RNS Morning Report: Remembering the Holocaust on Social Media; LGBT Support; Rohingya Refugees

The main gate of Auschwitz I camp in Poland, which was operated by German Nazis during World War II. Photo by Roland Fischer/Creative Commons

Need to know: Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Fighting anti-Semitism and remembering the Holocaust on social media

Not waiting for social media platforms to take action, institutions from Washington to Auschwitz combat hate by creating a 'virtual community of remembrance.'

Survey: Faith groups maintain widespread support for LGBT protection laws

A new report shows that strong majorities within all religious groups, including white evangelicals, support laws shielding LGBT people from discrimination.

Some Rohingya refugees prefer death in Bangladesh over repatriation to Myanmar

'Once we see that our relatives in Myanmar have gotten full citizenship rights and treated humanely, no one will have to force us to go back,' explained one refugee.

Survey: More than a third of US Catholics question loyalty in wake of scandals

More Catholics are questioning whether they should remain in the church today than did in 2002.

The good, the bad and the merciful: Pope Francis after six years

Pope Francis' strength is as a pastor who calls people to conversion. He does not think like an administrator, one who establishes policies and structures to ensure things are done properly, writes Thomas Reese.

Cardinal George Pell of Australia sentenced to six years in prison

George Pell, an Australian cardinal who was the Vatican’s chief financial officer and an adviser to Pope Francis, was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday, for molesting two boys after Sunday Mass in 1996.

 


 

Latest news from RNS

Desmond Ford, 90, Adventist theologian defrocked for controversial beliefs, dies

Desmond Ford, a theology professor who was defrocked by Seventh-day Adventists after being accused of questioning the movement's core beliefs, died this week at 90. The controversy over Ford led to a schism among Adventists.

Why Rev. Amy Butler is talking politics, sin and loss this Lent

'We’re going to take the season of Lent ... and see if we can’t reclaim some of the language for sin,' the Rev. Amy Butler said.

Church leaders pray for Ethiopian Airlines crash victims as they grieve for clergy

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Leaders of Africa’s faith traditions united in prayer for the 157 victims, who included two priests and a Roman Catholic nun.

More views from RNS

The end of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case comes with a whimper

(RNS) — The door is still open to a decision that would force bakers to provide cakes for same-sex nuptials if they want to stay in business.

The college admissions scandal is child sacrifice

The upshot of the college admissions scandal? We are still idolators.

Barbara Brown Taylor has holy envy — and it’s changed her Christian life

(RNS) — When Barbara Brown Taylor began teaching world religions 20 years ago, she expected she would learn more about the subject matter. She didn't expect it would deepen her own Christian faith.