religion

Germany's Merkel Pledges To Protect Religious Circumcision

Eyder Peralta — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:49:00 +0000

In Germany, the past few weeks have been marked by an intense debate over religious liberties.

Today, German Chancellor Angela Merkel jumped into the fray saying her administration would work to protect religious circumcision.

"It is absolutely clear to the federal government that we want Jewish, we want Muslim religious life in Germany.

Episcopal Church OKs Same-Sex Blessings; Largest U.S. Denomination To Do So

Mark Memmott — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:22:00 +0000

With a vote Tuesday evening by its House of Deputies, the Episcopal Church became the largest U.S. denomination so far "to officially sanction same-sex relationships," as CNN's Belief blog writes.

The Associated Press says that "supporters of the same-sex blessings insisted it was not a marriage ceremony despite any similarities.

Religious Minorities in the Middle East

Ron Curtis — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:07:34 +0000

From the America Abroad series: The Middle East is largely Muslim but it’s also the birthplace of Christianity, Judaism, and many other religions. Many non-Muslims have left in recent decades, leaving relatively small populations of non-Muslims and Muslim minority sects.

Now, the rise of Islamist political parties in the Mideast raises questions about the rights and protections such minorities can expect or whether they can expect them at all.

Go here for more information on this series.

Evangelicals Preach Unity On Immigration Reform

Michel Martin — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:34:00 +0000

More than 150 evangelical leaders, from across the political spectrum, have come together to call for immigration reform. Host Michel Martin looks at the crusade for reform with Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

Rev. Fred Luter Becomes First African-American President of Southern Baptist Convention

Eileen Fleming — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:00:00 +0000

The Southern Baptist Convention will be under the leadership of its first African-American president. The country’s largest Protestant denomination is hoping to diminish its troubling racist past.

New Orleans Pastor Set To Be First African-American President of Southern Baptist Convention

Eileen Fleming — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000

The pastor of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is poised this week to become the first African-American president of the Southern Baptist Convention. His career as a church pastor was not something he imagined as a child.