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Need to know: Friday, March 3, 2017
Man accused of making threats against Jewish community centers arrested in St. Louis
The suspect, 31-year-old Juan Thompson, is accused of what federal prosecutors called a “campaign to harass and intimidate.”
Notre Dame avoids Trump controversy as Pence to receive honorary degree
The Catholic school has boasted of hosting more U.S. presidents as commencement speaker than any other nonmilitary school, but from the moment Trump was elected its president faced a dilemma over whether to invite such a controversial figure.
Rochester, NY Jewish cemetery vandalized
Early Thursday, cemetery officials said the damage could be simple hooliganism. But, as the day went on, the number of desecrated grave markers increased from a half dozen to at least a dozen.
Cardinal O’Malley says voices of clergy sexual abuse survivors are critical
The Boston archbishop’s critique came a day after the lone clergy sexual abuse survivor serving on a papal commission resigned in exasperation with what she described as “shameful” Vatican foot-dragging.
Married lesbian Baptist co-pastors say all are ‘beloved’
The co-pastors, Maria Swearingen, 31, and Sally Sarratt, 42, now lead historic Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., with a message that all are welcome.
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Latest news from RNS
Trump’s missing agenda in Congress speech? Moral issues
He won praise from pundits and the public for appearing ‘presidential’ in his first address to Congress. But some religious conservatives are dismayed that Trump ignored their concerns.
Jews rally to support burned Florida mosque, $18 at a time
How do donations of $36, $72, $90 combat hate?
Photo Gallery: Christians receive ashes in a variety of ways
Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent, the period of penance and fasting preceding Easter.
More views from RNS
The church militant
One of the useful side effects of the current religio-political battles is that they may force commentators, and the rest of us, to trace our way back to vestiges of the olden ways, and understand them.
Lamenting our gentrified churches
In this growing trend of buying up and razing historically African-American churches to make way for new urban developments, we lose parts of our heritage, writes Romall Smalls.
Mixing glitter into ashes is an act of profound love and respect
NEW YORK (RNS) Glitter + Ash Wednesday was conceived as an effort to make queer Christians visible. But at this moment in time, when so many people are taking to the streets to uphold values that we feel are under attack, progressive Christians as a whole need to stand up and be counted.
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Bonus tracks
- Reza Aslan tries to make a ‘Believer’ out of everyone
- This 95-year-old Holocaust survivor has a roommate — she’s a 31-year-old granddaughter of Nazis
- Anti-Trump witches and magicians are battling over the future of America
- Why a Seattle-area mosque barred anti-trans activists
- How to find meaning in the face of death
