RNS Opening Budget — Tuesday, June 23, 2021

Religion News Service

June 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET

NEWS STORY
RNS-Atheists-Mississippi: Atheist and humanist groups sue Mississippi over state’s ‘In God We Trust’ license plate
(RNS) — Atheist and humanist groups are suing Mississippi over the state’s “In God We Trust” license plate, calling it unconstitutional and seeking other alternatives that don’t require additional fees for Mississippi drivers. By Alejandra Molina. 780 words. (category: a)

NEWS STORY
RNS-SBC-Trust: Southern Baptists have a trust problem. Can a tender-hearted president help them solve it?
(RNS) — The nation’s largest Protestant denomination is based on voluntary cooperation between more than 40,000 churches. That cooperation is threatened by growing distrust of national leaders. Can new Southern Baptist Convention president Ed Litton reverse that trend? By Bob Smietana 1,200 words. (category: a)

COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: In Central America, Kamala Harris ignored our best hope: Catholic bishops
(RNS) — Vice President Kamala Harris made a huge mistake by not meeting with Catholic bishops during her visit to Central America. The bishops could be the administration’s strongest ally in fighting the corruption, crime and poverty that cause people to flee to the United States. By Thomas Reese. 737 words. (category: k)

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1	news Willy Rice, Florida pastor and abuse crisis skeptic, elected SBC president
2	news Defense Department rejiggers list of recognized religions after backlash, narrows it to 30
3	news Southern Baptists pass a ban on women pastors again. This time, they hope it sticks.
4	news The country’s largest Protestant adoption agency is dropping LGBTQ couples — again
5	opinion I was a pagan in the military before we were recognized. We're going back.

	Saved by the City Eat the Rich! Jesus Had Something to Say About That + Malcolm Foley Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone Katelyn and Roxy talk to Malcom Foley about the insidious legacy of greed on countries, systems and individuals.
	The State of Belief What Democracy and Religion Look Like Across America Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Find out how local Interfaith Alliance affiliates are on the front lines in the work of defending religious freedom and democracy with leaders from Iowa, Tennessee, and the national office in Washington, DC
	Money Meet Meaning To Preserve or to Repurpose? Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson Is it more faithful to preserve a dying congregation — or to repurpose its financial assets for new life?