Franklin Graham’s effort to blacklist LGBT-friendly companies is a quixotic idea (COMMENTARY)
By Eliel Cruz — June 9, 2015
(RNS) The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse are looking for neutral banks. I wouldn’t suggest Chase, Citigroup or Bank of America -- all of which scored 100 percent in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
Arizona mosque, site of anti-Islam protest, holds ‘love not hate’ event
By Reuters — June 2, 2015
PHOENIX (Reuters) The Islamic Community Center of Phoenix said it was hosting a gathering to "show that when one of us is mistreated, our community responds with a message of Love and Not Hate."
Franklin Graham’s Facebook prayers target Supreme Court justices on gay marriage
By Lauren Markoe — May 20, 2015
(RNS) Franklin Graham is using social media to prompt prayers for a gay marriage ruling that follows "God's law."
NJ Catholic school teacher reinstated after anti-gay Facebook posts
By Dave Hutchinson — April 13, 2015
(RNS) The petition to fire the teacher, titled "Stop Public Hate Speech of Teachers," was started by an alumnus and picked up steam after several celebrities called attention to it.
NJ private school forces teacher to remove Facebook page after anti-gay posts
By Alex Napoliello — March 12, 2015
SOMERVILLE, N.J. (RNS) A Catholic high school teacher was forced to remove her Facebook page Wednesday (March 11) after a petition surfaced online calling attention to her "homophobic" posts.
How self-understanding might help us quit shouting (COMMENTARY)
By Tom Ehrich — December 9, 2014
(RNS) If I could wish anything for our troubled nation in these fractious times, it would be greater self-understanding. Not in the sense of narcissistic self-obsession, but in knowing what lies beneath our fervent feelings.
Online, offline faith go hand in hand
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — November 6, 2014
(RNS) A new Pew Research survey finds churchgoers avidly share their faith online.
Mormons embrace social media to push back against official church teachings
By Kimberly Winston — September 15, 2014
BERKELEY, Calif. (RNS) “We are starting to see a significant disconnect between what the church is telling people to believe about same-sex marriage and homosexuality and what people actually believe and accept,” said LGBT activist John Gustav-Wrathall. “I think the Internet has a lot to do with that."
COMMENTARY: Has humanity entered a new depth of degradation?
By Tom Ehrich — August 12, 2014
(RNS) Christians need to stop fighting each other and join forces against the powers of darkness.
Student who married same-sex partner expelled from Southwestern Christian University
By Greg Horton — July 11, 2014
(RNS) Christian Minard said she is aware that her relationship violates the covenant, but she is troubled at the inconsistent application of the rules, saying she believes she was singled out for being a married lesbian.
Iranian women shed veils for Facebook page
By Doug Stanglin — May 14, 2014
(RNS) A Facebook page -- called "Stealthy Freedom of Iranian Women" -- was set up by Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad and includes photos of women without their hijab.
COMMENTARY: Decency on the rise
By Tom Ehrich — December 31, 2013
(RNS) Did everything come up roses? Sadly, no. It was a rotten year in some respects. Think NSA, Chase Bank, John Boehner, Koch Brothers, scammers preying on soldiers and the elderly, payday lenders and other bottom-feeders. Even so, I end the year feeling positive.
Pope Francis tops Facebook’s list of most-talked-about topics
By Eric J. Lyman — December 10, 2013
(RNS) Pope Francis took the top spot, followed closely by Royal Baby George.
COMMENTARY: Old habits die hard
By Tom Ehrich — October 8, 2013
(RNS) Old ideas just need to be abandoned and something fresh and responsive allowed to emerge. Old ideas always benefit someone, and those someones tend to push back to protect their benefits. But that self-protective push-back isn’t a viable strategy.
Conservatives say censorship has increased on Facebook, iTunes
By Katherine Burgess — October 3, 2013
A panel discussion hosted by the National Religious Broadcasters considers incidents of “viewpoint censorship,” when new media companies block conservative Christian speech.
