Monthly Archives: October 2013
King David misunderstood says Yale scholar: Politician, psalmist, adulterer and more
By Jonathan Merritt — October 31, 2013
Yale's Joel Baden says that we've misunderstood the iconic faith figure.
Quote of the Day: Omid Safi
By Ron Ribiat — October 31, 2013
“I struggle with why we are so offended with seeing human beings dressed up like monsters for two hours, when for the other 364 days of the year we see monsters dressed up like human beings, killing and raping and stealing and occupying and pillaging.” — Religion News Service blogger Omid Safi, a professor at […]
The cult of the Red Sox
By Mark Silk — October 31, 2013
This year's Red Sox season proved again that the team is New England's premier religious cult.
Cancer-versary
By Jana Riess — October 31, 2013
"Trauma cancer" isn't a real medical diagnosis, but it is certainly an emotional one. It's a reminder of how quickly our lives can change. And the changes are irrevocable as the stuff of nightmares becomes our new, unwelcome waking truth.
Calatrava unveils designs for Ground Zero church destroyed on 9/11
By Katherine Burgess — October 31, 2013
(RNS) "Even though it is a Greek Orthodox church, it will be open to all people of all faiths, a place of solace for them," said the Rev. Mark Arey, spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Update: U.S. denies spying on Vatican cardinals ahead of conclave
By Eric J. Lyman — October 31, 2013
ROME (RNS) “Assertions that NSA has targeted the Vatican, published in Italy’s Panorama magazine, are not true,” NSA spokeswoman Vanee’ Vines told the Los Angeles Times.
Supreme Court to consider religious prayer at government meetings
By Lauren Markoe — October 31, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Starting in 1999, two-thirds of prayers offered at the opening of the Greece Town Council in upstate New York invoked "Jesus" or "the Holy Spirit," and pastors also asked those present to pray with them and recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow confirms official WYD 2016 dates
By Wendy Gustofson — October 31, 2013
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland has officially confirmed to Mr. Samir Zumot, KHS, President of CPO the official dates of WYD 2016 on his latest visit to Krakow on October, 23rd. WYD 2016 will be held the last week of July 2016, July 25th-31st. For more information please click the link: Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz confirms WYD 2016 […]
St. Louis Archdiocese orders end to alcohol at youth events
By Stephen Deere — October 31, 2013
Under a new policy that goes into effect Friday, drinking will not be allowed at any event that is directed primarily toward minors. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson announced the change in a letter to parishioners last week. Now alcohol at games or other events directed toward minors “is not to be served to anyone or brought in by someone,” according to the letter.
New Cardinals * Blue Cardinals * Luther Insulter! Thursday’s Religion News Roundup
By David Gibson — October 31, 2013
It's Reformation Day! The Cardinals are blue, but that's because of the Red Sox. Pope Francis will be giving out more red hats in February, reshaping to future of Catholicism heading toward the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. A Jesuit and an Atheist get civil on MSNBC of all places. We debate Halloween, and roundup the morning's best tweets.
Growing up Muslim in America, and dreaming of Halloween
By Sara Yasin — October 31, 2013
(RNS) I wasn’t bothered when our Muslim family skipped out on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but Halloween was the one holiday I wanted. Halloween covered all of the things I wanted from a holiday: costumes, gluttony and ghost stories.
Kenyan pastors ask for guns amid Christian-Muslim violence
By Fredrick Nzwili — October 31, 2013
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) "The government should issue AK-47 rifles to every church so that we can stop them from being burnt, our property from being looted and our pastors and Christians from being killed,” said the Rev. Lambert Mbela after another pastor was shot dead.
3 ways the Vatican could allow divorced Catholics back to Communion
By David Gibson — October 30, 2013
(RNS) Two-thirds of the nearly 55,000 annulments granted by Catholic Church tribunals around the world each year are in the U.S., even though American Catholics account for just 6 percent of the world’s Catholic population.
Which GOP Constituency Will Sway the 2016 Presidential Nomination?
By MacKenzie Babb — October 30, 2013
Our newly released American Values Survey: In Search of Libertarians in America finds that some key conservative constituencies, including libertarians, white evangelical Protestants and the Tea Party, are already identifying favorites among the slate of potential candidates.
Quote of the Day: Pastor’s son Andy Hayes
By Ron Ribiat — October 30, 2013
“My dad just wanted to say thanks and that it means a lot. This isn’t about theology, it’s about humanity and how we treat each other.” — Andy Hayes, who’s pastor father was beaten up by a self-described “militant atheist,” after atheists contributed more than $5,000 for a recovery fund for the Rev. Norman Hayes.
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