Monthly Archives: April 2011
Feminist pioneer challenges Orthodox patriarchy
By Tracy Gordon — April 30, 2011
JERUSALEM (RNS) Tova Hartman opens the door to her apartment with a warm smile, speaking softly and casually dressed. With her down-to-earth femininity, she doesn’t exactly look like a rabble-rouser within Orthodox Judaism. Which, perhaps, is precisely what makes her so effective. The 53-year old psychologist and Jewish scholar has used her decidedly feminist Orthodox […]
John Paul’s casket unearthed for beatification
By Tracy Gordon — April 30, 2011
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The casket of the late Pope John Paul II was exhumed Friday (April 29), in preparation for the late pontiff’s beatification ceremony on Sunday. John Paul’s casket was removed in the early morning hours from its tomb in the Vatican Grottoes, under St. Peter’s Basilica, said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, director of […]
Jews, evangelicals search for ways to discuss Israel
By Tracy Gordon — April 30, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) American Jews and evangelicals need a formal mechanism to discuss their differences and similarities on support for Israel, leaders from both sides said Thursday (April 28) at the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum 2011. Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly, spoke alongside Gary Bauer, president of American […]
Huck Huck
By Mark Silk — April 29, 2011
Not to toot your proprietor’s clairvoyance or anything but, OMG OMG!!, Mike Huckabee is now letting the Beltwayans in on the secret that HE MAY ACTUALLY BE RUNNING.
Friday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — April 29, 2011
The word of the day is “betwixt,” from the high-church vows pronounced between Wills and Kate this morning at Westminster Abbey. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and his fly-away eyebrows presided over the pomp and circumstance, assisted by the Dean of Westminster and the Bishop of London (sermon here, and the prayer the happy couple […]
Acceptance grows for autistic kids in church
By Tracy Gordon — April 29, 2011
CALDWELL, N.J. (RNS) Halfway through a Mass in Caldwell College’s campus chapel, Chase Keith rose to his feet for one of the most challenging parts of a challenging day. It required the boy from Basking Ridge, N.J., to offer his hand to strangers in the traditional sign of peace. With his mother whispering in his […]
Ceremonies to the Rescue
By Mark Silk — April 29, 2011
In the Great Ecclesiastical Bake-Off of 2011 between the Royal Wedding and the Papal Beatification, the historian in me can only say that it’s terrific to see Westminster Abbey and St. Peter’s Basilica elbowing each other for pride of place in the public eye. And don’t the two look fabulous! Both events have been arranged […]
The president’s (born-again) birth certificate
By Tracy Gordon — April 28, 2011
(RNS) So, according to the long-form birth certificate released by the White House on Wednesday (April 27), Barack Hussein Obama II was born at 7:24 p.m. on Aug. 4, 1961 at Kapiolani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital, 6085 Kalanianaole Highway, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii. Phew! Glad that’s settled. Or at least it seemed to be settled for […]
Evangelical icon David Wilkerson dies in car crash
By Tracy Gordon — April 28, 2011
(RNS) Evangelist David Wilkerson, who wrote the popular book “The Cross and the Switchblade” and founded New York’s Times Square Church, died in a traffic accident Wednesday (April 27). Wilkerson, 79, died after his car slammed into a tractor-trailer on a highway about 95 miles southeast of Dallas, according to The Associated Press. His wife, […]
Thursday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — April 28, 2011
Evangelical icon David Wilkerson, founder of New York’s Times Square Church and Teen Challenge anti-drug programs and author of “The Cross and the Switchblade” was killed in a car accident in eastern Texas (photo at left). Over at Christian Broadcasting Network, David Brody is continuing the lovefest for The Donald because “he FORCED this White […]
Panel cites Egypt for religious freedom violations
By Tracy Gordon — April 28, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) A religious freedom watchdog panel has added Egypt to its list of the worst violators of religious liberty, citing attacks on Coptic Christians that occurred surrounding the downfall of former President Hosni Mubarak. “The Egyptian government engaged in and tolerated religious freedom violations both before and after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on […]
Naming saints isn’t an easy or quick process
By Tracy Gordon — April 28, 2011
NEW YORK (RNS) Pope John Paul II will move one step closer to sainthood when he is beatified during an elaborate Vatican ceremony on Sunday (May 1). While the Roman Catholic Church has held up heroes, patrons, intercessors and spiritual companions for centuries, the path to sainthood is never easy or quick. “The lives of […]
Hot off the Press!
By Mark Silk — April 28, 2011
The latest issue of Religion in the News is now online, with a veritable cornucopia of piquant pemmican. The cover story is Andrew Walsh’s definitive recapitulation of the past year’s Islamophobic extravaganza, accompanied by an excursus on America as Christian Nation. And for the word on Shariphobia, check out Marc D. Stern’s examination of what […]
Churches form ‘circle of protection’ around poor
By Tiffany McCallen — April 27, 2011
(RNS) Catholic, evangelical, mainline Protestant, black and Latino Christian leaders have formed a “Circle of Protection” against U.S. cuts to poverty-fighting programs, gearing up for a high-stakes budget battle when Congress reconvenes next week. While recognizing the need for “fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice,” the 50 leaders argue that Christian values require them “to resist […]
Gingrich talks of journey to Catholicism
By Tiffany McCallen — April 27, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Tilting toward a run at the presidency, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich traced his spiritual journey from Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic at a Catholic prayer breakfast here on Wednesday (April 27). “People ask me when I decided to become Catholic,” said Gingrich, who formally converted in 2009. “It would be more accurate […]
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