Samira Imin during an interview in Boston on Feb. 9, 2020. RNS photo by Aysha Khan
Need to know: Friday, February 14, 2020
A daughter’s duty: From Boston, a Uighur woman champions her father’s release in China
Iminjan Seydin disappeared into a Chinese detention camp almost three years ago. Now his daughter is working for his release.
La Luz Del Mundo ex-member sues, alleging decades of trafficking, sexual abuse
At a news conference, Sochil Martin, 33, detailed the sexual abuse she says she endured at her Los Angeles Pentecostal church.
Trump’s California funding threat over abortion puts nuns in unexpected spot
U.S. health officials have ordered the state to exempt the sisters from a mandate to provide abortion coverage.
Religious groups applaud new Air Force rules allowing turbans, hijabs, beards
The new guidelines allow personnel to request a waiver to wear religious apparel, including turbans and hijabs, and to have unshorn hair or beards.
Pope Francis punts on married priests
Francis appears to have feared splitting the church over the question of celibacy, writes Thomas Reese.
Latest news from RNS
Cambridge passes resolution against India’s citizenship laws
The Cambridge City Council has adopted a resolution urging India to halt changes to the country's citizenship laws that have prompted allegations of anti-Muslim bias.
Report: White supremacist propaganda on college campuses doubled in 2019
Instead of targeting Jews, Muslims, blacks or other ethnic groups, the largest groups are using veiled slogans such as 'Defend America'.
Klobuchar wins over New Hampshire voters who attend religious services
Klobuchar claimed support from 28% of voters who said they show up to worship services once a week or more.
More views from RNS
A priest’s anti-Muslim comments reveal US Catholics’ Islamophobia problem
(RNS) — Misconceptions about Islam and Muslims are widespread among Catholics. In some cases, Catholic institutions and media outlets actively give a platform to voices promoting prejudice and fear.
Thomas Merton, my stroke and the light within
You don’t always need classes run by Zen masters to grow spiritually, writes Salon founder David Talbot. Reading the right books at the right times can provide essential solace and guidance.
‘Self-Care Barbie’ brings moral perfection to the younger set
(RNS) — Barbie's aspirational qualities here are neither those of beauty nor those of career success, but rather quasi-spiritual purity.
