NEWS STORY
RNS-Muslim-Artifacts: During Ramadan, Black history museum features prayer rugs, other Muslim artifacts
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins, the Smithsonian museum focused on African American history is highlighting its artifacts tied to Islam. More than a tenth of the 1,093 religion objects the National Museum of African American History and Culture has collected are Muslim artifacts. By Adelle M. Banks. 450 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Bachelor-Gay: ‘Bachelor’ star Colton Underwood says he’s gay and speaks about his Catholic faith in TV interview
(RNS) — “Bachelor” star Colton Underwood told “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts he was “proud to be gay,” in an interview where he spoke candidly about his Catholic faith and touched on having “suicidal thoughts” that led him to “take back control” of his life. By Alejandra Molina. 590 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Tutu-Book: New book explores how Desmond Tutu’s Christian mysticism helped unite a nation
(RNS) — In his new book, “Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor,” Michael Battle delves into Tutu’s religious formation. He writes that Tutu’s faith was informed by mystical Christian vision grounded in prayer and silent contemplation. Those practices served a larger vision of community that ultimately sought integration between the spiritual and the secular. By Yonat Shimron. 1,400 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-StVincent-Volcano: Volcanic eruption in Caribbean prompts Baptist church meals, relief agency supplies
(RNS) — The Rev. Cecil Richards is working with members of his Kingstown Baptist Church to help feed people in St. Vincent who have been evacuated from areas closer to the volcano that has erupted in his island nation over the last few days. Relief organizations are ramping up to help residents prepare for recovery. By Adelle M. Banks. 700 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Mercy-Cancer: Meet Mercy Haub: The 16-year old cancer survivor and preacher’s kid who inspired Ellen
(RNS) — After a friend’s dad was diagnosed with cancer, Mercy Haub dedicated to learning all about the disease and raising fund for research. The pastor’s daughter had just finished a $30,000 fundraiser – which included shaving her head — when she was diagnosed with cancer at age 16. Now in remission, she recently wowed talk show host Ellen Degeneres with her story.
By Bob Smietana. 1,080 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Moore-Oped: DMX was my John the Forerunner
(RNS) — In the wilderness of my gang-involved teens, DMX was a voice unlike any other, piercing my defenses and opening me up to the work of God that would eventually convert me into a devoted follower of Jesus. By T.C. Moore. 954 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Salkin-Oped: I love all Jews — even the ones I don’t like
(RNS) — Why do I still love the hareidim, even if I don’t like their worldview and their way of doing Judaism? It is about that holiday that happens this week — Yom Ha Atzmaut. These days remind us of something very precious: We Jews are a small people, but we are a large family. By Jeffrey Salkin. 995 words. (category: k)
