Sex

, , , , , , , , , ,

Here some stand

, , , , , , , , , ,

“Stories like this annoy me,” a Lutheran pastor wrote when he notified us of the following Chicago Sun-Times piece. Written by veteran religion reporter Susan Hogan/Albach, it’s about how the Metropolitan Chicago bishop-elect of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America views his denomination’s celibacy requirement for gay and lesbian clergy. The Lutheran clergy and GetReligion reader is a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which does not ordain gay clergy. Though both Lutheran groups are large (and I’m a member of the LCMS), only the larger ELCA is mentioned in the story.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , ,

And don't wear white after Labor Day

, , , , ,

The intersection of religion and dress is most fascinating to me. I grew up with a mother who was far and away the most fashionable pastor’s wife I knew. And then I also had acquaintances and neighbors involved in the Christian modesty movement, which required women to wear large pieces of fabric that covered them extensively.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , ,

Dark night of a reporter's soul

, , ,

The editors of the Los Angeles Times made an interesting decision when they decided to give page-one play to religion reporter William Lobdell’s soul-searching essay, “Religion beat became a test of faith — A reporter looks at how the stories he covered affected him and his spiritual journey.”


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , ,

Missing subtlety in the culture wars

, , , ,

Sometimes being witty gets in the way of being thorough and nuanced. Dana Milbank, The Washington Post‘s ubiquitous page 2 columnist, wrote a lament Tuesday on what he described as the faded culture wars in the wake of Sen. David Vitter’s scandal and other supposedly connected events.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , ,

A man of many passions

, , , ,

Sharon Waxman of The New York Times had quite a story during the weekend: Porn star rediscovers God, expresses ambivalence about the past 30 years of his life and begins a ministry to other porn stars that he plans to transform into ordained ministry within the Episcopal Church.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , ,

5Q+1 visits the ubiquitous Jeff Sharlet

, , , , ,

Many years ago I wrote an angry letter to the editor of Rolling Stone, doubting whether that magazine ever would give serious attention to religion and believers. I am glad that, as a contributing editor for both Rolling Stone and Harper’s, Jeff Sharlet has proven me wrong.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , ,

On the juicy story du jour

, , , ,

One of my worst traits is that I love to watch and read about things I shouldn’t love to watch or read about. I have successfully limited my intake of gossip mags to in-flight reading, and I’m doing better about avoiding gossip sites, I guess, but I still have a major problem.


Please respect our Commenting Policy