Heather Adams
Heather Adams is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Heather Adams
Topeka goes from ‘God Hates Fags’ to ‘God Loves Gays’
By Heather Adams — October 7, 2014
(RNS) The project shows the power of harnessing online media -- in this case, the crowdfunding site Indiegogo -- to push back against hate speech from a reviled source.
Prayer discount no longer on the menu at North Carolina diner
By Heather Adams — August 7, 2014
(RNS) Mary's Gourmet Diner has stopped offering 15 percent discounts for praying customers after the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote to the owner to stop, calling it a violation of the Civil Rights Act.
‘Black Jesus’ targeted as ‘blasphemous’ by conservative groups
By Heather Adams — August 6, 2014
(RNS) “Black Jesus” will air late at night, well after most kids are in bed, but One Million Moms' Monica Cole said "blasphemy is blasphemy, no matter what time of day it is."
Faith leaders testify in support of EPA’s Clean Power Plan
By Heather Adams — July 30, 2014
(RNS) Twenty-six faith leaders showed their support of the Clean Power Plan through prayer and public witness at the Environmental Protection Agency public hearings. The Clean Power Plan was proposed June 2 under President Obama's Climate Action Plan.
The ‘Philadelphia 11’ who shattered the stained-glass ceiling: 40 years later, where are they now?
By Heather Adams — July 23, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Forty years ago this week, 11 women broke rank and were ordained as the first female priests in the Episcopal Church. Find out here what became of the “Philadelphia Eleven.”
Sufi Muslims push designer Roberto Cavalli to pull an offensive logo
By Heather Adams — July 17, 2014
(RNS) Ten years after designer Roberto Cavalli received harsh criticism for putting Hindu gods on an underwear and swimsuit line, he is at it again. This time the backlash is for the use of a Sufi school's sacred symbol on the "Just Cavalli" clothing line.
Update: Urban Outfitters pulls Lord Ganesh duvet cover after Hindus protest
By Heather Adams — July 14, 2014
(RNS) "Though Lord Ganesha merchandise is popular within the market we understand the sensitivities certain items may carry," the company said in a statement on Monday.
Move over, smiley face: New religious emojis on the way
By Heather Adams — July 11, 2014
(RNS) Religious emojis are on the rise. A new batch will be part of Unicode's upcoming release.
Religious leaders petition Congress to support immigrant children
By Heather Adams — July 10, 2014
(RNS) At a teleconference Thursday (July 10), faith leaders asked Congress for emergency funds to help children who have entered the United States without lawful immigration papers and without a parent or guardian.
Urban Outfitters’ Lord Ganesh duvet cover upsets Hindus
By Heather Adams — July 10, 2014
(RNS) Critics say the retailer should pull the item, which they consider insensitive to their faith.
Gay groups pull support for anti-discrimination bill over religious exemption
By Heather Adams — July 9, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The American Civil Liberties Union and four gay rights groups said they can no longer support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case over contraception coverage, which allowed some businesses to claim a religious exemption in following federal law.
Football player Israel Idonije tackles expanding his Communion business
By Heather Adams — July 2, 2014
(RNS) Human hands never touch Blessed Communion’s product until the consumer opens it like a small medicine cup with a pull-tab, almost eliminating the risk of contamination.
Thousands rally at U.S. Capitol against gay marriage
By Heather Adams — June 19, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Faced with a string of losses in the court and a rapid shift in public opinion in favor of gay marriage, planners of Thursday's traditional marriage rally aimed to show lawmakers -- and especially courts -- that they will not give up without a fight.
Roberto Clemente, the next saint?
By Heather Adams — June 17, 2014
(RNS) Baseball great Roberto Clemente died in 1972 on his way to deliver relief supplies to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Now, one fan is swinging for the fences to try to make Clemente a saint.
Facing uphill battle, gay marriage opponents to rally in Washington
By Heather Adams — June 13, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Speakers include two former Republican presidential candidates, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, as well as San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, the Catholic bishops' point man against same-sex marriage.
