FPL Daily News Reel: August 14, 2012
The FPL News Reel is a daily round-up of the top faith and politics stories in the news. You can sign up for the email version of the News Reel here, subscribe to the RSS feed here, and follow it on twitter at @FPLNewsreel.
Paul Ryan’s Religion Problem 
By Sarah Amandolare — Salon
From Catholic and Protestant bishops to the 40-religion advocacy group People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO), representatives of various faiths have shown disdain for Ryan’s 2013 House Republican budget, which passed on March 29.
Ryan’s Medicare plan would be tricky to pull off
By Associated Press
The Republican-backed shift to private insurance plans could saddle future retirees with thousands of dollars a year in additional bills. That would leave the children of the baby boom generation with far less protection from medical expenses than their parents and grandparents have had in retirement.
Romney-Ryan Economic Plans Would Increase Unemployment, Deepen Recession
By Ari Berman — The Nation
Ryan’s 2011 budget plan proposes what the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities calls “the most severe and wrenching budget cuts in US history—two-thirds of which would come from programs for people of low or moderate incomes” (Medicaid, Pell grants, food stamps and low-income housing).
Is the ‘culture-warrior’ model for archbishops the right one?
By National Catholic Reporter, Editorial
NCR does not believe the church should “back down.” The church’s involvement in the public square is vital. The church’s voice has been raised consistently on behalf of the poor and the marginalized, the undocumented and the unborn. The question is whether the “culture-warrior” model of the new trio of archbishops is the right model for such involvement.
What War on Religion?
By Tiffany Stanley — Religion & Politics, Opinion
If we could declare a moratorium on the phrase “war on religion” in all but the most apt circumstances, we would. We urge other media outlets, the president, and Mr. Romney to do the same.
Obama campaign unveils its ‘Catholics for Obama’ 2012 team
By David Gibson — Religion News Service
So far, however, the hierarchy’s efforts do not seem to have swayed Catholics, who often agree with the bishops on some issues but still tend to support Obama over Romney. And in October, just before the election, Obama is set to appear with Romney at a high-profile charity dinner hosted by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan — a platform some conservatives fear could give Obama a boost with Catholics. That has led to unusual criticism of Dolan from the right.
Black pastor: gay marriage wedge issue
By Bob Allen — Associated Baptist Press
African-American Baptist leaders are working together to counter attempts by outsiders to use gay marriage as a wedge issue to divide black voters, a Baptist minister and NAACP leader said in a radio interview Aug. 11.
Report Highlights Islam’s Global Diversity
By Chris Lisee — Religion News Service
“There isn’t one single Muslim world. There are many Muslims around the world that share beliefs, but there are differences as well,” said James Bell, director of international survey research at the Pew Forum.
Pastors foresee raceless church
By Jeff Brumley — Associated Baptist Press
Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta is considered by some a hopeful sign that Sunday may soon no longer be the most segregated time in America.
