RNS Morning Report: Counseling LGBT Catholics; Christian Marriage Book; Trump’s Peace Plan

Alana Chen died in December 2019 in Colorado, at the age of 24. Photo courtesy of the Chen family

Need to know: Thursday, January 30, 2020

A young woman’s suicide puts focus on church’s counseling for LGBT Catholics

After Colorado barred gay conversion therapy for minors, the death of a once-devout college student has spurred debate about how religious counselors handle homosexuality.

Can a bestselling Christian marriage book about love and respect lead to abuse?

A Christian marriage and sex blogger says a bestselling book called 'Love and Respect' has a toxic message. The book's author rejects that claim and says he's spent decades trying to prevent abuse.

Evangelicals embrace Trump’s peace plan, saying it recognizes the Bible ‘as legal’

Evangelical leaders said the plan was close to biblical, mindful that even Abraham divided his property with Lot, his nephew, after a quarrel.

Often-reticent Justice Clarence Thomas speaks about his faith in new documentary

Documentarian Michael Pack says of Thomas: ‘when you have a faith, lose your faith and come back to your faith, in some ways it's stronger then.’

Giving victims of religious trauma a voice

A recent tweetstorm about how to teach kids about faith was a testament to how little we hear in our national conversation from those who have experienced religious trauma, writes Chrissy Stroop.

Sanders defines a Jewish identity his way on the 2020 trail

Bernie Sanders is approaching next week’s Iowa caucuses in a position to become the first major-party Jewish presidential nominee in the nation’s history. And at a time of resurgent anti-Semitism, he’s talking in more depth about how his faith shapes his broader worldview.

 


 

Latest news from RNS

Willow Creek confirms abuse allegations against Hybels’ mentor Gilbert Bilezikian

Willow Community Church confirmed that a former mentor of former pastor Bill Hybels has been accused of sexual misconduct.

For some Latinos, grappling with their Christian identity can be complicated

In his upcoming book, 'Brown Church,' UCLA professor Robert Chao Romero highlights a 500-year history of Latino Christian social justice activism in Latin America and the United States.

Liberty University’s Falwell throws support behind ‘Vexit’

'We have a rare opportunity to make history in our time,' Jerry Falwell Jr. said.

More views from RNS

The best way to remember Mormon business leader Clayton Christensen? With small moral choices.

What I will take away from Christensen is the insight that the smallest things I do in a day need to reflect the largest ideals about who I am and where I want to go.

Pope Francis remakes the American hierarchy, one bishop at a time

In the appointment of a new archbishop for Philadelphia, the U.S. church has traded a longtime conservative intellectual leader for a pastoral bishop who is most comfortable being with his people, writes Thomas Reese.

Making sense of Mr. Peanut’s senseless death

(RNS) — Greater love has no man than this, Jesus once said, than a man lay down his life for his friends. In 2020, it’s Mr. Peanut who makes this a thing.