Boston
‘Spotlight’ was just nominated for 6 Oscars. But will journalists dig up the next faith scandal? (COMMENTARY)
By Bill Tammeus — January 15, 2016
(RNS) The diminution of investigative reporting places a deeper responsibility on faith communities to seek out the truth and to insist on transparency from authorities.
Catholic school violated gay man’s rights, judge rules
By Reuters — December 17, 2015
A Boston area Catholic School revoked its job offer when the man cited his husband as an emergency contact.
Pope Francis will find the U.S. Catholic Church bleeding money
By Reuters — September 8, 2015
The financial woes and the destabilizing effect they could have on the church's social and educational work will be a constant backdrop to the pope's Sept 22-27 visit to Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
New film puts spotlight on Boston’s pedophile priests
By Reuters — September 3, 2015
VENICE (Reuters) "Spotlight," starring Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo as reporters working on The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of pedophile Roman Catholic priests, deals with just a fraction of sexual predation in the church, its director says.
Boston bomber to face about 20 of his victims at sentencing
By Reuters — May 20, 2015
BOSTON (Reuters) Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will face about 20 of his victims at a hearing next month when he will be formally sentenced to die for the 2013 attack.
PHOTO: A different kind of cardinal in your backyard
By Sally Morrow — May 12, 2015
He's got the ear of Pope Francis in Rome, but Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley still has to get his hands dirty back home.
Christian sexuality debate in Boston mirrors national conversation
By Jonathan Merritt — April 24, 2015
The conversations at the Q conference did not mirror the raging debates common on cable news networks, but they may more closely resemble the national conversation as it occurs in many homes, workplaces, and churches.
Catholic school to sit out St. Pat’s parade because gays will be marching
By Reuters — March 2, 2015
BOSTON (Reuters) "We can't associate with that," Brother Thomas Dalton, principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary School. "It would appear we were condoning it."
Boston grieves rabbi killed in Jerusalem synagogue
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — November 19, 2014
SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. (RNS) When word spread that Boston native Moshe Twersky was among those murdered in a Jerusalem synagogue attack, local Jews grieved not only a native son but also a loss to a great rabbinic tradition.
5 dumbest things said about the Boston Marathon Explosions: Fox News, (some) Republicans
By Omid Safi — April 27, 2013
The purpose is not (merely) to expose and ridicule—ok, maybe there is a touch of that—but rather to shine the light on areas of shortcoming that we, all of us, will have to deal with if we are to get to a more beautiful place than we are right now.
Boston mosque says bombing suspect had outbursts but wasn’t violent
By Oren Dorell — April 23, 2013
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (RNS) Leaders at a Cambridge mosque say Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev "disagreed with the moderate American-Islamic theology" of the mosque, but they never had "any hint" the brothers might be violent.
Death penalty in Boston?
By Michael J. O'Loughlin — April 22, 2013
Doctors spent time and money saving suspect two. Someday, a set of medical professionals may kill him. How will faith leaders react?
10 Essential points about the Boston Marathon bombers, Islam, and America
By Omid Safi — April 20, 2013
It’s not about Islam, or Chechnya. It’s about America. What happens now matters. How we as a nation move forward is critical. Do we turn our attention where it belongs, on comforting and healing the victims of Monday’s attacks, or do we turn into an angry mob accusing all Muslims of a crime that two men committed?
“No more hurting people. Peace.”
By Omid Safi — April 16, 2013
Here was a lesson that Martin Richard, the wise 8-year old, had already learned:
If you can, bring joy and love to humanity.
If you cannot, and you can, at least cause no harm.
Boston Marathon, Terrorism, and President Obama
By Omid Safi — April 16, 2013
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon, President Obama stated: "Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror."
Mr. President, I wonder if you realize how right you are.
Mr. President, I wonder if you realize what that means when we are the ones dropping bombs on civilians in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Pakistan.