Get Religion is a national and global journalism site focusing on how the mainstream press covers religion news in politics, entertainment, business and sports.
In this corner: Pro-choice bloggers and two San Francisco Chronicle columnists (Jon Carroll and Ruth Rosen) who object that the owner of Curves fitness centers donates money to prolife activities. In the other corner: Planned Parenthood?
Newsweek‘s cover package on “The New Prophets of Revelation” rings true, for the most part, to readers familiar with the work and personalities of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Indeed, much of the fun in David Gates’ reporting is in the contrasts between the pushy, polyester-clad LaHaye and the self-deprecating, jeans-favoring Jenkins.
During the weekend and in the first few days of civil-marriage ceremonies for gay couples, the best coverage of the religion angle has come in sidebar stories. In mainbar stories, Christians who oppose gay unions make cameos like these in a Washington Post story:
What do liberal Episcopal bishops do when a local culture careens past their church in the debate about gay marriage? As the San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe and The Washington Times have reported recently, some bishops choose a more cautious path than one would expect from their previous announcements and votes at their church’s triennial General Convention.
John Leo’s column in the April 17 U.S. News & World Report is one of the better commentaries to date about Catholic bishops, Catholic politicians and public policy on abortion. Leo points out the crucial role played by Mario Cuomo, who in his 1984 speech “Religious Belief and Public Morality: A Catholic Governor’s Perspective” explained how he reconciled his church’s teachings on abortion with his responsibilities as governor of New York.
At least once a year, it seems, the ACLU supports a case that defies the expectations of its tougher critics. A few months ago, for instance, the group defended Rush Limbaugh’s right to keep his medical records private.
Michelle Cotelle of The New Republic has written a thoughtful cover profile of K.A. Paul, an evangelist from India who is building a reputation as a geopolitical (or, if you prefer, theopolitical) troubleshooter. Paul does his work through Gospel to the Unreached Millions and the more web-savvy Global Peace Initiative.
A consistent theme in coverage of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference was how “stunned” delegates were by a suggestion of freeing theologically divided Methodists to go their separate ways. Reporters also seemed stunned by the idea: after conservatives won the crucial votes on sexuality issues, sometimes by substantial majorities, why would William Hinson of the Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church float such a risky trial balloon?
Earlier this week the Vero Beach Press Journal published “Ma’s Ashram,” a four-day series on Kashi, a Hindu ashram in Sebastian, Fla., founded by Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati. (She’s known simply as “Ma” to followers and detractors alike).
