Religion

16 April 2008 -- Pope Benedict visits the White House Wednesday for formal talks with President Bush. Tuesday, cheering crowds sang birthday wishes to the pope, who turns 81 today, as he arrived at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington. He was welcomed by Mr. Bush, his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, and their daughter Jenna.

Pope Benedict XVI: Photo by A.Currell (CC)

No visiting foreign leader has ever been welcomed at the airport by President Bush.    » read more »

April 4, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today built upon Faith-Based Missouri, by highlighting the Faith-Based Missouri Disaster Relief Initiative as an avenue to increase cooperation between state government and faith and community-based groups in providing services to Missouri families during times of emergency.

Stormy weather: Photo by Chris (CC)    » read more »

- XM, EWTN to host six-day XM channel devoted to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States April 15-20
- XM listeners across the nation can tune into XM Channel 120 for complete coverage of the Pope's first pastoral visit to the U.S.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite Radio today announced that it will join with EWTN Global Catholic Network to launch a six-day XM Radio channel devoted to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States.

The Papal U.S. Visit '08 channel will air nationwide on XM channel 120 from April 15 to April 20. The channel can also be heard on XM Radio Online at listen.xmradio.com    » read more »

March 17, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY -- Alabama Governor Bob Riley wants the state to involve faith- and community-based organizations in helping prisoners who are returning to society so the ex-convicts avoid a relapse into a life of crime.

The Governor is launching a program called the Community Partnership for Recovery and Reentry, which will actively engage faith-based organizations and community groups to provide pre-release and post-release support for the ex-prisoners and the communities they are returning to as they complete their prison sentences.    » read more »

04 February 2008 -- Several southern U.S. states are holding presidential primary elections or caucuses that may help determine the winners in the Republican and Democratic ranks.

In southern states, issues such as religion, taxes and the war in Iraq are expected to take center stage in Tuesday's voting.    » read more »

22 January 2008 -- Change is in the air between China and the Vatican. There are indications that Chinese authorities are focusing more on religion and the Vatican has long wanted to normalize ties with Beijing.

Pope John Paul the Second started the process of normalizing relations with China and Pope Benedict has made it a priority during his papacy.

But reestablishing diplomatic ties, severed more than half a century ago, is not simple.    » read more »

15 January 2008 -- Pope Benedict XVI has canceled a visit to one of Rome's best-known universities, because protests threatened to overshadow the event.

Dozens of students and teachers at La Sapienza University say they condemn the pontiff's conservative stand on many scientific issues. A total of 67 professors signed a letter calling the Pope a backward-thinking theologian who forces religion into science, and asked that he not be allowed to speak at the school.    » read more »

In a Fort Worth Star-Telegram commentary, AAAS CEO Alan I. Leshner urged Texas science education officials not to "remain neutral about sticking to science in science classrooms."

Leshner wrote that if science teachers begin to evaluate "scientific facts based on indisputable physical evidence through nonscientific perspectives" including intelligent design and creationism, educators will "surely wind up confusing students about the nature of science versus religion."

Read the full text of Alan I. Leshner's commentary in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram    » read more »

December 11, 2007 -- LITTLE ROCK, AR – A report released tonight cites an upcoming article in the Sunday edition of The New York Times Magazine which quotes former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee asking a question about the content of the Mormon faith.

In fact, the full context of the exchange makes it clear that Governor Huckabee was illustrating his unwillingness to answer questions about Mormonism and to avoid addressing theological questions during this campaign.    » read more »

December 6, 2007 -- ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – In light of Governor Romney’s anticipated “religion speech,” fellow Republican candidate Ron Paul issued the following statement:

“We live in times of great uncertainty when men of faith must stand up for American values and traditions before they are washed away in a sea of fear and relativism. I have never been one who is particularly comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena, and I find the pandering that typically occurs in the election season to be distasteful.    » read more »

06 December 2007 -- Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has tried to assure voters the Mormon Church would not influence his decisions should he win the White House next year. Romney spoke on faith and politics at the George H. W. Bush presidential library in Texas.

Romney spoke at a time when opinion polls continue to show some public reservations about a Mormon becoming president.

"I do not define my candidacy by my religion," he said. "A person should not be elected because of his faith, nor should he be rejected of his faith."    » read more »

December 4, 2007 -- “I want to extend my best wishes to Florida’s Jewish Community as they commemorate Hanukkah this year.

"The wonderment of the Festival of Lights is illustrated through the faith and determination demonstrated by the Jewish people who reclaimed Jerusalem and the temple. During Hanukkah, Jews around the world honor the miracle of Hanukkah by lighting the menorah, a symbol of hope shining through darkness.    » read more »

Former Southern Baptist Convention President James Draper Joins Christian Activist-Syndicated Radio Host to Lead 30-Member Coalition for Huckabee

November 27, 2007 -- Little Rock, AR – Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee announced that Dr. James Draper, former pastor, past president of Southern Baptist Convention, and recently retired president of Lifeway Christian Resources, will join Christian activist and syndicated radio host, Janet Folger, as a co-chair in the formation of the Faith and Values Coalition for Mike Huckabee.    » read more »

20 November 2007 -- Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says he may name his successor before he dies, rather than rely on the centuries-old selection process involving reincarnation, to avoid interference from China.

In an interview with a Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun published Tuesday, the Dalai Lama said the Tibetan people would not support a Chinese-appointed successor.

The 72-year-old Nobel prize laureate says he may have a group of high ranking Buddhist monks democratically select his replacement.    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- Bellevue, WA – Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee was joined today by Dr. Joseph Fuiten, founder of Positive Agenda and Pastor of Cedar ParkChurch in Bothell, WA, to announce a growing list of endorsements from leaders of the faith community in Washington State. The announcement was made at a news conference at the Harbor Club in Bellevue, Wash.    » read more »