Opinion
Oltman Replies
By Mark Silk — September 1, 2008
Last week, I took Adele Oltman to task for her piece in the Nation arguing that Obama had more in common with Daddy King than his son, MLK, Jr. Oltman has now posted a long response that I find much less problematic, and which is worth a look. Her appreciation of King, Sr.’s contribution is […]
COMMENTARY: Pelosi flat out wrong on abortion
By Tracy Gordon — August 30, 2008
People will use practically anything for politics, but when they use their religion it’s a bit breathtaking. Nancy Pelosi left a lot of Catholics gasping Sunday morning (Aug. 24), when she skewed Catholic teaching on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and erroneously suggested the church did not always oppose abortion. The House Speaker went well beyond […]
Palindrome
By Mark Silk — August 29, 2008
First thought: Gilgoff’s right to draw attention to Richard Land’s enthusiasm for Palin as Veep in his CBS interview of a few weeks ago. So she’s the ticket’s energizer bunny: activated evangelicals plus Alaska oil. See Sarah run. Second thought: Palin gives religious right leaders–real, supposed, or would-be–all the grounds they need to jump on […]
Mile High Civil Religion
By Mark Silk — August 29, 2008
For connoisseurs of religion in American public life, last night’s stadium extravaganza offered a couple of tasty morsels. Let me begin with Rev. Joel Hunter’s benediction, which ended with the novelty of asking all attendees to pray in the name of whatever they pray in the name of. Or as he put it: Now I […]
COMMENTARY: Census report shows the times they are a-changing
By Tracy Gordon — August 29, 2008
While politicians argue whether “change” is coming to America, there’s no doubt real demographic change is happening right now. What emerges from the Census report is an American population less and less linked to Europe as the U.S. becomes a truly multi-racial and multi-ethnic country. These changes will dramatically impact every aspect of national life: […]
COMMENTARY: Census report shows the times they are a-changin’
By James Rudin — August 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) While politicians argue whether “change” is coming to America, there’s no doubt real demographic change is happening right now. The Census Bureau recently reported that ethnic and racial minorities are rapidly growing in numbers. In just 15 years, the bureau predicts, the majority of America’s children under the age […]
Minnery among the Dems
By Mark Silk — August 28, 2008
Sarah Pulliam, who’s blogging up a storm from the Democratic Convention for Christianity Today‘s election blog, has a good q and a with Focus on the Family’s Tom Minnery. Minnery’s officially an unhappy camper, with no use for the Dems and little use for McCain. Grumble grumble.
McChabad
By Mark Silk — August 28, 2008
In a phone call with 40 Chabad rabbis from around the country, John McCain asks for their support by emphasizing that he will “put my country first. And I want to promise you that. I will put my country first.” That’s in contrast to Obama? Then McCain assures them, “I will do everything in my […]
Press Notes
By Mark Silk — August 28, 2008
Over at the Revealer, Jeff Sharlet is puffing Adele Oltman’s Nation piece on Obama and the Martin Luther Kings, Sr. and Jr. Read it if you must, but I wouldn’t take seriously its claim that Barack Obama is more like Daddy than Dr. King. The suggestion that Obama is advocating some kind of throwback to […]
COMMENTARY: Catholics Dems and bishops in for a bumpy ride
By Phyllis Zagano — August 28, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is clearly confused about Catholic teaching on life issues. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Tom Brokaw asked her: “When does life begin?” She answered, “We don’t know.” Pelosi said “that as an ardent, practicing Catholic,” this is an issue she’s studied for a long time. […]
COMMENTARY: Catholic Democrats and bishops at odds again
By Phyllis Zagano — August 28, 2008
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is clearly confused about Catholic teaching on life issues. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,”‘ Pelosi said that abortion is still an unsettled issue in the church. While the bishops try to straighten out Pelosi, who confuses medieval discussions about “ensoulment” with historical teachings on abortion, the Democrats are trying […]
The Book of Gustav
By Mark Silk — August 27, 2008
OK, hurricanes are unpredictable things, but as you can see, the National Hurricane Center is predicting that Gustav will be hitting New Orleans, oh, just about the time the gavel comes down to open the Republican National Convention up there at the other end of the Mississippi. If I believed in that sort of thing, […]
Biden and Abortion
By Mark Silk — August 27, 2008
As Joe Biden prepares for his self-introduction as Barack Obama’s ticket-mate, it’s a good time to think a little about what he brings to the table in re: the abortion issue, and how this may matter with respect to his Catholic co-religionists. The first thing to say is that, by Democratic Party standards, Biden is […]
COMMENTARY: Americans ready to break addiction to driving
By Tom Ehrich — August 27, 2008
Citizens are clearly ready to break their addiction to driving. Even in smaller cities not normally known for urban living, young adults are flocking to downtown housing from which they can walk to work. Even before gasoline prices spiked, property values began rising in neighborhoods served by public transportation and declining in far-flung areas dependent […]
COMMENTARY: Americans ready to break addiction to driving
By Tom Ehrich — August 26, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) My assignment on Saturday was to stand on the front steps of our church and hand out free lemonade to pedestrians and bicyclists. For six hours, Park Avenue was closed to motor vehicles, part of a three-Saturday experiment in making Manhattan less dependent on automobiles. Normally, pedestrians must dodge […]
