NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Travel: Questions over immigration, communion loom over Pope Francis’ trip to Hungary and Slovakia
(RNS) – Pope Francis will embark for a jam-packed trip to the central European countries of Hungary and Slovakia Sep. 12-15. Despite his recent recovery from surgery, the pope will likely tackle hot-button issues, from immigration to communion and ecumenism. By Claire Giangravè. 1,100 words. (category i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-911-Profiles: ‘The story is still unfolding’: 10 Americans on how 9/11 changed their faith lives
(RNS) — The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, changed many Americans’ faith communities and spiritual lives as much as it did how we see our world and one another. Over the past month, Religion News Service sought out Americans of differing backgrounds to reflect on how 9/11 affected their faith lives and how faith has in turn informed their response to the day. By Yonat Shimron and Kathryn Post. 3,000 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Lisante-911: It’s been 20 years since he performed 30 funerals. Jim Lisante on how the world has — and hasn’t — changed since 9/11.
(RNS) — More than 30 members of Monsignor Jim Lisante’s parish were killed in the towers. He recalls the churches being filled with people praying, and Sunday services were overflowing. “People were overwhelmed, you know? These weren’t combatants. These were people who went to work and then died.” Lisante hopes the lesson of September 11th faith communities learn is skepticism of extremism and fundamentalism in all religious persuasions. By Renée Roden. 1,000 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Safi-Oped: America and Muslims have come a long way since 9/11. We have a long way to go.
(RNS) — In the aftermath of 9/11, the very beings of Muslims are inherently politicized. Our very existence is a political fact for us and a “problem” for some. There is no inherently “apolitical” Muslim discourse. One of the challenges for my community is to insist that being Muslim is not about mere politics, but also about a way of being with God, in harmony with our fellow human community and with nature. 2,323 words. (category: k)