homepage featured
Photos of the Week
By Kit Doyle — May 31, 2019
(RNS) — This week’s gallery features Pope Francis' pilgrimage to Romania, nearing the end of Ramadan, and more.
Lutheran student pastor deported amid protests
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 30, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — At Emaus ELCA Church in Racine, Wis., student pastor Betty Rendón was 'very well loved,' and a lot of people are feeling the loss, said the church's pastor.
I was an expert witness against a teacher who taught students to question the Holocaust
By Jennifer Rich — May 30, 2019
(The Conversation) — When it comes to what a New Jersey teacher let or encouraged his students to believe when it comes to Hitler and the Holocaust, his lessons weren’t just wrong, they were dangerous.
Vanier is gone, but his Christian model for living alongside the disabled takes root
By Yonat Shimron — May 30, 2019
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (RNS) — Jean Vanier’s core principle of 'Eat together, pray together, celebrate together' forms the basis for Friendship House, where students share living space with people with disabilities.
In St. Louis, ‘Grill to Glory’ deploys churches (and hot dogs) for community renewal
By Eric Berger — May 30, 2019
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — A partnership between churches and a local nonprofit build community through cookouts in crime-plagued North St. Louis.
What Israel’s new election reveals about the struggle over Jewishness
By Joyce Dalsheim — May 30, 2019
(The Conversation) — As Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews become more numerous, and powerful, many politicians are capitalizing on anti-religious sentiment among secular Jews, including calling on Haredim to submit to the draft.
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.
Immigrant-run sewing co-op aims to end fast fashion culture, starting with Muslims
By Aysha Khan — May 29, 2019
CHICAGO (RNS) — One of the country’s first clothing cooperatives run by immigrant and refugee women, Blue Tin Production aims to develop ethical manufacturing for Muslim designers while offering well-paying opportunities for skilled immigrants.
Denied and deported: Love and marriage in the Palestinian territories
By Mae Elise Cannon — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — After 28 years of entering Israel multiple times per year, Elaine Zoughbi was suddenly denied entry by an airport border agent. The reason? She had married a Palestinian.
After harassment of Sikh bus driver, Maryland school district agrees to awareness training
By Aysha Khan — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — Since he began working as a school bus driver in suburban Maryland more than a decade ago, Sawinder Singh’s colleagues, supervisors and students taunted him because of his religion and ethnicity.
Evangelical financial watchdog faces scrutiny over backing of errant megachurch
By Bobby Ross Jr. — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — Critics say the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability ignored 'glaring improprieties' in Harvest Bible Chapel’s finances for way too long.
Why politics may kill white churches
By Ryan Burge — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — If young people are the future of the church, it’s hard to see how both white Catholics and white evangelicals can effectively reach out to the younger generations when their politics become further and further polarized.
Citing inclusion of LGBT clerics, Anglican bishops in Africa to shun Lambeth Conference
By Fredrick Nzwili — May 29, 2019
(RNS) — The boycott widens the split within the communion, which has struggled to stay together despite doctrinal differences over the ordination of homosexuals and blessing of same-sex unions.
Newly released letters shine light on McCarrick allegations
By Jack Jenkins — May 28, 2019
(RNS) — McCarrick allegedly acknowledged in one letter that he shared his bed with seminarians, an act he called 'an unfortunate lack of judgment.'
Hospital chaplains stick to the heart of the job amid health care industry changes
By Amanda Abrams — May 28, 2019
(RNS) — As our medical system grows more fast-paced, impersonal and complex, hospital chaplains end up helping patients decipher next steps and counseling burned-out practitioners.
