(ANALYSIS) The culture wars have been on full display during the first two months of the Biden presidency. It isn’t so much that Joe Biden is fueling the wars — he’s actually steered clear of many of these recent battles that brew on Twitter and cable TV news. How the press covers his faith, however, isn’t helping matter.
Read More(OPINION) This week the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies, led by Dr. Jacqueline Rivers and Rev. Eugene Rivers, released a statement, “How the Equality Act Harms the Black Church”, writing that while the Black Church has historically - and continues - to act as “the central institution in the life of the African American community... the Equality Act poses a threat to the ability of the Church to continue to play this role.”
Read More(OPINION) The harsh reality is that news consumers will need to read a wider variety of news sources if they are interested in finding solid facts, on-the-record sources and some sense of balanced reporting. On issues linked to religion, culture and politics, that will mean paying more attention to independent religious publications — including Catholic websites — that are now punching way above their weight.
Read More(OPINION) Are some Washington, D.C., parishes “safe” while others are risky when it comes to where President Joe Biden can attend Mass on Sundays?
Read More(ANALYSIS) German bishops have brought what they call reforms back to the forefront over the past few weeks with a series of moves that could forever change Roman Catholicism.
Read More(OPINION) What does the phrase “follow the science” mean for journalism and particularly the impact of Catholic voices in news stories? That Catholics, and traditional religious believers in general, are seen as anti-science puts them in direct contradiction with what these politicians say and want.
Read More(OPINION) What has been the result of some Catholic news websites giving Trump any form of editorial support? Catholic news sites across the doctrinal spectrum should have done a better job calling out both sides — something the mainstream press no longer does, especially on moral, cultural and religious issues.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The Supreme Court recently reversed California’s discriminatory ban on indoor worship in a case brought by two churches against Governor Gavin Newsom. Here’s what the justices had to say, and what rules houses of worship must comply with during the pandemic.
Read More(ANALYSIS) It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will advance an approach to working together across differences, particularly between government and diverse faith-based and community-based organizations. Whatever approach the Biden administration takes, it will be building upon over two decades of bipartisan principles advancing faith-based and government collaboration.
Read More(ANALYISIS) Italian economist Mario Draghi is forming a new government at the president’s request after a collapse of the ruling coalition over its handling of the pandemic. How will Catholic Social Teaching factor in helping lockdown-weary Italians — from business owners to the unemployed — achieve economic stability? The answer can be found in a 2013 speech.
Read MoreSignaling his commitment to diversity, President Joe Biden has chosen record numbers of non-white and female cabinet members, including a spree of Indian Americans. Even more statement-making, he has excluded some of his former staff members linked to India’s Hindu nationalist movement, also called Hindutva.
Read More(OPINION) Within hours of taking the oath of office on his family’s massive Bible, President Biden signed a raft of executive orders — something that went on in the ensuing days — to undo strategic executive moves during Donald Trump’s presidency. During that process, he fan afoul of traditional Catholic teachings and, once again, placed the spotlight on his Catholic faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock among other victories for the Democrats were won in part by voter mobilization in the Black community. Despite the fact that a lot of the chatter about the Black vote has centered on people of faith, the Black community is not a religious monolith. Here’s what the data says: Black religious “nones” are the least likely to identify as Democrats.
Read MoreWhen Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was sworn in on Jan. 20, she placed her hand on two Bibles — one that belonged to a family friend and one that belonged to a saint. That second Bible was the personal property of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American on the court who struck down the doctrine “separate but equal” to desegregate public schools.
Read More(OPINION) With just hours before President Donald Trump’s term comes to an end and Joe Biden is inaugurated, how will the media — and specifically the Catholic press — cover this administration?
Read MoreFaith leaders around the country are participating in virtual events to commemorate the life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after a violent attack on the nation’s Capitol Building and just days before Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration. King's words and legacy are giving them renewed hope.
(OPINION) This season of Epiphany, which we are now in, affords us the opportunity to honor Christ’s manifestation and ministry in the world. Epiphanytide invites us to reflect on the role of religious freedom and religious literacy in Christ’s manifestation to the world. This is perhaps even more relevant in light of the Capitol violence last week.
Read MoreThe World Watch List 2021, a list compiled by Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, paints a concerning picture of the situation Christians face around the world. The most likely and violent place for Christians to be located is in North Korea, though the list grows daily as countries shift towards religious persecution.
Read MoreLouisville televangelist Bob Rodgers cursed those who voted on the “wrong side” of the “stolen election” at his service this past week, condemning them to poor health and poverty. Members of the church cheered at the curses— affirming his notion that those who voted on the “wrong side” deserve punishment.
Read More(OPINION) To combat a plague of Christian nationalism, seen on display in the recent Capitol violence, Christian leaders should teach the right Christian theology: that Christians should never seek to have the government privilege one religious group over another, God gives good ideas to all people, not only Christians, and our advocacy in the public square should not pretend everyone believes the Bible.
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