Chelsea Clinton to promote interfaith work at NYU
WASHINGTON (RNS) Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton is now the co-founder and co-chairwoman of New York University’s Of Many Institute, a program for “multifaith” education.
Politics
ANALYSIS: Does religious freedom report need more ‘teeth’?
WASHINGTON (RNS) Watchdogs say the State Department missed a key opportunity to put teeth into its annual assessment of global religious freedom, which was released by Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday.
Supreme Court to hear case on prayer at government meetings
WASHINGTON (RNS) The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that the Greece (N.Y.) Town Board violated the separation of church and state when it repeatedly used Christian clergy to conduct prayers at the start of its public meetings.
(UPDATED) Religious groups that claim they were IRS targets
(RNS) The Internal Revenue Service, in the limelight this week after a watchdog panel said it used “inappropriate criteria” when considering applications for tax-exempt status by Tea Party groups, is also under fire from religious organizations.
Anti-Shariah movement changes tactics and gains success
(RNS) After losing steam in recent years, the anti-Shariah movement has scored a string of victories by, ironically, leaving the words “Shariah” and “Islam” out of bills that restrict state courts from considering foreign law.
Human cloning breakthrough prompts religious objections
(RNS) News that scientists in Oregon had for the first time recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos prompted dire warnings from religious leaders who say the research crosses a bioethical red line and could lead to designer babies.
Christian leaders seek to overcome polarization
WASHINGTON (RNS) “Faith leaders have a remarkable opportunity to shift the conversation, but it’s very challenging, particularly in a larger society that wants to understand everything as a battle,” said Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
German home-schooling family loses U.S. asylum bid
(RNS) A federal appeals court has denied a bid by a German family to obtain asylum in the U.S., rejecting their claims that they will face persecution back home for their decision to home-school their children.
Franklin Graham calls IRS probe of ministry finances ‘un-American’
(RNS) The IRS probe of conservative nonprofit groups included the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian group, evangelist Franklin Graham said.
ANALYSIS: Will the Kermit Gosnell verdict change the abortion debate?
(RNS) When rogue abortionist Kermit Gosnell was found guilty of delivering and then killing late-term infants, abortion opponents were convinced they had a case that could finally reshape a static abortion debate. Yet for a variety of reasons, those prayers for a game-changing impact may go unanswered.
