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) Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!

The Southern Baptist Convention faces two new lawsuits alleging cover-ups of sexual abuse in churches. Religion News Service’s Bob Smietana has the details.

Country singer-songwriter Toby Keith died Monday at age 62 after battling stomach cancer. In an interview with Robin Marsh of News9 in Oklahoma City late last year, Keith cited the strong role of faith in his cancer battle.

“The Almighty, he has been riding shotgun,” Keith said.

This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. Ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl, we start with the rise of sports betting and people of faith’s stance on it.

What To Know: The Big Story

The numbers game: “An estimated 67.8 million Americans are expected to bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl, a 35% increase from last year, according to survey results published Tuesday by the American Gaming Association, a trade group.”

That’s the synopsis from the Wall Street Journal’s Richard Vanderford.

But don’t expect many pastors to place a wager on Kansas City or San Francisco to win the game, Lifeway Research’s Aaron Earls advises:

Despite its legalization across many states, U.S. Protestant pastors remain opposed to sports gambling, but they’re not doing much about it, according to a Lifeway Research study. Few pastors (13%) favor legalizing sports betting nationwide and most (55%) say the practice is morally wrong.

“Anything can happen in sports, and many Americans want the same allure of an unexpected win in sports to translate into an unexpected financial windfall,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Most pastors see moral hazards in sports betting and believe American society would be better off without it.”

Long odds: Given the billions of dollars that legalized betting generates, faith leaders in the few holdout states that forbid it “know the odds are against stopping it,” according to Religion News Service’s Bob Smietana.

Smietana explains:

Some of the nation’s largest faith groups have long considered gambling immoral, or a “menace to society,” as the United Methodist Church social principles put it. But faith leaders like Davis are likely fighting an uphill battle, said longtime Boston College professor and Jesuit priest Richard McGowan.

McGowan, who has been nicknamed “the Odds Father” because of his research on gambling, said faith leaders were caught flatfooted by how fast legalized sports gambling became commonplace.

At ReligionLink.com, find statements on how various religious groups — from Muslims to Mormons — view gambling.

In a story last year, Christianity Today’s Emily Belz delved into how Christians can respond to the “trail of addiction” the quick expansion of gambling is leaving.

Thanking God in Sin City: In other football news, faith played a starring role at Thursday’s NFL Honors awards show, the Deseret News’ Kelsey Dallas notes.

But as winners took the stage in Las Vegas, many chose to shift the spotlight away from what happened on the field onto the faith that sustains them in good times and bad.

“I just want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud as he accepted the first award of the night.

Sunday’s game will feature “two very pious quarterbacks.” Read the faith profile of the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the 49ers’ Brock Purdy by ReligionUnplugged.com’s own Clemente Lisi.

Finally, Lisi highlights five “religious” Super Bowl ads that made headlines.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Battle over the border: “Could evangelical Christian women hold the key to compromise on immigration reforms?”

USA Today’s Laura Villagran explores that intriguing question.

At Religion News Service, Aleja Hertzler-McCain covers faith-based organizations’ concerns about the immigration policy landscape.

2. Divine intervention?: “Ivory Coast’s unlikely — some would say miraculous — progression to the Africa Cup of Nations final has convinced locals that God is on their side.”

The Associated Press’ Ciarán Fahey reports from Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Here at ReligionUnplugged.com, Tom Osanjo details the role of chaplains at the soccer tournament.

3. Home chapels blessing America: “Built as standalone spaces or dedicated rooms, these small spaces of worship can cost homeowners hundreds of thousands to build.”

Check out the photo feature by the Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Paynter.

More Top Reads

Federal convictions of pro-lifers blocking abortion clinics are rising, Christianity Today’s Emily Belz reports. … ‘The Autism Pastor’ Lamar Hardwick is a preacher, author and cancer warrior, Religion News Service’s Kathryn Post writes. … The Pope’s inquisitor riles conservatives, and some call him a heretic, as the Wall Street Journal’s Francis X. Rocca explains. … Venezuela's leftist leader is making a play for evangelical voters, NPR’s John Otis reports. … A new initiative brings weekly Christian worship to the Oklahoma Capitol, The Oklahoman’s Carla Hinton writes. … And in a think piece at The Atlantic, John Fea details “What I wish more people knew about American evangelicalism.”

Inside The Godbeat

There’s a whole lot to fit in here this week:

• Joel Belz, founder of World magazine, died Sunday at age 82 from complications of Parkinson’s disease, and Marvin Olasky pays tribute to him at Current.

• Journalist and author Michael O’Loughlin has a new role leading an outreach program for LGBTQ+ Catholics, as The Associated Press’ David Crary reports.

• “What is the future of Catholic journalism?” National Catholic Reporter’s Heidi Schlumpf interviews a variety of experts.

• And Religion News Service’s Bob Smietana — who, as this edition of Plug-in attests, has had a prolific week — insists, “I am not going to hate you.”

Charging Station: ICYMI

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

“The swelling number of Islamic clerics and Middle Eastern politicians and thinkers condemning Hamas continues to grow since the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel.”

Gil Zohar reports the latest from Jerusalem.

The Final Plug

I don’t often shed tears over stories I write, even the sad ones.

But I did while writing about my interview with Matt and Macy Collins, whose 4-year-old daughter Hattie Jo died in a 2020 tornado.

The Christian couple, who live in Cookeville, Tenn., have started a ministry to support other parents who experience the pain of losing a child. Read my in-depth piece for The Christian Chronicle.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for ReligionUnplugged.com and serves as 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 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.