Opinion
Trouble on the Right
By Mark Silk — February 9, 2009
George Weigel is not a happy camper. What he cannot bring himself to say is that, what with the latest Maciel revelations and L’Affaire SSPX, Rome’s strategy of leading from the Right is in a spot of trouble. Today’s word is that Holocaust-denying SSPX bishop Richard Williamson has been removed as head of the society’s […]
The Meaning of Separation
By Mark Silk — February 9, 2009
The press release announcing the creation of OFANP declared: The separation of church and state is a principle President Obama supports firmly – not only because it protects our democracy, but also because it protects the plurality of America’s religious and civic life. But what does the principle mean? Certainly that there can be no […]
Is this for real?
By Mark Silk — February 8, 2009
OK, I understand that President Obama has much more important business to attend to at the moment than the revamped faith-based initiative. But even so, the rolling out of OFANP has been a helter-skelter affair that bears all the marks of lack of preparation, both administrative and intellectual. You should never announce a 25-member committee […]
Note to Readers
By Mark Silk — February 8, 2009
It appears that, as a result of the software upgrade that accompanied our redesign, links to old posts are no longer operable, although links to the Spiritual Politics main page work just fine. The old posts are all available via the archives and search box on the main page, though obviously less easily accessed. But […]
Pretty Much It
By Mark Silk — February 6, 2009
There will be some additional tweaking, but this is the new look.
An Old Feint
By Mark Silk — February 6, 2009
Dan Gilgoff’s got a Q&A with Family Research Council Pooh-bah Tony Perkins, wherein Perkins seems to be giving the Grand Old Party a bit of the back of his hand, while unclenching his fist in the direction of the Obama administration. No disrespect to Dan, who just asked the questions, but I wouldn’t rush to […]
Not Yet
By Mark Silk — February 6, 2009
No, this is not the new web design…but it’ll be along very shortly (I hope).
Case by Case?
By Mark Silk — February 6, 2009
In her story on OFANP in today’s NYT, Laurie Goodstein writes: Joshua DuBois, a 26-year-old Pentecostal minister who led religious outreach for Mr. Obama during the presidential race, will direct the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Mr. DuBois said in an interview, “The president is still very much committed to clear […]
COMMENTARY: Being there
By Tracy Gordon — February 5, 2009
(UNDATED) Author Os Guinness spoke at our church on Sunday morning and challenged us to be attentive to our lives. “Wherever you are,” he told us, “be there.” The next day, I saw the enchanting and magical “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” In one memorable line, Benjamin says, “Your life is defined by its […]
OFANP at First Glance
By Mark Silk — February 5, 2009
1. Notwithstanding the hat-tip to church-state separation, this is definitely a walk-back from Obama’s campaign promise not to allow faith-based hiring discrimination for federally funded programs. 2. Kicking it over to the lawyers will provide him with some cover–but it won’t solve everything. 3. Using the office to engage the rest of the world in […]
Faith-Based 2.0: the press release
By Mark Silk — February 5, 2009
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 5, 2009 Obama Announces White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Washington (February 5, 2009) – President Barack Obama today signed an executive order establishing the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The White House Office of Faith-Based and […]
Keeler speaks
By Mark Silk — February 5, 2009
Neil Rubin, the editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times, just sent in by way of comment the following quotes from his interview with Cardinal William Keeler, who as Episcopal Moderator for Catholic-Jewish Relations carries the Jewish portfolio for the bishops conference: “This is completely out of order. It’s just ridiculous that [Bishop Williamson] would make […]
Holy Roll-Out
By Mark Silk — February 5, 2009
As we await the president’s executive order establishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (new acronym = OFANP), Gorski’s back with more from his “religious leader with knowledge of the plans.” The man with the plans now says that the order will direct White House lawyers and officials to work with DOJ […]
COMMENTARY: The Vatican goes viral
By Cathleen Falsani — February 4, 2009
(UNDATED) Along with the short film of my friend’s toddler son learning sign language and a terribly clever adaptation of Eddies Izzard’s “Death Star Canteen” stand-up routine done entirely with Legos, one of my all-time favorite online videos comes from the Vatican. It’s a grainy, tinny-sounding recording of three Polish break dancers performing for Pope […]
Pow!
By Mark Silk — February 4, 2009
In the latest round of The Big CLURT Smackdown, Pastordan is up on Religion Dispatches with a response to Robbie Jones’ cri de coeur against critics of the “Governing Agenda to End the Culture Wars.” Personally, I think there’s probably some (excuse the expression) common ground to be had here. If the Third Way folks […]
