The story of a Catholic woman religious who was disciplined for authorizing an abortion has been percolating for a few weeks. It’s a very sad story and my heart goes out to all involved.
Catholic canon fodder
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Inventing homophobic bogeymen
A couple of weeks ago, The Observer (U.K.) ran a brief editorial arguing that the Anglican Church “must not be complicit in gay persecution in Africa.” The editorial began with the doctrinal statement “Homosexuality is not a sin or a crime.” Normally we don’t concern ourselves too much with the house editorials but this one is different.
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Still just a clump of cells?
This story that ran in the New York Times late last month is headlined “In Ultrasound, Abortion Fight Has New Front.” The inclusion of the word “fight” made me think the story might include perspectives from those who support abortion as well as those who don’t. And I guess, technically, the story did. To get that other perspective, it helps to not blink while you’re reading toward the end of the piece. But all of the drama, the meat and personal stories come from one side.
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Something borrowed, nothing Jew (updated)
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Disappearing turbans
A Canadian reader passed along this tragic story from the Toronto Star. It’s about a man who killed his daughter-in-law. He said he did it to protect the family’s honor. The article includes a lot of details about the crime and the cover-up and doesn’t shy away from the fact that it’s an honor killing:
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Seminarians’ sex lives, revisited
Yesterday I highlighted a New York Times article on psychological screening of seminary candidates. I actually thought the article accomplished a lot and I enjoyed reading it. And I dinged it for failing to explain — and include quotes defending — the Vatican position on accepting homosexual candidates.
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Seminarians' sex lives
An editor recently asked me to write about some issues related to the Roman Catholic sex abuse problem. I had a wonderful time interviewing over one dozen experts. They spoke from a variety of perspectives — people extremely upset with particular church policies and doctrines and people who thought the problems arose out of failure to adhere to church doctrine.
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Breaking! Benedict followed church law
For a few months now, mainstream media outlets have been attempting to tie Pope Benedict XVI to a cover-up of the clerical sex abuse scandal that plagued the Roman Catholic Church. The claims themselves haven’t made the case. In fact, those reporters most knowledgeable of the Vatican situation, such as John Allen, say that Benedict has done more than anyone else to improve how the church handles abuse cases.
Please respect our Commenting Policy
Army of Muhammad returns?
As I was working throughout the early hours of Monday morning, I had a front-row seat to the unbelievably tragic conflict unfolding in the Mediterranean Sea between Israeli commandos and pro-Palestinian activists. Except that most of the networks were limited by the holiday and the wee hours. That meant I was getting a lot of information by searching the flotilla hashtag on Twitter. What popped up was a fascinating mix of heartbreak, passionate outrage, shocking anti-Semitism and information of varying veracity.
Please respect our Commenting Policy