Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.

(ANALYSIS) Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day of remembrance for the influential civil rights leader.

Adelle M. Banks, longtime national reporter for Religion News Service, marks the holiday with a fascinating look back at King’s last full year of life.

Among the details that Banks uncovered in a review of RNS’ 1967 archives: The Baptist pastor’s “growing outspokenness against the Vietnam War and his advocacy for the poor, while it garnered support from celebrities such as Dr. Benjamin Spock, drew criticism from evangelist Billy Graham and others.”

Banks, a 27-year RNS veteran, spearheaded an exceptional 2018 project on the 50th anniversary of King’s April 4, 1968, assassination.

Those stories, still worth a read, include:

• Remembering King’s last sermon with renewed hope

• A faithful journey from cotton field to White House: Q&A with a sanitation worker

• Three Memphis sites key to King’s legacy draw visitors

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Why the Catholic Church Is losing Latin America: “The rise of liberation theology in the 1960s and ’70s, a time when the Catholic Church in Latin America increasingly stressed its mission as one of social justice, in some cases drawing on Marxist ideas, failed to counter the appeal of Protestant faiths,” report the Wall Street Journal’s Francis X. Rocca, Luciana Magalhaes and Samantha Pearson.

“Or, in the words of a now-legendary quip, variously attributed to Catholic and Protestant sources: ‘The Catholic Church opted for the poor and the poor opted for the Pentecostals.’”

The Journal’s story from Brazil follows The Associated Press’ recent trend piece (highlighted in last week’s Plug-in) on a surge of evangelicals in Spain, fueled by Latin Americans.

2. A cryptic email, then a confession: How a Muslim group uncovered moles: “For many U.S. Muslims, the new scandal has been a reminder of the post-9/11 microscope under which they live,” explain the Washington Post’s Michelle Boorstein and Hannah Allam.

Emails ultimately led executives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations “to recordings and transcripts that documented what CAIR says is the most extensive known spying on a U.S. Muslim organization in recent memory,” according to the Post.

3. Polar priest: the church in the world’s northernmost town: For The Guardian, photojournalist Guia Besana visits a priest “who runs the Svalbard Church in Longyearbyen, in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. Pastor Siv Limstrand is the community’s guiding figure as it looks to an uncertain future in the face of economic shifts and the effects of climate change.”

Be sure to put on a heavy winter coat before checking out this terrific picture essay.

More Top Reads

• At Milwaukee church, refugees find welcome from a less suspicious time (by Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

• Why religious freedom will be in the spotlight at the 2022 Olympics (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• Antiabortion leader Marjorie Dannenfelser: ‘You can never build human rights on the broken rights of other people’ (by K.K. Ottesen, Washington Post)

• As Omicron cases rise in India, hundreds of thousands to attend Hindu festival (by Shan Li and Vibhuti Agarwal, Wall Street Journal)

• How one Oklahoma church is using tech tools to expand its reach (by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman)

• Updated Bible’s interpretation of sodomy stirs debate (by Mark A. Kellner, Washington Times)

• ‘Gone by 2040’: Why some religions are declining in Canada faster than ever (by Ashleigh Stewart, Global News)

• Indigenous Mormons struggle to balance pride in the faith with LDS history (by Diana Kruzman, RNS)

• The Potter’s House Denver sells property, goes virtual (by Megan Fowler, Christianity Today)

• ‘No sanctuary’: A boy sexually abused up to 15 kids. His pastor relative protected him (by Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star)

• Pope Francis writes to controversial nun, thanking her for 50 years of LGBTQ ministry (by Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Washington Post)

• Died: George O. Wood, who led the Assemblies of God into growth (by Daniel Silliman, CT)

• Since Jan. 6 attacks, spiritual leaders unify to combat Christian nationalism (by Alejandra Molina, RNS)

• Think Piece: Vatican commission member counters Pope over Covid vaccines (by Christopher Lamb, The Tablet)

• Think Piece: A nation of Christians is not necessarily a Christian nation (by David French, Dispatch)

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

World magazine’s loss is Christianity Today’s gain.

Back in November, the New York Times outlined how a clash over culture and politics (think Trump) led to the resignations of World editor-in-chief Marvin Olasky and other key staff members, including senior editor Mindy Belz.

This week, Christianity Today announced that it has hired two of World’s former senior reporters: Emily Belz and Sophia Lee.

Meanwhile, World editor Michael Reneau revealed that he is joining The Dispatch.

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.

• ‘Dark Money’: Faith-based, other nonprofits funnel tax-free money to political groups (by Steve Rabey)

• ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ hits 75th year of introducing yoga and Eastern religion (by Steve Rabey)

• Maradona welcomes divine intervention in ‘The Hand of God’ (by Jillian Cheney)

• ‘Spotlight’ on clergy sex abuse 20 years later shows why journalism matters (by Clemente Lisi)

• Nearly a year after Jewish festival crush, as COVID-19 surges, Israel flip flops over rules (by Gil Zohar)

• Financial uncertainty at Bill Gothard’s Institute In Basic Life Principles (by Shannon Cuthrell)

• Twelve Tribes group denies starting devastating Colorado fire (by Steve Rabey)

• Media freedom under attack in Hong Kong as pro-democracy outlets shut down (by Ewelina U. Ochab)

• Hindu nationalists are disrupting Muslim prayers in India (by Aafreen Khan)

The Final Plug

Hat tip to Washington Post religion writer Sarah Pulliam Bailey for sharing this fun list from The Guardian of “100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying.”

A few of my favorites:

22 Laugh shamelessly at your own jokes.

59 Always have dessert.

94 Give compliments widely and freely.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for ReligionUnplugged.com and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.