NEWS BRIEF
RNS-COVID-Pew: Survey: Americans more likely to say pandemic has boosted their faith
(RNS) — Faith is one way some people cope with crisis. But according to a new Pew Research survey of 14 countries, the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected 100 million people and killed more than 2 million, has not significantly boosted their faith. The same is true of the U.S., but white evangelicals are, again, outliers. By Yonat Shimron. 350 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Vaccine-Centers: Evangelical Christian and Orthodox Jewish leaders offer spaces for vaccine distribution
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Two national religious groups, one evangelical Christian, the other Orthodox jewish, have teamed up to offer their sacred spaces for vaccine distribution, hoping to assist government officials and private companies in the effort to combat the ongoing pandemic. By Jack Jenkins. 733 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-CAR-Shelter: Displaced Christians, Muslims in Central African Republic share shelter amid unrest
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Christians and Muslims in the besieged Central African Republic have taken shelter together in houses of worship in the country as renewed rebel violence forces thousands out of their homes. The surge in violence comes as the six largest armed rebel groups in CAR joined forces in December under the banner of Coalition of Patriots for Change and now control two-thirds of the country. By Fredrick Nzwili. 823 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS- Reparations-Maryland: From $500,000 to $785, Maryland Episcopal churches commit to reparations
(RNS) — A historic Episcopal church in Baltimore has committed to $100,000 in reparations this year, funding an initiative that will contribute to local racial justice causes. At least one other congregation has made a financial commitment to support the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland’s reparations fund. By Adelle M. Banks. 550 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Young-Buddhists: Online forum helps Asian Americans find their way in Americanized Buddhism
(RNS) — Young Buddhist Editorial is innovating to keep young adults connected to Buddhism at a time when many are rethinking their relationship to the temple. While disaffiliation is common among young adults from all religious backgrounds, it’s particularly high among Asian American Buddhists. Just 56% of first-generation and 48% of second-generation Asian American Buddhists retained their religion of origin, according to a study last year, a lower rate than Asian American Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Hindus. By Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil 1,022 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Camosy-Oped: The future of the pro-life movement after Trump
(RNS) — The alliance with the Trump administration is going to taint the movement for some time to come. But has much in its favor as it tries to recover, including the Catholic church’s long intellectual tradition and a pope who sees life issues as more than just opposition to abortion. By Charles C. Camosy. 918 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Pattengale-Oped: The Capitol offense: a Christian professor’s warning 50 years ago
(RNS) — All should reverence government as a gift of God for our orderly procedure in a fallen world — especially in the face of horned-shamans threatening our elected representatives and Antifa militants welcoming President Biden by burning flags. By Jerry Pattengale. 1,143 words. (category: k)