Religion and Politics

Susan Rice Wins Over Israel Supporters

Despite initial skepticism, many Jewish leaders have become receptive of the potential nomination of Susan Rice for Secretary of State, writes Nathan Guttman at The Jewish Daily Forward. Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, stated, “[Rice] has been willing to take difficult positions on Israel time and again and when Jewish leaders see that it builds a relationship of trust.” 

Read at The Jewish Daily Forward

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In Russia, Pro-Putin Youths Protest Mormons as ‘Cult’

Members of the Young Guard, a youth organization supporting Russian President Vladmir Putin, have staged several protests outside Mormon meeting houses, reports Corey Flintoff of NPR. As the number of Mormons grow in the country, the Young Guard claims that the religious group is not truly Christian, and is attempting to promote an American political agenda. Andrey Filimonov, and LDS spokesman for Eastern Europe, said, “This is absolutely wrong, false [and] not true. The church in every country has nothing to do with political issues at all.”

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In Christmas Wars, It’s All or Nothing

For The Washington Post, Charles C. Haynes reports on the conflict between atheists and religious groups over public holiday displays. Instead of attempting to ban nativity scenes, atheists are increasingly creating their own displays to counter the religious messages. Having made their point, Haynes believes that atheist groups should “declare victory and stay home.” He writes, “[At] some point … in-your-face tactics become counter-productive and needlessly divisive.” 

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Exceptions Don’t Work: What the Irish Abortion Tragedy Means for the United States

Julie F. Kay of Slate looks at the importance of the death of Savita Halappanavar, a woman living in Ireland who was refused an abortion. Kay calls the current abortion laws in Ireland “draconian.” Kay believes that Ireland might represent the future of the anti-abortion movement in the United States: “In the last election, moderate Republican candidates only had to support legal abortion in cases of rape, incest, and life of the woman to be considered reasonable. As we’ve seen from Halappanavar’s story, there’s nothing reasonable about that.” 

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Barack Obama Depicted as Jesus: ‘The Truth’ Painting Draws Criticism for Controversial Metaphor

For The Huffington Post, Meredith Bennett-Smith writes about the reaction to a painting that places President Barack Obama “in a position that is reminiscent of the crucifixion.” Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic for Religious and Civil Rights, stated, “What makes this display so interesting is the flat denial of truth by so many artists and academicians, as well as their irrepressible hostility to Christianity. Yet when it comes to their savior, President Obama, they not only pivot, they proselytize.” The artist, Michael D’Antuono, said, “The crucifixion of the president was meant metaphorically.” 

Read at The Huffington Post

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‘Two and a Half Men’ Star Becomes Christian, Blasts Show

For Religion News Service, Daniel Burke reports on the conversion of Angus T. Jones, a star of the CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Jones called the show “filth,” and stated, “You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can’t. I’m not OK with what I’m learning, what the Bible says, and being on that television show.”

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President of the Economy

At First Things, David Corbin and Matthew Parks look at the strategy of the Romney campaign. Corbin and Parks believe that Romney focused too much on the economy, rather than running a more ideological campaign. They ask, “Yet might [a Romney victory] have also reinforced the progressive premise that the government’s job is to manage the economy?”

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Large Crowds Stream into Tahrir Denouncing New Powers Seized by Egypt’s Islamist President

In Tahrir Square, where protests against former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak began two years ago, new protests have ignited following an edict by President Mohammed Morsi granting himself nearly autocratic powers, reports the Associated Press. Morsi has not backed down from his edict that would weaken the power of the judiciary branch. Reda Hassan, owner of a car parts shop, said he voted for Morsi in this past summer’s election, but “he fooled us. He did nothing since he was elected. … Now Tahrir says go away.”

Read at The Washington Post

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SCOTUS Opens Door to a New Obamacare Challenge

At The Washington Post, Sarah Kliff reports on the possibility that the Supreme Court could rehear arguments on the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate and contraceptive coverage provisions, after the justices ordered an appeals court to reopen arguments on the subject. This case has been filed by Liberty University, a Christian college, which argues that the mandate violates religious freedoms, “by forcing Americans to pay for abortions,” Kliff writes.

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U.N. Chief Says Crises Show Need For Interfaith Amity

Tom Heneghan of Reuters reports on the building of a Saudi-backed interfaith center in Vienna, Austria, which plans to work on children’s health campaigns, improving the media’s portrayal of religion, and hosting fellowships for religious leadership. At the center’s opening, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the crises in Syria, Mali, and Gaza show that religious leaders “can unite people based on tenets and precepts common to all creeds,” but at times have also “stoked intolerance, supported extremism and propagated hate.” He told those leaders gathered in Vienna, “I fully support your vision of religion as an enabler of respect and reconciliation.” 

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