RNS Morning Report: World Vision Racial Justice Effort; CA Prisoner Policy; Pope Prays for Lebanon

Thousands of people commemorate Juneteenth with an interfaith march against racial injustice through Grant Park in Chicago on June 19, 2020. RNS photo by Emily McFarlan Miller

Need to know: Thursday, September 3, 2020

World Vision convenes yearlong racial justice initiative for church staffers

More than 950 individuals have registered to attend free monthly sessions that will feature Asian, Black and Latina experts on cross-cultural and multiethnic relations.

600 faith leaders sign letter urging California governor to stop transfer of incarcerated people to ICE

Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity said Gov. Gavin Newsom can stop the transfers of detainees from state prisons to immigration detention facilities by issuing an executive order.

Pope Francis calls for a day of fasting and prayer for Lebanon

Standing beside a waving Lebanese flag, Pope Francis paid homage to the troubled population of Beirut on Wednesday (Sept. 2) and implored its residents to ‘take courage’ as they begin the reconstruction of their city.

We need to declare a national emergency on deadly policing

This country’s anti-Black narrative threatens the lives of not only the 13% of this country’s population who are targeted by it; it threatens the survival of the nation itself, writes Kelly Brown Douglas.

Nike, don’t make me choose between Liverpool FC and the Uighurs

There is a saying, or hadith, from the Prophet Muhammad on the tiered approaches we are obligated to take when confronted with evil. Identifying Liverpool’s malfeasance is only a start, writes Jalal Baig.

In South Korea’s new Covid-19 outbreak, religion and politics collide

The Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul has been a magnet for thousands of conservative Christians who fear their country is turning communist under President Moon Jae-in. Many have contracted the coronavirus.

Latest news from RNS

Eric Metaxas confirms he punched protester, says protester was to blame

Last week, a viral video began circulating on social media showing a man who closely resembles Eric Metaxas striking a protester and running away backward. 

Charges dropped against former Village Church children’s minister Matt Tonne

The district attorney moved to dismiss the charges, alleging ‘the complainant cannot and has not positively identified defendant as the person who committed this offense.‘

John MacArthur claimed there is ‘no pandemic.’ He was politicizing science, experts say

The church appears to be wading into a highly politicized campaign to minimize or outright deny the existence of the coronavirus.

More views from RNS

What Jerry and Becki Falwell can learn from Jim and Tammy Bakker

Both Jim Bakker and Jerry Falwell Jr. were entrepreneurs who drove the Christian nonprofits they ran to great heights only to be done-in by their personal failings, writes John Wigger.

Where did “Karen” come from?

The term is misogynistic -- at the very least.

Natural helpers: Needed reinforcements to head off looming suicides of despair

People thinking about suicide often turn to pastors, coaches and teachers first for help. We need to make sure these natural helpers are trained to lend a hand, writes Glen Bloomstrom.