Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, and President Trump whisper during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on July 16, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Need to know: Thursday, July 25, 2019
Faith groups urge State Department to abolish new ‘unalienable rights’ commission
A coalition of 430 human rights, foreign policy and faith-based organizations, leaders and scholars has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to disband his controversial new human rights commission.
Africa-wide Roman Catholic body marks 50 years of progress
Established during Pope Paul VI's 1969 visit to Uganda, the first by a pope in Africa, SECAM once consisted of fewer than 50 clerics. The symposium now brings together some 400 cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from 40 national and regional bodies.
New York Times editor Jodi Rudoren named new editor of the Forward
A former Jerusalem bureau chief at the Times and now an associate managing editor, Rudoren brings a boost of energy to the veteran publication that had cut 30% of its staff earlier this year and quit publishing its print edition.
Send back the Statue of Liberty
She entered our country in 1886 without a visa, has never applied for citizenship and does not speak one word of English. Worst of all, she advocates for open borders. It's time to send her back, writes Thomas Reese.
Muslims are over-represented in state prisons, report says
A report from Muslim advocates finds a disproportionate number of Muslims in state prisons. Muslims make up some 9 percent of the state prison population versus about 1 percent of the U.S. population.
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Willow Creek elders preach reconciliation after allegations against Hybels
Not everybody is convinced that reconciliation may be possible at this point — or wise.
Video links Beth Moore, Russell Moore, James Merritt to ‘Trojan horse of social justice’
Some targets of the video have called its accusations 'divisive' and 'cowardly, grossly dishonest, and bearing false witness.'
Willow Creek plans reconciliation service to move on; Hybels not involved
In what they said would be their last public statement about the allegations of sexual misconduct against founding pastor Bill Hybels that have torn apart Willow Creek Community Church, the church’s elders called on Hybels to repent and the church to gather for a service of worship and reflection.
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Surviving or thriving? New film on Westboro Baptist doesn’t get it
The filmmaker is often more interested in building solidarity with his audience against a mythic enemy than truly understanding his subject, writes Hillel Gray.
How some Jews are deluding themselves about Trump and the “squad”
American Jews — let’s not get played. By anyone.
Jeffrey Salkin writes.
It’s time to revive religious civil disobedience
(RNS) — Being a faithful Christian sometimes means breaking the rules. Moral disruption is a sacred act when the status quo is sinful.
