Monthly Archives: December 2012

Churches under fire for using gun classes as outreach

By Greg Horton — December 19, 2012

PRYOR CREEK, Okla. (RNS) A few dozen churches around the country offer gun classes as a way to reach out to non-Christians and attract new members. But after the massacre at Sandy Hook, such classes are facing fierce criticism. By Greg Horton.

For Missouri monks, holiday fruitcakes are slice of the divine

By Kellie Moore — December 19, 2012

AVA, Mo. (RNS) Some monasteries make jelly, creamed honey, even world-class beer. For the last 25 years, the Trappist monks of Assumption Abbey here in the foothills of the Ozarks have made fruitcake. By Kellie Kotraba.

Vatican works to stop Sunday shopping in Italy

By Alessandro Speciale — December 19, 2012

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Roman Catholic Church, trade unions and small business associations have joined forces in a bid to save Sundays. By Alessandro Speciale.

Keep independent religion news strong: Give a year-end gift

By Wendy Gustofson — December 19, 2012

As we reach the end of 2012, the staff of Religion News Service can look back on a productive year. In the short span of 12 months, RNS: Published nearly 1,550 stories and 975 photos. Launched a clean new website that adapts to multiple platforms. Expanded its coverage of Catholicism, Mormonism and atheism. Added […]

What gun control is up against

By Mark Silk — December 19, 2012

A day after the massacre in Newtown, the Southern Baptist pastor and blogger Wade Burleson posted an extended defense of gun rights that concludes: Natural Law demands free citizens have the right to be armed. As a Christian, I may choose not to bear arms, to turn the other cheek, and to live like Jesus Christ […]

Wednesday’s Religion News Roundup: Catholic gun control* Queen James Bible* Frankie Valens’ new gig

By Daniel Burke — December 19, 2012

Catholics support stricter gun control. Gay advocates publish the "Queen James Bible." D.C. court issues major decision on contraception mandate. Frankie Valens' new gig.

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly Listings — December 21 & December 28

By Religion News LLC — December 19, 2012

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET. Visit www.pbs.org/religionandethics for additional information. Show #1616 is fed over PBS on Friday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m. (check local listings). Show #1617 is fed over PBS on Friday, December 28 at 5:00 p.m. (check local listings). December 21 – Show # 1616 Look […]

European austerity measures reach the Vatican budget

By Alessandro Speciale — December 18, 2012

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican must adopt "effective" cost reduction measures in the wake of the global economic crisis, Pope Benedict XVI's No. 2 official warned on Tuesday (Dec. 18). By Alessandro Speciale

The `nones’ now form the world’s third-largest ‘religion’ *

By Kimberly Winston — December 18, 2012

(RNS) A new report on global religious identity shows that while Christians and Muslims make up the two largest groups, those with no religious affiliation — including atheists and agnostics — are now the third-largest “religious” group in the world. The study, released Tuesday (Dec. 18) by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, […]

Death penalty grows rarer in U.S.

By Lauren Markoe — December 18, 2012

(RNS) Though states put the same number of people to death this year as last, an anti-death penalty group says several other indicators show capital punishment is on the wane. By Lauren Markoe.

Majority of Americans Report Experience of God’s Love Leads to Increased Benevolence

By Religion News LLC — December 18, 2012

A majority of Americans (81%) report that they have experienced God’s love, according to a new study. Even more have felt God’s love increasing their compassion for others (83%), showing that for many Americans, the experience of divine love and benevolence are inseparable. It’s an overlooked component of contemporary Christian benevolence, contend Matthew T. Lee, […]

Newest front in the Christmas wars: billboards

By Kimberly Winston — December 18, 2012

(RNS) A billboard bearing a positive message about atheism has been vandalized — again. A billboard posted in Chico, Calif., that originally read “Don’t believe in God? Join the club” was defaced on Dec. 12, less than a week after it appeared, with vandals removing the word “don’t.” The billboard was one of 12 purchased […]

Catholic theologian Thomas Reese

By Ron Ribiat — December 18, 2012

“Apply the rules of papal conclaves. Lock up the members of Congress, take away their cellphones, and don’t let them out until they pass a budget.” — The Rev. Thomas Reese, senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Woodstock Theological Center, writing in The Huffington Post about a Catholic solution to the “fiscal cliff.”

COMMENTARY: Suffer the children

By Tom Ehrich — December 18, 2012

(RNS) As news about shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., began to spread last week, I could hear the gun lobby’s spin-masters kicking into high gear. Don’t “politicize” a tragedy in order to deprive people of their constitutional rights, went the line. Our hands weren’t on those triggers. Unless politicians summon previously unseen […]

Tuesday’s Religion News Roundup: Newtown Theodicy, Westboro Picket and Global Nones