Latest Articles
Pope Francis: End the ‘racist and xenophobic’ approach to migrants along U.S.-Mexico border
c. 2014 Religion News Service...
Church of England votes approval of women bishops
After 20 years of turmoil and angry debate, the General Synod of the Church of England said yes to women bishops....
Six stories of sin
The priest asked the thief why he would return a ruined tire. He said, with surprise, Because it wasn't mine, Father. Are you paying attention?
Unaccompanied children
The crisis du jour, outside of the eternal mess of the Middle East, is the arrival of thousands upon thousands of children on the doorstep of the United States.
With bleak economic conditions and violence in their streets, central American families are giving their children up, sending them off to be abandoned at the border of the United States.
You won't believe how alienated this will make you feel
In her media column for the Century last month, Kathryn Reklis, a theology professor at Fordham University, wrote about the many times a day that social media asks her to watch a video and feel something. “You too will cry after watching this . . . 90 percent of people cry,” the Facebook post tells her. She argues that, while kitschy, these videos contain the power of shared feeling, and shared feeling is a step toward empathy and a further step toward compassion—and so, in essence, a social good. I am not sure I agree.
Party ties, not religious ones, drive down Obama’s approval rating
c. 2014 Religion News Service...
Student who married same-sex partner expelled from Southwestern Christian University
c. 2014 Religion News Service...
Pot and public health
The "war on drugs" approach to marijuana has had major costs. But the dawning era of legal marijuana presents its own set of public health problems.
Conditioned to consume: Drug use in American culture
Drugs are perhaps the ultimate consumer product. They give an instant, intense hit, and they're used up in one go.
Two hospital rooms
A few years ago, while serving as a hospital chaplain, I received a call to a dying man’s bedside. Upon entering the room where a beautiful old man was breathing his last breaths, his son introduced himself to me: “Hi. I’m the oldest son, John.”
Writers write
About three times a week, pastors ask me 1) how to get on the speaking circuit or 2) how to get published. The questions go together, because the answer to how to get on the speaking circuit is usually to get published. Sometimes they are just starting out in the ministry, and other times they are retired. Either way, my answer is the same, no matter what stage of life you’re in: Writers write.
"We dance the same"
They’re sitting there in our church parking lot, staring out at the rain from inside their rundown green Chevy Astro van. They showed up after church. Martin was looking for conversation, for help, for gas money to Calgary for a medical procedure, the usual. He’s aboriginal, around 55, dark glasses, long black hair, cowboy boots. The conversation meanders here, there, everywhere. “Am I late for the service?” he says. “I wanted to get here for the service.” It’s 12:10 pm.
I’m tired. It’s been a long Sunday morning already, and I don’t have the energy for this.
The opposite of homelessness
Hugh Hollowell didn't start Love Wins to convert souls or sober up addicts. He wanted to provide pastoral care to homeless people.
The tyranny of consensus
A couple weeks ago I finished my pastorate in Vermont and moved to Exeter, New Hampshire, where I will be starting a new pastorate next week....
Opening day of parable season
Like my friend and colleague Evan, I love summer parable season....
Other people saying things
"The humanitarian crisis at the border is not a political problem. It is not even an immigration problem....
Religious leaders petition Congress to support immigrant children
(RNS) Religious leaders urged President Obama and Congress to provide funding for legal assistance to unaccompanied migrant children who are in U.S....