NEWS STORY
RNS-JohnLegend-Church: John Legend credits childhood in Pentecostal church with his choice to pursue music
(RNS) — Singer-songwriter John Legend, known for his contributions in the R&B realm, says he’d never have become a recording artist without the influence of the church in his childhood. By Adelle M. Banks. 450 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Historic-Church: Church known as a birthplace of LA’s Chicano civil rights movement earns national recognition
LOS ANGELES (RNS) —The Church of the Epiphany in the 1960s became a hub for the flourishing Chicano movement. Five decades later, it has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. By Alejandra Molina. 950 words. (category: a)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Shanks-Obit: Hershel Shanks, who made archeology more widely accessible, dies
(RNS) — Hershel Shanks, the founder and longtime editor of Biblical Archaeology Review, died on Friday at the age of 90. A lawyer-turned-amateur archeologist, he devoted all his energy to making the field accessible to non-scholars. By Yonat Shimron. 400 words (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Muslim-TV: 7 Muslim-positive TV shows to stream right now
(RNS) — This year’s Golden Globe nominations, in which for the first time three Muslim actors got nods, were a reminder that the television industry has allowed Muslims to go beyond “representing” on the small screen to actually portraying characters who are human beings. There are still too many stereotypes but in the great cultural mirror that is TV, it can be said that a start has been made. Here are a few shows, from glossy network productions to web series, that Muslims — and those interested in the Muslim experience — can stream without eye rolls. By RNS Staff. 895 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Baptist-Settlement: Baylor and Southwestern Baptist seminaries regain control of Texas foundation after failed ‘coup’
(RNS) – Two Texas Baptist schools will regain control of nonprofit founded by a long-time financial supporter after a legal battle with allies of disgraced Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson. By Bob Smietana. 450 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Faggioli-Biden: How the second Catholic president will navigate a supportive Vatican and hostile US bishops
(RNS) — Joe Biden, the second Catholic president, is taking office at a time when the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is revolting against Pope Francis and intent on fighting the culture wars, writes Massimo Faggioli, a leading authority on the history and inner workings of the Catholic Church and the author of a new book, “Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States.” The book explores Biden’s faith and areas where he might find common ground with the Vatican. A Q&A. By Yonat Shimron. 1,500 words (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Kenya-Persecution: After report on Christian persecution, Kenyan faith leaders point to Islamist militants
(RNS) — Kenya was listed the U.S based anti-persecution watchdog Open Doors as one of the countries where it is difficult to be Christian. According to the group, persecution of Christians has been spreading, especially in the predominantly Muslim northeastern and coastal regions. But local Christian leaders point to the influence of al-Shabab, the Somali Islamist group, which has been exporting anti-Christian violence across the border. By Fredrick Nzwili. 640 words. (category: i)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Randall-Oped: New START buys time on nukes. Now let’s start banning them altogether
(RNS) — In the first piece of positive news on nuclear disarmament from the Biden administration, the United States and the Russian Federation have officially committed to extending the New START, the expiring 2011 nuclear arms agreement between the two nations, until 2026. As Quakers, we have consistently called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and instruments of war. But this early diplomatic success for the Biden administration should be urgent for all people of faith and anyone who supports reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons. By Diane Randall. 618 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Can Joe Biden solve the Little Sisters of the Poor dilemma?
(RNS) — If there is one thing Joe Biden does not need, it’s a lawsuit against the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic religious order of women who care for the elderly. It does not matter that the “little” sisters are in fact a multi-state organization with 30 residences and hundreds of lay employees. The optics of Catholic nuns in full habit on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, portraying themselves as victims of government bullying, is a political loser for the administration. By Thomas Reese. 1,243 words. (category: k)