RNS Morning Report: Art of the Eulogy; Church Assets Frozen; Latino Evangelicals in Jerusalem

U.S. President Barack Obama leads mourners in singing the song “Amazing Grace” as he delivers a eulogy in honor of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Brian Snyder

Need to know: Tuesday, May 28, 2019

How remembering the dead has evolved from graveside eulogy to farewell address

'A great eulogy cannot beat back death, but it can give new meaning to life and this moment,' says Cyrus M. Copeland, who has written three books on the subject.

Judge freezes accounts of Florida church caught up in alleged Ponzi scheme

The lawyer representing the pastors and the West Palm Beach church argued that the church can’t be forced to turn over money given as donations because it’s a nonprofit religious institution.

Kenyan court upholds bans on gay intimacy

A ruling in favor of repeal would have been a trailblazing step for an Africa court, but the three-judge bench said there was not sufficient evidence of discrimination.

Russian Orthodox Church drops plan to build a new St. Catherine’s Cathedral

Protesters caused Russian church officials to cancel plans for a new cathedral in Yekaterinburg, the country’s fourth-largest city. Protesters were angered that the cathedral was going to be built on a rare piece of green space.

Latino evangelical leaders meet in Jerusalem for summit on Israel

Latino evangelical leaders from the United States recently met at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to celebrate its move there.

No love lost between Jews and Trump? Here’s why.

This is a political reckoning for American Jews, writes Jeffrey Salkin.

Netanyahu threatens to call fresh election as coalition talks falter

Benjamin Netanyahu has played a last-minute gambit to persuade politicians to help him form a government, threatening to call fresh Israeli elections if deadlocked negotiations do not succeed.

 


 

Latest news from RNS

Owners of biblical Noah’s Ark replica sue over rain damage to property

The owner of the life-size replica of Noah’s Ark in Northern Kentucky has sued its insurers for refusing to cover rain damage.

5 former Michigan Catholic priests charged with sex crimes

Four priests were arrested this week in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, and the fifth awaits extradition from India.

Southern Baptists see 12th year of declining membership

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention said it had 14.8 million members in 2018, down about 192,000 from the previous year.

More views from RNS

Getting in on — and tossed out of — the Satanist Temple joke

(RNS) — As more and more millennials identify with spiritual or philosophical movements outside the bounds of 'traditional' religions, how will these groups police their ideology while remaining inclusive?

What is killing the American synagogue?

(RNS) — A synagogue on Long Island is now in ruins. It wasn't the antisemites. It was something even sadder.

Can the religious right and left be more than a rubber stamp for their parties’ policies?

Republicans and Democrats say they listen more than ever to the religious wings of their parties, but in truth both religious camps are more likely to follow than lead, writes Jacob Lupfer.