ZIONICA.com » chicagotribune

Pastor of destroyed church vows to return stronger

Zionica — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:36:46 +0000

Two days after a blaze tore through the building of a venerable church in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, its pastor told his congregation Sunday that with God’s help they could rebuild. “Though we had lost a great part of our church …God is still in control … We can raise up even stronger,” the Rev. Ronald…

Chicago Bears' owners hold faith-based forum

Zionica — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:55:27 +0000

Owners of the Chicago Bears hosted religious leaders and politicians Sunday at the team’s practice facility, where speakers lamented the “eroding freedom to speak in the language of faith in the public square.” The Reclaiming Religious Liberty Leadership Summit included Roman Catholic, Muslim and Jewish speakers, an Air Force officer and two politicians (one Democrat,…

Abortion: A brief quiet moment in the VP debate

Zionica — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:09:02 +0000

Abortion, often the focus of angry disputes, was on Thursday night the subject of one of the most sober, even thoughtful, exchanges of the vice presidential debate. Debate moderator Martha Raddatz on Thursday asked Vice President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Rep. Paul D. Ryan, about their positions on abortion, and with two Catholics…

Why Mitt's Mormonism doesn't matter

Zionica — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:36:26 +0000

Mormonism is a minority sect once persecuted by mainstream American Christians for its unconventional doctrines and practice of polygamy. It is still viewed by many as an odd cult. But a Mormon is the Republican nominee for president, and he can take consolation that if he loses, it will not be because of his religion.…

Alderman relents, will allow Chick-fil-A

Zionica — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:40:57 +0000

A Chicago alderman who made national headlines during the summer for opposing a Chick-fil-A in his increasingly trendy Northwest Side ward has reversed course, saying he will let the fast-food chain open a store in Logan Square. Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno, 1st, said the restaurant has agreed to include a statement of respect for all…

Teen held in 'jihad' plot to bomb Chicago bar

Zionica — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:57:50 +0000

A Hillside teenager will appear in federal court today on charges he planned to detonate what he thought was a car bomb outside a downtown Chicago bar. Adel Daoud, 18, was arrested following a months-long FBI undercover investigation. He was taken into custody after he parked a Jeep Cherokee in front of the bar Friday…

Keeping the faith at home

Zionica — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:44:26 +0000

We are a nation of believers. Mostly. A Gallup poll last year found that 91 percent of Americans believed in God or some universal spirit. Yet a more recent poll by WIN-Gallup International and published by Religion News Service found that the number of Americans who say they are "religious" dropped from 73 percent in…

Onward Christian teavangelicals

Zionica — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:49:22 +0000

Despite the tea party's well-known fiscal focus, the anti-tax, budget-slashing movement's most underappreciated energy source may be evangelical Christians. I suspected as much when I attended a couple of early tea party rallies. News coverage focused on the signs, speeches and slogans that promoted free markets, fiscal responsibility and constitutionally limited government. But my conversations…

Presbyterian Church rejects gay marriage proposal

Zionica — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:36:28 +0000

The U.S. Presbyterian Church on Friday narrowly rejected a proposal by same-sex marriage proponents for a constitutional change that would redefine marriage as a union between "two people," rather than between a woman and a man. The 338-308 vote followed nearly four hours of heated debate at the Church's General Assembly in Pittsburgh, a biennial…