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.

BETHESDA, Md. — Let’s make this quick.

I need sleep.

Seriously, I’m writing this week’s column after an exhilarating — but exhausting — first day of the Religion News Association’s annual meeting.

Journalists who cover religion news — including ReligionUnplugged.com’s own Meagan Clark and Hamil Harris — convened Thursday at a hotel northwest of Washington, D.C.

READ: Just Say No: The Four-Letter Word Religion Writers Really Want To Avoid

It’s RNA’s first in-person conference in 2½ years.

Session topics range from expanding global religion coverage to when to label a religious group a cult. Follow the Twitter hashtag #RNA2022 to keep up with all the Godbeat discussions.

But be warned: The news doesn’t stop for any conference.

As attendees picked up their name tags Thursday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court “ruled 8-1 in favor of a death row inmate seeking to hear vocal prayers and feel his pastor’s touch as he dies,” as the Deseret News’ Kelsey Dallas reports.

“OF COURSE the Supreme Court is making me handle breaking news during my conference trip,” Dallas tweeted.

For more background on the case, see past coverage here and here.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Jackson invokes her Christian faith, stays mum on specifics: “Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has put her religious faith front, center — and vague.” I love that lede by The Associated Press’ Peter Smith.

Other excellent coverage of the Supreme Court nominee’s faith:

• Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly expresses thanks to God but keeps faith history private (by Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

• Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson says her faith sustains her but won't impede judgments (by Hamil R. Harris, ReligionUnplugged.com)

• At confirmation hearing, Lindsey Graham grills Ketanji Brown Jackson on faith (by Jack Jenkins, RNS)

• Why faith is in the spotlight during Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• Why haven’t there been any evangelicals on the Supreme Court? (by Megan Fowler, Christianity Today)

2. Investigating sexual harassment in an evangelical Christian newsroom: Slate’s Molly Olmstead interviews Christianity Today’s Daniel Silliman about his recent investigation of his own workplace.

“I believe in truth over tribalism, and in my experience, my Christian commitments and journalistic commitments go together,” Silliman says. “It’s accountability from a place of shared commitment (to the faith). And I personally don’t believe you really care about abuse victims until you care about the ones in your own community.”

3. John MacArthur shamed, excommunicated mother for refusing to take back child abuser: I took a few days off and missed this exclusive story by independent journalist Julie Roys earlier this month. Better late than ever. It deserves a mention.

At last count, the viral piece has topped 280,000 pageviews. (That’s a lot!)

“It’s the worst case of spiritual abuse I’ve ever seen,” Roys tells me.

More Top Reads

Ukraine stories

• Polish Catholic community houses Ukrainian refugees as U.S. agencies urge action (by Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)

• Russian talking point: Blaming U.S. for Ukraine church split (by Peter Smith, Associated Press)

• Campus ministries soothe, rally students shaken over Ukraine (by Luis Andres Henao, Giovanna Dell'Orto and Mariam Fam, AP)

• From cash to cabbage, Arkansas churches doing whatever they can to support Ukraine (by Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

• Ukraine’s evangelical seminaries plead for help (by Jayson Casper, Christianity Today)

• One month into war, rabbis in Ukraine detail ‘heartbreaking’ destruction, fight to survive (by Deena Yellin, NorthJersey.com)

• Russian Orthodox eye expansion in Africa, maybe Turkey as well (by Tom Heneghan, Religion News Service)

• How one priest turned Putin’s invasion into a holy war (by Jack Jenkins, Rolling Stone)

Other topics

• Organized religion is on the decline. But new research shows faith still plays a powerful, unifying role in American life (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

• How the Golden Rule brings Americans together (by Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)

• She writes to rapists, murderers and inmates on death row. Her tips on corresponding. (by Keith Sharon, The Tennessean)

• Fallout over LGBTQ spouses at Calvin University captures broader evangelical divide (by Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

• Religion-fueled mobs on the rise again in Pakistan (by Zia ur-Rehman and Salman Masood, New York Times)

• In Ranger, Texas, a pastor brings comfort to a scorched community (by Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News)

• Extortion is bad in Colombia, but it’s even worse for Christians (by Deann Alford, Christianity Today)

• Trump privately works to keep a key cog of his political machinery intact (by Meridith McGraw, Politico)

• Churches reopen, but congregants are missing, new study reveals (by Mark A. Kellner, Washington Times)

• Vatican reforms hailed as breakthrough for laity, despite open questions (by Christopher White, National Catholic Reporter)

• $100 million media campaign depicts human side of Jesus in outreach to skeptics (by Adelle M. Banks, RNS)

• Hillsong pastor Brian Houston resigns after revelations of indiscretions with women (by Roxanne Stone, RNS)

• Jehovah’s Witnesses to resume in-person gatherings, door knocking still on hold (by Alejandra Molina, RNS)

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

One highlight from the first day of the RNA meeting: The Associated Press Stylebook — “the journalist’s bible” — has an updated chapter on religion.

And the entire stylebook has been dedicated in memory of Rachel Zoll, AP’s David Crary announced.

Zoll, a longtime AP religion writer beloved by her RNA colleagues, died last year of brain cancer. She was 55.

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

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

 • While Ukrainian violence dominates the news, the silent slaughter of Nigerian Christians continues (by Lela Gilbert)

• 5 films that show how Buddhism has influenced Japanese animation (by Brianna Jacobs)

• New website OnlySky aims to unite the nonreligious (by Kimberly Winston)

• Is a Great Resignation brewing for pastors? (by Scott Thumma)

• Press uses Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Catholicism against him on social issues (by Clemente Lisi)

• Meet the little Jesuit school that could: St. Peter’s busts March Madness brackets (by Clemente Lisi)

• Despite COVID measures lifting, in-person church attendance remains stagnant (by Camila da Silva)

• Former New Hampshire pastor still living at church while facing child porn charges (by Anne Stych)

• Beyond the Orthodox questions: How might the Ukraine war scramble world Christianity? (by Richard Ostling)

• Here are the top anti-war rock songs that represent faith in the Ukrainian resistance (by Camila da Silva)

• Why is Russia’s church backing Putin’s war? Church-state history gives a clue (by Scott Kenworthy)

• These evangelicals are equipping church leaders to address COVID-19 misinformation (by Chelsea Langston Bombino)

The Final Plug

OK, that wasn’t especially quick.

There’s just so much religion news to share. I appreciate you reading to the end. As a reward, enjoy this cute picture of Emily McFarlan Miller’s baby.

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.