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ReligionLink eMinder JAN. 5, 2009 Whither the religious right?As the Jan. 20 inauguration of Barack Obama draws near, editors might push for stories about what his rise — and the end of the Bush era — may portend for evangelical Christians. Obama’s victory was a defeat for the religious right, to be sure. But don’t buy into rumors of the movement’s demise. As Mark Twain said of reports of his own death, they may be greatly exaggerated. (more) What’s next on the religion beat?
But reporters and editors are always looking forward, as well, with pages to fill in the days after the holiday rush and in the weeks and months to come. With that in mind, ReligionLink’s brain trust has compiled a brief list of a half-dozen Big Ideas — arenas of interest that journalists covering religion may want to keep in mind as they contemplate stories for the year to come. (more) The New Sanctuary MovementProtecting and welcoming
Today, in response to a renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants in workplace raids and deportations, the so-called “New Sanctuary Movement” is again taking root in congregations across the Judeo-Christian spectrum, but now it also comprises Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist groups and individuals as well. (more) |
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© 2009 Religion Newswriters Foundation | |
The
end of the year is always filled with lists — wish lists, of course,
but also lists of the top stories of the past year. On the religion front,
RNA’s members voted for their 
Two
key precepts have always found some form of expression in religious traditions
across the ages: One is that we love our neighbor by welcoming the stranger,
and the other is that the sacred ground of a house of worship cannot be violated
by secular authorities. These two teachings came together in the United States
in the 1980s as a range of religious groups began providing safe havens in
churches and temples for Central American refugees who were forced to flee
their countries but were denied protection by the U.S. government. The “sanctuary movement,” as
this came to be known, endured for about a decade, until U.S. policy toward
these refugees changed.