NEWS STORY
RNS-Falwell-Leave: Jerry Falwell Jr. taking indefinite leave of absence from Liberty University amid calls to step down
(RNS) — Jerry Falwell, Jr., is taking an “indefinite leave of absence” from his role as president of Liberty University. Calls for Falwell’s resignation have grown this week since the university president posted — and quickly deleted — a photograph of himself on Instagram with his arm around a woman who was not his wife. By Emily McFarlan Miller and Jack Jenkins. 600 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-FGM-Ban: As Massachusetts bans female genital cutting, survivors and activists celebrate
(RNS) – After seven years of advocacy by survivors and activists in the state, Massachusetts is now one of 39 states in the U.S. that has criminalized female genital mutilation and cutting. By Aysha Khan. 900 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pew-Worship: To cope with pandemic, Americans choose binge-watching TV over the Bible
(RNS) — A Pew Research Center survey released Friday (Aug. 7) found that TV, exercise and friends are more popular ways of coping with the pandemic than prayer or the Bible. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 695 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Garcia-Bail: Judge increases bail for La Luz del Mundo leader to $90 million
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Thursday (Aug. 6) increased the bail for the leader of the Mexico-based megachurch La Luz del Mundo to $90 million after the state attorney general filed new sex crime charges against him.The refiled charges identify a new and fifth sexual assault victim. By Alejandra Molina. 623 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Patel-Q&A: Eboo Patel says $6 million gift to IFYC will jumpstart ‘Interfaith America’
(RNS) — Interfaith leader and author Eboo Patel says an unexpected $6 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott will boost efforts to address interfaith cooperation and racial justice. By Bob Smietana. 850 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Wani-Oped: Kashmir’s lockdown at one year: A region’s alienation turns to betrayal
(RNS) — It’s difficult to tell what form this alienation will take as New Delhi goes about easing the lockdown. But it’s clear that the issue is no longer about the loss of autonomy in a literal sense; it has now taken on a larger figurative dimension: It is also about betrayal of trust, political disempowerment and a deep sense of humiliation. By Riyaz Wani. 1,025 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Burge-Oped: On LGBT and women’s equality, stark statistical reality is coming for white evangelicals
(RNS) — Even as two-thirds of young white evangelicals now disagree with their church’s position on this issue, evangelicals are struggling to bring new people to the faith, as the doctrines of the tradition move further out of step with the country at large. By Ryan Burge. 773 words. (category: k)
