fbpx
×

Log into your account

We have changed software providers for our subscription database. Old login credentials will no longer work. Please click the "Register" link below to create a new account. If you do not know your new account number you can contact [email protected]
N.Y. mosque named top religion story of 2010
Daniel Burke, Religion News Service
December 29, 2010
2 MIN READ TIME

N.Y. mosque named top religion story of 2010

N.Y. mosque named top religion story of 2010
Daniel Burke, Religion News Service
December 29, 2010

The protracted and contentious debate over plans to build an

Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York was the top religion

story of 2010, according to a survey of religion journalists.

The imam piloting the project, Feisal Abdul Rauf, was voted

the Religion Newswriters Association’s top newsmaker of 2010, besting Pope Benedict

XVI, Sarah Palin, and aid workers in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Though the mosque project, known as Park51, is far from

completion, the story dominated headlines for weeks, especially as the

anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 approached. President Obama

weighed in, saying Muslims have a right to build houses of worship, but other political

leaders called the proposal insensitive to Americans still grieving over the

loss of friends and family.

The response of faith-based charities to Haiti’s devastating

earthquake last January — including child-smuggling accusations against Idaho

evangelicals — was voted the No. 2 religion story of 2010.

Allegations that Benedict and other Catholic leaders

responded inadequately to the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy; the rise

of the Tea Party; and the various faith groups’ responses to Obama’s

health-care bill rounded out the top five stories of 2010,

according to the survey.

The rest of the top 10 are:

6. Debates over homosexuality among mainline Protestants, particularly

the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and

the Episcopal Church.

7. The economic recession’s effect on churches and

ministries, including the bankruptcy of the landmark Crystal Cathedral in

southern California.

8. The suicide of several gay teens prompted soul searching

among American Christians about whether religion contributes to anti-gay attitudes.

9. A survey by the Pew Forum yielded some surprising

results, including that atheists scored better than many Christians on a test

of religious knowledge.

10. The Supreme Court began its session in October without a

Protestant justice on the bench for the first time in history. Six Catholics

and three Jews sit on the high court.