Faith and the Campaign Trail

Quote of the Day: Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm

"It's my family and faith that make me who I am. And long after I'm done, it will be my faith that makes me who I am and frankly, whose I am."

-- Jennifer Granholm, a Catholic, speaking about her faith at Hope College in Holland, Mich., during a campaign stop. She was quoted by the Grand Rapids Press.

Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alihilali

Quote of the Day: Australian Cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali

"If you take uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?"

-- Australian Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alihilali, suggesting that immodestly dressed women provoke sexual attacks by men. The sheik later apologized, saying he was only trying to "protect women's honor." He was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Something Always Beats Nothing

The ever-quotable Amy Sullivan -- recently included on our list of the dozen most effective people in shaping the Democrats' approach to faith and religion -- has a piece in USA Today that argues the Democrats are losing the culture wars not because they take the wrong side, but often because they take no side at all.

While Republicans offer the wrong prescriptions, they get the diagnosis right. And they win because most of the time, Democrats won't admit that anything is wrong. In politics, as in most areas of life, something always beats nothing.

US Catholic Bishops to Meet

Catholic Bishops to Consider New Guidelines for Ministry to Homosexuals

RNS' Daniel Burke looks at the upcoming meeting of US Catholic Bishops, which will consider new pastoral guidelines for minstering to gays and lesbians, in this week's full-text article, linked above.

Quote:

With one eye on those domestic controversies and another on Rome, the new guidelines are the bishops' first attempt to forge a consensus on the role of gays and lesbians in the church.

Separation of Church and State

Quote of the Day: Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

"We rightly criticize that in most Islamic states, the role of religion for society and the character of the rule of law are not clearly separated. But we fail to recognize that in the U.S.A., the Christian fundamentalists and their interpretation of the Bible have similar tendencies."

-- Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, writing in a new book, "Decisions: My Life in Politics." He was quoted by the Associated Press.

Last Rites ...

It sounds like the set-up to a bad joke: three Catholic priests are riding in a car when they get in an accident ...

But the Italian car accident that claimed the life of a Pennsylvania priest and injured Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore wasn't funny at all. Keeler, 75 and nursing a broken ankle, talked about the accident for the first time in Baltimore. Immediately after impact, two of the three priests performed last rites on each other, just in case.

"That was what the instinct reaction of the priest is: to make sure the sacraments of the church are available to someone dying or in danger of death," Keeler said.

Crash 'happened just like that' - baltimoresun.com

Red, White and God: What We Believe

David van Biema over at Time magazine, one of the best in the biz, has an interesting take out on what America believes and why, based on the recent Baylor survey on America and religion. There's a cool interactive graphic based on the 2000 Glenmary survey, as well as a snazzy graphic that shows America's "Four Gods" from the Baylor survey.

David's analysis:

Denomination has been a sociological non-starter for a while. More interesting is that at least one Baylor team member is claiming that its Type of God categories are more predictive than church attendence or Bible reading. This is novel, and if it's true, a lot of political strategists will be up late digesting the Baylor numbers.

But for the average reader, the big drawback of the study at present is that its categories do not have a natural ring to them. It was easy to understand "Presbyterian" or "frequent churchgoer." It's a lot harder to figure out what Baylor means by its Critical God, who "does not interact with the world.

Shattering the Stained-Glass Ceiling

The Christian Century has Adelle Banks' report on the milestones -- and continued resistance -- faced by women clergy in mainline Protestant denominations:

Adair Lummis, a sociologist of religion and an expert on women clergy at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, applauds the new steps by mainline Protestant churches. But she offers a "don't just relax" caution.

"Just because you have more women and you're having these milestone celebrations, please remember that in some denominations . . . there were more women ordained 50 years ago than there are now," she said.

Talk, Talk, Talk

We were wondering when Terry Mattingly over at Get Religion would weigh in on our profile of the 12 people who are shaping the Democrats' approach to religion. TMatt has spoken.

Actually, TMatt got Mark Stricherz to critique the piece, and he concludes that the story "never tells us how the dozen religious Democrats live Scripture or the Talmud." That is perhaps a fair criticism, but in our mind, seems to miss the point.

