An odd choice for sex abuse inquiries
Sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church is really big news this week, largely due to the start of a Cambridge, Massachusetts, trial of formerpriestJohnGeoghan and the Vatican'snewrules on how to deal with such cases. "The Boston scandal is bringing out every left-wing Catholic malcontent and dissenter, who will attempt to associate their causes—women's ordination, abortion rights, and the like—with the case against the Boston hierarchy," writes Rod Dreher in National Review Online. But conservatives are so angry about the church's inaction that they're letting the Catholic leadership stew. "The Catholic League is not the Church's water boy," says the organization's chief, Bill Donohue. "We are here to defend the Church from the kind of scurrilous attacks that have become all too frequent in our society. But we will never defend the indefensible."
In Britain, however, the Roman Catholic Church has brought on an interesting choice to head the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults—someone who's not sure she believes in God. "I think the value of the fact that I am not a Catholic lies in the transparency of my independence from the church," says Eileen Shearer. "I feel I understand the Christian ethos and I think that both my personal and professional values are consistent with Christianity, although I am not a practicing Christian."
Keep reading
Weblog is short of time today, so there's not much commentary. But some of the stories below are very important. Be sure to check them out.
Persecution:
Pakistan makes electoral reforms | "Religious apartheid" system scrapped; non-Muslims get same voting privileges as Muslims (Associated Press)
The not-so-good book | Lai Kwong-keung is a God-fearing man, and that spooks Beijing - which is why the Hong Kong trader faces the death penalty in a mainland court. China's devout are learning that Bibles can bring big trouble (Time Asia)
China arrest | A Hong Kong businessman was arrested while bringing bibles into China. But who was he taking the Bibles to? (Morning Edition, NPR)
Talibanned in the USA | There are similarities, but the Religious Right is not America's Taliban (Bill Berkowitz, WorkingForChange)
Sexual ethics:
Pastor comes 'out'; church cheers | One of Denver's oldest churches gives standing ovation after pastor says he's leaving his wife and three kids (The Denver Post)
California gay-union bill pulled | Both homosexual activists and traditional-family groups predict a rematch (The Washington Times)
Life ethics:
Pro-life side sees 'impediment' | Even though abortion opponents have a friend in the White House, prospects are dim for Congress to approve one of their top priorities: legislation to ban partial-birth abortion (The Washington Times)
Nazis vs. Christians | Report corrects clichÉ thinking that has clouded the reputation of Christians in wartime Germany for over half a century (Uwe Siemon-Netto, UPI)
Catholic church hit by new onslaught over Nazi links | Author of Hitler's Willing Executioners says, "There is no difference in kind between the Church's 'anti-Judaism' and its offshoot European 'anti-Semitism'" (The Sunday Times)
Spirituality and the brain | Does research show new evidence for faith, or a challenge to religion? (Nightline/ABCNews.com)
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The gradual illumination of the mind | The advance of science, not the demotion of religion, will best counter the influence of creationism (Michael Shermer, Scientific American)
Church battles:
Challenging the bishop, in court | Episcopal priest claims bishop arranged her firing at Grace Church in Manhattan so that a friend of his could take her place (The New York Times)
Church sues over land-use dispute | Cottonwood Christian Center claims Cypress is stunting its growth in favor of tax producers. (Los Angeles Times)
Journey of faith has led him here | The man called to lead Maryland's largest Episcopal parish feels his Jewish heritage will help strengthen interfaith ties (The Baltimore Sun)
Twenty years ago, Republicans, Democrats, evangelicals, gay activists, and African leaders joined forces to combat AIDS. Will their legacy survive today’s partisanship?
With CBN, “The 700 Club,” Regent, the Christian Coalition, and a run for president, he changed evangelicals’ place in public life.FrançaisIndonesianрусскийУкраїнська
Twenty years ago, Republicans, Democrats, evangelicals, gay activists, and African leaders joined forces to combat AIDS. Will their legacy survive today’s partisanship?
Presbyterians expect less fight and more fatigue as they gather following the Covenant shooting and the deaths of Harry Reeder and Tim Keller.
