NEWS STORY
RNS-USCCB-Primer: 5 things to watch for as Catholic bishops conference debates Communion ban
(RNS) — As U.S. Catholic bishops gather for their annual Spring meeting to discuss whether clerics should withhold communion from politicians who back abortion rights, here are a few things to keep an eye on. By Jack Jenkins. 1363 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Faith-Funding:Faith groups among those granted money from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
(RNS) — Faith-based groups were among the causes that received financial grants from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who on Tuesday (June 15) announced she had given $2.7 billion to 286 organizations addressing a range of social issues. By Alejandra Molina. 950 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-SBC-Abuse: Southern Baptist pastor says minister accused of sexually abusing as many as 13 never investigated
(RNS) — A Georgia pastor has identified up to 13 men he says were sexually abused by a Southern Baptist minister that top leaders of the denomination in effect cleared two years ago when they declined to investigate the church where the minister was working. By Yonat Shimron. 600 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Litton-Wins: Ed Litton, a pastor known for racial reconciliation, is surprise winner for SBC president
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — Ed Litton, the relatively unknown senior pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, defeated two preeminent rivals to be elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention during a session of the SBC’s annual meeting Tuesday (June 15). Litton’s election is considered a defeat for hard right conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention’s recent battles over race, sexual abuse and gender roles. By Bob Smietana. 1,188 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-SBC-DayOne: Debates on sex abuse, critical race theory front and center at first day of SBC meeting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — As Southern Baptists opened their annual meeting, the debates that have rocked the nation’s largest Protestant denomination in recent months almost immediately became part of the business on the crowded convention floor. In addition to the focus on allegations of leaders thwarting efforts to address abuse, questions arose early in the meeting about critical race theory. By Adelle M. Banks. 1,144 words (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: Baptist and Catholic leaders grapple with similar problems in different ways
(RNS) — This week, Catholic and Baptist leaders meet to deal with issues facing their churches. While the two are very different from each other, they face similar problems. Both have been racked by sex abuse scandals. Both are led by men who do not know how to deal with women. Both are failing to deal with racism. Both are losing members, especially the young. And both meetings do not have on their agenda some of the most critical issues facing the world. By Thomas Reese. 866 words. (category: k)