The online editorial staff comprises Betsy Shirley, Jenna Barnett, Josiah R. Daniels, Mitchell Atencio, Heather Brady, Kierra Bennning, and Zachary Lee.
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New Citizenship Debate: In Vitro Babies
Mother and baby, emin kuliyev, Shutterstock.com
In a spin on the immigration debate, USA Today explores the murkiness of in vitro fertilization abroad. Americans who give birth outside the states via in vitro are required to prove at least one biological parent is a U.S. citizen.
The problem? In many in vitro cases, neither the sperm or the egg come from the parent.
"I was humiliated and horrified," Ellie Lavi, an American citizen who gave birth in Tel Aviv, told USA Today. "We're talking about the children I gave birth to. Of course they're my children."
Pope Shenouda Mourned in Funeral (Video)
Egyptian Christian Copts wait in the queue at St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Tens of thousands of Coptic Christians mourned the death of Pope Shenouda III in a funeral mass at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. Thousands more, unable to get inside, crowded the streets outside the Cathedral. The rite was movingly chanted by bearded, black-robed priests and monks as mourners joined in and wept.
Following the mass, The Pope’s body was flown to Wadi al-Natroun, a fourth-century monastery in the northwest Nile Delta for internment.
COMING WEDNESDAY: 'Blue Like Jazz' - The Sojourners Interview
Actor Marshall Allman (who plays "Don" in the film), Donald Miller and director Steve Taylor. Photo by Christian Piatt.
"There are people who struggle with not being understood; God is not one of them."
~ Donald Miller to Christian Piatt
in 'Blue Like Jazz' - The Sojourners Interview
coming Wednesday on God's Politics
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Earlier this week, our intrepid blogger/reporter/resident-God-Nerd Christian Piatt sat down with the makers of the highly-anticipated film Blue Like Jazz — Donald Miller, director Steve Taylor and Marshall Allman, the actor who portrays protagonist "Don" in the screen adaptation of Miller's best-selling memoir — to talk about faith, film and ... fate. The far-ranging interview covers everything from John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" and what Miller calls "dangerous theological ideas" to the astounding grace of God and peanut butter cups. Fascinating and funny, the conversation with the hearts and minds behind Blue Like Jazz is a humdinger you won't want to miss.
But because we like you a whole lot , we've prepared a wee taste of what's to come ... inside the blog.
Afternoon News Bytes: March 20, 2012
Mexico Earthquake 2012: 'Strong' Quake Reportedly Rocks Mexico; Paul Ryan’s Budget: Should The Poor Pay For Deficit Reduction?; Climate, Science, And Religion (OPINION); Saudi Arabia moves to calm oil market; The New Suburban Poverty; And You Wonder Why We're Broke? (Chart); The Coming Fight Over Violence Against Women; You Can’t Occupy This; Open Doors Rates Congressmen on Religious Freedom Stance; Santorum’s Warning: Breaking Christian ‘Moral Bounds’ Will Lead To ‘A Very Dangerous Place’.
Prayer of the Day: One Body
God, forgive us for our divisions, for creating idols that distract us from you. Help us, as the Church, to live into the reality that we are one body. Cleanse us, O God, so that we may please you and worship you. Amen.
Verse of the Day: The River
"Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.’" - Ezekiel 47:9, 12
Voice of the Day: Mahatma Gandhi
"We have to make truth and nonviolence not matters for mere individual practice but for practice for groups and communities and nations. That at any rate is my dream. I shall live and die trying to realize it." - Mahatma Gandhi
Westboro Seeks Advertising on Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Rush Limbaugh’s verbal attack against Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke last month hasn’t fared too well for his program; his advertisers have pulled out left and right since the now infamous comments. Everyone from McDonalds to Radio Shack to Ace Hardware--a total of 140 advertisers--specifically asked that their advertising not be aired during Limbaugh’s show. Some are going so far as to create "buffer zones," ensuring their ads don't air within a one- to two-hour window before and after Limbaugh's show.
