The following is a sampling of praise for Pope Francis from some rather strange quarters. Ian Bassin (former associate counsel to President Obama): "Finally, there's our new, gay-friendly Pope. In one of the most die-hard bastions of conservatism, the Vatican, Pope Francis is rewriting the playbook by breaking the longest fever of them all—a reactionary agenda [...]
During the month of October, a billboard in West Lubbock, Texas created quite a stir. It featured a tattooed Jesus; there was also an accompanying video on the website of Jesustattoo.org. When we saw a picture of the billboard on the Internet, we quickly learned why some Christians might be disconcerted. At first blush, the sight [...]
Every sentient human being knows about the published reflections that Pope Francis offered at the end of September on a variety of subjects. But few know about the other matters he recently addressed, and that is because the media are not happy with the pope’s decisions. Here are four examples. In a homily that was given [...]
Last month, Pope Francis had a three-part meeting in Rome with Catholic journalists and his comments were published by America magazine. The New York Times issued a "Breaking News Alert," followed by a story, "Pope Bluntly Faults Church’s Focus on Gays and Abortion." Here is what the pope said: "We cannot insist only on issues related [...]
On Monday, November 11, 2013, the Frontline Project is sponsoring the second annual "An American Moment." An American Moment will again include one moment of silent prayer – to thank our military for their service, to pray for the peaceful repose of those who have died, and to pray for the intentions of those still living. [...]
It is an old story: "the premise that religious beliefs are irrational, not anchored in science, not testable and, therefore, unappealing to intelligent people who 'know better.'" While not specifically endorsing that pejorative description of religious belief, a piece that was published online last August by the Personality and Social Psychology Review uses "a meta-analysis of [...]
The grandson of evangelist Billy Graham, Boz Tchividjian, said in October that evangelicals have a big problem with the sexual abuse of minors. When asked how the problem in the evangelical community compares to that in the Catholic community, he said, "I think we are worse." The Liberty University law professor runs an organization designed to [...]
The following article by Bill Donohue was published as an op-ed on the website of CNN on September 20: Not in my lifetime have I witnessed a pope who has so quickly succeeded in making more Catholics, and non-Catholics, hyperventilate than Pope Francis. Indeed, some are ready to jump off the bleachers. They all need to [...]
Rick Hinshaw Ben Urwand, The Collaboration: Hollywood's Pact with Hitler (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2013) It's quite easy – and quite morally offensive – for those safely removed in time and place from the horrors of Hitler's genocide to point fingers of blame at others – the German people, the Holy [...]
