Social Issues
Hindu American organizations adopt a new short film on anti-Hindu ignorance
By Richa Karmarkar — February 28, 2024
(RNS) — Director Ravi Chand’s “Namaste Yoga,” released worldwide in late January, was created to highlight the challenges Hindu children face in the Western world.
Anti-immigrant pastors may be drawing attention – but faith leaders, including some evangelicals, are central to the movement to protect migrant rights
By Brad Christerson, Robert Chao Romero, and Alexia Salvatierra — February 26, 2024
(The Conversation) — Religious beliefs can provide motivation, hope and endurance in the long and often discouraging task of mobilizing people for social change.
Mexican church officials have helped arrange a truce between 2 warring drug cartels
By Fabiola SÁnchez — February 26, 2024
MEXICO CITY (AP) —This is the latest in a series of attempts by bishops and priests to get cartels to talk to each other in hopes of reducing bloody turf battles.
Two daughters ran away to join Islamic State. Years later, their family’s story is an Oscar nominee
By Mariam Fam — February 26, 2024
(AP) — The real-life story of Hamrouni and her children is the focus of “Four Daughters,” an Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature film.
Backlash to trans activist’s St. Patrick’s funeral reveals deep fault lines
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — February 23, 2024
(RNS) — Both Cecilia Gentili’s friends and family and Cardinal Timothy Dolan said they felt 'disrespect' from the other group.
Chief justice’s Christian reasoning in IVF opinion sparks alarm over church-state separation
By Tiffany Stanley and Peter Smith — February 23, 2024
(AP) — By citing verses from the Bible and Christian theologians in his concurring opinion, Chief Justice Tom Parker alarmed advocates for church-state separation, while delighting religious conservatives who oppose abortion.
Georgia GOP senators seek to ban sexually explicit books from school libraries, reduce sex education
By Jeff Amy — February 22, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — The measure passed by the Education Committee would ban distribution of any sexual materials to students in sixth grade and below and restrict them for seventh grade and above.
Churches and nonprofits ensnared in Georgia push to restrict bail funds
By R.j. Rico — February 22, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Senate Bill 63, which passed the GOP-dominated Legislature earlier this month, would expand the number of charges that require cash bail, while restricting who can post that bail.
Hinduism has no rules against marrying outside the faith. But couples say it has its bumps.
By Richa Karmarkar — February 20, 2024
(RNS) — Among American Hindus, a survey by the organization Interfaith Shaadi found that 38% marry outside the umbrella of Dharmic faiths — Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism.
The Vatican’s problematic process to address clergy sex abuse cases, explained
By Nicole Winfield — February 20, 2024
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Five years ago this week, Francis convened an unprecedented summit of bishops from around the world to impress on them that clergy abuse was a global problem and they needed to address it.
A prayer for Evita: Here’s why many Argentines are devoted to a first lady who died in 1952
By MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez — February 19, 2024
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Many union members think of Evita as their patron or gaze at her photos with nostalgia, feeling that she and her husband, three-time President Juan Domingo Perón, brought prosperity to their country.
Lenten cease-fire campaign includes Ash Wednesday Mass outside White House
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — February 14, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘As there’s ashes on our head, there’s also blood on our hands because we cannot exempt ourselves from what this country is doing,’ said the Rev. Graylan Hagler, pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ.
Greek lawmakers are debating a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Here’s what it means
By Derek Gatopoulos — February 14, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The journey toward legalizing same-sex civil marriage in Greece has been long and contentious, with governments in the past shying away from a confrontation with the Orthodox Church.
An odd couple of Jewish organizations unite to help migrants during cold nights
By Fiona André — February 13, 2024
NEW YORK (RNS) — By combining efforts, two Jewish organizations have provided hundreds of migrants with coats, blankets and hot food this winter.
With George Floyd in mind, Bible co-editors created Breathe Life Bible
By Adelle M. Banks — February 13, 2024
(RNS) — After the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white police officer, the co-editors of the new Bible say they felt compelled to do something.
