United (for now) Methodists and the same-sex debate

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By Bobby Ross Jr.

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 denomination of 12.5 million members from splitting over the issue of homosexuality. It offers churches and regional bodies the option to make up their own minds... Read more

BBC veteran: You know, the press just doesn’t get religion

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By tmatt

Well, here is a gift to a GetReligionista who is on vacation. I mean, what kind of headline would YOU write on a Press Gazette (over in U.K.) report that opens with the following: BBC journalist Edward Stourton has said Britain’s lack of appreciation for the importance of religion across the world damages its news coverage. Stourton, presenter on Radio 4’s religious programme Sunday, believes British journalists have a “blind spot” when it comes to religion, meaning coverage can be... Read more

As usual, good Francis and bad Benedict at the BBC

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By geoconger

The honeymoon continues for Pope Francis and the press. Coverage of the pope’s trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories was rather good. Save for a brief flutter over what language Jesus spoke, the press coverage was sympathetic, balanced and thoughtful, and in marked contrast to the treatment afforded Benedict when he traveled to Germany or England or Mexico. Yet the visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories also highlighted the shortcomings of the craft of journalism — shortcomings not... Read more

Seeking the shooter’s motive at Seattle Pacific University?

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By tmatt

This time, it appears that a lone gunman acting for some unknown, mysterious reason decided to gun down students at Seattle Pacific University, an evangelical campus that is part of the 100-plus member Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (the global network in which I teach). This means that religion is part of the story, right from the beginning. It also means that reporters are going to dealing with quite a bit of religious language and information, when hearing from... Read more

American suicide bomber: WPost flounders on his beliefs

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By Jim Davis

Yet another horrific facet was added to the civil war in Syria with the recent revelation that an American, Moner Mohammed Abusalha, blew himself up in a suicide bombing there. But who was Abusalha? And what did he believe and practice? That proved a considerable challenge for a Washington Post article, despite its 988 words and six reporters. First, there’s geography. “American who killed himself in Syria suicide attack was from South Florida,” blares the headline in big type. The... Read more

We don’t need no religion education, or do we?

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By Bobby Ross Jr.

I’m on the road this week, sunburned and tuckered out. So rather than do a normal GetReligion critique, I’m going to ask a couple of journalism questions that are related to what we do here. First question: Do you know any journalists who could benefit from advanced study of religion? If so, I have terrific news. The Religion Newswriters Association invites journalists to apply to its Lilly Scholarships in Religion Program. According to an RNA news release, the scholarships give full-time journalists... Read more

Hey BBC: What do the generals in northern Nigeria believe?

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By tmatt

The horror stories continue in Nigeria, day after day, covered by professionals in newsrooms around the world (CNN latest here). If you are interested in religion news right now, you have to be paying attention to Nigeria and Sudan, in particular. Here’s a new report from The Guardian, with details on Boko Haram attacks that appear to have killed 100 or more. Meanwhile, this detail in a new BBC online report caught my attention: In one attack, gunmen disguised as... Read more

Church to boycott Redskins? Not enough to fill a stadium

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By Bobby Ross Jr.

The Washington Redskins are changing their name because of its negative connotations, a friend posted on Facebook. Apparently, the National Football League team will drop the “Washington” and be known simply as the Redskins. Bah-duh-BOOM! But seriously, folks, check out this Washington Post lede: Eleven days before the United Church of Christ will vote on a resolution calling for its 22,000 members to boycott the Washington Redskins, a team official called a top minister and asked him to speak to three... Read more

Was Catholic ‘teaching’ involved in latest Ireland scandal?

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By tmatt

If I have heard this statement once at pro-life rallies I have heard it a hundred times: There are crisis pregnancies, but there is no such thing — in the eyes of God — as an unwanted child. This statement is especially popular with doctrinally conservative Catholics. So, try to combine that thought with the news coming out of Ireland. This is from the Associated Press: DUBLIN — The Catholic Church in Ireland is facing fresh accusations of child neglect... Read more

The silent swan song of Wojciech Jaruzelski

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm By geoconger

The silver Swan, who living had no Note, when Death approached, unlocked her silent throat. Leaning her breast against the reedy shore, thus sang her first and last, and sang no more: “Farewell, all joys! O Death, come close mine eyes! More Geese than Swans now live, more Fools than Wise.” Orlando Gibbons, “The Silver Swan” (1612) Poland’s last communist leader has been laid to rest at Warsaw’s Powazki Cemetery following a funeral Mass, reports The New York Times. Written with a Warsaw... Read more