Faith & Society

God and Stem Cells

On Thursday, January 11, the new Democratic Congress followed through on its ambitious agenda to promote embryonic stem-cell research. As it moves forward, President George W. Bush will be grabbing his veto pen. As he does, we will hear charges … Continue reading

Virginia Churches—African Bishops?

Stranger things may have happened in the annals of church history, but the recent lopsided votes in several Virginia Episcopal congregations may qualify as among the strangest at first glance. Why? They voted in favor of leaving that denomination’s Virginia … Continue reading

The Real Saint Nick

Given the decision making power of Santa Claus on the matter of gifts, my children make sure they leave Mr. Claus some seriously good cookies on Christmas Eve. However, most children don’t know that there is much more to the … Continue reading

Stem Cells: Embryonic vs. Non-Embryonic

The vagueness of the term “stem cell research” is one of the biggest problems in the ongoing stem cell debate. Writers, debaters, scientists, public figures and politicians should differentiate between “embryonic stem cell research” and “non-embryonic stem cell research” in … Continue reading

Paradise Lost

Riding an exercise bike at my employer’s physical fitness center, I saw live images on the large television screen shot from Paradise, Pa. At first there were no people in the scenes, just buildings and a message at the bottom … Continue reading

The Pope’s Lose-Lose Choice

Representatives of the religion of peace have had their hands full over the past week or so with organizing demonstrations, burning the pontiff in effigy, promising to assassinate him, instigating church bombings, killing at least one nun, and generally threatening … Continue reading

Death of an Anti-Democrat

I was awakened this morning at 4:45 a.m. by a ringing telephone. A call that early in the morning often brings bad news—sometimes news of a death. I braced myself. The call was indeed about a death, but the news … Continue reading

Alito v. Planned Parenthood

In recent weeks, Judge Samuel Alito Jr. has been portrayed as everything from “anti-woman” to a racial bigot. His confirmation hearings got so ugly that his wife, in the most regrettable image of the hearings, left the room in tears. … Continue reading