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ELCA declares self a ‘sanctuary church body,’ marches to ICE building in Milwaukee
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 7, 2019
MILWAUKEE (RNS) — 'Marching is fun, words are great, but action makes a difference,' Bishop Paul Erickson of the Greater Milwaukee Synod said.
These Catholics broke into a nuclear base. Now they’re asking a judge to drop the charges.
By Yonat Shimron — August 7, 2019
(RNS) — Members of the group known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 face up to 25 years in prison for trespassing on a U.S. Navy base that houses six Trident submarines carrying hundreds of nuclear weapons.
At victimized Charleston church, Booker condemns gun violence, racism
By Jack Jenkins — August 7, 2019
CHARLESTON, S.C. (RNS) — Invoking God and Christian love, presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker railed against gun violence and racism on Wednesday (Aug. 7) at the site of a 2015 church shooting.
Everything in Mecca gets 5 stars online
By Elif Izberk-Bilgin and Tom van Laer — August 7, 2019
(The Conversation) — Mecca’s sites average 4.96 TripAdvisor stars out of 5, while Europe’s 200 best-rated tourist destinations average 3.96 stars.
Ravaged by age, shrunk by immigration, India’s remaining Jews hang on
By Briana Trujillo — August 7, 2019
KOCHI, India (RNS) — The last Jew of childbearing age moved to Israel just months ago, leaving behind a small community of about two dozen elderly people beset daily by tourists.
5 things to watch at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 6, 2019
(RNS) — This week's ELCA Churchwide Assembly offers a window into the issues important to many progressive Christians across the United States.
Clergy protest outside Mitch McConnell’s office, demand action on gun violence
By Jack Jenkins — August 6, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Faith leaders presented the Senate majority leader's staff with a letter, signed by the group, calling for action on gun violence.
Sanders, Castro to attend Muslim-led presidential forum in Texas
By Aysha Khan — August 6, 2019
(RNS) – The presidential forum, which will include moderated one-on-one sessions with the candidates, will take place Aug. 31 at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention in Houston.
Ex-cardinal’s letters to victims show signs of grooming
By Nicole Winfield — August 6, 2019
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Full of flattery, familiarity and boasts about his own power, the letters provide visceral evidence of how a globe-trotting bishop made young, vulnerable men feel special — and then allegedly took advantage of them.
Bono and Guggi: A friendship based on art, punk rock and Jesus
By Cathleen Falsani — August 6, 2019
VENICE, Calif. (RNS) — Now one of Ireland’s most celebrated modern artists, the U2 frontman's childhood friend and former bandmate, has a new exhibit in Venice, California.
Understanding Christians’ climate views can lead to better conversations about the environment
By Emma Frances Bloomfield — August 6, 2019
(The Conversation) — Because Christians incorporate the environment into their faith in a variety of ways, they provide important insights into how to talk about climate change with a variety of audiences.
Navigating grief in the social media age
By Paul O'Donnell — August 6, 2019
(RNS) — At a time when trust in church and clergy is strikingly low, young adults are finding new ways to support each other when bad news or tragedy arrives.
Senators oppose Trump refugee cuts on religious freedom grounds
By Jack Jenkins — August 5, 2019
(RNS) — The bipartisan group sent a letter to President Trump arguing that reducing the refugee cap to zero would call into question a promise to assist persecuted religious minorities abroad.
North Carolina becomes first Southern state to ban state funding for conversion therapy
By Yonat Shimron — August 5, 2019
(RNS) — No Southern state has enacted laws banning the ex-gay therapies, but North Carolina's executive order bans government support for the practice, mostly used by evangelical ministries dedicated to changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
El Paso and Dayton mass shootings: Christians must act as well as pray
By Paul O'Donnell — August 5, 2019
(RNS) — We shouldn't dismiss 'thoughts and prayers' as a response to disasters, as prayer is an important pathway to God. But if no further action is taken, it becomes an empty cliché.
