Rachael Denhollander, an American lawyer and former gymnast who was the first woman to publicly accuse former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar of sexual assault, speaks during panel on sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala. on June 10, 2019. RNS photo by Adelle M. Banks
Need to know: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Southern Baptists approve amendments dealing with sexual abuse, racism
At their annual meeting in Birmingham, Southern Baptists approved constitutional amendments aimed at dealing with abuse. If approved again next year, the amendments would allow the nation's largest Protestant denomination to remove churches that mishandle allegations of abuse or misconduct.
As opioid epidemic spreads, a NC church opens its doors to a syringe exchange
Green Street Church's syringe exchange is one of a handful housed at a place of worship across the state. As the opioid epidemic spreads, the North Carolina Council of Churches hopes more will consider it.
Matt Chandler, megachurch pastor, addresses allegations of abuse at Village Church during SBC meeting
Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church outside of Dallas, defended his church against reports it had mishandled allegations of abuse.
Catholic bishops open meeting to criticism, discussion of Reddit
At one point, a bishop asked for clarification on how to spell 'Reddit.'
Most Southern Baptist women would welcome a woman pastor. It’s unlikely to happen.
Official Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist teaching bars women from being pastors or priests. But some polling shows that many Catholics and Baptists would be fine with a woman pastor, writes Ryan Burge.
Muslim woman investigated her own hate crime after NYPD dismissed her case
“I told myself I wasn’t going to be one of those cases that got abandoned,” said Fatoumata Camara, who dug up video proving she was beaten and robbed.
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App for the blind is the latest in Jerusalem’s effort to make holy sites accessible
JERUSALEM (RNS) — In recent months, pedestrian walkways through the oldest parts of the city have been reworked to make them wheelchair-accessible, and new technology is bringing holy sites to life for everyone.
New social media vetting for visa applicants can hurt American Muslims, advocates say
(RNS) — Civil rights advocates say Muslim communities are particularly vulnerable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s newly expanded social media monitoring policies.
Women sex abuse survivors tell Southern Baptists: ‘Our family is sick’
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — One woman, who said she was abused by her youth pastor and then her senior pastor, said the intervention of a trusted adult is crucial for survivors.
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In my church, some of us voted for President Trump. All of us pray for him.
(RNS) — Recent public prayers for the president appear to understand prayer less as an ancient and mysterious spiritual practice than as a chance to endorse (or condemn) what we see in the world around us.
Traditional Christians provoke debate within a new conservative coalition
Despite a public space rigged against their version of the good, traditional Christians do manage to convince people with very different views of the truth of their claims, writes Charles C. Camosy.
The struggle to find silence in the ancient monastic world — and now
Christian monasticism developed in part because people were seeking the solace of quiet places. But for them, like us, it was a struggle, writes Kim Haines-Eitzen.
