The Capitol is seen in Washington, early Dec. 18, 2019. President Donald Trump is on the cusp of being impeached by the House, with a historic debate set Wednesday on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress ahead of votes that will leave a defining mark on his tenure at the White House. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Need to know: Thursday, December 19, 2019
As impeachment looms, evangelicals defend Trump but pass on debating the issues
Twenty-one years ago, when President Bill Clinton was impeached, evangelicals debated the substance of allegations against him. Far fewer evangelicals are speaking to the issues at the heart of the Trump impeachment.
Religious freedom watchdog, facing recent controversy, awaits reauthorization
USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins told Religion News Service that the commissioners are satisfied with the current proposed language but all of them considered the earlier proposal to be 'very problematic.'
Federal Bureau of Prisons loosens limits on Muslim inmates’ prayer
The agency has issued new national guidelines recommending accommodation of group prayer for Muslim prisoners after a Muslim inmate’s lawsuit challenging restrictions at a Kentucky prison.
Mormons pulling 400,000 youths out of struggling Boy Scouts
On Jan. 1, the Utah-based faith will deliver the latest blow to the struggling organization when it pulls out more than 400,000 young people and moves them into a new global program of its own.
The SBC’s same-sex abuse problem
If our zeal for a biblical view of sexuality outshines our desire to protect the people in our churches, something has gone very, very wrong, writes Russell L. Meek.
What are the Indian protests about and how significant are they?
The government has just passed a long-mooted law to fast-track citizenship applications for refugees from surrounding countries who are Hindu, Christian, Parsi, Jain or Buddhist – but not Muslim.
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Pope Francis removes pontifical secrecy for sexual abuse cases
Pope Francis ushered in a new era of transparency and accountability for the Catholic Church by removing pontifical secrecy for cases of sexual abuse and cover-up, allowing lawful authorities to have access to reports, testimonies and documents.
In this art gallery, conversations about religion and spirituality are welcome
Bridge Projects is a new gallery space that seeks to link art with spiritual and religious traditions.
Beatles music, Christmas story come together at suburban Chicago church
'Let It Be Christmas: The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo' sets the story of Jesus’ birth, which Christians celebrate at Christmas, to the music of the Beatles.
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Trump made us ask, again: Who are the Jews, anyway?
(RNS) — The president's executive order seeks to protect Jewish kids on campus. But we have to do our part as well.
How persuasive is whistleblower’s claim the LDS church is hiding wealth from the IRS?
It’s easy for me to believe that the LDS church is guilty of hoarding its wealth; it's harder to believe that it has been intentionally defrauding its members and the federal government, writes Jana Riess.
A last-minute gift for the spiritual reader in your life
If you find yourself wondering, just days before Christmas, what gift to offer the Christian book-lover on your list . . . problem solved! I’ve got the perfect idea. You’re welcome, writes Jana Riess.
