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Need to know: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Ransomed: Race to free 226 Christian hostages in Syria
Deep inside Syria, a bishop worked secretly to save the lives of 226 members of his flock from the Islamic State — by amassing millions of dollars from his community around the world to buy their freedom.
Angela Merkel calls for countrywide, full-face veil ban in Germany
The chancellor’s proposal comes amid debates across the continent over religious tolerance, perceived threats to European identity and the fear of further attacks by Islamists.
‘We are just looking for justice’: Charleston prepares for Dylann Roof’s trial
Opening arguments begin today, and federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Junaid Jamshed was on board ill-fated PIA flight
The former music star who became a conservative Islamic preacher was on the Pakistan International Airlines passenger jet that crashed on a flight from Chitral to Islamabad.
Trump’s religious dealmaking pays dividends
As Trump heads to the White House, the leaders who lent him credibility with evangelical voters say he is still keeping them in his orbit, aware of their role in getting him elected.
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Latest news from RNS
Vatican launches website in response to clergy sex scandals
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The site aims to provide resources to dioceses around the world and to raise awareness in regions where the problem has not received much coverage.
Religious leaders celebrate denial of easement for Dakota Access pipeline
Native American and other religious leaders called the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to deny an easement for the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline an answer to prayer.
Evangelicals in Trump’s Cabinet: Choice of Pruitt alarms scientists, environmentalists
Many of Trump’s picks are Christians who could reverse progress on the environment and retard science and teaching standards.
More views from RNS
Infallibility and heresy
Not since certain American Protestants were publicly anti-Catholic, as older readers may remember them having been, have we read as many headlines with words like “infallibility,” “heresy,” papal “plots,” “schism,” etc., as we do these days.
Trump mulls Satan for secretary of state
TRUMP TOWER (RNS) Could Lucifer be headed to Foggy Bottom?
The disappointing victory at Standing Rock
We should be way past the point of blocking oil pipelines.
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Bonus tracks
- Director Martin Scorcese discusses meeting ‘disarming’ Pope Francis
- Dudley, Mass. warned over vote on proposed Muslim cemetery
- Pakistan honors Nobel physicist 37 years late
- What happens when an evangelical church welcomes LGBT members?
- America’s chance at redemption
- Germany’s ‘LutherCountry’ gears up for Reformation 500th anniversary
