Common Ground

Health Care: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Jim Wallis | Posted 11.18.2009 | Politics


Jim Wallis

We've recently seen the abortion rhetoric really heat up to ridiculous proportions. Those with opposing views are being stereotyped and demonized. And facts are taking a back seat to sound bytes.

Peace and Persuasion

Cristina Page | Posted 11.06.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

Obama's goal seems to be to appeal to a reasonable group that can talk to, rather than past, each other about abortion. If he's going to succeed, he has to confront those who perceive common ground as a threat.

Pro-Life Pretense

Cristina Page | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

Obama's still-to-be released common ground agenda in the abortion conflict is already having a profound and largely overlooked effect: it has exposed deep fault lines in the pro-life movement.

The Tone of Our Atonement: A Meditation for Yom Kippur

Carol Smaldino | Posted 11.25.2009 | Living


Carol Smaldino

I want to dare to pose the notion of making Yom Kippur a time for softer and longer reflections, about how to make things better, truer, safer for our insides and freer from inner terrors.

A Taxing Problem

Jessica Arons | Posted 08.30.2009 | Politics


Jessica Arons

Americans do not want politics to drive coverage decisions. In other words, they object precisely to the type of food fight brewing on Capitol Hill right now.

The Breakup of the Pro-Life Movement

Cristina Page | Posted 08.28.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

It may come as a shock to most pro-life Americans, but there's not one pro-life group in the United States that supports contraception. Rather, many lead campaigns against contraception.

How to Win a Culture War

Jim Wallis | Posted 08.23.2009 | Politics


Jim Wallis

Want to know how to win a culture war? Don't fight one.

How to Resolve the Abortion Conflict

Aspen Baker | Posted 08.08.2009 | Politics


Aspen Baker

A just and lasting peace between pro-choice and pro-life people is possible, but it lies in the history of those who have fought over this issue, not in the tired rhetoric of "common ground."

Just the Facts, Sir: The False Dichotomy of Catholics vs. "Pro-choice" on Common Ground

Jodi Jacobson | Posted 08.02.2009 | Politics


Jodi Jacobson

The assertion that unless Obama bows to the most conservative Catholic position he will lose widespread support is a scare tactic of the right.

Waldman: Still Not Getting It...

Jodi Jacobson | Posted 08.01.2009 | Politics


Jodi Jacobson

If women have true choices, increased access to and support for adoption services will not dramatically affect the rate of abortions.

Common Ground on Abortion

Aspen Baker | Posted 07.31.2009 | Politics


Aspen Baker

The desire for the emotional well-being of women doesn't require compromise of human rights or moral values and it doesn't require the sacrifice of dearly held beliefs.

Waldman and Saletan: Oh, What a Fine Bromance!

Jodi Jacobson | Posted 07.30.2009 | Politics


Jodi Jacobson

Waldman suggests we set up a Presidential commission to study the "sacredness of sex" and that the President start to talk about this as part of his platform. If I want the government to tell me how and what to think about sex, I'll buy a plane ticket to Afghanistan and live under the original Taliban.

Common Ground: What Does the Far Right Get? Or, Who Wins and Who Loses?

Jodi Jacobson | Posted 07.25.2009 | Politics


Jodi Jacobson

What women need is both access to contraception that addresses their changing needs throughout their lifecycle and access to safe abortion services.

Are the Culture Wars Back?

Rachel Laser | Posted 07.24.2009 | Politics


Rachel Laser

An overwhelmingly popular President and a rising chorus of Americans are imploring policymakers to replace the culture wars with culture discussions. In this new moment, engaging in partisan warfare seems simply passé.

Higher Ground

Cristina Page | Posted 07.18.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

The brutal murder of Dr. Tiller threatens to poison the nascent dialogue Obama initiated.

Welcome to Common Ground

Scott Swenson | Posted 07.17.2009 | Politics


Scott Swenson

Is it possible that in President Obama's election, Americans have a chance to heal the body politic from the divisiveness the abortion issue has caused for a generation or more?

The New Pro-lifer

Cristina Page | Posted 07.06.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

Alexia Kelley is a new style pro-lifer, one who believes a progressive agenda will produce pro-life results.

Catholics for Choice Protest Appointment of Anti-choice Advocate to Senior Position at HHS

Jodi Jacobson | Posted 07.06.2009 | Politics


Jodi Jacobson

The appointment yesterday of Alexia Kelley as Director of Faith-based and Community Partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services marks "a defeat for reason and logic."

Jack Kemp: Bleeding-Heart Conservative

Jim Wallis | Posted 06.05.2009 | Politics


Jim Wallis

Kemp was a fervent believer in "supply side economics," which I just as fervently oppose. But you do not have to agree with all of Jack Kemp's economic policies to be impressed and inspired with his life and leadership.

Today's Movement Leaders are Alive and Kicking

Ambassador Swanee Hunt and Adria D. Goodson | Posted 05.23.2009 | Politics


Ambassador Swanee Hunt and Adria D. Goodson

Prime Movers aren't simply good people doing great work. They're stirring masses of people to combat injustice, to become engaged in the civic decisions that affect their common good.

Conscious Choice Publications: the Latest Victims of Changing Media Landscape

Charles Shaw | Posted 05.08.2009 | Media


Charles Shaw

At the risk of appearing to engage in a little schadenfreude, the truth of the matter is that I was not at all surprised at CE Media's demise. Yet I was quite saddened.

The Call for Common Ground on Abortion

Cristina Page | Posted 05.07.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

In a never before attempted event, the Obama administration merged dozens of leaders from the pro-choice and pro-life movements onto one conference call line and, wisely, muted us.

Seriously Seeking Common Ground

Cristina Page | Posted 03.08.2009 | Politics


Cristina Page

The Pregnant Women Support Act offers some proposals that both sides can endorse. And there may well be solutions for the problematic areas, assuming there really is good will.

A "Bipartisan" Farce in Four Acts: Family Planning and the Stimulus

Jodi Jacobson | Posted 02.27.2009 | Politics


Jodi Jacobson

Governing this country is like playing Trivial Pursuit... if you don't know the answer to a question, just say "Elvis Presley," and you have more than a 50 percent chance of being right.

Changing the Image of Religion: The New Faith Coalition

Jim Wallis | Posted 02.19.2009 | Living


Jim Wallis

The day after the inauguration, I will be joining religious leaders at the National Prayer Service for our new president. I will pray that this new era can change the image of religion in our country.