Westboro Baptist Church members demonstrate outside of Olathe North High School on May 20, 2018, near Kansas City. Photo courtesy of WBC
Need to know: Wednesday, July 18, 2018
They’re still here: The curious evolution of Westboro Baptist Church
While still fiercely anti-gay, the Westboro Baptist Church has seen a subtle shift in its messaging that injects ideas about Jesus and love, clarifies doctrine and even invokes positive language.
Researchers find link between Trump tweets and spike in anti-Muslim hate
Their conclusions correspond with what Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups are hearing, too.
Jehovah’s Witnesses, fleeing Russia crackdown, seek shelter in Finland
Why are Russians who pay their taxes, follow the law and embrace the Christian values promoted by the Kremlin being forced to flee their country?
Late Mother Teresa’s order investigated for child trafficking in India
India has ordered its state governments to inspect childcare facilities run by the Missionaries of Charity following arrests of a nun and a worker accused of baby trafficking.
Catholic #MeToo victims and advocates face backlash
"I didn't expect standing up for rape victims to be a controversial position," one advocate said.
Latest news from RNS
Judge: Jewish heritage can be basis for race discrimination
(AP) — Jewish people are protected by a law against racial discrimination in employment decisions, a federal magistrate judge has concluded in siding with a football coach suing a private Baptist college in Louisiana.
Controversial climate fix poses new question: Is geoengineering playing God?
Geoengineering can be controversial because it intentionally interferes with the climate system. Religious groups are now being invited to weigh in on the ethics.
Seeking unity, J.D. Greear assumes Southern Baptist presidency
The SBC's first Generation X president said he wants to focus more on what all Southern Baptists embrace than what divides them.
More views from RNS
It’s good for girls to have clergywomen, study shows
What effect do clergywomen have on girls? A great one, it turns out: women who grew up with female clergy as role models do better psychologically and educationally than those who did not.
The Jewish counterculture loses a founder
(RNS) — Some lives help change Jewish history. Richard Siegel's was one of them.
Priests, celibacy and sex
(RNS) — Sex between a Catholic priest and adult can be more than simply a violation of celibacy. It can also be a violation of professional ethics. The church needs to learn from the “#MeToo” movement about the danger of sex between adults who are not equal in power.
