Religion Dispatches
…fart. “No!” one gasped as she held a hand to her chest, clutching her cross-shaped necklace. “Why not?” I asked, before it dawned on me that these clergy—future United Methodist clergy like MacBain—had jobs to protect, careers to build—and teaching your flock to ask questions was certainly not part of the job. I seriously thought my classmates would jump me in the parking lot after that exchange, which brings up another problem caused by Christian…
Read More…affiliated organizations do have an exemption which permits them to hire co-religionists, but for-profit companies are not entitled to such an exemption. However, Lipper pointed out, “what the court has potentially done in Hobby Lobby is open RFRA defenses to organizations [for-profit companies] that wouldn’t be entitled to a Title VII exemption but are potentially able to invoke a RFRA claim.” But the second question—whether the continued executi…
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…, there’s a self-described “progressive Christian” congregation, Fountains United Methodist Church. Fountains’ pastor, the Rev. David Felten, is the author of a book on progressive Christianity, and the church proudly advertises its welcome of the “LGBTQ community,” support for science, and interfaith dialogue. The conservative church leaders are equally proud of their traditionalism. In a letter to the editor published in the Fountain Hills Times…
Read More…Francis using “the fertile mother” as a metaphor for the church in his end-of-synod speech: “The ‘fertile mother’ is made up solely of men — men whose authority is based on their capacity to be both male and (in theory, at least) celibate…Add to that the unseemly, if not deeply pathological, reality that a significant number of these bishops, who cannot decide whether gays and lesbians have gifts to offer to the church, are themselves closeted ga…
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…ns and allies to live as though the Book of Discipline prohibitions on same-sex marriage and the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” do not exist. Though many were already defying church policy, the biblical obedience campaign struck a chord at a time in our nation’s history when public policy and law were rapidly changing to ensure equal rights for LGBTQ people. Clergy and laypersons across the denomination took up Bishop Talbert’s…
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…nest questions” about whether “the apocalypse is almost upon us.” The Hagee-Beck-Lieberman series of stunts is aimed at two audiences: Israel hawks who want to derail whatever shreds remain of a peace process, and biblical literalists who view all these events through the prism of prophecy and the end of days. The two camps, through the work of Hagee and others, have long been friends of convenience, to no good end for the Israelis and Palestinian…
Read More…nvestigation? Hypothetically, if regular government audits, and close round-the-clock scrutiny from its own sworn enemies have not turned up more, and have failed to keep Planned Parenthood honest (and I’m not saying that’s the case), then why would a congressional investigation do so? Those are the dots that the report exactly fails to connect: why are we supposed to think there’s more, and why are we supposed to believe a congressional investiga…
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…first) to join the new order and gain immediate integration into its cradle-to-grave socialistic bounty. “Just sign this oath to reject and renounce all divisive and discriminatory beliefs and “supremacist” theologies,” he would say, “and take this mark of membership on your hand to receive free food, housing and medicine and all other benefits under our enlightened new order of tolerance and inclusiveness.” Finland: Marriage Equality becomes law…
Read More…ke. At the same time, I have to ask where else you find this ideal of unity-within-diversity modeled in our society? From the time we get up in the morning until the time we go to bed, we are encouraged to divide ourselves into “us” and “them.” As maddening as it can be to stay in conversation with people you disagree with—especially if they don’t share your commitment to a productive outcome—the alternatives are lock-step fascism or the war of al…
Read More…ranch and hitting you with it,” said Wendy Montgomery, a Mormon mother of a 17-year-old gay son. “It’s like this emotional whiplash.” Colombia: Court OKs Adoption by Gay Couples, Catholic Church Objects The constitutional court ruled on Wednesday that same-sex couples can adopt children. Colombia’s constitutional court has passed a ruling allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, a victory for the country’s LGBT community. Previously couples co…
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