Just as it took Jesus three days to rise from the dead, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee waited three days to weigh in on the momentous decision. As pro-life advocates lamented the ruling, Trump's silence evinced a level of disinterest almost never seen from GOP politicians. It also cast serious doubt on Trump's pledge (recently reiterated to evangelical leaders) to make pro-life jurisprudence a litmus test for federal judicial nominees. Read more
The purpose of Capitol & Cathedral is to provide commentary and analysis on the role of religion in the 2016 presidential election. But people who are aware of my work will know that I occasionally venture into raising questions and offering thoughts about the role of religion in public life. Last week, I discussed whether believing marriage is the union of a man and a woman is the same thing as “having religious objections to LGBT people.” Readers’ opinions varied. But... Read more
Never far beneath the surface in American politics, abortion is suddenly front-page news again. This is the most significant abortion-rights ruling in years, and religious leaders, politicians, and the rest of the elite media/activist class are fired up about it. Read more
Religious right stalwart James Dobson said last week that Donald Trump had recently become a born-again Christian. Now we learn that prosperity gospel preacher Paula White was involved in Trump's conversion, according to Dobson. This will not help him politically. Read more
Convincing conservative ideologues that his conversion was authentic was a pretty impressive con, even by Trump's standards. Longtime religious right activist James Dobson is now claimingg that Donald Trump is a born-again true believer. Read more
News and commentary on Donald Trump's meeting June 21 in New York with evangelical leaders. This roundup features excellent news articles and thoughtful opinions from leading journalists, clergy, and activists. Read more
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom operates on a tiny budget and enjoys political support from both parties in Congress. My best wishes to Father Reese, his fellow commissioners, and USCIRF staff as they protect and promote human rights. Read more
There are legitimate points of conflict between LGBT Americans' civil rights and social conservatives' religious liberty. But it is unhelpful to ascribe "religious objections to LGBT people" to Americans who believe that God created us male and female, that marriage is by nature the union of a man and a woman, and that sexual relations are properly reserved for such unions. Read more
This sounds to me like someone who knows in his heart Trump is an embarrassment to the party and to the nation, but whose lifelong partisanship and rhetoric leaves no other option than to support Trump – eventually. One wonders what Trump might do or say that would finally tip someone like Tom DeLay to definitively support or oppose him. Read more
Trump's tactic of casting doubt on Clinton's faith is perhaps not quite as depraved as how he cheered the effort to deny President Barack Obama's Christian faith. But by encouraging supporters to suppose "there's nothing out there," Trump invites voters to fill in the blanks with their worse fears and assumptions. Read more
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