Violence at Funerals Is a Grave Offense

Violence at Funerals Is a Grave Offense

At least 71 Palestinians were injured during a funeral procession after Israeli police used tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. In addition, 13 people were hospitalized, six police officers were wounded, and 20 Palestinians were arrested. The funeral was for Walid...
The Power of Ritual to Convey What Mere Words Cannot

The Power of Ritual to Convey What Mere Words Cannot

I am a big fan of ritual, especially when it has the capacity to convey meaning that might otherwise have been left unexpressed. Such ritual exists in abundance in my own tradition and in other faith traditions as well. Ritual in social interactions may vary from...

Monks’ Casket Fight Heads Back to Court

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Louisiana’s funeral industry isn’t ready to give up the fight to preserve its exclusive right to sell caskets. On Monday (Aug. 15), lawyers for the Louisiana Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors appealed a federal judge’s July 21 ruling that...

Bill Would Limit Military Funeral Protests

WASHINGTON (RNS) A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would make it harder for protesters from a fringe Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas, to protest outside military funerals. The Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act, introduced by Sen....

Westboro Church Plans Protest of Funeral for Pa. Children

HARRISBURG, Pa. (RNS) Westboro Baptist Church, the controversial group that just won a free speech Supreme Court case, said it plans to protest at a funeral for seven Pennsylvania children who died in a fire Tuesday (March 8) night. “I’m baffled that they would choose...