Money & Giving
Muslims prepare halal turkey Thanksgiving feast
By Tracy Gordon — November 25, 2010
(RNS) Garlic wafts in the air while sauce bubble on the stove. The kitchen clamors with young cooks preparing South Asian dishes. The women are in headscarves while the men wear hairnets covering dark curls. Some cooks layer carrots and peas into a mountain of basmati rice while others coat chickpeas in spices to create […]
COMMENTARY: Being thankful is always in style
By Cathleen Falsani — November 24, 2010
(RNS) Calling it a “beloved American tradition” in his official proclamation this week, President Obama reminded us that Thanksgiving is an opportunity “to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people and our country.” Thank you, Mr. President. I needed to hear that. Surely 2010 has been a year of […]
Talking turkey (and God)
By Daniel Burke — November 24, 2010
President Obama took some heat last year for not mentioning God enough in his Thanksgiving proclamation. In this year’s proclamation, he appears to go out of his way to avoid that critique (see full text below). Now about that poor turkey … THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 23, […]
Thanksgiving’s a holiday atheists can believe in
By Tracy Gordon — November 20, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Ken Guthrie and his partner will be at his aunt’s house for Thanksgiving, sharing a table with his grandmother, siblings and cousins — a veritable holiday crowd. But when it comes time to express thanks, Guthrie, a board member of Salt Lake City Pagan Pride, will not be speaking to the […]
Study: Americans crave forgiveness but are choosy on dispensing it
By Tracy Gordon — November 4, 2010
(RNS) Most Americans have a desire for more forgiveness in their lives, but they are more critical when choosing who to forgive, according to a new survey. Sixty-two percent of American adults said they need more forgiveness in their personal lives, and 94 percent wanted to see more forgiveness in the country, according to a […]
U.S. is feeling charitable, just not through churches
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2010
(RNS) Americans are being more generous to religious charities, but why are they skimping on their giving to churches? A new report from Empty Tomb Inc., an Illinois-based Christian research organization, contains an analysis that found from 2007 to 2008, Protestant churches saw a decrease of $20.02 in per-member annual charitable gifts. Meanwhile, Empty Tomb’s […]
Some religious charities receive more despite overall drop
By Tracy Gordon — October 18, 2010
(RNS) Several of the nation’s largest religious charities reported increases in private support as nonprofits overall saw decreases in donations last year, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. Feed the Children, which ranked fifth in the annual Philanthropy 400, had a 1.2 percent increase in private support, which totaled $1.19 billion. World Vision saw a 4.5 […]
COMMENTARY: The wisdom of middle age
By Cathleen Falsani — October 13, 2010
(RNS) I recently crossed that dreaded threshold into middle age, and it got me thinking about what, if any, spiritual wisdom I might have accumulated in my 40 years in this mortal coil of ours. Here are a few things I’ve learned — from experience, from other people, and (I hope) from God: 1. Begin […]
COMMENTARY: Nobody ever said love was easy
By Tracy Gordon — September 23, 2010
Staub(RNS) People often say that love is the solution to all our societal problems. They could learn a thing or two from Leo Tolstoy, who could write and say such wonderful things about love but was unable to love even his own wife. The tragic story is well documented and retold in the recent film, […]
Charity report: U.S. ties for fifth in global giving
By Kevin Eckstrom — September 17, 2010
Houston Chronicle (RNS): The U.S. tied with Switzerland for fifth place in a “world giving index” by the British-based Charities Aid Foundation that measured charitable behavior across the globe. Read more.
Charity report: U.S. ties for fifth in global giving
By Tracy Gordon — September 14, 2010
(RNS) The U.S. tied with Switzerland for fifth place in a “world giving index” by the British-based Charities Aid Foundation that measured charitable behavior across the globe. The ranking in the “World Giving Index 2010” was based on the U.S.’s showing in three categories — 60 percent of Americans gave to an organization; 39 percent […]
Atheist group to raise funds for religious charity
By Tracy Gordon — August 18, 2010
(RNS) An atheist foundation that seeks to foster charitable giving among nonbelievers is encouraging members to donate to a religious charity — and the move is stirring mixed feelings among members. Foundation Beyond Belief, a nonprofit headquartered in Georgia, has designated London-based Quaker Peace & Social Witness as one of 10 charities its members will […]
Beliefnet sold to Virginia media company
By Tracy Gordon — June 29, 2010
(RNS) A small Virginia-based media company that specializes in channeling a small portion of consumer spending to charity has acquired Beliefnet, a leading online website devoted to multi-faith news, commentary and content. BN Media LLC focuses on the “vast online market for spirituality and inspiration” by “bringing audio-visual and written content to the masses while […]
Homeowners weigh morality of walking out on mortgages
By Tracy Gordon — June 22, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) Lynn Thompson quit paying the mortgage on her investment property — not because she couldn’t afford the payments, but because she thinks walking away is better for her long-term financial health. Thompson bought the property here for $175,000 in January 2007, just as the housing market began its slow downward slide. At […]
Agreement allows N.Y. student to wear rosary to school until hearing
By Tracy Gordon — June 11, 2010
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (RNS) A federal judge on Wednesday (June 9) approved a lawyers’ agreement allowing a Schenectady, N.Y. student to continue wearing a rosary outside his clothing pending a court hearing in September. Syracuse lawyer Raymond Dague said the new court oversight was sought after school officials forced 13-year-old Raymond Hosier into two days of […]
