An Endless Lenten Journey: Undocumented Immigrants

April 2, 2015 By Guest Contributor

Millions of people around the world will walk together during Holy week, remembering the ancient story of death and resurrection, and gathering to celebrate Jesus Christ as “the Life.” But the Lenten wandering characterized by pain and suffering will not end for millions of immigrants without legal status in this country. Recently, conservative leaders have vocally and discreetly contested comprehensive immigration reform and criticized President Obama’s executive actions this past November as “amnesty.” The reforms would protect families from deportation separation... Read more

Religious Liberty vs. LGBT Rights: How the Church Is Missing the Point

March 28, 2015 By Guest Contributor

(This opinion is reproduced with permission from the author and courtesy of The Huffington Post.) Earlier today a bill was signed into law in Indiana that will allow business owners to deny services to LGBT people based on religious objections. This comes on the heels of legislation enacted in Arkansas last month that prohibits local communities from implementing non-discrimination policies for LGBT people. Lawmakers in my home state of West Virginia went so far as to block a popular taxi service from doing business in the... Read more

A Prayer for Ted Cruz (Not the way he wants)

March 24, 2015 By Joseph Gidjunis

Dear Media and News Editors: This is a prayer. I pray that when the media reports on politicians, and in particular, those running for President of the United States, that not all Christians are conservatives. Please don’t allow lazy stereotypes and tropes be used to assume there is one acceptable brand of faith. Yesterday, as Texas GOP junior Senator Ted Cruz announced at Liberty University he was running for the Republican nomination to be President of the United States, I... Read more

50th Anniversary of Six Hundred in Selma

March 8, 2015 By Guest Contributor

That’s what it took. Armed with prayer and nonviolence, six hundred women and men walked east toward the state capitol in Montgomery. As they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they would encounter a phalanx of state troopers wielding billy clubs and tear gas. And as the video above shows, they did not turn back. Sun. March 8, marks the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the day a peaceful display of freedom of speech ended with violence by Alabama state troopers.... Read more

Is Catholic marriage and love possible for LGBT Catholics?

March 6, 2015 By Guest Contributor

As Philadelphia prepares for the Pope’s visit and the World Meeting of Families, one would expect to see a program aimed at addressing the Church’s plan to be more pastoral toward gay, lesbian, and transgender people. In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article, the only mention of such efforts to be expected during the World Meeting of Families was about a celibate man who is gay. That’s it. Not exactly a wide-ranging discussion on the contours of modern life and the family. By June of... Read more

The Most Important Line in Netanyahu’s Speech

March 3, 2015 By Eric Sapp

Benjamin Netanyahu said a lot in his speech before Congress today–much of which was reminiscent of his call for America to go to war against Iraq over a decade ago. But this line stood out to me, not as much for what Netanyahu said but for how Republican Members of Congress responded: “At a time when many hope Iran will join the community of nations, Iran is busy gobbling up the nations.” [Applause] You read that right. Republicans in Congress clapped after... Read more

Poll: Climate Change is a Moral Issue

March 3, 2015 By Joseph Gidjunis

Climate change is a significant moral issue according to the recent survey conducted by Reuters/IPSOS, where nearly 3 out of every 4 persons surveyed said he or she is “personally morally obligated” to control carbon dioxide emissions. World leaders also should also be more morally obligated to take action to protect the planet, 66% of the respondents said. Reporter Bruce Wallace released the news last week, and interviewed American Values Network Executive Director Eric Sapp about the survey conducted in... Read more

Dems Ought to Lay Claim to Religious Liberty

March 2, 2015 By Jessica Church

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This is the first amendment. It protects, among other things, Americans’ right to religious liberty; and it is one of the bedrocks of our nation. At its core, religious liberty is a liberal, democratic value.... Read more

CPAC Highlight: Obama is proclaimed anti-Christian

March 2, 2015 By Guest Contributor

A panel discussion this past weekend at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) offered a stark assessment of the state of religious freedom in the U.S., providing a rallying cry for conservatives as the race for the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination begins. Entitled “Would the Pilgrims Still be Welcome Here?” the panel tackled topics ranging from the assault on religious values levied by teaching evolution in the classroom, to persecution as a “badge of honor” for American Christians. Moderated by... Read more

Faith Leaders Unite to Spare a Life

February 28, 2015 By Zoey Kernodle

As of Friday night at 8:00 p.m., 96 ordained clergy in the state of Georgia and surrounding regions have signed a petition, pleading to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to spare the life of Kelly Gissendaner— an inmate on death row, scheduled to be executed Monday, March 2nd, 2015. Gissendaner was denied clemency last Tuesday, and the response from many has been outrage and sadness. The petition was created by Atlanta-area clergy, seminarians, and professors—including many affiliated with Emory University—in an effort... Read more