One of the smartest commentators on American politics and religion is someone you’ve probably never heard of. His wry and careful handling of flammable subjects is always admirable. But a recent blog post, which brought together three culture-wars figureheads — the […]
Mark Silk, a commentator on religion and politics who keeps above the fray Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostWhen President Obama threw his support behind same-sex marriage, he did something much more than please the members of the LGBT community and the people who love them. He gave hope and encouragement to millions of Americans struggling to do right
Obama’s embrace of gay marriage makes for a spiritual Mother’s Day Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostImagine the fury of the men of Galilee when a young, unmarried girl showed up in their village pregnant. They must have talked about punishments. Stoning — a legitimate penalty, condoned by Deuteronomy — would have been appropriate, although the
After Vatican’s rebuke of nuns, time to hear Mary’s voice Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostSoon, probably next week, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy will sign into a law a bill that abolishes the death penalty in his state. When he does, Connecticut will be the fifth state to enact such legislation in as many years —
Catholic activists pushing politicians to turn tide against the death penalty Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostDuring Shabbat services at my temple last weekend, in an effort to get the kids excited for Passover, the prayer leaders asked the children which part of the Exodus story they liked the best. Many said, “The parting of the
Good Friday’s big question: Is doubt good? Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostAt first, the nationwide ‘‘hoodie’’ protest over Trayvon Martin’s death — in which Americans donned sweatshirts in solidarity with the slain teenager and his family — felt shallow and reflexive, a consumerist reaction. What’s this? I wondered. Is Abercrombie & Fitch now
Trayvon Martin: Doing justice, having faith in social media Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostHe has seven children, attends a Latin Mass and has driven issues of reproductive rights back into the center of American politics. In 2002, he traveled to Rome to express his support for the founder of the ultra-conservative Catholic lay movement
Rick Santorum, cafeteria Catholic? Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostHow America learned to stop worrying about worrying and pop its pills instead. Last summer, near the end of my mother’s life, I woke up in my childhood bedroom in the middle of the night in a fever of panic.
New York Mag Cover Story: Listening to Xanax Read More »
New York MagazineIt’s impossible for some of us to understand why and how former senator Rick Santorum, who has zero qualifications to be president of the United States and whose positions on family and social issues are prehistoric, continues to survive and even
Rick Santorum’s religious time machine Read More »
On Faith, Washington PostThe battle of the sexes, waged this election season with fulsome fury in the public space, is being fought in a much more painful, private sphere as well. In churches (and synagogues and mosques) across the land, women are still
Feminism’s final frontier? Religion. Read More »
On Faith, Washington Post