šØ 5 Takeaways From The Shooting At Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church š
Weekend Plug-in š
Editorās note: Every Friday, āWeekend Plug-inā 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!
Greece has become the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage, The Associated Pressā Nicholas Paphitis reports.
Meanwhile, antisemitism and safety fears are surging among U.S. Jews, APās Tiffany Stanley writes, citing a new national survey.
This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. We start with five takeaways from Sundayās shooting at Joel Osteenās Lakewood Church in Houston.
What To Know: The Big Story
1. What happened: Genesse Moreno, 36, āallegedly fired an AR-style rifle and was also carrying a .22-caliber rifle when she walked into Joel Osteenās megachurch that afternoon and began shooting, according to police. Two off-duty officers working security shot and killed Moreno. Her 7-year-old son and a 57-year-old man were wounded in the exchange.ā
Thatās the synopsis from the Houston Chronicleās Matt deGrood. Read more coverage from ReligionUnplugged.comās own Clemente Lisi and the New York Timesā J. David Goodman, Edgar Sandoval and Ruth Graham.
2. Warning signs: While the shooterās motive remains unclear, her criminal record and documented history of mental illness have come under scrutiny, as reported by The Associated Pressā Juan A. Lozano, the Washington Postās Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Michelle Boorstein and the Chronicleās Ariana Garcia.
3. Legal gun purchase: Despite Morenoās āred flags,ā Texas gun loopholes likely allowed her to purchase firearms legally, according to the Chronicleās Kennedy Sessions and APās Lozano and Jim Vertuno.
This was the 24th fatal shooting at a church in the past 25 years, according to Lifeway Researchās Aaron Earls.
4. Familiar face: Why was this shooting such big news?
Osteen is āone of the most familiar faces in American religion,ā as APās Ben Finley notes:
The 60-year-old regularly preaches to about 45,000 people a week in a former basketball arena and heās known to millions more through his television sermons.
Finleyās profile of the pastor quotes extensively from a 2004 AP interview with Osteen. I remember that story because I wrote it while covering religion for AP in Texas. (That interview was nearly 20 years ago. Time flies!)
5. Sunday is coming: Osteen is inviting Houston residents to attend this weekendās services, saying, āWe are not people of fear. We are people of faith.ā
Chronicle religion reporter Eric Killelea provides details:
In a short, glossy clip posted to Osteen's social media accounts, the pastor extended an invitation to Lakewood's "special services" this Sundayā"a time of healing and restoration" for one of the nation's largest congregations. "Yes, it's been a difficult week, something we never dreamed we would have to deal with," he said. "But we look back now, and we see the faithfulness of God, how He protected and watched over us."
Catch up on all the extensive coverage from the Houston newspaper.
Power Up: The Weekās Best Reads
1. Chocolate and ashes: What happens when Valentineās Day meets Ash Wednesday?
āDeath reminds us of the limits of romantic love, but it also sets romantic love free,ā Esau McCaulley writes for The Atlantic.
See related coverage by ReligionUnplugged.comās Clemente Lisi, the New York Timesā Ruth Graham, the Los Angeles Timesā Karen Garcia, Religion News Serviceās Roxanne Stone and Emily McFarlan Miller and the Washington Timesā Mark A. Kellner.
2. An unlikely friendship: Kate Linthicum, an international correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, āwondered how Arab/Israeli friendships had weathered this war.ā
To find out, she āhung out with two teens from opposite sides of the Jewish-Palestinian divide. Their story is inspiring.ā
3. Brigham Young Universityās new reality: The Mormon universityās āmove to the Big 12 marked an all-in play on big-time, big-money athletics. It also marked a stress test.ā
The Athleticās Brendan Quinn delves into the āideology of the institution vs the realities of power conference living.ā
More Top Reads
In Kansas City, the Chiefsā Super Bowl celebration turned to unimaginable loss, the National Catholic Reporterās Brian Roewe reports. ā¦ Jordan Peterson is wrestling with God, as Meagan Saliashvili details for Religion News Service. ā¦ On the Super Bowl broadcast, the āHe Gets Usā ads featuring Jesus stood out for their change-of-pace message, The Associated Pressā Tiffany Stanley writes. ā¦ Baptist-pastor-turned-U.S.-senator James Lankford was behind the failed border bill, Christianity Todayās Harvest Prude explains. ā¦ Nicaraguaās crackdown on the Catholic Church has spread fear among the faithful ā there and in exile, APās Giovanna DellāOrto reports. ā¦ And Christian high schoolers in Las Vegas hold a weekly Taylor Swift-themed Bible study, according to the Washington Timesā Mark A. Kellner.
Inside The Godbeat
The 75-year-old Religion News Association seeks a new director.
Potential candidates can check out the position details and requirements.
Charging Station: ICYMI
Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.
As the Israel-Hamas war rages on, students in Ohio have revived a kosher-halal dining co-op.
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.