October 11, 2006
NY Times on Religious Exemptions
This series by New York Times' Diana Henriques on the legal exemptions given to religious groups -- from everything from zoning laws to day care regulations to property taxes -- is remarkably good. What I like best about the series is that Henriques and her editors don't resort to "false balance." That's the approach to journalism where you say "they say this, but then again they say this, let's call 'em both right." Take this passage from today's piece on the so-called parsonage exemption, the income-tax pass pastors get on housing expenses:
Pastor [Rick "A Purpose Driven Life"] Warren argued that the tax break is essential to poorly paid clergy members who serve society.
The tax break is not available to the staff at secular nonprofit organizations whose scale and charitable aims compare to those of religious ministries like Pastor Warren's church, or to poorly paid inner-city teachers and day care workers who also serve their communities. That's a good reporter thinking, right there on the page.
2, religion
September 18, 2006
"I forgive. I forgive."
The reported last words of Sister Leonella/Rosa Sgorbati, the Catholic nun killed by gunfire yesterday in north Mogadishu, Somalia in what many are seeing as a reaction to Pope Benedict's citing of a 14th-century text that called Mohammed's legacy "things only evil and inhuman."
That's what you call one hell of a lady.
, religion
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