NEWS STORY
RNS- Vaccine-Minorities: Black clergy offer churches as COVID-19 vaccination sites, roll up their sleeves
(RNS) — Across the country, Black faith leaders and other clergy of color are engaging in educational forums, videotaping themselves getting vaccinated and are beginning to provide or offer their church properties for vaccine distribution. Their efforts continue as research has shown that people of color in the U.S. have died of COVID-19 at disproportionately higher rates than white Americans. By Adelle M. Banks. 1,150 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Annulments: Pope Francis backs reform of marriage annulments with an emphasis on the good of children
(RNS) – Speaking to members of the Vatican’s highest appellate tribunal, Pope Francis called for greater attention to the consequences that marriage annulments may have on couples and especially children, while stressing the importance of promoting reforms aimed at facilitating marriage annulments. By Claire Giangravè. 630 words. (categories c,i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Sanctuary-Letter: Their hopes dashed by a Texas judge, immigrants living in church sanctuaries wait for a reprieve
(RNS) — Now that a Texas judge has barred part of President Biden’s deportation moratorium, immigrants living in church sanctuary are searching for solutions. Thirty lawmakers have stepped up to advocate on their behalf, sending a letter to President Biden asking him to sign private bills that would grant them permanent residency. By Yonat Shimron and Jack Jenkins. 1,000 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Burton-Oped: How QAnon infiltrated wellness culture on its way to the Capitol
(RNS) — The distance between QAnon’s MAGA-hatted reactionaries and Goopsters in yoga pants may seem wide, but it’s not so difficult to see how it has infiltrated wellness culture, which is not above indulging in conspiracy theories about Big Pharma and GMOs, and of course vaccines. By Tara Isabella Burton. 606 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Can Catholic bishops work with the Biden administration?
(RNS) — The media has fastened on reports that suggest the US bishops are ready to wage war on the new administration —and on each other — the Catholic president’s positions on abortion, gay rights and religious freedom. But there are many areas where the bishops’ and Biden’s agendas converge, from COVID-19 to immigration. By Thomas Reese. 1,050 words. (category: k)