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Need to know: Monday, May 23, 2016
United Methodist conference seen as confusing even to God
But many delegates are hopeful after 11 days of wrangling issues such as homosexuality, reproductive rights, not to mention church governance and finances.
African Methodists worry about the church that brought them Christianity
“People from the country that brought the Gospel to us are now preaching a different Gospel.”
Archbishop: Anti-Semitism is ‘embedded’ in British culture
Justin Welby’s remarks follow anti-Semitic statements by Labour Party members.
Brooklyn’s Catholic bishop decries ‘racism and xenophobia’
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio seems to take aim at Donald Trump and argues that deportations would hurt the U.S. economy.
Decapitated churches in China’s Christian heartland
Over the past two years, authorities have torn down crosses from more than 1,200 churches, sometimes after violent clashes.
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Latest news from RNS
Catholic church audit shows spike in sex abuse reports
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops attributes much of the 35 percent jump to six dioceses filing for bankruptcy and some states allowing victims to sue over old cases.
UMC withdraws from interfaith pro-abortion rights group
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) The United Methodist Church will withdraw from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in a move one supporter said shows the denomination is moving away from other mainline denominations.
Kenya Anglicans elect new archbishop
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) Bishop Jackson Nasoore Ole Sapit is a traditionalist who nonetheless steered clear of gay issues.
More views from RNS
Divided Methodists form special commission on church music (SATIRE)
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) The 12 million-member denomination postpones decision on human instrumentation.
Mayberry 2016
A new sitcom for the Tarheel State.
Gay Mormons, reparative therapy, and the safe spaces of conservative religion
Historian Benjamin E. Park says the new memoir “Saving Alex” -- which chronicles a gay teen Mormon’s nightmare of conversion therapy -- is “a reminder of the lengths people are willing to go to in denying the authenticity of homosexual voices.”
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Bonus tracks
- Church of Scotland votes to allow ministers to be in same-sex marriages
- The University of Miami establishes chair for the study of atheism
- Massachusetts church vigil ending after 11 years
- How Kosovo was turned into fertile ground for ISIS
- Police in Las Vegas forge close ties to the city’s Muslim community