L.A. Times - Religious News

A war of words between Catholics and Jews

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Jews see an endorsement of efforts to convert them in recent Catholic writings. That's not what we meant, Catholic leadership insists.

The nation's Roman Catholic bishops, looking to clarify their position on interfaith dialogue with Jews, have instead caused an uproar by issuing a recent statement that appears to endorse attempts to convert them.

Dalai Lama contributes to students' message of hope for hospitalized children

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Their book is filled with colorful artwork and includes a foreword by the spiritual leader. It is part of the peace program at 186th Street Elementary School.

One of the best-loved murals on the campus of 186th Street Elementary School in Gardena depicts some of the world's most inspirational figures -- Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez -- underlined by a question, "Are you a peacemaker?"

LAPD names its first Islamic chaplain

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Police leaders hope that the new chaplain, who has a history of building bridges between Muslims and law enforcement, can help officers understand his community better.

American Muslims have never been much of a presence in the Los Angeles Police Department, accounting for less than 1% of its nearly 10,000 officers.

Live: Warped Tour at the Pomona Fairplex

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It's a case of deja vu as Bad Religion and NOFX headline in Pomona. Sideshow annoyances aside, the marquee names and promising newcomers prove there's plenty to enjoy in the annual punk road show.

It's either a testament to the Warped Tour's longevity or a knock on its creativity that Bad Religion and NOFX, the bands headlining this 15th installment of the youth-skewing summer punk rock road show, could have played at any point in the outing's history.

Northern Ireland Protestant paramilitary groups to disarm

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Holdouts Ulster Defense Assn. and the Ulster Volunteer Force say the time has come for peace and that they have decommissioned or will soon all their weapons.

Lasting peace in Northern Ireland took another step forward Saturday when major Protestant paramilitary organizations announced that they had decommissioned some or all of their weapons, following a similar move years earlier by the opposing Irish Republican Army.

'The Stoning of Soraya M.'

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

'The Stoning of Soraya M.' vividly depicts the violent execution of a woman condemned by religion distorted.

"The Stoning of Soraya M." lives up to its title quite literally -- and rightly so, for it is important to understand just how cruel and drawn-out this ancient form of execution is and how prevalent it remains, not just in Iran, the film's setting, but in countries throughout the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa that follow Islamic Sharia law.

Robert Schuller taps his daughter to lead ministry's grand comeback

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Sheila Schuller Coleman, who has worked in the church for decades, will deliver occasional sermons and be the driving force behind Crystal Cathedral operations, including the 'Hour of Power' TV show.

She remembers being about 4 and, as her father worked in his study that doubled as a bedroom, hearing a knock on the front door. She answered and a tearful woman said, "Is the pastor here?"

Southern California churches prepare in case gun violence shows up at the altar

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Made wary by recent events, church leaders are turning to security companies for help and even asking members to carry guns for security reasons.

One Sunday in March, a man strode down the aisle of the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill., pulled out a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and fired at the pastor.

Scientology leadership rife with physical violence, report says

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Former high-ranking executives tell a newspaper that church leader David Miscavige hit staff members and encouraged others to do the same.

The leader of the Church of Scientology struck subordinates numerous times and set an example for physical violence among the tightly controlled religion's management team, four former high-ranking executives told a newspaper for a story published Sunday.

Zen in their bedside manner

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

At New York's Beth Israel Medical Center, Buddhist chaplains offer prayers, meditation, massage and other assistance to the sick. 'We focus on listening,' one says.

It was 8 a.m., and the subject was death.