NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Abuse: Pope Francis removes pontifical secrecy for sexual abuse cases
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis on Tuesday (Dec. 17) ushered in a new era of transparency and accountability for the Catholic Church by releasing what was described as a historic document removing pontifical secrecy for cases of sexual abuse and cover-up, allowing lawful authorities to have access to reports, testimonies and documents. By Claire Giangravé. 1,059 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Beatles-Christmas: Beatles music, Christmas story come together at suburban Chicago church
NAPERVILLE, Illinois (RNS) — “Let It Be Christmas: The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo,” is setting the story of Jesus’ birth, which Christians celebrate at Christmas, to the music of the Beatles for its 12th year at Community Christian Church, which has 10 locations in the Chicago suburbs. It’s a self-described “magical mystery tour through the gospels to tell the greatest story of all time, with the greatest music of all time!” By Emily McFarlan Miller. 800 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Bridge-Projects: In this art gallery, conversations about religion and spirituality are encouraged
HOLLYWOOD (RNS) — Bridge Projects is a new gallery space on Santa Monica Boulevard that seeks to link art with spiritual and religious traditions. Its inaugural exhibition, “10 Columns” by artist Phillip K. Smith III, features 30 glowing mirrored panels that shift colors from warm yellow and orange tones to bright blue and red hues. Since its opening celebration in October, people have documented their experiences in the space through Instagram, sharing how the installation makes them feel “reflective,” “meditative” and is “enthralling.” By Alejandra Molina. 728 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Brunson-Oped: Congress must reauthorize religious freedom agency for prisoners of faith
(RNS) — Little more than a year ago, I stood in a Turkish courtroom facing 35 years in prison. I was saved in part by a little-known U.S. commission that is facing extinction. Despite its impact on my life and thousands of others, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom could be shuttered should Congress fail to reauthorize it by Friday. By Andrew Brunson. 764 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Riess-Oped: How persuasive is whistleblower’s claim the LDS church is hiding wealth from the IRS?
(RNS) — Yesterday, a “whistleblower” who used to help manage the church’s investment portfolio released a series of documents alleging that the church has mismanaged more than $100 billion of charitable donations. It’s easy for me to believe that the LDS church is guilty of hoarding its wealth; it’s harder to believe that it has been intentionally defrauding its members and the federal government. By Jana Riess. 1,383 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Greta Thunberg, a prophet for Advent
(RNS) — Scientists tell us that oceans are rising. Cities will flood. Weather patterns will change. Millions of people will suffer. The damage we are doing to mother earth may be impossible to heal. Advent scriptures encourage us to patience as we wait for the Lord’s coming, but I agree with the 16-year-old prophet Greta Thunberg that time is running out. By Thomas Reese. 962 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Riess-Oped: A last-minute gift for the spiritual reader in your life
(RNS) — The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others’ Eyes takes snippets of C.S. Lewis’s various writings, all themed around the capacious love he had for books and reading, and gathers them into a gift book that’s conveniently sized for tucking in a loved one’s stocking. By Jana Riess. 1,048 words. (category: k)
