Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Catholic principles in Congress; abortion protests; and media portrayals of religious groups
In Tuesday’s RNS report Kevin Eckstrom look at the ‘principles’ statement issued by Catholic members of Congress today: A coalition of 55 Catholic House Democrats on Tuesday (Feb. 28) said they want to harnass the “moral leadership” of the Catholic Church while also agreeing to live “in disagreement with the church in some areas.” The “statement of principles” resurrects a battle from the 2004 elections when some Catholic politicians—especially Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry—found themselves at odds with church leaders over their support of abortion rights. The lawmakers said they want to work with church leaders on issues of poverty, health care, education under the “Catholic tradition ... that promotes the common good, expresses a consistent moral framework for life and highlights the need to provide a collective safety net” for the needy.
Abortion opponents are hailing the Supreme Court’s ruling on protesting in front of clinics, reports Adelle M. Banks: Abortion opponents say a Tuesday (Feb. 28) Supreme Court decision removes uncertainty about the legality of protesting in front of clinics. The unanimous decision ends a long battle in which the National Organization for Women cited racketeering and extortion laws to try to stop anti-abortion protests. The American Center for Law and Justice, which represented Operation Rescue, a defendant in the case, hailed the decision. “This is a major victory for the pro-life community and removes a cloud that has been hanging over pro-life demonstrations for years,” said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the Washington-based legal group.
Religious groups are taking on media portrayals and trying to define themselves, according to an article by G. Jeffrey MacDonald: As Muslims from London to Islamabad take to the streets to defend their lampooned prophet, the frustrated feelings on display are ringing familiar beyond the world of Islam. Pagans, Hindus, Native Americans and others who feel the mass media have vilified their religions over many decades are taking pens, microphones and cameras into their own hands. They’re retelling stories of their religions in textbooks, news interviews and on the Internet in fresh bids to be understood and remembered for the positive qualities often cited by insiders. By doing so, believers sometimes insist they’re taking their rightful place as educators of a public that often knows little about religions outside the mainstream. But whether the faithful should have the final say in public portrayals is a matter of spirited debate.
Posted by Claudia Sans Werner at 4:41 pm