When we set out on this project, we weren't trying to measure the religiosity of any one person on the list, or rate them on some sort of personal piety scale. Frankly, we're not sure who on this list goes to church or shul, and we don't particularly care. (For what's it's worth, Amy Sullivan goes to St. Columba's DC, Mike McCurry teaches junior high Sunday School and Daughtry preaches on Sundays. Mara Vanderslice has even been spotted at Brian McLaren's church) But that's not our place. What we were interested in was what effect they were having. Do they get their phone calls returned? Do people read their articles? Do they write the speeches? Can they get a meeting with Rick Warren? The answer, for most folks on the list, is yes.

Stricherz, in TMatt's words, is an an "active Catholic and a pro-life Democrat." Judging from his use of the phrase "human fetus as an unborn child or two men seeking benefits as homosexual unions," it's clear he's coming at it with a particular point of view, which is entirely his perogative. It seems he wants us to be rating these Democrats on something of an orthodoxy scale, but that's not our job.

Stricherz's critiques are fair, but I think misplaced. If he has issue with the degree of authenticity of Rosa DeLauro's or Leah Daughtry's faith, he should take that up with them. In the meantime, we're hoping this story gets people to do just what Stricherz finds so troubling -- talk, talk, talk.

Catholic Bishops to Tackle Gay Question

The always-on-top-of-things Michael Paulson at the Boston Globe has a preview of a proposed statement by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the church's attitude towards gays and lesbians.

The bishops' previous landmark statement, "Always Our Children," was received in 1997 by some conservatives as too accommodating. Looks like those critics might be more satisified with the proposed changes:

The Catholic bishops of the United States, faced with ongoing controversy over the church's posture toward homosexuality, next month will vote on a proposal that would condemn ``scorn and hatred" of gays and lesbians but would also declare that gay couples should not be allowed to marry or adopt children, that baptizing the children of same-sex couples presents ``a pastoral concern," and that the church has the right to deny ``roles of service" to gays and lesbians who are not celibate.

Catholic bishops to define gay stance - The Boston Globe

A Thaw Among the Frozen Chosen?

Our friend Diana Butler Bass has an interview in Newsweek about evidence she sees that America's "Frozen Chosen" mainline Protestant churches are undergoing something of a thaw.

We have Methodists who engage in Celtic spirituality, Episcopalians who walk the labyrinth and Presbyterians who do reiki. You find Protestant churches engaging in the Benedictine rule or reading the ancient Christian fathers or practicing contemplative prayer. They’re mixing elements of contemporary culture with ancient spiritual practices.

Dems "Get Religion"

With the Help of a Dozen, Democrats Learn to 'Get Religion'

Daniel Burke, Kevin Eckstrom and Peter Sachs profile 12 individuals who are helping shape the Democratic party's approach to religion, in this week's full-text RNS article, linked above.

Quote:

Party leaders have lamented that Democrats ceded the moral high ground to Republicans because they failed to articulate the values behind their policies.

But now, a new generation of activists, strategists and scribes -- some Democrats, some not -- are helping the party to build relationships in the religious community, talk openly about spiritual journeys, and frame policies and platforms using moral terms.

President Bush on Abu Ghraib

Quote of the Day: President Bush

(RNS) "Abu Ghraib: I believe that really hurt us. It hurt us internationally. It kind of eased us off the moral high ground; we weren't a country that was capable of, on the one hand, promoting democracy and then treating people decently."

-- President Bush, responding to a reporter's question at a White House news conference on Wednesday (Oct. 11) about torture at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"Fast" Food

Online Guide Helps Muslims On-the-Go Find Ramadan Fare

RNS' Omar Sacirbey profiles Zabihah.com, a website that helps observant Muslims find appropriate restaurants for breaking their daytime fast during Ramadan. The full text article is linked above.

Quote:

At the same time, the Web site is helping to foster a burgeoning eat-out culture among Muslims, one helped by Americans' penchant for ethnic cuisine. While Muslims have traditionally eaten iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, at home, Amanullah asserts dining out has, far from undermining the family meal, brought Muslims closer together.

Tip of the Hat from GetReligion

Terry Mattingly over at GetReligion gave our Dan Burke a very kind tip of the hat for his recent coverage of the Amish shootings in Lancaster County, Pa.

