RNS Updated Budget — Thursday, June 10, 2021

Newly released audio clips from a Southern Baptist whistleblower appear to corroborate accusations Southern Baptist Convention leaders were reluctant to take action against churches accused of mishandling abuse. By Bob Smietana and Adelle M. Banks. 1,320 […]

NEWS STORY
RNS-SBC-Recordings: ‘Preserve the base’: Leaked audio of SBC leaders shows reluctance on dealing with sex abuse
(RNS) — Newly released audio clips from a Southern Baptist whistleblower appear to corroborate accusations Southern Baptist Convention leaders were reluctant to take action against churches accused of mishandling abuse. By Bob Smietana and Adelle M. Banks. 1,320 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-Austin-Death: Steve Austin, former pastor who wrote about suicide and mental health, died unexpectedly
(RNS) — Author and speaker Steve Austin, who wrote openly about faith and mental illness died unexpectedly over the weekend. Bob Smietana 1,000 words. (category: a)

NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Prayer-Rug: New e-prayer rug offers digital support to Muslim prayer
(RNS) —A new electronic prayer rug is being offered as an educational tool for use by Muslims concerned they may make errors in their daily prayers. Thakka Technologies, the company behind the new rug, says that it has exceeded its $15,000 funding goal by over 200%. According to Thakka Technologies, based in the Persian Gulf kingdom of Qatar, the company has raised some $36,000 to develop the new product. By Joseph Hammond. 350 words. (category a)


COMMENTARY
RNS-Silk-Oped: The bubbas-that-be in the SBC
(RNS) — Long story short, what we’ve got is the old guard on the warpath against Moore, Greear and anyone else committed to extricating the SBC from a death match against #metoo, wokeness and Black Lives Matter. By Mark Silk. 1,260 words. (category: k)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Prior-Oped:The social-media-examined life is not the one that sustains us
(RNS) — It’s the public things, naturally, that draw people’s attention. And, just as naturally, it’s those same public things — in contrast to the workings of the inner, hidden life — that become fodder for other people’s aspirations and emulations. It’s human nature to cultivate desires based on what we see before us. By Karen Swallow Prior. 976 words. (category: k)

COMMENTARY
RNS-DuddyBurke-Oped: Catholics are asking for bread. Their bishops are giving stones.
(RNS) — Withholding Communion from any Catholic to punish them for their identity, actions or beliefs is coercion. It forces the person to the margins of their faith community. It shames them by encouraging people to speculate about why they are unworthy of approaching the sacred table. It violates the duty of care that is the central ministry of the ordained. By Marianne Duddy-Burke. 809 words. (category: k)