Monthly Archives: April 2013
Q&A with Greg Laurie about prayer in times of grief
By Adelle M. Banks — April 26, 2013
(RNS) Pastor Greg Laurie, honorary chairman of Thursday’s National Day of Prayer, talked about prayer, grief and what not to say when a friend’s loved one dies.
Armenians cast doubt on ‘Misha’ impact on bombing suspects
By Oren Dorell — April 26, 2013
WATERTOWN, Mass. (RNS) Two relatives of Tamerlan Tsarnaev say he was influenced by an Armenian convert to Islam named Misha. Armenian Americans say it is very unlikely an Armenian would become a Muslim.
Mormons say they’re OK with change in Scouts’ gay policy
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — April 26, 2013
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormon officials, who sponsor more Boy Scout troops than any other organization, say they are "satisfied" with the Scouts' latest compromise on allowing gay members.
The legacy of Bush’s faith-based initiative
By Mark Silk — April 26, 2013
Among the displays unveiled at yesterday's opening of the George W. Bush Library was one dedicated to the 43rd president's faith-based and community initiative, as well there should be.
Friday’s Religion News Roundup: Ex-ex-gay * Kate Upton fail * Benedict returns
By Kevin Eckstrom — April 26, 2013
John Paulk is now an ex- ex-gay with an ex-lesbian ex-wife. Benedict XVI is likely to move back to the Vatican in the next few days and becoming a Hasidic Jew helped a former hippie child become less obnoxious in public.
As Holocaust Museum turns 20, the ranks of survivors dwindle
By Lauren Markoe — April 25, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Adult survivors of the Holocaust are largely gone, and those who survived as children won't be around much longer. That's why when the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum marks its 20th anniversary Monday, museum officials say it's likely to be one the last large gatherings of survivors.
Figuring Faith | Will the Boston Bombing Change American Attitudes About Muslims and Immigration Reform?
By Robert P. Jones — April 25, 2013
In this week's column for Figuring Faith, Dr. Robert P. Jones examines the data on Americans' attitudes toward Muslims and immigration reform.
The Religious Roots of New England’s Support for Same-Sex Marriage
By Juhem Navarro-Rivera — April 25, 2013
If Rhode Island legalizes gay marriage, it will make New England the first region where all states have legalized marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
Catholic bishop returns petitions to ousted gay man
By David Gibson — April 25, 2013
NEW YORK (RNS) The story of a gay Catholic man who was relieved of all duties at his Long Island parish just got more interesting: His bishop returned a petition with 18,000 signatures with a one-line cover letter: "FROM YOUR FAITHFUL ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP."
Buddhist Leader Her Holiness Shinso Ito Breaks New Ground in Thailand
By Religion News LLC — April 25, 2013
Head Priest of Shinnyo-en Leads First Mahayana Buddhist Ceremony in Theravada Temple in Bangkok The Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and Thai Theravada Buddhists Join Japanese Mahayana Buddhists in Prayer for Peace Photo Caption: During the ceremony, Her Holiness Shinso Ito presented the Most Venerable Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangkhlachan with a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha sculpted […]
Catholics try their hand at old-fashioned evangelism
By Tim Townsend — April 25, 2013
SHREWSBURY, Mo. (RNS) About 125 Catholics packed a basement conference room -- most of them lay people, many of them older. They gathered to learn how to spread the faith, a concept that is both fundamental to Christianity and nearly foreign to modern Roman Catholics.
Atheists postpone protests after Bangladeshi disaster
By Kimberly Winston — April 25, 2013
(RNS) Atheist and secular groups were divided on whether to continue with a series of protests aimed at Bangladeshi institutions after a building collapse in the capital city killed at least 244 people.
Quote of the Day: Writer Chaya Kurtz
By Ron Ribiat — April 25, 2013
“I guess at some point, I had to grow up. … Thirteen years later, I am proud to say that not only do I not fart in public, but I also don’t blurt out, “Who farted?!” when someone else does. If that ain’t progress, I’m not sure what is.” — Writer Chaya Kurtz, writing on […]
Jerusalem court upholds women’s prayer rights at Western Wall
By Michele Chabin — April 25, 2013
JERUSALEM (RNS) Women who want to wear prayer shawls while praying in the women’s section of the Western Wall are not breaking the law, according to a landmark decision handed down Thursday (April 25) by the Jerusalem District Court.
Serving God and Mammon at Trinity Church
By Mark Silk — April 25, 2013
The Episcopal church known appropriately in all senses as Trinity Wall Street turns out to be worth a cool couple of billion dollars, according to its accounting of its assets in response to a lawsuit.
