rican or Catholic that has her detractors in an uproar. It’s the fact that she’s a woman. But, then again, that combination is pretty upsetting to the gray-haired, […]
Live Free and Marry
By Mark Silk — June 3, 2009
Final piece of same-sex marriage legislation passes both houses of New Hampshire legislature and gov. says he’ll sign today–making New England five for six on the marriage equality front. “Let’s vote this one last time. Church and state should be separate,” said Rep. Anthony DiFruscia, R-Windham, who helped craft the final compromise language. In the […]
