Monthly Archives: October 2009
There are graphics…
By Mark Silk — October 28, 2009
…and then there are graphics. A Baptist, a Jew, a Catholic, a Generic Christian, a Muslim, and a Mainline Christian go into a bar…To interact with these folks, go here.
No remorse
By Mark Silk — October 28, 2009
It seems that eBay won’t permit supporters of Scott Roeder, the man accused of murdering abortion doctor George Tiller, to use its site to hold an auction to raise money for his defense. Among the items they planned to auction is a prison drawing by Roeder of David and Goliath depicting David holding the head […]
Shea shares gift with Angola
By Adelle M. Banks — October 28, 2009
An organ belonging to George Beverly Shea, the 100-year-old soloist on Billy Graham’s evangelistic team, was supposed to reach the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., when Shea was no longer on earth to play it. But he recently helped deliver the gift early, Baptist Press reported. Shea explained at a ceremony at Angola that […]
Congregations keep on giving, despite the recession
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2009
(RNS) Despite the economic recession, a plurality of congregations reported an increase in donations in the first half of 2009, according to a new study. More than two-thirds of 1,500 congregations surveyed said fundraising has increased (37 percent) or held steady (34 percent), according to the study. Nearly 30 percent said giving had decreased in […]
Jewish leaders welcome new Catholic statement on conversion
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2009
(RNS) Jewish leaders are welcoming a revised statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that rejects suggestions that interfaith dialogue could lead to the conversion and baptism of Jews. American Jewish organizations had raised concerns that a document released by the bishops in June reversed earlier statements and indicated that dialogue between Catholics and […]
Calvin College agrees to further study ban on homosexual advocacy
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2009
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (RNS) Calvin College leaders aren’t withdrawing a controversial memo regarding the discussion of homosexuality, but say they will take more time to study how Christian Reformed Church teachings relate to academic freedom. In a letter issued to the college’s faculty Monday (Oct. 26), board of trustees chairman Bastian Knoppers said they did […]
Chilean pastor new head of Lutheran World Federation
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2009
GENEVA (RNS/ENI) The Lutheran World Federation has elected a 48-year-old Chilean pastor as general secretary of the global church group that includes more than 68 million Protestants worldwide, including nearly five million in the U.S. The Rev. Martin Junge becomes the first representative from Latin America to hold the highest position in the secretariat at […]
Religious freedom report lacks specifics, experts say
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2009
WASHINGTON (RNS) Religious freedom experts called for more specifics in the State Department’s policies on international religious liberty, but welcomed a new report that highlights abuse faced by people of faith throughout the world. Released by the State Department on Monday (Oct. 26), the status report on religious freedom in 198 countries and territories pays […]
Christians forgo Facebook for ‘digital fasting’
By Tracy Gordon — October 27, 2009
(RNS) In the world of faith-based social networking, evangelical Christian leader Mark Oestreicher commanded a huge chunk of cyberspace. Known as “Marko,” the technological hipster amassed 4,000 Facebook friends, 1,500 Twitter followers and 2,000 daily readers of his blog. But then he decided he’d had enough — and unplugged from his online circle of friends. […]
Tuesday’s religion round up
By Daniel Burke — October 27, 2009
The State Department released its annual report on international religious freedom and strongly condemned efforts by Muslim countries to bar defamation of religion. A new study says two-thirds of U.S. congregations have increased or continued donating at the same level, despite the economic recession. Three California Presbyterian churches are breaking with the PCUSA. America’s Orthodox […]
COMMENTARY: Something new is coming to pass
By Tom Ehrich — October 27, 2009
(RNS) Before I could send out an essay about a favorite street in Manhattan, I needed photographs. On a Sunday morning when I should have been in church, I went out with my camera into a glorious fall day. Sidewalks were jammed with walkers ambling in family clusters and couples. I passed a caravan of […]
Where do the bishops stand?
By Mark Silk — October 27, 2009
Writing on the WaPo On Faith blog, David Waters concludes a post on the health-care reform spat between Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Rhode Island Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin by taking up cudgels on behalf of the bishops’ worries about abortion: Given that even Democrats don’t agree on whether current versions of health-reform […]
Hear this, white boys!
By Mark Silk — October 27, 2009
The Anglican Global South Primates Steering Committee, chaired by the formidable Peter Akinola of Nigeria, has issued an “exhortation to the faithful” turning thumbs down on Pope Benedict’s little Anglican cherry-picking expedition while putting the squeeze on Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC) Rowan Williams. Here are the key paragraphs: 3. We welcome Pope Benedict XVI’s stance […]
S.C. diocese distances itself from Episcopal Church
By Tracy Gordon — October 26, 2009
(RNS) The Diocese of South Carolina voted on Saturday (Oct. 24) to begin withdrawing from some governing bodies in the Episcopal Church in protest over the denomination’s approval of same-sex blessings and gay bishops. While the diocese did not secede from the Episcopal Church, as four other dioceses have done in recent years, it did […]
Vatican hosts talks with ultraconservative group
By Tracy Gordon — October 26, 2009
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Representatives of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) met at the Vatican on Monday (Oct. 26) for the first of a planned series of talks aimed at reconciling the breakaway ultra-traditionalist group with the Catholic Church. No details of the discussions were released, but a Vatican statement said they took place […]
