U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Need to know: Friday, August 9, 2019
Chaldean Christian deported by Trump administration dies in Iraq
A Chaldean Christian man from Michigan who was deported to Iraq has reportedly died because he was unable to obtain insulin to treat his diabetes.
Cross in seal of Pa. county ‘plainly constitutional,’ rules appeals court
The appellate court ruled that the so-called Lemon test, which it noted has been ignored in some similar past cases, does not apply in the seal case.
Muslim initiative raises $13,000 to release detained migrant parents
Launched on Aug. 5 by the Islamic nonprofit CelebrateMercy, the Muslims for Migrants campaign has already exceeded its original goal of raising $10,000 in two weeks.
Former refugees mark 75th anniversary of the only US safe haven during Holocaust
During WWII, a group of refugees from the Holocaust found a safe haven in upstate New York as guests of President Roosevelt. Former refugees returned this week to mark the 75th anniversary of their arrival in 1944.
Anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria threaten precarious balance of faiths
In this West African nation, religion stands at the intersection of a divisive colonial history and a current political crisis caused by drought and land scarcity, writes Anthea Butler.
Fired officer says Christian beliefs prohibit him from training women
The follower of the “Billy Graham rule” has filed a lawsuit claiming he was discriminated against for his faith.
Latest news from RNS
ELCA declares self a ‘sanctuary church body,’ marches to ICE building in Milwaukee
'Marching is fun, words are great, but action makes a difference,' Bishop Paul Erickson of the Greater Milwaukee Synod said.
These Catholics broke into a nuclear base. Now they’re asking a judge to drop the charges.
Members of the group known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 face up to 25 years in prison for trespassing on a U.S. Navy base that houses six Trident submarines carrying hundreds of nuclear weapons.
At victimized Charleston church, Booker condemns gun violence, racism
Invoking God and Christian love, presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker railed against gun violence and racism on Wednesday (Aug. 7) at the site of a 2015 church shooting.
More views from RNS
Toni Morrison and the holiness of the living, breathing flesh
(RNS) — What Morrison taught us is that the holy is both radically immanent and transcendent and in too much of our religious and theological thought we focus on the transcendent — at our peril.
America needs a holiday of self-reflection
Americans can learn from the Jews: turn inward, and ask hard questions, writes Jeffrey Salkin.
Everything in Mecca gets 5 stars online
(The Conversation) — Mecca’s sites average 4.96 TripAdvisor stars out of 5, while Europe’s 200 best-rated tourist destinations average 3.96 stars.
