NEW STORY
RNS-JWs-Turkmenistan: 16 Jehovah’s Witnesses released from prison in Turkmenistan during Ramadan
(RNS) — Sixteen imprisoned Jehovah’s Witnesses were released in Turkmenistan along with about 1,000 others following a pardon by the president of the predominantly Muslim country. The unexpected move came on Saturday (May 8) as Muslims observed the “Night of Power,” one of the holiest nights of the year that occurs near the end of Ramadan, a sacred month of prayer and fasting. By Adelle M. Banks. 400 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
Rohrer-Folo: First transgender bishop Megan Rohrer hopes to ‘translate good news’ for the curious
(RNS) — Rohrer talked to RNS about the focus of their ministry, first as the executive director of a nonprofit serving the homeless and hungry in San Francisco and now as bishop-elect of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA. Their election this weekend makes them the first openly transgender bishop in the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States — or any major denomination in the country, for that matter. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 1,200 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pew-Jews: Study: Young Jews are moving to polar ends — secularism and Orthodoxy
(RNS) — A new survey of U.S. Jews shows they are holding their own, numerically, but the group’s youngest adults are increasingly dividing in polar-opposite directions: secularism and Orthodoxy. By Yonat Shimron. 1,000 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Catechist: Pope Francis institutes ministry of catechist for lay men and women
(RNS) – Pope Francis on Tuesday instituted the new ministry of catechists, open to lay Catholic men and women who serve the church by transmitting the faith. The decision coincides with papal efforts to promote and recognize the importance of lay faithful in the church. By Claire Giangravè. 550 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Hindu-Ramadan: In India, Hindus fast in Ramadan for growth and solidarity with Muslim neighbors
MUMBAI (RNS) — Across India, many non-Muslims observe Ramadan fasting for reasons ranging from solidarity with friends to gestures of fraternity and gratitude and as a means of introspection. Some fast for just a day, some for several days and others for the entire month. By Bhavya Dore. 975 words. (category: i)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Kuttab-Oped: Don’t shoot at Jerusalem’s Palestinians. Talk to them.
(RNS) — The sharing of Jerusalem and its holy sites can and must be solved, not by oppressive laws and unbridled police action, but by allowing freedom of expression and assembly as well as allowing Palestinians the right to establish their own political structure and freely choose their leadership. By Daoud Kuttab. 625 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Hirschfield-Oped: Five take-aways from Pew’s massive study of American Jews
(RNS) — If we want to nurture Judaism, “the Jews” have told us how in this broad survey. Agree or disagree, we cannot pretend to not know how Jewish Americans want to be supported in their Jewishness. The only real question is whether Jewish officialdom is prepared to make their priorities our priorities, even if doing so does not preserve the expressions and institutions we prize most. By Brad Hirschfield. 1,065 words. (category: k)