NEWS STORY
RNS-Officiants-Advice: So you’ve been asked to officiate a wedding? Five pieces of advice from the pros
(RNS) — A growing trend in U.S. weddings is to ask a friend or family member to officiate the ceremony. Here, several wedding pros share their top advice for first-time officiants. By Renée Roden. 1200 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-WH-Faith: White House announces new religious affairs leaders, first Muslim religious freedom ambassador
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The White House announced Friday (July 30) a slate of nominations and appointments for top religious affairs roles, including the first Muslim American nominated to be the U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom. By Jack Jenkins, Kathryn Post and Joseph Hammond. 750 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Orphans-Folo: CDC researcher Susan Hillis on how people of faith can support families devastated by COVID-19
(RNS) — Susan Hillis, who coordinates faith and community initiatives for the CDC, spoke with Religion News Service about how her Christian faith connects with her work for the CDC and how people of all faiths can support children and families devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 1,600 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Piller-Profile: Who is behind The Pillar, the newsletter rocking the Catholic Church?
(RNS) — When a conservative newsletter called The Pillar published a story last week alleging to have cellphone data indicating that Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, a high-ranking official at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, used the hookup app Grindr, many in the media, tech and religion world wanted to know just how they did it, and whether it was ethical. But another, equally common question was: What is The Pillar? By Jack Jenkins. 1176 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Disability-Pride: For Disability Pride, Religious Leaders look back on 31 years of the ADA
(RNS) — Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July to mark the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA was a watershed moment for civil rights law, but mosques, synagogues, churches and other religious institutions remain exempt from ADA requirements. Still, disabled religious leaders and allies continue to dismantle ableism in religious spaces, making buildings and theology more accessible to everyone. By Kathryn Post. 900 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Singh-Oped: Human rights is on Blinken’s agenda in India. Can he make it stick?
(RNS) — As right-wing nationalism continues its ascent in India, and as the country becomes less democratic, less secular and less free than it asserts, perhaps it’s time for the U.S. to reimagine how it wants to engage its perceived ally. By Simran Jeet Singh. 650 words. (category: k)
