NEWS STORY
RNS-McKissic-Letter: Southern Baptist leaders decry ‘racist’ letter received by Dwight McKissic
(RNS) — National and Texas leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention have condemned a “stone cold racist” letter sent to Pastor Dwight McKissic, a Black pastor who recently announced he was pulling his church out of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. By Adelle M. Banks. 750 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Muslim-Globes: Three Muslim actors make Golden Globe history
WASHINGTON (RNS) — For the first time in history, three Muslim actors have received Golden Globes award nominations in the same year. Ramy Youssef will defend that prize for best actor in a television series musical or comedy he won last year. Tahar Rahim and Rizwan Ahmed will compete for best performance in a dramatic film. By Joseph Hammond. 486 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Prayer-Breakfast: National Prayer Breakfast organizers hope prayer can unify nation in divided times
(RNS) – At the first virtual National Prayer Breakfast, four former U.S. presidents — Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — along with President Joe Biden called on America to forgive one another and unite to build a better future. By Bob Smietana. 800 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Funeral-Directors: Funeral directors survive ‘surreal’ year with creativity and faith
(RNS) — With safety precautions changing the way people mourn, as well as the sheer volume of COVID-19 deaths, the men and women who sometimes wryly call themselves “last responders” have had a year like no other. “There is no way to explain it,” said Stephen Kemp, 61, director of Kemp Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Southfield Michigan, which borders Detroit. “I will never forget it as long as I live. In terms of sheer volume, it was surreal.” By Elizabeth E. Evans. 1,124 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Iraqi-Priest: Pope’s trip to Iraq hopes to restore trust between Christians and Muslims
(RNS) – A pandemic, safety issues and chronic sciatica aren’t enough to convince Pope Francis not to visit Iraq, where Christians eagerly await his arrival in the hope that it will mend the “broken trust” with Muslims in the country. By Claire Giangravè. 700 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Secular-Biden: Secular groups praise Biden’s agenda, but express concerns about religious rhetoric
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Biden’s policy achievements have received high marks from secular activists, but his words have rankled many in the community, particularly his habit of infusing many important decisions and ceremonies with faith. By Jack Jenkins. 1,032 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Suleiman-Oped: NBA star Stephen Jackson on converting to Islam: ‘I needed to listen to my heart’
(RNS) — While the NBA has seen its fair share of Muslim superstars — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Hakeem Olajuwon, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, to name a few — Stephen Jackson’s conversion is particularly noteworthy as it gives American Muslims another important voice for social change. I asked him a few questions about that faith journey. By Omar Suleiman. 1.161 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Catholic bishops answer Biden executive orders with flood of press releases
(RNS) — The American Catholic bishops have responded to the extraordinary number of executive orders from President Joe Biden with an extraordinary number of press releases of their own. The press releases are noteworthy not only in their number but also in their positive tone. By Thomas Reese. 847 words. (category: k)