Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Secrets Hidden from Health
"Some secrets are hidden from health," wrote John Updike in his poem "Fever." I have experienced the truth of Updike's observation. My excellent health kept me from seeing some things—things that became secrets of...
Sodexho Settles Discrimination Suit for $80 Million
A food and facilities-management company, with clients including a Southern Baptist seminary, agreed to pay $80 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it systematically denied promotions to black managers. Sodexho, Inc.,...
‘Star Wars’ Marketing Effort Draws Criticism
It's already the movie with the mostest—at least in terms of tie-ins. "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" has its marketing plan in full force for the nationwide release May 19, but the nature and extent of...
Hold on to the Three D’s
In the days leading up to the death of Pope John Paul II and the subsequent election of Pope Benedict XVI, Tom Reese appeared regularly in television interviews. As the highly respected editor of the Jesuit magazine...
Magazine Apologizes for Report Alleging Desecration of Quran
Newsweek magazine apologized for a story alleging the Quran was desecrated at a U.S. military base in Cuba, but not before the report sparked rioting in the Muslim world. The report that U.S. interrogators at...
Politicizing Church Discipline
Southern Seminary President Al Mohler has been cozying up to politicians for so long that he is now confusing church discipline with political-party discipline. In an article entitled "Should a church discipline...
A Church Torn Asunder
Unless you have lived through a church fight it's hard to understand just how painful they can be. The wounds inflicted in the course of a nasty faith feud can take years to heal. I've seen entire communities divided...
Baptist Foundation of Arizona Trial Postponed, Again
A criminal trial for four former Baptist Foundation of Arizona officers accused of defrauding 11,000 investors out of $570 million has been postponed from August until Sept. 14, due to scheduling issues. Former BFA...
Global Women Staffers Resign
A "woman-to-woman" missions organization founded three-and-a-half years ago is looking for a new staff, following the resignations of a coordinator and assistant coordinator May 1. Suzanah Raffield, founding...
Looking Firsthand at America’s Health Care Crisis
"How much do you think this bottle of pills costs?" asked my wife, several days after I had returned home from a month in the hospital for the treatment of acute leukemia. I was stunned when she told me the price for a...
Princeton Students ‘Filibuster’ Alum Frist
The U.S. Senator who has threatened to reduce the power of the filibuster is himself the object of a filibuster—of sorts. Students at Princeton University—the alma mater of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist...
Paper Faults ‘Trickle-Down-Theology’ for Flap Over Church Politics
A young North Carolina pastor forced to resign his church over pulpit politics was a victim of "trickle-down theology" from more-polished preachers at mega-churches mingling politics in their preaching, an Alabama...
Pastor Accused of Ousting Democrats Resigns From Church
A North Carolina Baptist pastor who reportedly led efforts to remove the names of nine members from the church roll because they didn't support President Bush's re-election resigned Tuesday night without apologizing....
My Way or the Highway
For any who thought my previous column was too critical of politics in the pulpit, I direct your attention to Waynesville, N.C. That is where Pastor Chan Chandler is reported to have told his congregation that any new...
Southern Baptist Teen Tackles Sex Ed in Documentary
When Shelby Knox was 15, two New York filmmakers visited her hometown of Lubbock, Texas, to document how the Lubbock Youth Commission was working to implement comprehensive sex education in the schools. Filmmakers...
Baptists Hold Tsunami Roundtable in Bangkok
Baptist leaders from tsunami-affected areas met with representatives of Baptist relief and mission agencies May 6-7 in Bangkok, Thailand, to review the help being given. The roundtable was co-sponsored by Baptist World...
The President and the Pope
More and more reports reveal that some ultra-conservative members of religious organizations had an illegal hand in the 2004 election. One of the agendas that has opened some eyes are the sermons from many a Protestant...
Proposed SBC Resolution Calls for Investigation of Homosexuality in Schools
A Houston attorney who last year failed in efforts to convince the Southern Baptist Convention to support a mass exodus from public schools is trying to resurface the issue by calling on churches to investigate whether...
Baptist Church Reportedly Ousts Kerry Supporters
A North Carolina Baptist pastor who reportedly led efforts to remove the names of nine members from the church roll because they didn't support President Bush's re-election on Sunday called it a "great...
Defining First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City
The recent Ethics Daily article on First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City's decision to rescind permission for the Americans United for Separation of Church and State to meet in our facility unfortunately painted an...
Death Is Sacred, Too
The tragic circumstances surrounding Terri Schiavo have produced much conversation about the sanctity of life. Politicians, protestors, and legislators used religious language in their arguments to save Terri. In spite...