In case you missed it (and, Terry says, many media missed the boat on this one):

But as their family gathered beneath a gas lamp in their living room after dinner, Ben and Mary struggled to explain why a gunman would want to hurt Amish children. They told their sons that he had a “little problem in his head that made him do mean things.”

One of the boys stared at his plain black pants, fingered his suspenders and again asked, in a respectful tone: Why?

Settling her hands on her lap, Mary said: “Sometimes we don’t understand. I understand that the Lord does let this happen, but I do not know why.”

“Really the only way to answer this is to toss it in the Lord’s lap and say, ‘You take care of it, I can’t,’” Ben said after turning to the boy.

“But you may ask him to please carry us through,” Mary said.

As the night grew long and the boys began to yawn, Ben pulled a little black prayer book from the shelf. He pointed to a prayer often read at Amish funerals and provided an English translation.

“Glory Father, we thank Thee for all the blessings which Thou has bestowed upon the departed one, especially now that Thou has redeemed him from this wicked world and
brought his sorrows to an end, and as we trust, has taken his soul home to Thee.

As you can tell, all rich stuff. The original can be read here.

GetReligion: October 10, 2006

RNS Clips: The Christian Century

The Christian Century has posted several of our recent stories, including:

-- Ruth Tucker quiting Calvin Seminary with allegations that she was forced out by a "tightly knit cadre of Dutch men."

-- Jonathan Tilove's story about how only a tiny fraction of black churches have received money to help the poor as a result of the Bush administration's federal faith-based initiative

-- And our friend John Dart used some of our material from Sen. John Kerry's (belated) speech on faith and politics for his as-always insightful look at the news.

RNS Clips: Amish Cope With Tragedy Under Glare of Cameras

The Ventura County Star has Tom Feeney's story out of Nickle Mines, Pa., on how the Amish are coping with the media spotlight following the killing of five girls at an Amish schoolhouse.

From the story:

As difficult as it might be for the camera-shy Amish to have to stare down dozens of cameras at their darkest hour, they may be better equipped culturally and religiously than other communities to deal with the mayhem Charles Carl Roberts IV sowed in one of their one-room schoolhouses.

One thing that works in their favor is a long history of coming to the aid of families in need,
said Donald Kraybill, a sociology professor at Elizabethtown College and an expert on the Lancaster Amish.

Another is their huge support system. The average Lancaster County Amishman has between 75 and 80 cousins, most of whom live very close by, Kraybill said. "They will just surround them with love and care," he said.

RNS Clips: NCC Leader Won't Seek Third Term

The Washington Post has our story that Bob Edgar will be leaving the National Council of Churches next year.

He said he had wrestled with his decision for nine months but decided that "two terms seemed enough, both to me and the executive committee."

The former Democratic member of the U.S. House and seminary president inherited a $6 million deficit when he arrived at the NCC in 2000. After cutting budgets and increasing revenues, he has left the agency with nearly $8 million in reserve funds.

"I'm really known as a salvager, and I've left the council better thanI found it," Edgar said Tuesday in an interview. "The health of the council is healthy enough that foundations . . . that said they would never give the council money because we were going out of business have turned around and given us resources."

RNS Clips: Rock Star Rattles Radical Islam

The Washington Post has Rebecca Cho's story about Dhani, an Indonesian rock star who is using his music to try to convince young Muslims to reject radical Islam.

From the story:

This week, the Muslim rocker was in the United States to share his message of religious tolerance with an entirely different audience: top U.S. government and military leaders at a national conference on homeland defense.

Dhani, 34, says attacking the ideology that motivates terrorists is the key to suppressing radical Islam. With a longtime acquaintance, former Indonesian president Abdurraham Wahid, Dhani spoke to the group on Tuesday about a long-term strategy to combat religious extremism.

"The countries in the West cannot be disengaged from the Muslim world,"Dhani said in an interview before his speech. "Building up the values of tolerance is critical in Indonesia and the Muslim world in order to defeat terrorism."

RNS Clips: Speaking in Tongues Down Among Pentecostals

Our friends over at Christianity Today have Adelle Banks' story about a Pew poll that shows not as many Pentecostals as previously thought speak in tonuges:

From the story:

Researchers found that many Pentecostals and charismatics attend worship services where speaking in tongues and other signs of the Holy Spirit are evident. But in six of the 10 countries surveyed, at least 40 percent of Pentecostals said they never pray or speak in tongues.

