NEWS STORY
RNS-Northern-Ireland: As Brexit stirs tensions, Northern Irish clergy reprise peacekeeping roles
(RNS) — Memories of Northern Ireland’s Troubles were already stirred up by the approaching 100th anniversary of Ulster’s partition from the rest of the country. Now Brexit negotiations over the province’s trade status has faith leaders on both sides of the “peace walls” acting to stop the resurgence of sectarian violence. By Christine Luby. 870 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Tarot-Boom: Tarot booms as Generation Z sorts out spiritual path
(RNS) — Young adopters have been the driving force behind the renewed popularity and mainstreaming of the age-old esoteric system, demanding changes in the card sets to reflect their concerns with inclusion and social justice. By Heather Greene. 1,020 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Bethel-Disaffiliation: Prominent Atlanta-area church leaves United Methodist Church over pastor’s reassignment
(RNS) — The largest United Methodist church in the Atlanta area announced it is leaving the denomination over the reassignment of its lead pastor. “Given the recent actions of our bishop and the direction of the United Methodist denomination, both the leadership and members of Mt. Bethel strongly believe it is time for us to part ways with the denomination,” said Rustin Parsons, co-lay leader of the congregation at Mt. Bethel. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 990 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Interfaith-Security: New York City interfaith security coalition forms to push back against rising tide of hate
(RNS) —Two Jewish organizations — one that provides security assessments of buildings and another that trains volunteers to provide security — has teamed up with a Brooklyn-based clergy council to found a citywide Interfaith Security Council. The idea is to share best practices, speak out against violent extremism, and ensure the safety of New Yorkers at their places of worship. By Yonat Shimron. 700 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-May-Wells-Oped: Mormon excommunication was not designed to happen this way, say scholars
(RNS) — On Sunday, local Latter-day Saint leaders in Kansas held a disciplinary hearing to determine the fate of Natasha Helfer, a licensed sex-therapist, who was being tried for her views on pornography, same-sex relations and masturbation. Helfer has since been excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.As scholars who specialize in religion and law, particularly regarding the history of church discipline and religious liberalism in the United States, we feel that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not honoring the spirit of the protections its founder provided for the accused. By Isaac Barnes May and Samuel S. Wells. 1,112 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Baggett-Oped: Liberty University’s lawsuit against Falwell is an admission of guilt.
(RNS) — To read the lawsuit Liberty University brought against Jerry Falwell, Jr. you might get the impression that the evangelical Christian school’s board fell prey to a master manipulator. But the stronger the evangelical school’s board make its case about Falwell’s misbehavior, the more the people charged with reining in Falwell incriminate themselves. By Marybeth Davis Baggett. 950 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Salkin-Oped: Yes, there was an Armenian genocide
(RNS) — And there is a kinship based on our shared histories. Like the Jews of Europe, the Armenian Christians challenged the traditional hierarchy of Ottoman society. Like the Jews of Europe, they became educated, wealthy and more urban. Like “the Jewish problem,” there was pervasive talk in Turkey of “the Armenian question.” By Jeffrey Salkin. 1,230 words. (category: k)