Botham Jean
RNS 2019 in Review: A year full of grief, scandals, fire and the perseverance of faith
By Bob Smietana — January 2, 2020
(RNS) — 2019 was a year full of losses, scandals and tragedies, from the deaths of author Rachel Held Evans and pastor Jarrid Wilson to the attacks on houses of worship from New Zealand to California and continued revelations of abuse in religious institutions. And yet faith persists in the midst of a changing religious landscape.
After a week, distress over a black life returns to North Texas
By Omar Suleiman — October 14, 2019
DALLAS (RNS) — Barely a week after Botham Jean's parents went home, another black victim's name has been rendered into a hashtag.
Let’s not ask Botham Jean’s family to choose forgiveness over justice
By Shane Claiborne — October 8, 2019
(RNS) — We’ve seen this dynamic before. The families of nine victims of Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, S.C., proclaimed both forgiveness and justice with power, but some folks only heard the forgiveness.
Watchdog files complaint after judge gave Bible to Botham Jean murderer
By Adelle M. Banks — October 4, 2019
(RNS) — 'It is perfectly acceptable for private citizens to express their religious beliefs in court, but the rules are different for those acting in a governmental role,' said Freedom from Religion Foundation.
How a courtroom ritual of forgiveness absolves white America
By J. Kameron Carter — October 4, 2019
(RNS) — American religion needs black (and native) forgiveness in order to keep the national fantasy of civil society, which is antiblack, alive, writes J. Kameron Carter.
To Botham Jean’s parents, fatal shooting still feels ‘as if it just happened’
By Bobby Ross Jr. — May 30, 2019
DALLAS (RNS) — Almost nine months have passed since an off-duty police officer entered Botham Shem Jean’s apartment and opened fire, killing the church song leader. Bertrum and Allison Jean reflect as a racial unity summit paid tribute to their slain son.
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