NEWS STORY
RNS-Williams-Catholic: Mary Lou Williams thought jazz had the power to heal. The Catholic Church agreed.
(RNS) — A new addition to Liturgical Press’ “People of God” series is lesser-known: Mary Lou Williams, the legendary jazz pianist and composer who converted to Catholicism in 1957. Williams ,who died in 1981, believed jazz was “healing to the soul” and found a welcome home among churchmen and religious sisters who were opening up to the treasures of contemporary culture as part of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. By Yonat Shimron. 1,200 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Gurdeep-Pandher: YouTube star Gurdeep Pandher draws on Sikh faith as he dances for joy
(RNS) — During a time of global despair brought on by pandemic, one grinning man charmed millions with his exuberant performance of a Punjabi folk dance set against majestic Yukon backdrops. He spoke with Religion News Service about his Sikh faith, love of Bhangra and desire to bring joy to all humanity. By Kathryn Post. 1,000 words. (category: i)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Salkin-Oped: The thing about dead Jews
(RNS) — Many in the world are blasé about Jewish death, and therefore, find dead or suffering Jews to be the most sympathetic. the world can relate to Jews who suffer. To Jews with power, not so much. But, it is not only the world that has a fascination with Jewish suffering. It is the Jews themselves. By Jeffrey Salkin. 1,391 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Martin-Oped: Edmund Burke wouldn’t recognize evangelicals’ vaccine resistance as conservatism
(RNS) — Conservatism was not always so based in individualism or a lack of concern for the other. Until the rise of Ronald Reagan in 1980 — a president evangelicals still lionize and whose election they were essential in bringing about — American conservatism and the Republican Party had more to do with defending tradition, an objective moral order and mutual obligation.
