Social Issues
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.
From church to the mosque, faith and friends help Iowa’s African immigrants and refugees build a sense of home
By Osamamen Oba Eduviere and Brady G'Sell — February 9, 2024
(The Conversation) — Immigration may be concentrated on America’s coasts, but newcomers are putting down roots in Midwestern communities as well.
Faith-based organizations concerned about immigration policy landscape
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — February 8, 2024
(RNS) — ‘You’re not going to solve anything at the border when you start from the premise that migration is a threat to our country or that migrants are people to be feared,’ said Dylan Corbett, executive director of Hope Border Institute.
Indian state passes uniform marriage legislation opposed by Muslims as a Hindu code applied to all
By Ashok Sharma and Biswajeet Banerjee — February 8, 2024
LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Muslims accuse Modi’s right-wing nationalist party of pursuing a Hindu agenda that discriminates against them and directly imposes laws interfering with their faith.
Florida considers allowing volunteer chaplains in public schools
By Brendan Farrington — February 7, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The only requirements of a chaplain participating in a school program would be a background check and having their name and religious affiliation listed on the school website.
Jesuits in US bolster outreach initiative aimed at encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics
By David Crary — February 6, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — Pope Francis, a Jesuit who has met with Martin and sent letters of support to Outreach, has made clear he favors a more welcoming approach to LGBTQ+ people.
California Gov. Newsom backs dam removal projects to boost salmon. Critics say that’s not enough
By Adam Beam — February 1, 2024
EUREKA, Calif. (AP) — Newsom also pledged to continue to work with native tribes, who often refer to the rivers where salmon live as their church.
Panthers coach Dave Canales co-wrote book about infidelity, binge drinking, addiction to pornography
By Steve Reed — January 31, 2024
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Canales wrote that with the help of counseling and family, he no longer has issues with infidelity or pornography and he has stopped drinking completely.
When is criticism of Israel antisemitic? A scholar of modern Jewish history explains
By Joshua Shanes — January 31, 2024
(The Conversation) — In recent years, the relationship between antisemitism and anti-Zionism has taken on renewed importance and competing definitions of antisemitism have emerged. What is antisemitism?
France’s biggest Muslim school went from accolades to defunding – showing a key paradox in how the country treats Islam
By Vincent Geisser, Françoise Lorcerie, and Carol Ferrara — January 29, 2024
(The Conversation) — Some of the measures the French government has taken to fight radicalization can do the opposite, three social scientists argue.
The UMC lost a quarter of its churches — most in the South
By Yonat Shimron — January 26, 2024
(RNS) — The same area of the country that tends to be the most politically conservative and Republican-leaning was where most United Methodist churches voted to leave the denomination.
Saudi Arabia opens its first liquor store in over 70 years as kingdom further liberalizes
By Jon Gambrell — January 25, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — Saudi Arabia remains one of the few nations in the world with a ban on alcohol, alongside its neighbor Kuwait and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
