Congress
TONY CAMPOLO: Why Christians should vote for Hillary
By Tony Campolo — April 13, 2015
The former spiritual advisor to President Bill Clinton says he supports Hillary even though he is pro-life. He lays out why he thinks other Christians should too.
Obama to host Pope Francis at White House in September
By David Gibson — March 26, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis will become the third pope to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when he meets with the president and first lady during his U.S. tour in September.
Netanyahu does not speak for all American Jews (COMMENTARY)
By Rebecca Vilkomerson — February 20, 2015
(RNS) American Jews are largely appalled by the notion that Netanyahu, or any other Israeli politician -- one that we did not elect and do not choose to be represented by -- claims to speak for us.
It’s official: Pope Francis to address Congress in September
By Susan Davis — February 5, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) No pope or religious leader who serves as a head of state has ever addressed Congress, according to the U.S. House Historian's Office.
Pope Francis and America’s shifting views toward Catholics (COMMENTARY)
By A. James Rudin — January 23, 2015
(RNS) With a Catholic vice president and a Catholic speaker of the House looking on behind him, Pope Francis' speech will serve as a vivid reminder of how far Americans have come in overcoming deeply embedded anti-Catholic bigotry.
A complicated world intrudes upon an ideologically driven Congress (COMMENTARY)
By Tom Ehrich — January 13, 2015
(RNS) The disconnect between what Congress wants to do and what the nation needs done is vast and bizarre.
7 ways religious affiliation will (and won’t) change in the new Congress
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — January 5, 2015
(RNS) Many of the nation’s smaller religious groups are more proportionally represented in the 114th Congress that is to be sworn in on Tuesday.
Evangelicals a mixed bag on Obama’s immigration move
By Adelle M. Banks — November 20, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Evangelicals are a key voting bloc for the GOP, but on immigration some are taking a pragmatic step away from the party.
COMMENTARY: What Congress can learn from a town dump
By Tom Ehrich — August 5, 2014
ACCORD, N.Y. (RNS) A trip to the town dump was quick, easy and efficient. Why can't Congress be the same way?
No ‘Pope Francis effect’ on Capitol Hill gridlock
By David Gibson — August 4, 2014
(RNS) Despite the almost universal popularity of Pope Francis, the House of Representatives was unable to muster enough bipartisan support to pass a resolution honoring Francis' election -- nearly 18 months ago.
More than 100 religious, immigration activists arrested at White House
By Adelle M. Banks — July 31, 2014
(RNS) “I think standing outside the White House will make a difference,” said Sister Eileen Campbell of the Sisters of Mercy, joining others in an act of civil disobedience to protest deportations and seek relief for 11 million immigrants living illegally in the country.
Religious leaders petition Congress to support immigrant children
By Heather Adams — July 10, 2014
(RNS) At a teleconference Thursday (July 10), faith leaders asked Congress for emergency funds to help children who have entered the United States without lawful immigration papers and without a parent or guardian.
Barney Frank: Why I didn’t talk about my atheism while serving in Congress
By Chris Stedman — June 6, 2014
Former Congressman Barney Frank tells RNS how anti-Semitism impacted his decision not to talk about his nontheism sooner, shares his advice for atheists who want to run for public office, and explains how responses to his nontheism have differed from responses to his sexual orientation.
Congress plants ‘Anne Frank’ sapling at U.S. Capitol
By Lauren Markoe — April 30, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) A three-foot sapling grown from the same Amsterdam tree graces the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, a symbol, lawmakers said, of the young girl's abiding faith in humanity.
Meet James Woods, who could be the first open atheist elected to Congress
By Chris Stedman — April 27, 2014
Arizona's James Woods could be the first person elected to U.S. Congress to openly campaign as an atheist, and the first blind member of Congress in nearly 100 years. He spoke with RNS about his beliefs and his campaign.
