All eyes on the Supreme Court as it begins to consider two same-sex marriage cases today.
Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus says the party’s platform leaves no doubt about its opposition to same-sex marriage. Still, it needs to welcome those with other views, he said.
Same-sex couples should not be denied the right to civil marriage, says Marc D. Stern, general counsel of the American Jewish Committee. But they should not be allowed to force dissenting religious organizations to recognize or facilitate their marriages.
Southern Baptist Seminary prez Al Mohler agrees.
And Georgetown law professor David Cole says it would be unwise for the Supreme Court to impose a uniform federal solution on the constitutional right to marriage.
As reporters converge on the court this morning, it’s fitting to pay tribute to former New York Times Supreme Court reporter and press freedom champion: Anthony Lewis, who died Monday.
For the first time in history, Mormon women will offer an invocation or benediction at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ church’s worldwide General Conference, April 6–7. In a church run by men, this really matters, says lawyer and blogger Steve Evans of Wisconsin.
Passover began last night. Now it’s onto Easter. Our own Dan Burke answers reader’s questions about the holiest Christian day. What was the ancient Christian view of resurrection, and does Easter borrow from pre-Christian pagan practices?
An Arizona woman has designed a workshop to help Americans heal from spiritual abuse, which she describes as when authoritarian religious groups use power and control to instill fear and guilt into worshippers.
Beware the serial convert. A high-profile Italian Muslim who converted to Catholicism and was baptized by Pope Benedict XVI announced he would leave the church to protest its soft stance against Islam.
RNS blogger Jonathan Merritt points to 10 inaccuracies in the History Channel’s Bible miniseries. Among them, a ram, not a lamb, was offered as a substitute in the Genesis story about the sacrifice of Isaac.
Michael J. O’Loughlin writes about Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and her decision to support gay marriage.
Syrian dignitaries have buried a divisive pro-government cleric at the capital’s ancient Ummayyad Mosque, sparking outrage among Syrian opposition activists.
The Chinese government plans to eradicate all unofficial, Protestant house churches across the country.
Alligator meat is considered fish.
Back home, the Southern Baptist Convention is likely to get its next spokesman on ethics and political issues today. That would be Richard Land’s replacement. No word yet who it might be.
Is it OK to eat alligator on Fridays during Lent? NPR asks that question after a Louisiana man wrote to Roman Catholic Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond. Aymond said yes, the alligator’s considered in the fish family.
And finally, after the obligatory four glasses of wine at last night’s Passover Seder, your Roundup scribe is ready for a nap. If you too are heading out for the second Seder tonight, sign up for tomorrow’s Roundup today.
6 Comments
Tuesday's Religion News Roundup: Marriage rights * Easter questions * Alligator meat - Religion News Service | THINKING PRESBYTERIAN | Scoop.it
[...] The Supreme Court hears arguments on same-sex-marriage. RNS answers readers questions about Easter. Catholics may eat alligator meat on Fridays during Lent. [...]
Liz Essley
Your grafs on Marc Stern and Al Mohler make it sound like they agree that the court should allow same-sex marriage. They definitely don’t. Mohler says the court might decide that, but certainly doesn’t approve of them deciding that. What they agree on is that religious liberty should not be infringed.
Kevan Scott
Firstly, I wish you would provide links in the rouundup to those stories you reported on there. I hate to go searching for them considering I use a screenreader and they are sometimes hard to find. Secondly, I think the Jewish guy in the roundup who “supported’ equal marriage has got it right. But then I don’t personally know any gay people who are asking Focus on Family to “recognize” their marriage. What one group practices under their particular tent of religion is fine with me. I’m not looking to force my religious beliefs on them but when it comes to equal rights for all in these United States I support the right of two consenting people to form a marriage contract. Lastly, alligator meat is fish? isn’t an alligator recognized as a mammal air breathing not gill breathing. Sounds to me as if someone is wanting to bend the rules a bit but as Paul said what one eats or doesn’t is between him and God. Dispute settled, I think?
Brandt Hardin
We must remember the true meaning of the Easter holiday and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oschter Haws (the original name for the Easter Bunny) is a fictitious embodiment of all that is unholy with American gluttony for chocolate, candy, eggs and all things savory and sinful. See the Good Lord RISE from his grave and RECLAIM our sacred holiday with the Hammer of God at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/04/oschter-haws-easter-tale-of-calamity.html
RIchard Weissbrod
Fun piece to read. But I still do not understand why Western and Eastern traditions celebrate Easter on separate days, if the date is set by the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox?
Thanks
Daniel Burke
Kevan,
The hyperlinks are actually in the stories. They are embedded within the text itself. I’m sorry that we don’t know how to accomodate your screenreader. Maybe you have some suggestions.
Richard,
I admit that I, too, sometimes have trouble wrapping my mind around the different Easter days. Here’s one way to understand it:
For those of us on the Gregorian calendar (most Western Christians that is), spring begins on March 21. The date of Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. This year, that means Easter is March 31.
But Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, which is about 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. That means spring begins later, which pushes back the date of the Sunday after the first full moon.
Make sense?