RNS Updated Budget—December 19, 2019

The community of Bethel Church in Redding is uniting in prayer to resurrect 2-year-old Olive Alayne from the dead. Olive is the daughter of Kalley Heiligenthal, a worship leader and songwriter for Bethel Music, who announced […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-BETHEL-RESURRECTION: Northern California church makes headlines as it prays to resurrect girl from the dead
(RNS) — The community of Bethel Church in Redding is uniting in prayer to resurrect 2-year-old Olive Alayne from the dead. Olive is the daughter of Kalley Heiligenthal, a worship leader and songwriter for Bethel Music, who announced on social media Sunday that her daughter had stopped breathing and was pronounced dead. Since then, she has publicly called for people to pray that her girl be resurrected. By Alejandra Molina. 700 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
PONTIFICAL-SECRET: What changed and what needs to change now that the pope lifted pontifical secrecy for clergy abuse
VATICAN CITY (RNS) – A look at the reality of clerical sexual abuse cases within the Vatican courts and how they have been reshaped by Pope Francis’ unprecedented decision to abolish pontifical secrecy for such cases. By Claire Giangravè. 1009 words. (categories c,i)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Mormon-IRS: Despite whistleblower complaint, experts say IRS backlash to Mormon group unlikely
(RNS) — Despite uproar over a whistleblower complaint alleging financial impropriety by a money holding group affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, legal experts are skeptical the news will trigger an investigation from the IRS, and note that the church’s tradition of aggressive saving dates back decades. By Jack Jenkins. 900 words. (category: a)


COMMENTARY
RNS-Singh-Oped: Evangelism and religious supremacy
(RNS) — Historically, the “gift” of salvation has been weaponized time and time again to justify intervention and conquest. Evangelism, whether Christian, Hindu or Muslim, becomes less about offering another view and more about coercing those into accepting yours. By Simran Jeet Singh. 1,200 words. (category: k)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Huckabee-Oped: Amy Grant was the soundtrack to our home-schooled teenage lives
(RNS) — The weird musical world of Amy Grant, who notched her a billionth streamed tune this week, didn’t make a lot of sense on paper, but it worked for Christians who needed proof that our faith could embrace the whole human experience. By Tyler Huckabee. 1,300 words. (category: k)