NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Tarrio-Guilty: Proud Boys leader pleads guilty for burning church’s Black Lives Matter banner
(RNS) — Proud Boys national leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio pleaded guilty to two charges in the D.C. Superior Court on Monday, including the burning of the Black Lives Matter banner taken from Asbury United Methodist Church, a historic Black church in Washington, D.C. Tarrio also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device. By Kathryn Post. 350 words. (category: a)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Vaccine-Vigil: Global interfaith prayer service advocates for vaccine equity
(RNS) — Interfaith leaders gathered virtually on Zoom and in person on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to advocate for equity in vaccine distribution and solidarity in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. By Renée Roden. 420 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Burrill-Resignation: General secretary to US bishops resigns amid misconduct allegations
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Citing “improper behavior,” the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the resignation of its general secretary, Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, in a statement released on Tuesday (July 20). “On Monday, we became aware of impending media reports alleging possible improper behavior by Msgr. Burrill,” read the statement. By Claire Giangravè. 460 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Space-Church: Wally Funk’s church celebrates her Blue Origin space flight: ‘What an inspiration she’s been to us all’
(RNS) — About 300 members of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, where Wally Funk is a member, turned out for a space launch watch party Tuesday morning (July 20) at the church to view a livestream of the launch making the pioneering pilot the oldest person in space. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 850 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-BenJerrys-Israel: Ben & Jerry’s threatened ban in West Bank creates ripples beyond ice cream stores
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Ben & Jerry’s announcement that it will ban the sale of its ice cream in what it calls the “occupied Palestinian territories” beginning in 2023 could have wide-reaching legal and political ramifications, Middle East observers say. By Michele Chabin. 786 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Vatican-Cuba: Pope Francis, Catholic bishops call for dialogue in Cuba
(RNS) – Pope Francis and the Catholic Church keep a close eye on Cuba as tensions rise in the unstable Caribbean country. By Claire Giangravè. 700 words. (category i)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Eid-Farm: Maryland Muslims celebrate Eid with a farm focused carnival.
(RNS) —Summer for many Americans means carnivals and country fairs. With this year’s Muslim holiday of Eid Al Fitr falling on July 20th, a Muslim organization in Washington, D.C. is seemingly combining the two traditions. By Joseph Hammond. 450 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS- McLean-Lawsuit: David Platt’s dreams for McLean Bible Church sour as members file lawsuit over elder vote
(RNS) — Members of a prominent D.C.-area megachurch have sued their pastor and other church leaders, claiming they were illegally barred from voting at a church meeting to elect new leaders. The lawsuit follows months of controversy, including claims that McLean Bible Church pastor David Platt has become liberal and woke. Platt, author of the New York Times bestseller, caused controversy in 2019 after he prayed with Donald Trump during a church service. By Bob Smietana. 1300 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Florer-Bixler-Oped: ‘Ted Lasso’ showed how kindness can change UK soccer. Until we saw the real UK soccer.
(RNS) — Positivity and kindness may break down personal defenses. From time to time, kindness can even be transformative. But soothing tensions can also distract from the work it takes to confront iron-clad systemic power that is inseparable from the personal lives of the people who are crushed by it. By Melissa Florer-Bixler. 1,269 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Reese-Oped: The Latin Mass is not going away soon
(RNS) — Despite the recent decision of Pope Francis to curtail celebration of the Latin Mass, we are not going to see it disappear anytime soon for a simple reason: Local bishops can and will still permit it. The challenge that Francis now faces is how to separate the pious faithful with traditional devotion to the old liturgy from the ideologues who reject the reforms of the council. By Thomas Reese. 1,153 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Millies-Oped: The Pillar investigation of Monsignor Burrill is unethical, homophobic innuendo
(RNS) — The equivalence is the ugliest part — conflating consensual sexual behavior (if Burrill even was part of any, which we do not know) with sexual abuse. This is the hook on which the “story” hangs, a long-discredited link between sexual abuse and homosexuality. It is hard to call that something other than a slur and a sin against the LGBTQ+ community. By Steven P. Millies. 1,111 words. (category: k)