News
Muslim groups boycott Hilton over bulldozed Xinjiang mosque
By Joseph Hammond — September 23, 2021
(RNS) — ‘They decided to put profit over values, they decided to put their own bottom line over human rights and values,’ said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Timothy Stewart, Progressive National Baptists’ international president, dead at 64
By Adelle M. Banks — September 23, 2021
(RNS) — ‘He was the first President from the International Region in Progressive’s 60 year history,’ his denomination said.
Cathedral to replace Confederate windows with stained glass reflecting Black life
By Adelle M. Banks — September 23, 2021
(RNS) — ‘This will be one of the first Confederate icons that has come down and been replaced with something else,’ said a cathedral official.
Religious artifacts in new Reconstruction exhibit depict resilience, racism
By Adelle M. Banks — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Because the church is an engine of so much civically and spiritually and educationally, it’s recognized as a target,’ a museum curator said of Black congregations.
Randall Balmer on why racism, not abortion, birthed the religious right
By Yonat Shimron — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — In his new book, he shows it was government interference in ‘segregation academies’ such as Bob Jones University that sparked the growth of the religious right. Opposition to abortion was an afterthought.
Kenyan Methodists defy ban on campaigning at church, saying ‘humans are political’
By Fredrick Nzwili — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — One Christian official said resistance to church guidelines on political speech risks a repeat of electoral violence in 2008.
Pray.com supports family farms hit by historic droughts
By Kathryn Post — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — ‘We have a responsibility to tend to the land. It’s really not just about California, it’s about the entire country,’ said Pray.com’s CEO.
Christian leaders meet with White House to advocate for social programs, voting rights
By Jack Jenkins — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Those who have benefited the most should contribute to the common good of society and invest in the most vulnerable,’ the faith leaders said in a letter.
Women making strides in leadership of Black denominations amid hesitancy
By Adelle M. Banks — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Whenever a woman rises, or ascends, to a leadership position in a national organization, it’s always significant,’ said the Rev. Gina Stewart.
SBC Executive Committee agrees to pay for abuse review, stalls on waiving privilege
By Bob Smietana — September 21, 2021
(RNS) — After two days of meetings, the details for an abuse investigation remain unresolved.
‘King of the World’ podcast examines good and bad of Muslim American life after 9/11
By Joseph Hammond — September 21, 2021
(RNS) — The show is aimed at Muslims who were in their early 20s and late teens in 2001 and suddenly found their Islamic identity thrust upon them by the attention paid to Muslims after the attacks.
‘Some wanted me dead:’ Pope acknowledges right-wing critics
By Nicole Winfield — September 21, 2021
ROME (AP) — Francis made the comments during a Sept. 12 private meeting with Slovakian Jesuits soon after he arrived in the Slovak capital of Bratislava during his just-finished visit.
Anthony Pilla, longtime Cleveland bishop, dies at 88
By Associated Press — September 21, 2021
CLEVELAND (AP) — A former bishop who led the Diocese of Cleveland for 25 years has died. Anthony Pilla, a Cleveland native, died Tuesday at his home, the diocese announced. A cause of death was not disclosed, and church officials said funeral plans would be announced at a later date. He was 88. Pilla was […]
Faith-based agencies celebrate ‘return to moral leadership’ as Biden raises refugee ceiling to 125,000
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 21, 2021
(RNS) — Even as they praised the higher refugee ceiling, the groups also asked Congress to commit to rebuilding and fully funding the U.S. refugee resettlement program so it could reach that number.
Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman posts video supporting LGBTQ ‘rights and freedoms’
By Kathryn Post — September 20, 2021
(RNS) — The video comes in response to queer Christian artist Semler, who posted a video last week seeking clarity on the band’s stance toward LGBTQ inclusion.