ReligionDispatches - Kathryn Joyce

Meet the New Haggards—Same as the Old Haggards?

Kathryn Joyce — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:00:01 PST

Ted Haggard, one of America’s most successful megachurch preachers, was officially separated from his church back in 2006. His wife and partner, Gayle, has stuck by his side through it all and has written a new book on the experience. RD spoke with her about their former church, their evolving views on homosexuality, and the future.

The Abandoned Orphanage: Hillary Clinton’s Mother Teresa Moment

Kathryn Joyce, Jeff Sharlet — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:01 PST

At the National Prayer Breakfast, Hillary Clinton fondly remembered how Mother Teresa—or perhaps God—compelled her to encourage adoption. The behind-the-scenes story of how The Family brokered a truce between the pro-choice Clinton and anti-choice nun, by moving Clinton rightward on reproductive rights.

Military Abortion Ban: Female Soldiers Not Protected by Constitution They Defend

Kathryn Joyce — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:01 PST

Unable to get an abortion during a tour of duty in Iraq, a soldier is left with no option but to do it herself—a humiliating but not uncommon dilemma. Women in the military are forced to obtain a leave to get the care they need; but if they’re honest about why, they put their military career in jeopardy. If they’re not, they put their military career in jeopardy.

The Anti-Gay Highway: New Report Details Mutually Beneficial Relationship Between US Evangelicals and African Antigay Clergy

Kathryn Joyce — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:01 PST

A new report documents the trend of evangelicals like Rick Warren exporting sexuality issues to Africa, whose clergy, in turn, support the minority antigay view in mainline denominations, weakening them. The author of the report speaks with RD at length about what he found.

My Womb for His Purposes: The Perils of Unassisted Childbirth in the Quiverfull Movement

Kathryn Joyce — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:00:01 PDT

Already distrustful of outside experts, be they members of the education system or leaders of traditional denominations, Quiverfull followers are increasingly eschewing the medical establishment, opting to leave childbirth to God. The recent death of a newborn, however, exposes a growing rift between the most zealous opponents of intervention and those open to some assistance.

Ignore the Rod: the Parental Rights Amendment Isn’t About Spanking

Kathryn Joyce — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:01 PDT

The United States is the only nation save Somalia that’s failed to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Armed with a doomsday ten-point plan including the end of spankings and the government preventing parents from bringing kids to church, the force behind the movement to prevent its ratification isn’t just a bunch of strict parents.

RDBook: Wifely Submission and Christian Warfare

Kathryn Joyce — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:01 PDT

A growing movement among conservative Christians exhorts women to give up the foolish notion of independence and subordinate themselves to their husbands. In this excerpt from Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement, Kathryn Joyce connects the dots between cinnamon buns and submission.

RD10Q: The Fight Against Feminism

Kathryn Joyce — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:01 PDT

It’s not just another weird religion story about families with eighteen kids. The Christian Patriarchy movement represents a growing backlash against women’s rights within religious communities.

No Conspiracy Theories Needed: Abortion Foes Cry Racism

Kathryn Joyce — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:01 PST

In order to attract a different demographic of supporters, the anti-abortion movement has adopted the theory that reproductive freedom is actually a plot to rid America of its black and brown citizens.

Biblical Battered Wife Syndrome: Christian Women and Domestic Violence

Kathryn Joyce — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:01 PST

Although Rick Warren’s Saddleback church teaches women that physical abuse is not grounds for divorce, there is a growing literature for evangelical women—by their peers—that shows women how to get out of an abusive marriage, while remaining in the church.

Women’s Liberation Through Submission: An Evangelical Anti-Feminism Is Born

Kathryn Joyce — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:00:01 PST

Six thousand evangelical women gather to support biblical womanhood, and hear from theological leaders about the great influence wielded by “a woman on her knees.”

McCain's VP Courts Conservative Evangelicals

Kathryn Joyce — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:01 PDT

Like Bush in 2000 Sarah Palin is delivering a clear message to conservative evangelicals, who get her call for women to view their highest calling in service to male leadership: willing helpmeets to their husbands', fathers' and pastors' authority...

Crossing Denominational Lines to Reprimand “Freaky Fraus”

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Dissident UCC pastor apologizes to Catholic Church for his co-religionists' role in gay-friendly, women's ordination...

Finding the "Good Girl Role Model"

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:00:01 PDT

In heavily Catholic Poland the media fixates on two women who make radically different decisions for their pregnancies. But where's the one who chooses?

Makers of Depopulation Doc Have a Past

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:01 PDT

Journalists should look more to the example of the Times, which recognizes the loaded arguments of dedicated culture warriors like the creators of Demographic Winter...

"Biblical Manhood" Conference Espouses Male Supremacy

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:01 PDT

A growing theology of male headship and female submissiveness argues that men and women are equal under God, but have different leadership responsibilities as laid out by Scripture...

Wallis Seeking Payback for Obama Defense?

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:00:01 PDT

In the wake of James Dobson’s attacks on Obama’s Christianity, liberal evangelical Jim Wallis comes to the candidate’s aid. Is Wallis’ subsequent plea for a new Democratic position on abortion strategically timed?

“The Pill Kills” Movement Readies Itself for the Mainstream

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:00:01 PDT

By slipping into religious language, and evoking “conscience clause” exemptions, it’s becoming clear that this underground movement is readying itself for the mainstream.

“Marriage Savers” Lobbies for Repeal of No-Fault Divorce

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:00:01 PDT

With its new Reform Divorce site, a Men’s Rights Activist group intends to lobby for two new radically conservative divorce provisions.

The Religious Right Goes Global with “Demographic Winter”

Kathryn Joyce, Religion Dispatches — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:00:01 PST

Fears erupt over the extinction of the white, Christian West.