Faith
The zone of indifference
By Joshua Hammerman — March 21, 2024
(RNS) — Elie Wiesel's creed of non-apathy demands that Jews open our eyes to the suffering of innocents on all sides, including Gazans.
Can you be a feminist and a Catholic? A theologian argues it’s harder than ever.
By Claire Giangravé — March 21, 2024
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a post #MeToo and #ChurchToo world, Catholic feminists struggle to find reasons to stay.
Israeli rabbinate under scrutiny as religious issues threaten government’s wartime unity
By David I. Klein — March 21, 2024
(RNS) — A complaint against the rabbinate's control of who is deemed Jewish comes as cracks are beginning to show in the sense of unity fostered by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.
Unitarian Universalists’ Boston headquarters hosts temporary overflow shelter
By Kathryn Post — March 21, 2024
(RNS) — Amid an urgent need to shelter Massachusetts' growing migrant population, the UUA opened a vacant floor of its South Boston headquarters.
BYU’s Aly Khalifa heads into March Madness without food or water while observing Ramadan
By Dave Skretta — March 21, 2024
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One of the Five Pillars of Islam is the “sawm," where during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar healthy adults are required to abstain from food and drink during daylight hours.
Ramy Youssef constantly asks if jokes are harmful or helpful. He keeps telling them anyway
By Krysta Fauria — March 21, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In keeping with much of his previous work, “Ramy Youssef: More Feelings” doesn’t shy away from fraught topics, including religion, the upcoming presidential election and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
A California city wrestles with its history of discrimination against early Chinese immigrants
By Terry Tang and Deepa Bharath — March 21, 2024
ANTIOCH, Calif. (AP) — In the 19th century, Chinese people across California endured discrimination such as wage disparity, bans on property ownership and sundown laws that barred them from going outside after dark.
Sen. Schumer called for Israel’s new elections. American Jews fractured.
By Yonat Shimron — March 20, 2024
(RNS) — The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said in its statement that it was 'distressed' by Sen. Schumer's speech. Then a group of Jewish organizations revolted against the statement.
Charlie Dates counters John MacArthur’s declaration that MLK ‘was not a Christian’
By Adelle M. Banks and Bob Smietana — March 20, 2024
(RNS) — In an open letter, the Chicago pastor compares the California pastor to King opponents George Wallace and J. Edgar Hoover, calling MacArthur 'them in postmodern dress.'
Haiti’s crisis is at a tipping point. The world needs to help.
By David Vanderpool — March 20, 2024
(RNS) — The international community has a moral obligation to support Haiti during this crisis.
Hindu advocate slams General Mills for using beef-based gelatin in Yoplait yogurt
By Richa Karmarkar — March 20, 2024
(RNS) — Hindus commonly abstain from eating beef, believing cows are sacred and revered companions to the gods.
In ‘Exvangelicals,’ Sarah McCammon looks at the fragility and power of religion
By Bob Smietana — March 20, 2024
(RNS) — While covering Donald Trump, NPR correspondent Sarah McCammon discovered a community of people who, like herself, no longer felt at home in the evangelical world they'd been raised in.
Man pleads guilty in eagle ‘killing spree’ on reservation to sell feathers on black market
By Matthew Brown and Amy Beth Hanson — March 20, 2024
(AP) – Branson and a second defendant, Simon Paul, killed approximately 3,600 birds, including eagles on the Flathead reservation and elsewhere, according to the indictment.
Polygamous sect member pleads guilty in scheme to orchestrate sexual acts involving children
By Jacques Billeaud — March 20, 2024
PHOENIX (AP) — A businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with the leader of an offshoot polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border to transport underage girls across state line.
Algeria scolds television stations for Ramadan advertising blitz and immoral programming
By Associated Press — March 20, 2024
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algerian Communications Minister Mohamed Lagab accused networks of not respecting ethical and professional lines, calling their programmatic choices “out of keeping with the social traditions of our society and especially the sacredness of the month of Ramadan.”