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Becoming Less Racist
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TOP STORIES

By Holly Lebowitz Rossi

Breath, the divine metaphor, becomes a hallmark of America’s twin crises

(RNS) — The normally simple, normally unconscious act of drawing breath has come to define the United States’ most pressing problems. What the world’s faith traditions have to say about the meaning of our first act as humans.

July 8, 2020
By Holly Lebowitz Rossi

Breath, the divine metaphor, becomes a hallmark of America’s twin crises

(RNS) — The normally simple, normally unconscious act of drawing breath has come to define the United States’ most pressing problems. What the world’s faith traditions have to say about the meaning of our first act as humans.

July 8, 2020
By Holly Lebowitz Rossi

Breath, the divine metaphor, becomes a hallmark of America’s twin crises

(RNS) — The normally simple, normally unconscious act of drawing breath has come to define the United States’ most pressing problems. What the world’s faith traditions have to say about the meaning of our first act as humans.

July 8, 2020
By Jack Jenkins

Kanye’s running for president — and his platform has a lot of God in it

(RNS) — The rapper hinted that his presidential run may be his most overt fusion of faith and politics yet, with religion impacting everything from his decision to run to his views on vaccines.

July 8, 2020
By Jack Jenkins

Kanye’s running for president — and his platform has a lot of God in it

(RNS) — The rapper hinted that his presidential run may be his most overt fusion of faith and politics yet, with religion impacting everything from his decision to run to his views on vaccines.

July 8, 2020
By Jessica Gresko

Court: Some employers can refuse to offer free birth control

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court's ruling could leave more than 70,000 women without free contraception.

July 8, 2020
By Claire Giangravé

Vatican Museums used to be an overcrowded ‘hell,’ say tour guides. COVID-19 may change that.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Guides hope socially distanced tourism will bring an end to overcrowding at Vatican attractions.

July 8, 2020
By Jessica Gresko

Court: Some employers can refuse to offer free birth control

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court's ruling could leave more than 70,000 women without free contraception.

July 8, 2020

Opinion

By Shumaila Hemani

As a Sufi singer, I believe the sounds of world religions can cultivate compassion during COVID-19

(RNS) — Intercultural listening cultivates our compassion and humanity during a crisis.

July 8, 2020
By Mike Ghouse

President Erdogan, preserve Hagia Sophia as a church

(RNS) — The Quran says that God’s name is extolled abundantly in churches, synagogues and mosques, which is reason enough to protect all such places of worship. But respect for others’ holy places extends deep into Muslim history.

July 8, 2020
By Cheryl Townsend Gilkes

NFL’s ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ plan will profane ‘Black national anthem’

(RNS) — African Americans’ most sacred hymn shouldn’t be desecrated to support the NFL’s attempts to apologize for its misunderstanding of players’ protests against racism.

July 8, 2020
By Cheryl Townsend Gilkes

NFL’s ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ plan will profane ‘Black national anthem’

(RNS) — African Americans’ most sacred hymn shouldn’t be desecrated to support the NFL’s attempts to apologize for its misunderstanding of players’ protests against racism.

July 8, 2020
By Mike Ghouse

President Erdogan, preserve Hagia Sophia as a church

(RNS) — The Quran says that God’s name is extolled abundantly in churches, synagogues and mosques, which is reason enough to protect all such places of worship. But respect for others’ holy places extends deep into Muslim history.

July 8, 2020
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Faiths

By Jack Jenkins

Kanye’s running for president — and his platform has a lot of God in it

(RNS) — The rapper hinted that his presidential run may be his most overt fusion of faith and politics yet, with religion impacting everything from his decision to run to his views on vaccines.

July 8, 2020
By Shumaila Hemani

As a Sufi singer, I believe the sounds of world religions can cultivate compassion during COVID-19

(RNS) — Intercultural listening cultivates our compassion and humanity during a crisis.

July 8, 2020
By Mike Ghouse

President Erdogan, preserve Hagia Sophia as a church

(RNS) — The Quran says that God’s name is extolled abundantly in churches, synagogues and mosques, which is reason enough to protect all such places of worship. But respect for others’ holy places extends deep into Muslim history.

July 8, 2020

Columnists

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TARA ISABELLA BURTON
RELIGION REMIXED

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CHARLES C. CAMOSY
PURPLE CATHOLICISM

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THOMAS REESE
SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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JANA RIESS
FLUNKING SAINTHOOD

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JEFFREY SALKIN
MARTINI JUDAISM

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MARK SILK
SPIRITUAL POLITICS

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SIMRAN JEET SINGH
Articles of Faith

World

By Claire Giangravé

Vatican Museums used to be an overcrowded ‘hell,’ say tour guides. COVID-19 may change that.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Guides hope socially distanced tourism will bring an end to overcrowding at Vatican attractions.

July 8, 2020
By Aysha Khan

On July 5, Uighurs remember 2009 violence that set Chinese crackdown in motion

(RNS) — The uprising of July 5, 2009, and ensuing ethnic violence charted the way forward for China’s mass suppression of Uighurs over a decade later.

July 3, 2020

U.S.

By Yonat Shimron

Supreme Court broadens scope of ministerial exception

(RNS) — The ruling allows religious schools to include lay teachers as among those subject to an exemption from civil rights laws that give workers the ability to sue for sexual harassment, overtime pay, equal pay and a myriad of other protections.

July 8, 2020
By Yonat Shimron

Willow Creek, Life.Church among churches that received millions in PPP loans

(RNS) — The vast majority of religious organizations listed in the data received between $150,000 and $300,000, but at least two dozen religious organizations received the highest amount of dollars, between $5 million and $10 million.

