Monthly Archives: May 2012
Friday’s Religion News Roundup: Romney says Wright ads are wrong; Salt Lake City most religious; Donna Summer’s last dance
Mitt Romney repudiated conservative operatives' plans to use the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in anti-Obama attack ads. Salt Lake CIty is the most religious city in the U.S. Donna Summer, born again Christian, dances her last dance.
Why basketball is Muslims’ favorite sport
(RNS) Muslims' love of basketball is manifesting itself in Muslim basketball leagues and tournaments across the country, and is even recognized by the country’s major Islamic organizations, which are often criticized for being out of touch with Muslim youth. By Omar Sacirbey.
Calif. Presbyterians refuse to rebuke the Rev. Janie Spahr over gay marriages
(RNS) In an unprecedented act of defiance, a California branch of the Presbyterian Church (USA) refused a ruling from a church court to rebuke a pastor who wed same-sex couples. By Daniel Burke. About 300.
Cleveland Catholics are ‘anxious and edgy’ as parish reopenings drag on
CLEVELAND (RNS) Parishioners from 12 mothballed parishes have begun organizing committees in preparation for their churches' reopening, even as some are getting 'edgy and anxious' as the process drags on into its second month. By Michael O'Malley.
Church that stood up for gay rights faces closure
(RNS) Grace Community United Church of Christ in St. Paul, Minn., took a stand on gay rights, lost most of its congregants and on June 1 may lose its church, too. By Lauren Markoe.
Thursday’s Religion News Roundup: GOP plans Jeremiah Wright ads; sparring over Sebelius speech; Pat Robertson = Zen master
GOP activists are planning ads that tie Obama to Jeremiah Wright. Georgetown U. and the Archdiocese of Washington are sparring over Sebelius. Jesus is a video game character and Pat Robertson is a Zen master.
COMMENTARY: Kicking the can down the road
(RNS) The familiar cliche of "kicking the can down the road" that's become all too common in American politics has now become a convenient Procrastinators’ Prayer across American faith communities. By A.James Rudin.
Vatican says unity with traditionalist SSPX needs ‘further discussions’
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Reconciliation between the Vatican and a conservative breakaway group will require "further discussions" the Vatican doctrinal office said on Wednesday, while stressing that each member of the group will have to agree on key points of Catholic doctrine, including relationship with the Jews. By Alessandro Speciale.
D.C. Archdiocese, Georgetown University spar over Kathleen Sebelius speech
(RNS) Tensions between the Archdiocese of Washington and Georgetown University are escalating ahead of an commencement address by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. By David Gibson.
Chuck Colson’s memorial steeped in prison themes
WASHINGTON (RNS) Prison Fellowship founder and former Nixon aide Chuck Colson was memorialized Wednesday (May 16) at Washington National Cathedral in a service steeped in Scripture and prayers about prison and redemption. By Adelle M. Banks.
Church softball league calls a foul on bisexual pastor
ST. CLAIR, Mo. (RNS) A league of six church softball teams shrank to five when the pastors of three Baptist churches told one of the member churches that their teams would no longer take the field against that church's team because the pastor is bisexual. By Tim Townsend.
N.T. Wright asks: Have we gotten heaven all wrong?
(RNS) Christian apologist N.T. Wright's insistence that Christianity has got it all wrong seems to mark a turning point for the serious rethinking of heaven. He's not another academic iconoclast debunking Christian myths, but rather takes his creeds very seriously. By John Murawski.
Wednesday’s Religion News Roundup: Baptist baseball, Benedict and Benetton, Tim Tebow’s orphanage
Missouri Baptist churches call a strike on a local gay pastor, Episcopalians consider opening Communion to the non-baptized, and Benedict and Benetton kiss and make up. All in today's Roundup.
Religion news sites launch with nod to community engagement, resources
Vatican settles with Benetton over pope-kissing ad
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican has settled a lawsuit with Benetton clothing group for using the image of Pope Benedict XVI kissing a Muslim imam in an ad campaign. By Alessandro Speciale.