NEWS STORY
RNS-Churches-Activist: Activism cuts into the political might of S.C. black church
CHARLESTON, S.C. (RNS) — Competing in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on Saturday, presidential hopefuls can no longer count on black Protestant churches as their principal forum to connect with black voters, and instead must balance that appeal with courtship of a younger population that’s just as likely to rally behind secular activists as it is to heed advice from pulpits. By Jack Jenkins and Elana Schor. 1,080 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Sanctuary-Decision: Federal court protects woman shielded by church from deportation
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (RNS) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that immigration authorities may not deport a woman who has been taking sanctuary in a North Carolina church for the past two years. The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel means Rosa Ortez Cruz, a 38-year old native of Honduras and a mother of four, will be entitled to stay and work in the United States indefinitely. By Yonat Shimron. 800 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Shiite-Students: ‘We’re going beyond identity’: Shiite students head to Harvard for first national conference
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (RNS) —This weekend more than 250 Shiite undergraduate and graduate students from around the country will gather at Harvard to discuss identity, spirituality, sectarianism, geopolitics and faith-based activism at the debut Ma’rifa Conference. By Aysha Khan. 850 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-ASL-Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses complete entire Bible in American Sign Language
(RNS) — The Jehovah’s Witnesses have released what they say is the first complete Bible in American Sign Language. By Adelle M. Banks. 900 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Camosy-Oped: Health care for all but the most vulnerable
(RNS) — In the latest example of our political incoherence, a filibuster by Democratic senators stopped passage this week (Feb. 25) of the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, with the party of ‘health care for all’ blocking the party of ‘government staying out of health care decisions’ in the latter’s attempt to require doctors to save ‘born fetuses’ against their parents wishes. By Charles C. Camosy. 941 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Silk-Oped: Trump poses a challenge for the US religious freedom commission
(RNS) — (RNS) — Trump supporters on the panel can’t seem to push the president to speak up for religious freedom when it counts, or muster criticism for the president’s strongman allies. By Mark Silk. 1,020 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Riess-Oped: The left-handed Mormon’s dilemma
(RNS) — Now that it is official church policy, will I start taking the sacrament with my right hand? By Jana Riess. 1,180 words. (category: k)