July 7, 2020

podcasts

BELIEFS

Beliefs is a news podcast covering religion, faith, and ethics; developed in partnership with Religion News Service (RNS) and Fordham University.
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RE-Sight Islam

Re-Sight Islam aims to illuminate and introduce to a largely Western audience the Islamic faith and its traditions from the Islamic perspective.
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POLITICS

By Jack Jenkins

Kanye’s running for president — and his platform has a lot of God in it

(RNS) — The rapper hinted that his presidential run may be his most overt fusion of faith and politics yet, with religion impacting everything from his decision to run to his views on vaccines.

July 8, 2020
By Frederick Douglass

‘What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?’

(RNS) — Frederick Douglass’ July 5 speech in 1852 is a still relevant indictment of America’s habit of championing freedom while failing to measure up to democratic ideals on race.

July 2, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

By Priyadarshini Sen

India’s pioneering transgender activist defends gains in pandemic

(RNS) — After helping win a landmark court case for India’s transgender people, Ranjita Sinha has mobilized to counter the community’s drastic loss of jobs and health care during the coronavirus pandemic.

July 7, 2020
By Charles C. Camosy

We need more people with disabilities to get the chance Tafida Raqeeb has

(RNS) — In a culture that values autonomy, faith traditions must speak up for the most vulnerable members of the human family who cannot do so in their own defense.

June 29, 2020

POLITICS

By Jack Jenkins

Kanye’s running for president — and his platform has a lot of God in it

(RNS) — The rapper hinted that his presidential run may be his most overt fusion of faith and politics yet, with religion impacting everything from his decision to run to his views on vaccines.

July 8, 2020
By Frederick Douglass

‘What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?’

(RNS) — Frederick Douglass’ July 5 speech in 1852 is a still relevant indictment of America’s habit of championing freedom while failing to measure up to democratic ideals on race.

July 2, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

By Priyadarshini Sen

India’s pioneering transgender activist defends gains in pandemic

(RNS) — After helping win a landmark court case for India’s transgender people, Ranjita Sinha has mobilized to counter the community’s drastic loss of jobs and health care during the coronavirus pandemic.

July 7, 2020
By Charles C. Camosy

We need more people with disabilities to get the chance Tafida Raqeeb has

(RNS) — In a culture that values autonomy, faith traditions must speak up for the most vulnerable members of the human family who cannot do so in their own defense.

June 29, 2020

Science

By Claire Giangravé

With new document, Vatican implements practical steps for environmental sustainability

(RNS) — From promoting environmental studies in schools and universities to eliminating pesticide use at the Vatican, the new document offers an ambitious plan to encourage sustainability around the world.

June 18, 2020
By Claire Giangravé

Canadian Catholic bishop funds research for a safe and efficient coronavirus vaccine

(RNS) — ‘May the search for COVID-19 solutions also be a moment of solidarity, of collaboration, and of growing together,’ said Archbishop J. Michael Miller of the archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada.

May 11, 2020

Art

By Emily McFarlan Miller

How Jesus became white — and why it’s time to cancel that

CHICAGO (RNS) — Nearly a century later, both ‘Head of Christ’ and criticism of its role in enshrining Jesus as white endure.

June 24, 2020
By Alejandra Molina

Who is Junipero Serra and why are California protesters toppling statues of this saint?

(RNS) — In California, statues of Junipero Serra — who led the Catholic Church's missionary efforts among Native Americans on the West Coast — are coming into question.

June 20, 2020

Sponsored Content

Press Releases

By RNS Press Release Distribution Service

Juneteenth Now: Get Us Free — Free Re-Broadcast — July 2nd @ 7:00pm ET

As our nation rises up in protests against police violence even while in the grips of the COVID-19 virus, the producers of Juneteenth Now: Get Us Free offer a FREE ...

July 2, 2020
By RNS Press Release Distribution Service

Soka Gakkai joins ITTO to support forest restoration in Togo, West Africa

Working with women's groups to address climate change and poverty and promote women's empowerment On July 1, 2020, Minoru Harada, President of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist organization, met with Dr. ...

July 2, 2020

SCIENCE

By Claire Giangravé

With new document, Vatican implements practical steps for environmental sustainability

(RNS) — From promoting environmental studies in schools and universities to eliminating pesticide use at the Vatican, the new document offers an ambitious plan to encourage sustainability around the world.

June 18, 2020
By Claire Giangravé

Canadian Catholic bishop funds research for a safe and efficient coronavirus vaccine

(RNS) — ‘May the search for COVID-19 solutions also be a moment of solidarity, of collaboration, and of growing together,’ said Archbishop J. Michael Miller of the archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada.

May 11, 2020

ARTS

By Emily McFarlan Miller

How Jesus became white — and why it’s time to cancel that

CHICAGO (RNS) — Nearly a century later, both ‘Head of Christ’ and criticism of its role in enshrining Jesus as white endure.

June 24, 2020
By Alejandra Molina

Who is Junipero Serra and why are California protesters toppling statues of this saint?

(RNS) — In California, statues of Junipero Serra — who led the Catholic Church's missionary efforts among Native Americans on the West Coast — are coming into question.

June 20, 2020

Sponsored Content

Press ReleaseS

By RNS Press Release Distribution Service

Juneteenth Now: Get Us Free — Free Re-Broadcast — July 2nd @ 7:00pm ET

As our nation rises up in protests against police violence even while in the grips of the COVID-19 virus, the producers of Juneteenth Now: Get Us Free offer a FREE ...

July 2, 2020
By RNS Press Release Distribution Service

Soka Gakkai joins ITTO to support forest restoration in Togo, West Africa

Working with women's groups to address climate change and poverty and promote women's empowerment On July 1, 2020, Minoru Harada, President of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist organization, met with Dr. ...

July 2, 2020