The Rev. Austin Adkinson, right, and members of the Queer Clergy Caucus sing and greet attendees on the first day of deliberations at the special session of the United Methodist Church General Conference in St. Louis on Feb. 24, 2019. RNS photo by Emily McFarlan Miller.
Need to know: Monday, February 25, 2019
United Methodists vote pensions, ‘Traditional Plan’ as top priorities
At the start of the special session of the United Methodist Church General Conference, the so-called Traditional Plan ranked just below pensions in a vote to determine high or low priorities.
Pope Francis calls for ‘all-out battle’ against child sex abuse
Pope Francis referred to clerics who abuse children as “tools of Satan."
Trump sets up abortion obstacles, barring clinic referrals
Religious conservatives said the administration's policy is a major step toward breaking down what they see as an indirect taxpayer subsidy of abortion providers.
At Vatican summit, talk of destroyed files riles bishops’ critics
“The Vatican may destroy documents, may restrict our access for justice, but … we are the evidence of the abuse," said an advocate for abuse survivors.
Religious leaders in Cuba critical of proposed constitution
People in Cuba vote Sunday on whether to make socialism "irrevocable" on the island and establish the Cuban Communist Party officially as the "supreme guiding political force" in the state and society.
Latest news from RNS
The ‘Splainer: What’s the United Methodist special session all about?
(RNS) — You’ve probably heard that the United Methodist Church meeting this weekend in St. Louis has something to do with sexuality and a possible schism. Let us ’Splain …
Religion or remembrance? Supreme Court to mull cross-shaped war memorial
BLADENSBURG, Md. (RNS) — The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court’s decision and ruled that the monument had 'the primary effect of endorsing religion and excessively entangles the government in religion.'
At sex abuse summit, Catholic bishops tangle with details
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — "We have to be respectful … of their concerns, but, at the same time, make sure that does not allow for a justification of secrecy,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said.
More views from RNS
What will happen at the special session? Here’s what United Methodists predict
(RNS) — We asked pastors, bishops, delegates, activists and other United Methodists in the United States to share what they expect — and hope — to happen at the denomination's upcoming special session on sexuality. Here’s what they suggest we keep an eye out for.
SoulCycle, capitalism and the selling of self-care
(RNS) — At the heart of the SoulCycle faith is a value system of capitalist consumerism, which it imbues, through sweat, with a metaphysical significance.
Bibi just made life much harder for Diaspora Jews
Jeffrey Salkin writes, American Jewish organizations must denounce the importation of hatred into the Israeli government. Loudly.
