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Presbyterian church rejects same-sex marriageThe General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has rejected a bid to redefine marriage as 'a covenant between two people,' voting instead to conduct a two-year study of the divisive issue.
Presbyterians reject call to divest over Israel's West Bank occupationBy a two-vote margin, the Presbyterian Chuch (U.S.A.) declined Thursday to divest funds from three firms whose products help Israel enforce occupation of the Palestinian West Bank. Pro-Israel Jewish groups had warned against such a step.
Andy Griffith: why we should remember him as more than 'America's Sheriff'Andy Griffith made his mark as a singer, musician, and, in film, as an odious media manipulator. But he's remembered and loved for his compelling portrayal of good sense and kindness.
The online bully: less prevalent in US than many other places in worldA survey of children and teens in 25 countries found 24 percent say they've engaged in behaviors online that are often considered to be bullying. For the US, the figure was 13 percent.
Obesity in America: Schools on the front line of the fightWith one-fifth of Americans between the ages of 6 and 19 overweight, schools are central in the campaign to fight obesity. Educators, nutritionists hope healthier school lunches, daily recess, and PE requirements can help reverse the trend.
FocusSupersize America: Whose job to fight obesity?Banning extra-large sugary sodas. Blocking fast-food restaurants in some neighborhoods. Requiring calorie counts on menus. Kicking snack foods out of public schools. Are anti-obesity campaigns crossing the line into nanny state intrusion?
Bullied bus monitor: Karen Klein case shows power of crowdfundingDonations for bullied bus monitor Karen Klein poured into a website at such a clip that they overwhelmed the site. Her case may be a tipping for the phenomenon called crowdfunding.
Giving to religious institutions drops for second year in a row. Why?Giving to religious groups has slipped by a cumulative 3.7 percent since 2010. Still, religion remains America’s favorite charitable cause, with $95.88 billion in donations.
Progress WatchRacial gap in life expectancy reaches new low in USBetween 2003 and 2008, the gap in life expectancy between white and black men fell from 6.5 years to 5.4, Canadian researchers found. For women, it fell from 4.6 years to 3.7.- Uh oh, Sunday is Father's Day! What to do? Take our quiz.
Sunday is Father’s Day and we all know what that means. Or do we?
Maybe a virtual trip to the NASCAR Father’s Day Gift Center (No, we’re not making this up. It exists on the Internet.) for racing socks or barbecue tools? Or, for the DIY crowd, perhaps an original piece of art based on Dad’s smiling face?
But if you really want to know what’s in your dear Papa’s heart and soul, cozy up to our Father’s Day Quiz and get the real skinny on Father’s Day: what dads really want, why the day even exists, and why that LeBron James bobblehead doll may be talking to you, but not to your dad.
Tony Awards put Broadway's booming box office on displayThe Tony Awards showed theater's freshness and creativity, but rampant Hollywood stars and high ticket prices are making Broadway less accessible to the masses, say critics.
Holy matrimony, Batman! Are comic books legalizing gay marriage?Gay characters and gay marriage, even among superheroes, are cropping up in the comic book universe, in what one artist calls an attempt 'to be current.' The reaction, predictably, is mixed.
June weddings: 7 measures of matrimony June has traditionally been the most popular month for Americans to wed. Here are some facts about the American wedding landscape.
'Hatfields and McCoys': Is History Channel miniseries fact or fiction?The family feud between the Hatfields and McCoys is brought to life in a new History Channel series. But history and folk legend blur as the show follows the lead of cable TV's more mature fare.
Cover StoryVeterans' new fight: reviving inner-city AmericaHow some veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are helping turn around a drug-infested neighborhood of Baltimore – and themselves.
FocusThe gay marriage paradox: as acceptance rises, so do legal barriersPresident Obama's embrace of gay marriage mirrors growing support among many Americans, but states continue to ban it. The US Supreme Court could play a key role.
Mother’s Day: From June Cleaver to Gloria Pritchett, 5 great TV momsWhy settle for one great mom when, as any TV viewer knows, you can adopt a series of them?
Did Time sexualize breastfeeding with its 'Are you mom enough' cover?Time cover-model Jamie Lynne Grumet intended to portray extended breastfeeding as normal. But many thought the controversial picture of Ms. Grumet and her son sexualized the relationship.- Time breast-feeding cover: On parenting, can we all get along?Parenting trends – including 'attachment parenting' – come and go, but fervent debate about tactics is rooted in widespread parental insecurity and the so-called middle class 'mommy wars.'
FocusShare of working moms nearing all-time high, but has it gotten any easier?The percentage of mothers in the workforce is nearing record highs, leading to more societal acceptance and childcare options, but mothers still face a 'mommy wage gap' and other challenges.
