The Slingshot: Pope pained; Pastor prohibited; Pushing pilgrimage

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In this photo taken with a slow shutter speed Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, for his weekly general audience Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)


Need to know: Thursday, November 2, 2017

Pope pained by attacks in Afghanistan, Somalia, New York

Pope Francis said during an Angelus prayer on All Saints’ Day that he was praying for all those who were killed and injured in extremist attacks, and for their family members.

Russian trolls didn’t need millions to sow chaos. They had Jesus.

Many of the memes and images spread by a Facebook account operated from a Kremlin-linked troll farm are what you might find in a normal, online religious community.

Evangelical pastor says he was removed from Liberty University campus

Jonathan Martin, an evangelical pastor and author who recently spoke against university President Jerry Falwell Jr.’s support for the Trump administration, says he was removed and threatened with arrest if he returned.

‘I’ll Push You’: Friends, one in a wheelchair, document their Spanish pilgrimage

When Justin Skeesuck felt called to make the popular Christian pilgrimage the Camino de Santiago, his lifelong friend Patrick Gray’s response was immediate: “I’ll push you.”

‘Excellent comment’: Archbishop of Canterbury praises article accusing BBC of sneering attitude to religion

The article accused BBC Radio 4 presenters of treating religion with “sniggering contempt,” after one of them argued that a daily slot reserved for a spiritual “Thought for the Day” was “deeply, deeply boring.”

This Life: For this witch, Wicca is about personal responsibility and growth

A Washington Post series about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people looks at David Salisbury, a Wiccan witch, who says his adopted religion taught HIM that he was responsible for creating his own reality. (Subscription may be required)

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Latest news from RNS

On Reformation anniversary, Lutherans bridge divides with other faiths

A ceremony at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington was one of numerous ways Christians around the globe have marked the milestone – from pilgrimages retracing Luther’s steps in Germany to conferences, scholarly talks and hymn festivals.

Pope: Humanity risks ‘suicide’ with nuclear confrontation

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said Monday that the Nov. 10-11 conference was part of the Vatican's long-standing effort to promote a world free of nuclear weapons.

US court bars Trump from reversing transgender troop policy

Issued at the urging of the president’s evangelical advisors, the directives aimed to exclude transgender people from the military.

More views from RNS

Against Clarity: A progressive Christian opposes rating churches on LGBT acceptance

(RNS) — 'Human sexuality is not,' writes Barbara G. Wheeler, 'the decisive issue that determines whether a church body is acceptable or not.' (COMMENTARY)

American Muslims should insist on a tax reform that protects the poor

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Like Catholic bishops did in the 1980s.

This is no way to treat the dead

There's a new way of disposing of human bodies. You don't want to know.....

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