Limbaugh doesn’t seem to be too concerned about the loss. As Hatewatch reports, he said it’s like “losing a couple of French fries in the container when it’s delivered to you in the drive-thru. You don’t even notice it.”
Enter the people of Westboro Baptist Church--the Topeka, Kan.-based church probably best-known for picketing at U.S. soldiers' funerals. Westboro leadership sees Limbaugh's comments as an opportune time to advertise on the show.
Afternoon News Bytes: March 19, 2012
What Everyone Should Know About Trayvon Martin (1995-2012); President Jimmy Carter Authors New Bible Book, Answers Hard Biblical Questions; Three Shot Dead Outside Jewish School In France; Hawks Steering Debate On How To Take On Iran; A Kinder, Gentler Immigrant Detention Center; Rick Santorum’s Evangelical Appeal (OPINION); Donald Trump: Windmills Are ‘Disgusting’; Police Get Violent As OWS Retakes Zuccotti Park; Nigeria's Ambitious Effort To End Poverty (OPINION); Forget The Money, Follow The Sacredness; Churches Conflicted When It Comes To Social Media Engagement; Egypt's Coptic Christians Hold Second Vigil For Pope Shenouda.
Voice of the Day: John Lennon
"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace." - John Lennon
Prayer of the Day: You Alone Are God
O Lord, you alone are God. You are good, deserving of all my praise. Help me to surrender my life to you. Amen.
Verse of the Day: Strengthened and Rooted in Love
"I pray that, according to the riches of [God's'] glory, [God] may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through [God's] Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love." - Ephesians 3:16-17
'Kony 2012' Creator Detained in California
Jason Russell appears on NBC News' 'Today' show -- (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images)
Jason Russell, the man behind the viral "Kony 2012" video and co-founder of Invisible Children, was detained by police in San Diego on Thursday after a man was reported being possibly drunk, vandalizing cars and masturbating in public, according to NBC San Diego.
Invisible Children's CEO Ben Keesey released a statement on Friday saying:
“Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalized yesterday suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday. Jason’s passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue. We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.”
Tony Blair, UK's Chief Rabbi on the Resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Upon learning that Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has announced his intention to resign at the end of the year, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the UK's Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks issued a statements celebrating Williams for his years of leadership and service.
Prayer of the Day: Tranquility
God, sometimes it's easier for me to speak than to listen, easier to act than to be still. Help me to recogize the times in my life that I need to be still, to have tranquility, to have silence. In those moments calm my nerves, let my feet and my hands rest in your presence. Amen.
Verse of the Day: Walk in the Good Path
"Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." - Jeremiah 6:16
Voice of the Day: Evelyn Underhill
"Love is creative. It does not flow along the easy paths, spending itself in the attractive. It cuts new channels, goes where it is needed." - Evelyn Underhill
Afternoon News Bytes: March 15, 2012
For Richer (Not For Poorer): The Inequality Crisis Of Marriage; George Clooney Urges Lawmakers To Act To Resolve Violence In Sudan; In Reactions To Two Incidents, A U.S.-Afghan Disconnect; Capitalism, Version 2012 (OPINION); Is "Human Engineering And Climate Change" Paper A Case Of Academic Trolling?; Occupy Climate Change; Missing the "Mainline" Protestant Opportunity (OPINION); What Isn’t For Sale?; Youcef Nadarkhani, Imprisoned Pastor, Won't Be Executed, Iran Claims.
Verse of the Day: Not to Abolish But to Fulfil
"‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-19
Voice of the Day: Kenneth Boulding
“Can I, imprisoned, body-bounded, touch / The starry robe of God, and from my soul, / My tiny Part, reach forth to [God’s] great Whole, / And spread my Little to the infinite Much, / When Truth forever slips out of my clutch / And what I take indeed, I do but dole, / In cupfuls from a rimless ocean-bowl / That holds a million million million such?” - Kenneth Boulding