Religion News on the Web
Selected religion-related news from around the Web
February 05, 2013
- The Associated Press
AP: Push for assisted suicide comes to Connecticut
A push for the legalization of physician-assisted suicide is under way in at least three Northeastern states including Connecticut, where proponents say they see strong support for allowing doctors to prescribe mentally competent, dying individuals with the medications needed to take their own lives.
February 04, 2013
- The Associated Press
AP: Catholic hospital takes surprise stance in lawsuit
It was a startling assertion that seemed an about-face from church doctrine: A Catholic hospital arguing in a Colorado court that twin fetuses that died in its care were not, under state law, human beings.
February 04, 2013
- The New York Times
NYT: Vote to eliminate ban on gays in Boy Scouts is on agenda at board meeting
A proposed shift by the Boy Scouts of America to drop its national ban on gay leaders and scouts, and allow local scout units to decide for themselves, was the center of attention as the organization’s national board gathered here on Monday for a three-day meeting and a vote on the issue.
February 04, 2013
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Journal-Constitution: Churches fret as Scouts debate ending gay ban
While the Boy Scouts of America faces increased pressure to admit gay Scouts and gay Scout leaders, some of the churches that host Scout troops are also in the front lines of the battle and could lose their troops.
February 01, 2013
- The Washington Post
Wash. Post: The White House’s contraceptives compromise
The Obama administration proposed broader latitude Friday for religious nonprofits that object to the mandated coverage of contraceptives, one that will allow large faith-based hospitals and universities to issue plans that do not directly provide birth control coverage.
January 31, 2013
- The New York Times
NYT: Cardinal in Los Angeles is removed from duties
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, who retired less than two years ago as the leader of the nation’s largest Roman Catholic archdiocese, was removed from all public duties by his successor, Archbishop José H. Gomez, as the church complied with a court order to release thousands of pages of internal documents that show how the cardinal shielded priests who sexually abused children.
January 28, 2013
- The Associated Press
AP: Washington casts wary eye at Muslim Brotherhood
President Barack Obama begins his second term straining to maintain a good relationship with Egypt, an important U.S. ally whose president is a conservative Islamist walking a fine line between acting as a moderate peace broker and keeping his Muslim Brotherhood party happy with anti-American rhetoric.
January 28, 2013
- The Associated Press
AP: Testimony scheduled on VT assisted death proposal
Two Senate committees are slated to take testimony this week on what has become a perennial issue around the Vermont Statehouse: legislation that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients end their own lives.
January 26, 2013
- The New York Times
NYT: A flood of suits fights coverage of birth control
In a flood of lawsuits, Roman Catholics, evangelicals and Mennonites are challenging a provision in the new health care law that requires employers to cover birth control in employee health plans — a high-stakes clash between religious freedom and health care access that appears headed to the Supreme Court.
January 24, 2013
- The Associated Press
AP: Ark. clergy split on allowing guns in church
A proposal to allow concealed handguns in Arkansas' houses of worship is dividing religious leaders on whether easing the firearm rules would offer more protection to congregants or disrupt the sanctuary that they try to offer every week.
January 24, 2013
- Roll Call
Roll Call: Unlikely coalition fights contraception mandate
Abortion opponents rallying by the thousands Friday in Washington at the annual March for Life have lost some political battles lately but won a string of court victories, thanks in part to a diverse coalition challenging a contraception mandate in the health care overhaul.