Holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, including the Western Wall and Dome of the Rock, on March 13, 2019. RNS photo by Emily McFarlan Miller
Need to know: Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Pompeo: All faiths will have ‘something to say’ on forthcoming peace plan
The U.S. secretary of state’s remarks came Monday (March 18) during a controversial phone briefing as he was leaving for a five-day trip to Beirut, Jerusalem and Kuwait City.
Rabbis express concern about excesses of Purim celebrations
For many Jews, the holiday of Purim has become too commercialized, and alcohol, according to one rabbi, 'has become the star of the holiday.'
Clergy housing allowance is constitutional, appeals court rules
The Freedom From Religion Foundation argued that the allowance gives ministers a religious benefit, but the court determined in a unanimous ruling that it did not overly entangle church and state.
Dartmouth physicist, known for doubting skeptics, wins 2019 Templeton Prize
Gleiser, the first Latin American to win the award honoring contributions to "affirming life’s spiritual dimension," describes himself as an agnostic but is an avowed critic of atheism.
More than half of U.S. Mormons approve of Trump—but not among women
It's not surprising that more than half of U.S. Mormons approve of Trump, but the age and gender divides within the faith are sharper than expected, writes Jana Riess.
Convicted French cardinal says pope has refused his resignation
Philippe Barbarin, the French Roman Catholic cardinal convicted this month of failing to report sexual abuse allegations, said on Tuesday that Pope Francis had turned down his offer to resign.
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ECFA suspends Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has suspended Harvest Bible Chapel, the Chicago-area megachurch that recently fired its founding pastor, James MacDonald, amid allegations of financial impropriety and domineering behavior.
After Christchurch shooting, Jewish communities share in trauma and healing
Subjected to similar attacks at houses of worship, Jewish and Muslim communities around the world have been brought together in offering mutual support.
Survey: Black millennials skip church as early adults more than whites
But equal percentages of black and white young adults say they currently attend a congregation regularly, a LifeWay Research analysis shows.
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White evangelical support for Trump comes from churchgoers, not EINOs
(RNS) — A common rebuttal to stats showing the loyalty of Trump's base is that these voters are EINOs (Evangelicals in Name Only). A new Pew report tells a different story.
Jess Hilarious profiled four Sikhs on a plane. Our government does so every day.
Why wouldn’t someone feel fearful when seeing a man with a turban on their airplane? Isn’t that precisely what society teaches us to think? Simran Jeet Singh asks.
Are we witnessing the triumph of evil?
When the spirit of Amalek entered those mosques in Christchurch, NZ.
