NEWS STORY
POPE-VIGIL: Do not lose hope, Pope Francis says at Christmas vigil, God loves you no matter what
VATICAN CITY (RNS) – Under the dome of Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated the Christmas vigil Mass on Tuesday (Dec. 24), by reminding faithful about the redeeming power of grace and admonishing them to “take courage,” because “God loves you.” By Claire Giangravè. 620 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Muslim-Bus: In Toronto, Muslims offer ‘shelter bus’ for the homeless
(RNS) – For the next three months, a group of Muslim volunteers is driving through the streets of downtown Toronto in a repurposed coach bus to offer the city’s homeless population a refuge from the brutal winter weather. By Aysha Khan. 717 words.
NEWS STORY
RNS-Assisted-Suicide: Archbishop’s remarks on assisted suicide stir culture war skirmish at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A top Vatican official’s remark about assisted suicide, stoked by a perfect storm of media coverage, expert commentary and social media posts, has prompted the latest round in the ongoing culture wars that have been dividing the Catholic Church, with ideology taking precedence over reality. By Claire Giangravé. 1,322 words. (category: i)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Carter-Oped: Behind Christianity Today’s editorial is a deeper crisis of America’s religion of whiteness
(RNS) — The editorial is an attempt to rescue evangelical religion and, more deeply, the American project from Trump’s threat to the supposed civility of whiteness itself. This must all be understood within the long history of an unspeakable whiteness: whiteness as American religion and American religion as American culture. We are in a crisis of the religion of whiteness. By J. Kameron Carter. 1,051 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Cannon-Oped: An open letter from friends of Christianity Today affirming Mark Galli’s editorial
(RNS) — (RNS) — “One may or may not agree with Galli’s message on impeachment,” say 15 prominent evangelicals, “but the heart of his words encouraged American Christians to spiritually reflect about the repercussions of support of the president.” 612 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Salkin-Oped: Goodbye, Baba Ram Dass
(RNS) — The story of the seeker and guru Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert, is partly a story of 1950s American Judaism, which had become a bland, conformist version of the American civil religion. By Jeffrey Salkin. 960 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Butler-Oped: How to celebrate Christmas: Change the world
(RNS) — The early 20th century pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick taught that if enough people were committed to following the teachings of the babe born in a manger, we could make a real, tangible impact in the lives of those we saw every day walking the streets. By Amy Butler. 1,000 words. (category: k)
