Monthly Archives: December 2008

Top religion stories of 2008

Religion’s role in the U.S. presidential race produced the biggest religion stories of 2008, according to a survey of more than 100 religion journalists last week. The religion specialists of the Religion Newswriters Association chose the controversy surrounding the Rev. … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 1 Comment

Episcopal bishop on the conservative split

On his Web site, Bishop Nathan D. Baxter of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania says “in some ways, this is not a surprise” that Episcopal dioceses and others that withdrew from the church in dissent have proposed a plan … Continue reading

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Sarah Palin’s home church damaged by fire

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s home church in Wasilla was badly damaged by arson Friday, leading Palin to apologize if the fire was connected to ”undeserved negative attention” from her failed campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee, reports the New … Continue reading

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Vatican clarifies position on bioethical issues

The Vatican on Friday issued a statement condemning advanced infertility treatments and newer forms of contraception such as the “morning after” pill. The church’s highest doctrinal body reaffirmed its long-standing prohibition of in-vitro fertilization and also cloning and embryonic stem … Continue reading

Posted in Catholicism, Science | Leave a comment

What to do with 500,000 unused embryos?

A new study from researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that fertility patients who are done having children feel responsible for the stored, frozen embryos left over from their treatment but a majority are against implanting the embryos in … Continue reading

Posted in Academia, Culture wars, Science | 1 Comment

A beer for your thoughts?

There’s an interesting, beer-related conversation going on over at the newspaper’s online forum. Here’s the basic scenario: The owner of a beer distributorship was shopping for a fuel oil delivery service. He was ready to make a deal with a … Continue reading

Posted in Around Pennsylvania | Leave a comment

Farmer shocks western Pa. church with $2.2 mil

A tiny Methodist church in western Pennsylvania has inherited more than $2 million from a farmer who lived in a mobile home. The pastor says he never met the man. Read the full story.

Posted in Around Pennsylvania | 1 Comment

Sightings: Catholic Creativity

Religion scholar Martin Marty looks at a piece by Paul Elie in the Nov. 21 issue of Commonweal and public Catholicism today. Read his column at the jump.

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Tithing in tough times, or any time

Do you include tithing in your household budget? Congregational leaders hope you do. The most recent cover story of Christianity Today talks about the lack of generosity among U.S. Christians and what its repercussions will be as the economy gets … Continue reading

Posted in Ecomony, Worship | Leave a comment

Canterbury responds to conservative split

Theological conservatives who left the U.S. Episcopal Church said Wednesday they’d formed a rival North American province of Anglicans. Today, the spiritual leader of the 77-million-member world Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, responded: “There are clear guidelines set … Continue reading

Posted in Anglicanism, Around Pennsylvania, Denominational doings | Leave a comment