NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Psychology-Statement: 17 psychological societies call for greater protections of LGBTQ students at religious schools
(RNS) — Seventeen professional psychological societies have signed a statement asking the U.S. Department of Education to protect LGBTQ students at religious colleges and universities from discrimination. By Yonat Shimron. 400 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Saddleback-Women: Saddleback ordains 3 women pastors, leading to another Mother’s Day dust-up over women pastors
(RNS) — One of the largest Southern Baptist Churches in the country ordained three women as pastors this past weekend, sparking more debate over the role of women in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. Some SBC presidential candidates say the move violates the denomination’s statement of faith. By Bob Smietana 1,200 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Hamas-Israel: Violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque leads to rocket fire, air strikes between Hamas and Israel
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Reports of 20 dead in Gaza, hundreds injured as skirmishes over Jewish-Arab land claims threaten to ignite regional violence in the Middle East. “These are critical hours. We may be dragged into a significant escalation,” one Israeli official said. By Michele Chabin. 708 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Vaccine-Patents: With Pope Francis’ blessing, Catholics pressed Biden White House to waive vaccine patents
(RNS) — The White House’s decision to back efforts to suspend intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines came only after a months-long campaign to convince the White House of the wisdom of the move spearheaded by African and Asian nations, but aided by the Vatican and U.S. Catholic groups. By Claire Giangravé and Jack Jenkins. 1,361 words. (category: a, i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Communion-Letter: Vatican cautions bishops over debate on denying communion to politicians who back abortion
(RNS) — A Vatican official urged U.S. bishops to tap the breaks on plans to produce a document concerning communion and politicians, sending a letter to a top U.S. cleric that could dial down debate over whether to deny President Joe Biden the Eucharist. By Jack Jenkins. 650 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Transgender-Bishop: Lutherans elect Megan Rohrer first transgender bishop
(RNS) — The Rev. Megan Rohrer was elected bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Sierra Pacific synod on Saturday (May 8), becoming the first transgender person to serve as bishop in the denomination or in any of the U.S.’ major Christian faiths. By Paul O’Donnell. 710 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Interfaith-Iftar: Ramadan interfaith events go online for a second year
(RNS) — Though COVID-19 restrictions may be keeping Americans physically separated this year, a number of “interfaith iftar” events designed to bring Muslims and members of other religions together have flourished during Ramadan this year. Muslim and interfaith groups in the United States have used the month to organize events tied to the daily breaking of the fast meal (or iftar). By Joseph Hammond. 725 words. (category: a)