Latest Articles
Pastor wanders streets in personal bid to understand homelessness
NORMAN, Okla. (RNS) Pastor Dustin Buff traded in his job, his house and his sense of security for a backpack, a Bible, a sleeping bag, one change of clothes, identification, and a cell phone....
Chastened Catholic bishops told they have to reform themselves
BALTIMORE (RNS) After sweeping setbacks to the hierarchy's agenda on Election Day, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Monday (Nov. 12) told U.S....
Catholic bishops fail to agree on statement on the economy
BALTIMORE (RNS) A divided Catholic hierarchy on Tuesday (Nov....
Jesus’ barrio: Inmates as apostles
Gangs excel at finding the lost, adopting them and sending them out. Therefore, gang youth can be recruited for apostolic ministry.
Shame and everlasting contempt
On August 1, 2009, The Mobile Press-Register published an article written by Greg Garrison of the Religion News Service entitled, “Heaven? Sure. Hell? Not so much.” Shortly thereafter, a parishioner of ours brought in a copy for me and wondered aloud, “Why don’t we talk about hell any more?” It just so happened that the answer to his question appeared in the teaser quote right at the top of the article.
Grumpy writers
My daughter-in-law alerted me to flavorwire.com’s list of “10 Grumpiest Living Writers,” which includes fav...
Tuesday digest
New today from the Century: Chris Hoke on the apostolic ministry of gang members, Stephen Fowl's lectionary column, more.
A reason to bargain
While past attempts at big deals have failed, this time Obama has serious leverage: House Republicans loathe the fiscal cliff's policies.
Waiting in love, not anxiety
This Sunday’s texts from Daniel and Mark (and, perhaps, Hebrews) are quite apocalyptic in their outlook. This may lead most preachers to focus their attentions elsewhere—though post-election, many U.S. partisans may be feeling fairly apocalyptic themselves.
Are you avoiding someone at church?
In ministry, we all have people we love to spend time with. They are the people who constantly support us, who are positive and easy to be around, or who we simply have good chemistry with....
Monday digest
New today from the Century: The editors on the fiscal cliff, Randall Balmer reviews Stephen Prothero, more.
American Talmud
The American Bible, Stephen Prothero’s latest assault on the best-seller lists, is a compendium of writings that, Prothero insists, together define Americans as a nation....
American Muslims celebrate defeat of congressional critics
American Muslims are celebrating the ouster of two congressmen known for their anti-Islamic rhetoric, and heralding the outcomes as a sign that Muslim voters, at least in some districts, are a poli...
Vatican says it hasn't lost the gay marriage fight
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Despite recent setbacks in the United States and Europe, the Catholic Church is not losing the fight on gay marriage, the Vatican semiofficial newspaper claimed on Friday (Nov....
Church leaders say returning vets need time, attention
When Staff Sgt. Brandon Hill came home from his third tour in Iraq last year, he expected his wife and young daughters at the welcoming ceremony....
New archbishop inherits divided Anglican world
Bishop Justin Welby, a former oil executive who’s emerged as a critic of corporate excess, will become the 105th archbishop of Canterbury, primate of the Church of England and leader of the worldwi...
Let the children lead: A changed view of ministry
I once saw children's ministry as a steppingstone to something else. This attitude put me in league with the hindering kind of disciples.
The taste of memory
We celebrated both sons’ baptism anniversaries a few weeks back. Their days are only a fortnight apart, so in the blur of busy schedules we set aside a single night to celebrate and remember.
As I was setting the table for their special dinner, my son snatched his baptism candle out of its holder and playfully held it in front of his mouth as if to bite. Coyly offering one of his beloved kidisms, he teased: “Does it taste?”
The persistent God gap
The presidential election revealed that the “God gap” in electoral politics remains as large as ever—and is much larger than the gender gap that was often touted during the campaign. Mark Silk summarizes it:
Those who said they attend worship weekly preferred Mitt Romney by 20 points, 59-39. Those who said they attend less frequently went for Obama by 25 points. That compares to a male preference for Romney of seven points and a female preference for Obama of 11.
How fervently one practices one’s religion is—apart from race—still the best predictor of how one votes.
Friday digest
New today from the Century: A changed view of children's ministry, the persistent God gap, more.