Amid talk of a possible schism over homosexuality, the United Methodist Church is back in the news. On the heels of an exceedingly positive profile of Methodist gay-rights advocate Frank Schaefer, the Washington Post reported this weekend: Hundreds of American pastors from the United Methodist Church have signed a proposal released Friday that aims to keep the global [Read More…]
Instructing v. reporting on gay clergy from The Times
May 24, 2014 by
What’s the difference between advocacy journalism and classical, liberal, some would say “objective” journalism? Advocacy journalism tells you what you should think about a news story while old-school liberal journalism sets out the facts of the story and lets you make up your own mind. The first method produces copy that fits a pre-determined template. [Read More…]
Worst religion story of the year? AP trashes Phil Robertson
May 23, 2014 by
Sigh…no context, just a quick Associated Press gotcha blurb. Yep, that reader’s email to GetReligion pretty much sums up an atrocious, 135-word piece of AP “journalism” on Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” fame. The headline: New anti-gay remarks by ‘Duck Dynasty’ star emerge The lede: NEW YORK (AP) — A&E has declined to comment on [Read More…]
Baptists ‘unofficially’ changing doctrine on homosexuality?
May 20, 2014 by
Southern Baptist leaders are seeking a “softer approach on homosexuality,” reports National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” While noting that “the country’s largest protestant (sic) group … still preaches that marriage can only be between one man and one woman,” NPR points to a recent, vaguely identified meeting of pastors to back up its headline: The Southern Baptist [Read More…]
What rights should parents of gay children have in Maryland?
May 13, 2014 by
Here we go again. The Baltimore Sun — the newspaper that lands in my front yard — recently published a very provocative piece about the next round in our state’s battles between conservative religious believers and gay-rights organizations. In this case, the battle is over the work of the “ex-gay” ministries and, in particular, the [Read More…]
