RNS Morning Report: Never Again Action; Geopolitics at Interfaith Assembly; Voyeurism Arrest in Utah

Protesters assembled by a majority Jewish group walk through traffic as they make their way to Independence Mall on July 4, 2019, in Philadelphia. Hundreds gathered during the city’s traditional Fourth of July parade to protest the treatment of immigrants and asylum-seekers. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)

Need to know: Thursday, August 22, 2019

A Jewish movement against ICE takes off by deploying its most famous mantra

In less than two months since it was formed, Never Again Action has mounted 37 demonstrations around the country — a breathtaking feat for a small and decentralized organization of young Jewish liberal activists.

International interfaith gathering: ‘We must work together or we will all fail’

Interfaith leaders meeting in Germany this week will discuss how they can help address issues like climate change, terrorism, women’s rights, warfare, poverty, sexual violence and migration.

Utah Mormon official removed from local position after voyeurism arrest

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has removed a high councilman from his local church position in Utah after he was charged with taking photos of a woman undressing in a Tennessee clothing store.

Trump: Any Jew voting Democratic is uninformed or disloyal

Trump's claim triggered an uproar from critics who said the president was trading in anti-Semitic stereotypes amid an ongoing feud with Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Confessions of a disloyal Jew

On Tuesday, President Trump said, 'I think that any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.' Of the two, I have to choose disloyalty — and I'm proud of it, writes Mark Silk.

‘I am the chosen one’: Trump again plays on messianic claims as he embraces ‘King of Israel’ title

President Trump on Wednesday tweeted a fawning quote from a non-Jewish conservative radio host who described Trump as the “King of Israel” and who said, without evidence, that Israeli Jews “love him like he is the second coming of God.”

 


 

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Trump steadily fulfills goals on religious right wish list

NEW YORK (AP) — Mat Staver, president of the legal advocacy organization Liberty Counsel, said Trump has fulfilled about 90% of the goals on a list that Staver and other conservative leaders compiled.

Sister Helen Prejean on new book, getting rid of death penalty and getting Jesus ‘right’

Sister Helen Prejean talked to Religion News Service about how she became involved in social justice, why she thinks the death penalty is on its way out and how she got to 'bump into two popes along the way.'

VeggieTales to mount latest revival on Trinity Broadcasting Network

In a changing media landscape, VeggieTales has survived for 25 years on parents' familiarity and trust, experts say. A reboot of the iconic kids show debuts this fall on TBN.

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Science, facts and truth matter most when human lives are at stake

(RNS) — When the facts are uncertain, when the research is incomplete, we must lean toward the solution that is safest for the people affected. Gambling with people's lives is not acceptable.

A year later, how successful is the war on the word ‘Mormon’?

Based on Google Trends, some change is happening in line with President Nelson’s directive from a year ago. "Latter-days Saints" are gaining ground, writes Jana Riess.

How Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey’s Gulenists fell from power to persecution

In both countries, homegrown Islamic movements have struggled to survive in authoritarian regimes that exert strong control over religious practice, writes Ahmet T. Kuru.