Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., gestures during the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on June 27, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Need to know: Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Sikh activists ask Kamala Harris for apology over beard ban for California prison guards
In 2011, as California’s attorney general, Harris fought to defend a policy that prevented state prison guards from keeping beards for religious reasons. Now, Sikh activists want an explanation.
Evangelical group hoped to shut down debate on gays. That may not be possible.
First Covenant Church Minneapolis is not alone in extending full rights to LGBTQ members. Less than 10 miles away in neighboring St. Paul, another Covenant church takes a similar stand.
UCC General Synod endorses Green New Deal
By the denomination’s reckoning, that makes it the first Christian body to endorse the environmental protection legislation sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Virtual rituals give expat Greeks a chance to live out their faith from abroad
A new startup, Do My Tama, is helping ex-pats stay connected to their faith by offering to perform religious devotions, virtual pilgrimages and other religious services.
Why can’t ex-Mormons just leave the LDS Church alone?
I was prepared for pushback from very orthodox Mormons who might be unwilling to admit there are serious retention problems in the U.S. LDS Church, but surprisingly, former Church members have been more resistant to the NMS survey findings, writes Jana Riess.
Historians ask Holocaust Museum to stop condemning migrant crisis comparisons
Nearly 150 scholars asked the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to stop rejecting analogies to the Holocaust when discussing border detention centers.
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Iraqi refugee in New Mexico leaves church sanctuary after two years
The 66-year-old Muslim refugee from Iraq, who has lived in the U.S. for decades and trained tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers, spent two years inside an Albuquerque church’s basement seeking sanctuary from deportation.
Hispanic evangelical group offers to house migrant children in churches
The head of the largest Hispanic evangelical Christian network in the United States has announced it will work with the Trump administration to provide resources and shelter to migrant children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Norman Geisler, theologian and prolific author, dies at 86
A philosopher and longtime defender of conservative Christian beliefs, Geisler founded the International Society of Christian Apologetics in 2006.
More views from RNS
Welcome to the Jewish people, Karlie Kloss!
No more snark about people who choose to join the Jewish people.
An afternoon of Israel hatred
I went to a JVP event so you won't have to. This is bad stuff, writes Jeffrey Salkin.
Democratic candidates are hiring faith outreach directors — but outreach for whom?
(RNS) — Ultimately, the best work of campaign faith engagement strategists might not be in changing minds but in getting out the existing Democratic vote.
