Today's religion and world affairs from the United States and around the globe: Pope Francis' visit to the United States, a deadly stampede during the annual hajj activities, and the 2016 presidential campaign and religion.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
Thomas Merton, the American Monk Cited by the Pope
by Daniel J. Wakin
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/live/pope-visit-2015/thomas-merton-the-american-monk-cited-by-the-pope/
Paul Elie, a senior fellow at the Berkley Center discusses the life, teachings and spiritual question of Thomas Merton who, cited by Pope Francis, was a convert to Catholicism and became a Trappist Monk.
Pope Francis Praised Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. Here’s Who They Were.
by Dan Zak, Abby Ohliheiser, and Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/09/24/pope-francis-praised-dorothy-day-and-thomas-merton-heres-who-they-were/
Choosing three nonviolent Americans fit the pope’s call to end the arms trade, said Paul Elie, a senior fellow in Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and author of a book on four Catholics, including Merton and Day. “He chose four figures who represent different dimensions of the religious experience and the American experience.” Elie said. “He put forward three nonviolent figures out of the four he mentioned, three people who were category against violence. To do that in front of Congress shows that he himself is a radical."
POPE FRANCIS VISIT
Pope Francis, in Washington, Addresses Poverty and Climate
by Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/us/politics/pope-francis-obama-white-house.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
On a day that blended the splendor of an ancient church with the frenzy of a modern rock star tour, Francis waded quietly but forcefully into some of the most polarizing issues of American civic life. Along the way, he underscored just how much he has upended the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church and reordered its priorities.
Pope Francis Implores Congress to Accept Immigrants as their Own (a Summary of the Pope’s Address to Congress)
by March Fisher and Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pope-francis-to-address-divided-congress-in-washington-on-thursday/2015/09/23/971b0a9e-6260-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html
On Thursday, Pope Francis addressed the U.S. Congress and spoke to issues of immigration, environmental responsibility and poverty. These three themes have been the conversational pillars of his six day tour. Congressional reactions to the speech were varied and highlighted the political and ideological rift between the Democrats and Republicans.
Is the Pope Liberal?
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/09/economist-explains-16
Those who might be broadly described as liberal Catholics hope that the Pope will lend weight to their various causes; conservative Catholics, meanwhile, lament that he does not a more staunch enforcer of what has been the traditional Church catechism on controversial social issues such as abortion and marriage. When it comes to social teachings and the church, is the pope a liberal?
Ken Starr: Pope Francis, Religious Liberty and American Responsibility
by Ken Starr
USA Today op-ed
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/09/24/ken-starr-pope-religious-liberty-and-american-responsibility-column/72672210/
President of Baylor University, Ken Starr argues that the global community is witnessing a tragic, global crisis in religious freedom — one characterized outside the West by persecution, violence and terrorism, and inside the West by a receding understanding of why religious liberty is necessary for human and social flourishing. The attention the Pope has given religious freedom during his American tour is both timely and urgent.
Pope puts Spotlight on Homeless Crisis in D.C. – a Big Challenge for it’s Catholic Mayor
by Aaron Davis
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/pope-puts-spotlight-on-homeless-crisis-in-dc--a-big-challenge-for-its-catholic-mayor/2015/09/24/27552fe4-62d0-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html
Thursday, Pope Francis lunched with 300 homeless men, women and children and chose to forego the scheduled Congressional lunch. This decision illuminates the stark reality of the tens of thousands of homeless people living in D.C. and the conditions they face, despite the districts mandatory shelter laws.
AROUND THE WORLDA Deadly Stampede Shows the Danger of the Hajj
by Adam Taylor
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/09/24/a-deadly-stampede-shows-the-danger-of-the-hajj/
On Thursday, Saudi officials revealed that more than 700 Muslim worshippers had been killed and over 800 wounded in a stampede in Mina, a desert plain near Mecca. Mina serves as a temporary encampment for thousands of pilgrims and is the site of one of their most important rituals.
Putin Opens New Mosque in Moscow Amid Lingering Intolerance
by Neil MacFarquhar
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/world/europe/putin-opens-moscows-most-elaborate-mosque.html?ref=todayspaper
Against rather long odds, including a hostile mayor, a vocal constituency irritated by Muslim rituals, and criminal rackets loath to see valuable real estate lost to charitable organizations, Moscow inaugurated a glittering, elaborate new mosque on Wednesday.
China Probes Deputy Religion Chief for Suspected Graft
by Ben Blanchard
Reuters Faithworld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/09/23/china-probes-deputy-religion-chief-for-suspected-graft/
A deputy head of the Chinese government department, which oversees religious groups, is being investigated for suspected graft, the ruling Communist Party’s anti-corruption watchdog said on Tuesday.
DOMESTIC
Belief in God Remains Mandatory for Success in American Politics
by Colby Itkowitz
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/09/22/belief-in-god-remains-mandatory-to-success-in-american-politics/
While there may not be a religious test, there is an irreligious test, at least in public opinion. Not believing in God is perhaps the greatest limitation to getting elected to public office, particularly at the national level.
