Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Jesus and Ayn Rand “ Common Good vs. Individualist Good
The current political debate – which is in part being fueled by a rather radical attempt to roll back more than a half-century of social policy that has brought us Medicare and Medicaid, the Clean Air and Clean Water...
Panel Says Judges Have Been too Hard on U.K. Christians
LONDON (RNS) A government-funded watchdog panel said British judges have erred in supporting employers who try to fire Christian workers for wearing crosses or refusing to offer sex counseling to gay couples. The...
NBC Apologizes to Congress for Edited Pledge
WASHINGTON (RNS) NBC has issued a formal apology to more than 100 members of Congress for omitting the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance during a patriotic montage that aired last month. The letter,...
Toronto School Defends Muslim Prayers in Cafeteria
TORONTO (RNS) A majority-Muslim public school in Toronto is defending its policy of allowing an imam to lead Friday prayers in the cafeteria, saying students who leave school for prayers at a mosque typically don’t...
Survival of South Sudan Hinges on Which Lion Is Fed
Christianity played a constructive role in the birth last weekend of the world's newest nation – South Sudan. Southern Sudanese voted in a weeklong referendum of self-determination in January 2011 to pursue a course of...
Do Governments Need Dose of Direct Democracy?
It is difficult to decide which was the most depressing piece of news recently: the huge trade deals signed by Britain and Germany with the Chinese government, the grand reception accorded Omar al- Bashir in Beijing,...
Kim Phuc “ A Terrified Girl Transformed by Forgiveness
Kim Phuc was long known as "the girl in the picture" before she was widely known by her personal name. Phan Thi Kim Phúc, born in 1963, was the girl in the Pulitzer Prize-winning picture taken on June 8, 1972, by AP...
Catholics Return Check from Lawmaker over Marriage Vote
(RNS) A New York lawmaker has found himself at odds with the Roman Catholic Church after a parish school refused a $50 donation because of his vote in favor of same-sex marriage. Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a Democrat,...
Iowa Marriage Pledge Drops Reference to Slavery
WASHINGTON (RNS) An Iowa-based conservative Christian organization has removed controversial language about slavery from a pledge to uphold traditional marriage that the group has asked GOP candidates to sign. The...
Bishop Loses Appeal over Holocaust Remarks
BERLIN (RNS) A schismatic British bishop who said he didn’t believe the Holocaust claimed 6 million Jews faces a reduced fine of 6,500 euros ($9,110) for incitement, a German appeals court ruled Monday (July 11). The...
Olympics Will Bring the World to British Baptists
Readers of The Baptist Times won't find many editors more indifferent to sport than this one. The new London Baptist Association Olympics Games coordinator, David Pile, has a mountain to climb if he's to get me...
Four Benefits to Starting Your Online Congregation
I was recently talking to a friend, Jim Stovall, who teaches journalism at the University of Tennessee and is a pioneer in developing and teaching web journalism. In our conversation about how the internet is changing...
“When Religion Becomes Lethal” “ Fundamentalist to Suicidal Extremist
The ringleader of the Sept. 11 terrorists, Muhammad Atta, left behind a five-page letter detailing the meticulous planning and preparation for the hijackings and attacks. It also revealed the particular understanding...
Author Says Amish Thrift Makes Sense by Saving Cents
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (RNS) The old Lorilee Craker would have picked up a couple of $16 children’s shirts without a second thought, ordered a $20 pizza without checking what’s in the fridge, and sent out her bills a few...
Presbyterians to Officially Allow Gay Clergy
(RNS) Presbyterians who support gay rights are prepping sanctuaries this Sunday (July 10) to celebrate the passage of a new church policy that allows gay pastors to serve openly for the first time in the denomination’s...
House Directs Pentagon to Uphold DOMA Law on Gay Marriage
WASHINGTON (RNS) House lawmakers voted Thursday (July 7) to order the Pentagon to uphold the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. In an amendment to a larger Defense...
Mission Group: Seafaring Laborers Face Isolation, Danger
Transportation of goods across the oceans has justice issues with seafaring laborers facing extended isolation and increasing danger from piracy. Churches must begin to raise their own awareness as well as others'....
Food Crisis Worsens in Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa – Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia – faces a worsening food crisis affecting millions of people. As the situation deteriorates, humanitarian organizations have increasingly sounded the alarm....
Bible Belt Needs a Bigger Belt: 9 of 10 Obese States in South
Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a study last week that reported on American girth – the obesity epidemic – which is nowhere heftier than in the South. "The obesity epidemic...
Preying on the praying crowd
By John Pierce Few things disgust me like slick TV preachers preying on the aging and the ignorant for their own financial gain. I try to avoid them but sometimes my channel surfing leads me there. Most often I move...
Church-state Groups Seek Equal Play for Atheist Concert
WASHINGTON (RNS) Three church-state activist groups criticized the Army for allowing an evangelical concert at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg but not making similar provisions for a “Rock Beyond Belief” concert for...