"I think that the classic Pentecostal belief that speaking in tongues was the real evidence of the second baptism of the Holy Spirit is, at least in practice, not widely accepted around the world," said John Green, senior fellow at the Pew Forum and a longtime observer of religion and politics.

So true...

Quote of the Day: Jewish Philanthropist Donald Saltz

"I figured, you don't take it with you."

-- Donald Saltz, who donated $5 million to his synagogue in Washington, D.C. It is one of the largest individual donations to a house of worship in the U.S. in years, according to philanthropy experts. He was quoted by The Washington Post.

La Cage Au Foley Haunts a Troubled Dioces

Revelations by former Rep. Mark Foley that he was abused by a "clergyman" -- he didnt' say who, when or where -- is rattling the skeletons in the closet of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla.

Palm Beach has a dark history of troubled clergy -- "Palm Beach is certainly among the most troubled dioceses in terms of clergy sex-abuse cases," said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, in a story by Scripps Howards' Tom Harwood.

When I worked in Florida, the first story I ever wrote (on my second day at work) was the resignation of Bishop Keith Symans after he admitted to abuse decades earlier. That was followed four years later by the resigation of Bishop Anthony O'Connell on similar charges.

Now, just when the diocese was trying to put all this behind them, La Cage Au Foley has opened up those wounds. Bill Brooks, a well-known Palm Beach Catholic, urged Foley to provide details so that all Palm Beach priests aren't held under a cloud.

"Let's hypothesize that Mark Foley was abused by a clergyman," said Bill Brooks, a former priest who has known Foley since Foley attended Cardinal Newman in 1969. "Then name him. Why should we cast a cloud of suspicion over the many good people who worked as clergy 35 years ago?"

RNS Clips: Edgar to Leave NCC in 2007

Beliefnet has our story on Bob Edgar's decision to leave the National Council of Churches next year. Edgar said he's looking for a "bully pulpit" where he can continue his crusade against "fear, fundamentalism, and Fox News."

We wonder if he has his eys on the venerable Riverside Church across the street from his office, where Senior Pastor Jim Forbes recently announced his retirement next year.

The Amish 9/11

Amish Search for Healing, Forgiveness After 'The Amish 9/11'

RNS's Daniel Burke explores the impact of the recent Pennsylvania school shootings on the Amish community, and finds forgiveness a dominant theme, in this week's full text article, linked above.

Quote:

As Mary and Ben explained the day's violence to their sons, they emphasized the importance of forgiveness and trusting in God.

"I just feel bad for the gunman," Ben said. "He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he's standing before a just God."

God's Politics - Jim Wallis blog, faith blog, religion, christian, christianity, politics, values

Diana Butler Bass, one of the most insightful (and not-heard-from-enough) voices among American churchgoers, has her take on La Cage Au Foley:

The darkness that stalks us is neither Republican nor Democratic. It is
part of the human condition...

Covering settlements

Quote of the Day: Ronnie Rosenberg of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska

"The rectory for the cathedral priest is a trailer. It's not like we have mansions and lovely homes to sell."

-- Ronnie Rosenberg, human resources director for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, speaking about the decision to sell church-owned property to cover settlements in sex abuse lawsuits. Rosenberg was quoted by the Anchorage Daily News.

RNS Clips: Jews, Forgiveness and Yom Kippur

The Winston-Salem Journal has Ansley Roan's story on Judaism's unique take on forgiveness and apologies during the season of Yom Kippur.

Public apologies by public figures are often driven by public opinion, said L. Gregory Jones, the dean of Duke University's Divinity School.

"It's what I call 'spin sorrow,'" he said. "It's a public-relations spin to construct a carefully worded apology that often says something like 'I'm sorry people's feelings were hurt.'"

Even if a red-faced politician sputtering at a press conference is as sincere as an individual seeking forgiveness out of religious conviction, there are differences in the nature of their apologies and what's expected of them.

"In both Christian and Jewish traditions, an apology or a request for forgiveness is supposed to be linked to repentance," Jones said. "It's never 'I'm sorry for your reaction,' but 'Please forgive me, what can I do to make things right?'"

Winston-Salem Journal Public 'spin sorrow' isn't in spirit of Yom Kippur