NEWS STORY
RNS-Faith-Statehood: As Senate convenes hearing, more than 300 faith leaders sign letter backing DC statehood
WASHINGTON (RNS) — More than 300 faith leaders and heads of prominent religious organizations signed a letter sent to Senate leadership on Tuesday (June 22) declaring support for making Washington, D.C. a state, adding religious support to the growing Democratic-led effort. By Jack Jenkins. 663 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-French-Boxers: Halimi and Oubaali: Boxing champions united by different faiths
(RNS) — Two French bantamweights, one Jewish, one Muslim, rode boxing from the edges of French society to international prominence. Both men are known for wearing their faith, if not on their sleeves, then on the biggest platforms they commanded in their respective time periods. By Joseph Hammond. 1,100 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Covid-Goddess: Indian Hindus turn to honoring ‘corona goddess’ to quell pandemic
MUMBAI (RNS) — Across India, people are worshipping female divine forms of the coronavirus, variously called “corona devi,” or by other forms of respect such as “corona mata” (corona mother) or “corona mai.” India has a history of worshipping female divinities during times of disease outbreaks. There have been goddesses of plague, smallpox and cholera through the past centuries. By Bhavya Dore. 669 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Biden-PPC: President Biden pledges support for Rev. Barber’s campaign to end poverty
(RNS) — The Rev. William J. Barber reignited his Moral Marches to end poverty at the place where it all started eight years ago, the outdoor mall behind the North Carolina General Assembly. But in a sign of the movement’s growing national profile, he had a special guest via video on Monday (June 21): President Biden. By Yonat Shimron. 505 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Zobrist-Divorce: Ben Zobrist, World Series hero for the Cubs, sues former pastor for alleged affair with his wife
(RNS) — The complaint alleges Byron Yawn, a Nashville businessman and former pastor of Community Bible Church, was offering pastoral care and friendship to the former major league baseball player while having an affair with Zobrist’s wife. By Bob Smietana. 580 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Riess-Oped: 1 in 5 young adult Mormons in the US are gay, lesbian or bisexual
(RNS) — More than a fifth of Generation Z Mormons do not self-identify as heterosexual, according to a major national study. One in 10 are bisexual. Not surprisingly, there is more sexual diversity among younger Latter-day Saints than older ones. By Jana Riess. 923 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Silk-Oped: Scotus puts Scalia’s Smith decision on life support
(RNS) — Justice Amy Coney Barrett outlined why It’s time to pull the plug. Barrett goes on to raise a number of tricky issues that need to be resolved, including whether to treat institutions differently from individuals, whether direct and indirect burdens on free exercise should be treated differently, and whether strict scrutiny itself is the proper standard of review. By Mark Silk. 759 words. (category: k)