Politics
NEWS STORY: Conference looks at children, violence and role of religion
By Grazie Pozo Christie — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ While religious leaders and those who counsel at-risk youth have vastly different theories about why such incidents as the recent shootings in Jonesboro, Ark., take place, there is agreement among many that congregations and faith-based organizations must do more in ministering to children before they resort to […]
NEWS FEATURE: Russian Orthodox Church facing schism over ecumenical role
By Christa Brown — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service MOSCOW _ When the World Council of Churches’ assembly convenes next month in Harare, Zimbabwe, the specter of losing its biggest member _ the 80 million-member Russian Orthodox Church _ will loom large over the proceedings. But for the token delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church there will be a […]
NEWS STORY: Arcane Buddhist dispute brings out Dalai Lama protesters
By RNS Blog Editor — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service NEWYORK _ Thanks to his Nobel Peace Prize, prominent supporters and some Hollywood movies, the Dalai Lama _ Tibet’s exiled spiritual and political leader _ has become an increasingly familiar face in the United States. He’s become so familiar, in fact, that his image currently appears with the likes of […]
NEWS STORY: Leader’s marriage plan divides Russian Hare Krishnas
By RNS Blog Editor — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service MOSCOW _ While the world follows the twists and turns of the Bill and Monica story, the Hare Krishna community has a high-level sex scandal of its own _ complete with a woman named Monica. Harikesa Swami Sri Vishnupad _ former chairman of the Hare Krishna movement’s international governing body […]
NEWS FEATURE: `Preventable’ deaths _ where faith and medicine clash
By RNS Blog Editor — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service OREGON CITY, Ore. _ Shielded by state laws that are among the most liberal in the nation at protecting faith-healing parents, the Followers of Christ Church here has amassed one of the largest clusters of child deaths recorded among the nation’s spiritual-healing churches. More than a fourth of the deaths […]
NEWS FEATURE: Turning to spiritual directors to hear God’s hints
By Bruce Nolan — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service NEW ORLEANS _ God has elbows, Priscilla Maumus believes. She felt them digging in her ribs, so to speak, as a vague and unnameable restlessness nudged at her a few years ago even in the midst of a happy marriage and successful career. So on the advice of a friend, […]
NEWS FEATURE: When `thou shalt not kill’ turns violent
By Chris Smith — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service OSWIECIM, Poland _ Samuel Pisar has trouble visiting Auschwitz. The first time he came here, during World War II, he arrived on a cattle car as a skeletal teen with a shaved head and gnawing hunger. Pisar went on to success as an author, international lawyer, adviser to world leaders […]
NEWS STORY: Clerics see progress on China religious freedom issue
By Ira Rifkin — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ A delegation of U.S. religious leaders recently returned from China pronounced their much criticized trip a success Wednesday (March 18) because they were able to raise religious freedom issues directly with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and open what they hope will be an ongoing dialogue on the […]
NEWS FEATURE: Presbyterians suing for colonial-era contributions
By Bart Worden — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service PHILADELPHIA _ Long before the American colonies were united the Presbyterian Ministers’ Fund provided a slice of the capital that would lay the groundwork for a new nation. It loaned cash to the Continental Congress to help fund the battle for independence. It provided ransom money to free ministers taken […]
NEWS STORY: Excited, expectant pilgrims leave for Cuban papal visit
By Ira Rifkin — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ A group of more than 400 excited and expectant Roman Catholic pilgrims, many bearing medical supplies and accompanied by as many as 50 reporters and other media, left New York on Tuesday (Jan. 20) for Cuba to witness the historic visit of Pope John Paul II to […]
NEWS FEATURE: New charity trend: women helping women
By Shaun Casey — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service PHILADELPHIA _”Women now have a significant amount of money and they are creating opportunities for other women who are somewhat left behind,” says Sister Mary Scullion. The crusading nun’s “somewhat” was a tactful way of describing situations that are desperate. Scullion made her remarks at the recent groundbreaking for a […]
NEWS STORY: Symposium examines moral roots of social ills
By RNS Blog Editor — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ Are Americans rediscovering the importance of moral truth?”Miss Manners,”for one, believes they must if a civil and democratic society is to survive. At a one-day symposium Wednesday (May 27), columnist Judith Martin (alias Miss Manners) joined 100 religious leaders, scholars, and political analysts at the Carlyle Hotel […]
NEWS STORY: Czech textbooks give inadequate attention to Jewish themes
By Chris Smith — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service PRAGUE, Czech Republic _ Most textbooks used in Czech schools give scattered, inadequate and occasionally hostile treatment to Jewish themes, according to a study released here Tuesday, (Oct. 20). While noting improvements in some recently published books,”most of the materials in use … are inadequate with regard to coverage of […]
NEWS FEATURE: Under new regime, Congo pastor discovers the cost of discipleship
By RNS Blog Editor — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service KINSHASA, Congo _ In a grassy field a few dozen yards from the banks of the Congo river, pastor Theodore Ngoy gazed out across hundreds of hopeful Congolese faces eight months ago and preached to the soul of a troubled nation. Worship not the power and authority of human government, […]
NEWS STORY: Pilgrims setoff on yearlong `middle passage’ trek against racism
By RNS Blog Editor — January 1, 1998
c. 1998 Religion News Service LEVERETT, MASS. _ A year ago, Mariah L. Richardson was a Master of Fine Arts student looking for someone to direct the play she had just written. A friend suggested Ingrid C. Askew, who agreed to take on the project. But two weeks later, the play was shelved _ at […]
