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President Donald Trump claps at his first State of the Union address in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol to a joint session of Congress Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Pool via AP)
Need to know: Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Religious leaders hail, hammer President Trump’s first State of the Union speech
In his 80-minute speech, the president declared that “Americans are dreamers too” and said, “The motto is, ‘In God we trust.’”
Clinton posts explanation for not firing campaign staffer accused of sexual harassment
Just as President Trump opened his State of the Union speech, Hillary Clinton said of her handling of her 2008 faith adviser Burns Strider: “If I had it to do again, I wouldn’t.”
Pope sends sex crimes expert to Chile to investigate bishop
The Vatican is sending Maltese Bishop Charles Scicluna “to listen to those who have expressed the desire to provide elements” about the Bishop Juan Barros’ case that dominated Francis’ trip to Chile and exposed his blind spot regarding clerical sex abuse.
In Kenya, debt-ridden Christian universities struggle to stay open
Financial mismanagement and poorly planned growth have undermined several Christian universities, upsetting many people in the predominantly Christian country who had hoped for better from the institutions’ leaders.
Jewish Reconstructionist movement adopts a new name
Leaders of the small, Philadelphia-based movement consisting of about 100 congregations say they have always felt the name was unwieldy.
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Latest news from RNS
To keep churches safe, government gets involved
After the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history, the FBI steps into church to help congregants prepare for the worst.
Fearing deportation, a third Indonesian Christian seeks sanctuary in a NJ church
ICE agents have already picked up two other undocumented Indonesian who attend the Reformed Church of Highland Park.
Iranian women protest obligatory headscarf
Social media postings showed at least five women in Iran protesting laws that require women to be covered or face up to two months in jail.
More views from RNS
Super Bowl LII: God will be watching
(RNS) — When a quarterback throws a long pass and a player down the field makes a spectacular catch, RNS columnist Richard Mouw imagines the Lord saying to himself: 'Nicely done!'
Four trends that demand Christian and Jewish leaders’ attention
(RNS) — Four powerful and irreversible forces are rapidly transforming the Jewish and Christian worlds.
N.T. Wright, David Bentley Hart and the latest tussle over biblical translation
In Christian orbits, debates over which translation one is allowed to favor have led to schisms and vicious conflicts.
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