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!

For those with short attention spans (you know who you are), be sure to read all the way to the end for an important programming note.

Among the week’s big news, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take on a faith-related case (hint: the abortion pill). The Deseret News’ Kelsey Dallas has the details.

At the Wall Street Journal, Francis X. Rocca offers a deep dive into Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu. As Rocca explains, Becciu might have been pope but instead may go to prison.

And at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Drew Lindsay delves into “What Philanthropy and Nonprofits Lose as Religion Fades.”

This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. We start with the top religion stories of 2023, as determined by the Religion News Association.

What To Know: The Big Story

Top 10 stories — times two: The Religion News Association used to do one Top 10 list. Now, it splits the year’s biggest headlines into two Top 10 categories: international and domestic.

And still, there is no shortage of important news to go around.

The year’s No. 1 stories — on both fronts — concern the same topic: the Israel-Hamas War, according to balloting by RNA member journalists.

War in the Middle East: Here is how the RNA describes the No. 1 international story:

Hamas launches a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 Israeli civilians and soldiers, and taking about 240 hostages. Following this, Israel begins a full-scale assault in Gaza, killing at least 18,000 civilians and militants. The war reignites intense debates around Palestinian liberation and Zionism, and spikes in Islamophobia and antisemitism worldwide. 

Here at ReligionUnplugged.com, Gil Zohar details how a Bethlehem nativity scene has put baby Jesus in the Gaza rubble.

And the war could go on for months, The Associated Press reports.

Hate in the U.S.: Here is how the RNA characterizes the No. 1 domestic story:

Incidents of hate against Jews and Muslims skyrocket after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel, and Israel’s military assault in Gaza. In Illinois, a Palestinian-American boy is killed and his mother wounded in an alleged hate attack. The conflict prompts numerous protests, and college campuses see fierce debate about the war and the boundaries of free speech. Many Jewish groups and evangelical Christians staunchly support Israel, while many Muslim and progressive religious groups decry Israel’s invasion.

Just today, the lead story in the Los Angeles Times — by David Lauter and Jaweed Kaleem — concerns the rise in antisemitism.

Newsmaker of the Year: RNA members chose Pope Francis as the No. 1 Religion Newsmaker of the Year (if anybody at RNA knows, I’d be curious to know how many times this makes for him):

Pope Francis, who despite health problems, travels to far-flung countries, convenes a synod with unprecedented lay involvement, denounces anti-LGBTQ+ laws, oversees the Vatican repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery and faces controversy over his comments about the Israel-Hamas war and the church’s handling of abuse claims against priest-artist Marko Rupnik.

Speaking of Francis, the National Catholic Reporter’s Christopher White looks ahead to his 87th birthday on Sunday. And at the Washington Times, Mark A. Kellner notes that Francis says he’s better and won’t resign but plans to be buried outside the Vatican’s walls.

See the RNA’s full lists of top stories and newsmakers.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Lean on me: “After a March 2020 tornado destroyed the Rev. Jacques Boyd’s Nashville church, his friend, the Rev. Vincent Johnson, lent him space to worship in. Nearly four years later, Boyd has offered to return the favor for the exact same reason.”

The Associated Press’ Jonathan Mattise, Holly Meyer and Travis Loller report.

Read more stories on faith amid the storm from The Tennessean’s Kelly Puente and Craig Shoup.

2. Decision not to tell: A Baptist church pastor kept an accusation of a former ministry staffer sexually abusing a child from his congregation.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette religion editor Frank Lockwood has been busy this week uncovering details of the case. Read his revealing stories here, here, here and here.

In a different case, independent journalist Julie Roys reports:

The attorney representing the main alleged victim of Mike Bickle and an advocate group said his clients will not participate in the new investigation announced Sunday by the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC).

3. A sacred mountain: “A volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is sacred to spiritual practitioners and treasured by astronomers.”

The Associated Press’ Deepa Bharath and Audrey McAvoy go in depth with stellar photography by Jessie Wardarski.

More Top Reads

They hid from the Nashville school shooter. Months later, nightmares persist for these Covenant School survivors. The Tennessean’s Frank Gluck reports. … Clergy say preaching to polarized congregations is a responsibility and a challenge, according to Religion News Service’s Adelle M. Banks. … Muslim migrants in New York find refuge in a Nigerian church, RNS’ Fiona André writes. … In Catholic Argentina, President Javier Milei has a rabbi — and likes talking about it, the Los Angeles Times’ Leila Miller explains. … In Florida farmland, a Guadalupe feast celebrates and sustains a 60-year-old mission to migrant workers, The Associated Press’ Giovanna Dell’Orto discovers. … And British culture continues to act out the Christmas story even as fewer believe it, Christianity Today’s Madeleine Davis finds.

Inside The Godbeat

Next week, we’ll do our annual list of the year’s best religion journalism. (Read the 2022 and 2021 editions.)

This list works like this: Journalists who cover religion pick their top story of 2023. I’d love for all my colleagues in that category to email me their choice.

Thank you, friends!

Charging Station: ICYMI

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

This is the mission of Orlando Magic power forward Jonathan Isaac: “Find identity in God rather than basketball.”

Isaac spoke with ReligionUnplugged.com’s Jovan Tripkovic about his new sneaker line, his faith journey and his basketball career.

Read the full interview.

The Final Plug

This is the last regular Plug-in of 2023.

I mentioned the best journalism column planned next week. And in two weeks, we’ll highlight the best of ReligionUnplugged.com, as has become a year-end tradition.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Running now through Dec. 31, NewsMatch will match your donations up to $1,000. Your generosity will help keep Religion Unplugged going in 2024 and beyond. You can donate here.

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.