RNS Updated Budget — Thursday, February 13, 2020

Publisher Iminjan Seydin is one of at least a million Uighurs that disappeared into the China’s massive network of detainment camps, part of a brutal crackdown on the country’s Muslim minority, before he was jailed […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-Uigher-Boston: A daughter’s duty: From Boston, a Uighur woman champions her father’s release in China
BOSTON (RNS) — Publisher Iminjan Seydin is one of at least a million Uighurs that disappeared into the China’s massive network of detainment camps, part of a brutal crackdown on the country’s Muslim minority, before he was jailed for charges of inciting extremism. Now his daughter, a medical professional in Boston, is publicly demanding Chinese officials release him. By Aysha Khan. 1400 words. (category: a)

NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Air-Force: Religious groups applaud new Air Force rules allowing turbans, hijabs, beards
(RNS) – Muslim and Sikh advocacy groups have welcomed new guidelines issued by the U.S. Air Force last week allowing personnel to request a waiver to wear religious apparel, including turbans and hijabs, and to have unshorn hair or beards for religious reasons. By Aysha Khan. 485 words

NEWS STORY
RNS-Abortion-California: Trump’s California funding threat over abortion puts nuns in unexpected spot
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The Trump administration on Jan. 24 threatened to cut off some federal funds to California if it didn’t drop a state requirement that private health insurers cover abortion. RNS spoke with a representative of Missionary Guadalupanas, the Catholic sisters who filed a claim with a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights that led to the investigation and notice of violation. By Alejandra Molina. 866 words. (category: a)


COMMENTARY
RNS-Denari-Oped: A priest’s anti-Muslim comments reveal US Catholics’ Islamophobia problem
(RNS) — Misconceptions about Islam and Muslims are widespread among Catholics. In some cases, Catholic institutions and media outlets actively give a platform to voices promoting prejudice and fear. By Jordan Denari Duffner. 1,115 words. (category: k)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Pope Francis punts on married priests
(RNS) — In his exhortation, “Querida Amazonia” or “Dear Amazon,” responding to the recommendations of the Pan-Amazon synod, Francis appears to have feared splitting the Church over the question of celibacy. By Thomas Reese. 940 words. (category: k)