Posts in Analysis
School Choice For The Next Generation

(ANALYSIS) Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court released a decision clearly stating that religious schools cannot be excluded from state school choice programs. This means, in short, a major potential change for the future of private faith-based education.

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The Most Compelling Headlines From Pope Francis’ ‘Penitential Pilgrimage’ To Canada

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights Pope Francis’ trip to Canada to apologize to Indigenous peoples for abuses at church-run residential schools. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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The Man Who Could Be Pope Hopes To Shape Italian Politics, But Will Voters Listen?

(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis, along with the European Union and Italy’s left-wing voters, face a major headache since a coalition of right-wing parties could emerge victorious in Italy’s elections. The parties have been at odds with the Vatican over immigration. Can Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna make the difference this summer?

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5 Key Facts As Pope Francis Travels To Canada To Apologize To Indigenous Peoples

This week’s Weekend Plug-in previews Pope Francis’ trip to Canada to apologize to the nation's Indigenous peoples for abuses at Catholic-run residential schools. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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From NASA's Amazing Space Images To The War In Ukraine, The Week's Top Faith Headlines

This week’s Weekend Plug-in catches up with the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith, from the first images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to the latest happenings in the war in Ukraine.

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Pope Francis Retirement Rumors Grow: Will He Follow In Benedict's Footsteps?

(ANALYSIS) The speculation over whether Pope Francis’ age — he turns 86 on Dec. 17 — will cause him to resign has increasingly become a story, first in the Italian press, and subsequently around the world. It is something that will preoccupy reporters throughout the summer.

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What Can We Learn From Abortion Movies?

(ANALYSIS) After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion is a more divisive topic than ever. These abortion movies share three key insights about the debate and hopefully increase empathy on both sides.

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8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims of Rigged, Stolen Election

(ANALYSIS) Without merit.” “Mere speculation and conjecture.” “Gossip and innuendo.” “Wholly unreliable.” “Implausible.” “Hazy and nebulous.” That’s how judges responded to 61 election lawsuits filed by Trump’s legal teams. Meanwhile, conservative Christian influencers used their media platforms outlets to promote these false claims about the election to believers. Here’s a look at eight of the most prominent promoters of the former president’s lies.

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How Journalists Reported On The Supreme Court's Abortion Rollback And The Fallout

(ANALYSIS) There’s nothing wrong with opinions and publishing a wide array of commentary. It’s something else altogether to take press releases and tweets, then dress them up as news stories. As we enter a post-Dobbs America, there’s the potential for these bad journalistic practices to get worse in the coming months and years.

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Roe v. Wade Overturned, Plus The Supreme Court's 4 Other Biggest Religion Cases Of 2022

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the U.S. Supreme Court’s five biggest religion cases of 2022 — including the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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A Call To Rethink Dying Houses Of Worship

The U.S. may see 100,000 churches close, and this issue could help determine the success or failure of many downtowns and neighborhoods over the next three to four decades. There is no easy solution to guarantee a successful initiative. The process requires attention to issues of real estate, faith institutions, communities and resources. The skills of urbanists are needed in America’s heartland.

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5 Key Takeaways: Sex Abuse Reforms Top Southern Baptists' Actions At Annual Meeting

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the most consequential Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in decades. Plus, catch up — as always — on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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How Will Southern Baptists Address Sexual Abuse?

(OPINION) In Southern Baptist polity — with sprawling structures of autonomous congregations that, to varying degrees, fund state, national and global ministries — there are no leadership structures resembling local Presbyterian presbyteries, regional annual conferences among United Methodists or the powerful diocesan structures of Catholics, Episcopalians and others. Local churches ordain, hire and fire clergy.

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The Ordination Of The First Female Rabbi 50 Years Ago Has Brought Many Changes — And Some Challenges

(ANALYSIS) Fifty years ago, on June 3, 1972, as Sally J. Priesand became the first woman ordained a rabbi by a Jewish seminary, her 35 male classmates spontaneously rose to their feet to acknowledge her historic feat.

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As We Await SCOTUS Decision On Abortion, Press Avoids News About Church Vandalism

(OPINION) As we await a final Supreme Court ruling, we could be in for a long summer of violence and vandalism. My criticism here is not in the news coverage this issue has received. Instead, it’s the lack of coverage. The vandalism of the past few weeks and the lack of news coverage could very well be a template of what’s to come once the Supreme Court makes public a final decision.

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Faith Emerges As A Vital Part Of Uvalde's Story, Even As Attention Focuses On Police And Guns

For the second week in a row, this week’s Weekend Plug-in leads with the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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News Coverage Of Pelosi Communion Ban Mangled Catholic Doctrine

(OPINION) National news coverage regarding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi being banned by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone from taking Holy Communion because of her continued support — in words and deeds — for abortion rights spanned from very good to baffling and very poor.

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‘May God Heal Their Little Hearts, Their Little Souls’: Prayer And Lament In Uvalde

This week’s Weekend Plug-in opens with the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, along with the gunman. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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What Is A Latter-day Saint Temple?

(ANALYSIS) Temples in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon church, have long been a site of curiosity, suspicion and admiration. They are where the faith’s most sacred rites or “ordinances” are performed, so church members were traditionally taught not to discuss some of them publicly.

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