Kevin Eckstrom joined the RNS staff in February, 2000 and became editor in 2006. Prior to coming to RNS, he worked as religion editor at the Stuart/Port St. Lucie News in Florida. He was the winner of the 2000 Cassels Award for small newspapers from the Religion Newswriters Association. Under his leadership, RNS was named Best Wire Service by the Associated Church Press for both 2006 and 2007 – the only time RNS has won back-to-back years. Eckstrom holds a M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. from The George Washington University.
In 2007, he was elected president of the Religion Newswriters Association. His work was featured in Changing Boundaries: The Best Religion News Writing of 2003.
At least as judged by BestCollegeReviews.org. It’s an interesting (and visually stimulating list) that includes all the usual suspects: Notre Dame, Valparaiso, Duke and the alma mater for a number of RNS writers: Columbia University. Full disclosure: We’re not familiar with BestCollegeReviews.org (seems to be an independent gig of some sort), but it’s a short [...]
The abuse scandal finally catches up with retired L.A. Cardinal Roger Mahony. You’re likely to find more sinners than saints this Sunday at the Superbowl. And the Vatican has a newfound appreciation for Amy Winehouse.
Turkish Muslims say Lego’s Jabba the Hutt’s palace looks too much like a mosque. An independent Catholic newspapers stands up for its, well, independence. TLC takes the idea of Real Housewives into the parsonage.
Here’s the lineup for this morning’s National Cathedral prayer service for the inauguration, and a quick backgrounder to the who’s-who of speakers.
TLC’s Sister Wives heads to court to challenge Utah’s anti-polygamy law. Can we — should we — forgive Lance Armstrong’s lies? And what is the pope’s good-looking aide doing on the cover of Vanity Fair? All that and more in today’s Religion News Roundup.
HuffPo and CNN are reporting that the Presidential Inaugural Committee has selected the longtime rector of the “Church of the Presidents” to give the benediction at President Obama’s inauguration next week. By Kevin Eckstrom.
Here’s our list of (real and imagined) possibilities. Some are obvious, some less so. For our betting dollars, we’re banking on someone in Louie Giglio’s profile: unique but not necessarily a household name.
Who should pray at Obama’s inauguration now that Louie Giglio bowed out? Apparently it was also Raining Men before Noah and his menagerie boarded the ark. And yes, there are Jews who go hungry in this land of plenty.
WASHINGTON (RNS) From the Dept. of Significant But Not Surprising, Washington National Cathedral announced it will allow gay and lesbian weddings inside the storied church that has been the site of presidential funerals, inaugural prayer services and other services to mark national milestones.
Religious leaders want Congress to be nicer to each other (they’re looking at you, John Boehner), the Vatican isn’t accepting credit cards and Downton Abbey appears to be beating out the Bible in the race for baby names. All that and more in today’s Religion News Roundup.