Thomas Merton, the American Monk Cited by the Pope
by Daniel J. Wakin
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/live/pope-visit-2015/thomas-merton-the-american-monk-cited-by-the-pope/
Paul Elie, a senior fellow at the Berkley Center discusses the life, teachings and spiritual question of Thomas Merton who, cited by Pope Francis, was a convert to Catholicism and became a Trappist Monk.
Pope Francis Praised Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. Here’s Who They Were.
by Dan Zak, Abby Ohliheiser, and Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/09/24/pope-francis-praised-dorothy-day-and-thomas-merton-heres-who-they-were/
Choosing three nonviolent Americans fit the pope’s call to end the arms trade, said Paul Elie, a senior fellow in Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and author of a book on four Catholics, including Merton and Day. “He chose four figures who represent different dimensions of the religious experience and the American experience.” Elie said. “He put forward three nonviolent figures out of the four he mentioned, three people who were category against violence. To do that in front of Congress shows that he himself is a radical."
POPE FRANCIS VISIT
Pope Francis, in Washington, Addresses Poverty and Climate
by Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/us/politics/pope-francis-obama-white-house.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
On a day that blended the splendor of an ancient church with the frenzy of a modern rock star tour, Francis waded quietly but forcefully into some of the most polarizing issues of American civic life. Along the way, he underscored just how much he has upended the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church and reordered its priorities.
Pope Francis Implores Congress to Accept Immigrants as their Own (a Summary of the Pope’s Address to Congress)
by March Fisher and Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pope-francis-to-address-divided-congress-in-washington-on-thursday/2015/09/23/971b0a9e-6260-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html
On Thursday, Pope Francis addressed the U.S. Congress and spoke to issues of immigration, environmental responsibility and poverty. These three themes have been the conversational pillars of his six day tour. Congressional reactions to the speech were varied and highlighted the political and ideological rift between the Democrats and Republicans.
Is the Pope Liberal?
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/09/economist-explains-16
Those who might be broadly described as liberal Catholics hope that the Pope will lend weight to their various causes; conservative Catholics, meanwhile, lament that he does not a more staunch enforcer of what has been the traditional Church catechism on controversial social issues such as abortion and marriage. When it comes to social teachings and the church, is the pope a liberal?
Ken Starr: Pope Francis, Religious Liberty and American Responsibility
by Ken Starr
USA Today op-ed
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/09/24/ken-starr-pope-religious-liberty-and-american-responsibility-column/72672210/
President of Baylor University, Ken Starr argues that the global community is witnessing a tragic, global crisis in religious freedom — one characterized outside the West by persecution, violence and terrorism, and inside the West by a receding understanding of why religious liberty is necessary for human and social flourishing. The attention the Pope has given religious freedom during his American tour is both timely and urgent.
Pope puts Spotlight on Homeless Crisis in D.C. – a Big Challenge for it’s Catholic Mayor
by Aaron Davis
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/pope-puts-spotlight-on-homeless-crisis-in-dc--a-big-challenge-for-its-catholic-mayor/2015/09/24/27552fe4-62d0-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html
Thursday, Pope Francis lunched with 300 homeless men, women and children and chose to forego the scheduled Congressional lunch. This decision illuminates the stark reality of the tens of thousands of homeless people living in D.C. and the conditions they face, despite the districts mandatory shelter laws.
AROUND THE WORLDA Deadly Stampede Shows the Danger of the Hajj
by Adam Taylor
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/09/24/a-deadly-stampede-shows-the-danger-of-the-hajj/
On Thursday, Saudi officials revealed that more than 700 Muslim worshippers had been killed and over 800 wounded in a stampede in Mina, a desert plain near Mecca. Mina serves as a temporary encampment for thousands of pilgrims and is the site of one of their most important rituals.
Putin Opens New Mosque in Moscow Amid Lingering Intolerance
by Neil MacFarquhar
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/world/europe/putin-opens-moscows-most-elaborate-mosque.html?ref=todayspaper
Against rather long odds, including a hostile mayor, a vocal constituency irritated by Muslim rituals, and criminal rackets loath to see valuable real estate lost to charitable organizations, Moscow inaugurated a glittering, elaborate new mosque on Wednesday.
China Probes Deputy Religion Chief for Suspected Graft
by Ben Blanchard
Reuters Faithworld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/09/23/china-probes-deputy-religion-chief-for-suspected-graft/
A deputy head of the Chinese government department, which oversees religious groups, is being investigated for suspected graft, the ruling Communist Party’s anti-corruption watchdog said on Tuesday.
DOMESTIC
Belief in God Remains Mandatory for Success in American Politics
by Colby Itkowitz
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/09/22/belief-in-god-remains-mandatory-to-success-in-american-politics/
While there may not be a religious test, there is an irreligious test, at least in public opinion. Not believing in God is perhaps the greatest limitation to getting elected to public office, particularly at the national level.
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