Christianity

Kirbyjon Caldwell, former presidential adviser who promoted ‘good success,’ sentenced to prison
(RNS) — A former presidential adviser, Caldwell advocated for ‘good success’ — achieving financial and spiritual success while remaining moral.

LA clergy look to hold city officials responsible for allowing Sean Feucht’s Skid Row event
(RNS) — On Wednesday (Jan. 13), Clergy for Black Lives hosted a virtual news conference on Zoom to condemn the ‘white supremacist violence and heretical Christian prophecy’ in the nation’s capital and in downtown LA.

What Americans believe about violence against the government
(RNS) — The relationship between partisanship and support for violence against government is clear. Church attendance does not appear to fuel the fire — nor tamp it down.

Biden taps Delaware AME pastor to offer benediction at inauguration
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A longtime confidant of the Biden family, Silvester S. Beaman, made headlines when he was featured in a 2020 Trump campaign ad.

James Clyburn to propose designating ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ as the national hymn
(RNS) — The Democratic congressman from South Carolina said elevating the hymn — often described as the unofficial ‘Black national anthem’ — could be an act of healing.

From the Capitol to critical race theory, white Christians grieve declining hegemony
(RNS) — Connecting the spectacle at the Capitol with the SBC seminary presidents’ statements is the effort to sustain white supremacy.

What Christians can learn from Indian Sikh farmers’ desperate protests
(RNS) — The protesters’ cause and community have shown a way for people of all faiths to go forward in a post-pandemic world.

Open Doors’ 2021 watch list highlights impact of COVID-19 on religious persecution worldwide
(RNS) — North Korea leads the organization’s annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith for the 20th straight year.

For insurrectionists, a violent faith brewed from nationalism, conspiracies and Jesus
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As insurrectionists began the attack on the Capitol, a banner waved above the throng. It read: ‘Proud American Christian.’

On his way to prison, Catholic activist advocates for COVID-19 prisoner release
(RNS) — Patrick O’Neill will report to a federal prison Thursday for breaking into a nuclear submarine base to protest nuclear arms. Now he’s advocating for prisoner safety during a pandemic.

What four strangers of different faiths learned while living together during a pandemic
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Hadar Cohen, Ala’ Khan, Maya Mansour and Jonathan Simcosky were chosen as fellows for an interfaith experiment known as the Abrahamic House. They come from different faiths: Baha’i, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Priest accused of abetting alleged sex abuse ring is hired by diocesan charity
(RNS) — The mother of an alleged abuse victim claims the priest broke the confidence of the confessional to warn church officials of a coming investigation.

Conspiracy theories and the ‘American Madness’ that gripped the Capitol
(RNS) — Author Tea Krulos talked to Religion News Service about how conspiracy theories have spread, how religion plays a role and how to talk to friends and family who believe them.

Don’t impeach Trump. Shun him.
(RNS) — Shunning — or its Catholic counterpart, excommunication — is the religious equivalent of amputation. It is an extreme measure to protect the community from infection.

How self-proclaimed ‘prophets’ from a growing Christian movement provided religious motivation for the Jan. 6 events at the US Capitol
(The Conversation) — Because Trump is God’s chosen candidate, they believe, any other candidate, no matter what the vote totals show, is illegitimate.