An aerial shot of the fire damage to Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris. Pledges totaling more than $1 billion have already poured in from ordinary worshippers and high-powered magnates around the world to restore Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after it was damaged in a massive fire. (Gigarama.ru via AP)
Need to know: Friday, April 19, 2019
Holy Week services go on in Paris despite Notre Dame fire
Holy Week services for Catholics in Paris go on in new locations while plans for recovering from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire get started with more than $1 billion pledged for repairs.
Black women cracking ‘stained-glass ceilings’ with Jesus’ 7 last words
At least a dozen churches across the country are hosting Good Friday services this year that feature seven African American female preachers speaking about the last sayings of Jesus.
#MeToo, ‘Mary Magdalene’ focus on women’s stories in Bible as Easter nears
It seems like the women of Scripture are having a moment leading up to Easter, celebrated by many Christians as the day they believe Jesus rose from the dead.
ECFA ousts Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a Christian financial watchdog group, has terminated the membership of Harvest Bible Chapel.
Why Pete Buttigieg may be reviving ideals of the Social Gospel Movement
“Christian faith,” the South Bend, Ind., mayor has said, can lead one “in a progressive direction,” not to mention lead to skepticism about the value of wealth, writes David Mislin.
Let he who is without Yeezys cast the first stone
Should pastors wear $5,000 sneakers? There’s been soul-searching recently over materialism in houses of worship.
Latest news from RNS
Kitniyot or not? As Jewish traditions merge in Israel, a Passover debate emerges
JERUSALEM (RNS) — At Passover, Jews of Eastern European descent abstain from eating legumes such as chickpeas and soybeans. Sephardic Jews have no such prohibition. What does seder look like when the two groups come together?
Emperor performs ritual to report abdication to Shinto gods
TOKYO (AP) — Akihito performed the ‘Shinetsu no Gi’ ritual at Ise Shrine in western Japan as part of the succession process.
Gallup: Number of Americans who belong to a church or house of worship plummets
A new Gallup study found that only half of Americans belong to a church or other house of worship, down from 69 percent two decades ago.
More views from RNS
You’re giving how much money to Notre Dame?!?!
Nothing wrong, and everything right, with people giving to Notre Dame. But, please: perspective.
Mormonism and LGBT rights: Some progress, even more questions
LGBT inclusion "has not been a straight line of evolution," says Greg Prince, author of "Gay Rights and the Mormon Church."
How to make your seder memorable and un-lame
Seder sans substance seems sad. Say something significant.
