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Coalition of 850 religious leaders backs lawsuit against DHS surveillance of pastor
By Aysha Khan — July 25, 2019
(RNS) — Manhattan pastor Kaji Douša filed a federal lawsuit accusing U.S. officials of violating her religious liberty by detaining and surveilling her over her border ministry. Now, more than 850 clergy members are standing in support of her.
Without school, a ‘lost generation’ of Rohingya refugee children face uncertain future
By Rubayat Jesmin — July 25, 2019
(The Conversation) — The boy’s eyes lit up when he talked about his dream of becoming a doctor. Seven-year-old “Mohammad” – not his real name – is a Rohingya Muslim from Myanmar. I met him at a learning center at a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in early July 2019. After sharing his aspirations, […]
Indian celebrities protest attacks on dissent, minorities
By Ashok Sharma — July 25, 2019
NEW DELHI (AP) — Several celebrities protested such killings in 2016 and some of them returned the national awards given to them by the government honoring their works in the field of art and culture.
Trump aims to protect persecuted Christians, but some aren’t sure he’s helping
By Jack Jenkins — July 25, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — An increasingly vocal band of advocates and experts says the Trump administration’s refugee policies are out of sync with its promises to protect religious minorities from persecution, especially Christians, Yazidis and other groups in the Middle East.
Who is the Museum of the Bible really for? Scholarly book examines multiple problems
By Yonat Shimron — July 25, 2019
(RNS) — The academic community's critiques have been collected in a book cataloging a host of ills, from the museum's focus on the Protestant Bible to faked artifacts to an alleged evangelical agenda.
New York Times editor Jodi Rudoren named new editor of the Forward
By Yonat Shimron — July 24, 2019
(RNS) — A former Jerusalem bureau chief at the Times and now an associate managing editor, Rudoren brings a boost of energy to the veteran publication that had cut 30% of its staff earlier this year and quit publishing its print edition.
Faith groups urge State Department to abolish new ‘unalienable rights’ commission
By Aysha Khan — July 24, 2019
(RNS) — A coalition of 430 human rights, foreign policy and faith-based organizations, leaders and scholars has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to disband his controversial new human rights commission.
Africa-wide Roman Catholic body marks 50 years of progress
By Paul O'Donnell — July 24, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Established during Pope Paul VI's 1969 visit to Uganda, the first by a pope in Africa, SECAM once consisted of fewer than 50 clerics. The symposium now brings together some 400 cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from 40 national and regional bodies.
Willow Creek elders preach reconciliation after allegations against Hybels
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 24, 2019
SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (RNS) — Not everybody is convinced that reconciliation may be possible at this point — or wise.
Video links Beth Moore, Russell Moore, James Merritt to ‘Trojan horse of social justice’
By Bob Smietana — July 23, 2019
(RNS) — Some targets of the video have called its accusations 'divisive' and 'cowardly, grossly dishonest, and bearing false witness.'
Surviving or thriving? New film on Westboro Baptist doesn’t get it
By Hillel Gray — July 23, 2019
(RNS) — The filmmaker is often more interested in building solidarity with his audience against a mythic enemy than truly understanding his subject.
Willow Creek plans reconciliation service to move on; Hybels not involved
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 23, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — In what they said would be their last public statement about the allegations of sexual misconduct against founding pastor Bill Hybels that have torn apart Willow Creek Community Church, the church’s elders called on Hybels to repent and the church to gather for a service of worship and reflection.
It’s time to revive religious civil disobedience
By John Gehring — July 23, 2019
(RNS) — Being a faithful Christian sometimes means breaking the rules. Moral disruption is a sacred act when the status quo is sinful.
Most Americans can define atheists, Easter; don’t know US share of Muslims, Jews
By Adelle M. Banks — July 23, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Jews, atheists and agnostics scored highest — with each getting answers correct more than half of the time. Evangelical Protestants also had high scores compared with other groups.
Vatican names new leader of West Virginia diocese to replace Bransfield
By Associated Press — July 23, 2019
WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) — Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mark Brennan will lead the Wheeling-Charleston diocese after a scandal over the former bishop's sexual harassment of adults and lavish spending.
