Posts in Opinion
5 reasons the world needs a wake-up call on religious persecution

(OPINION) The United Nations has established for the first time ever on Aug. 22 a day to draw attention to people groups around the world violently persecuted for their religious beliefs: Yazidis in Syria and Iraq, Christians in Nigeria, faith minorities in Pakistan, Rohingya in Myanmar, Uighur Muslims in China and others.

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Don’t underestimate the Vatican’s power in Italian politics

(OPINION) Italy’s government has been plunged into chaos after the nationalist-populist coalition that had struck fear across the European establishment collapsed. It means that Italians could potentially be going to the ballot box once again this fall. It’s also a reminder of how powerful the Catholic church remains in determining the country’s politics.

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Evangelicals are parsing through 'purity culture'

(OPINION) Critiques of purity culture have come back into Christian media after “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” author Joshua Harris announced his separation from his wife and “deconstruction” of his Christian faith.

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Is the body of Christ 'too magical' for the secular press to cover?

(OPINION) What we learned this month is that polls, survey and studies involving politics and health — despite their polarizing natures — are fair game. The ones around faith — and those around a specific belief — are not. The latest example? The Catholic belief in transubstantiation.

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Being shunned from the Jehovah’s Witnesses led me to reporting

(REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK) When Joy Notoma attended a workshop for spiritual abuse recovery, she stumbled upon a story bigger than she imagined and left acting for journalism school.

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Old Testament scholars are defending Bathsheba amid #MeToo and #ChurchToo

(COMMENTARY) Many Bible reference works favored by conservative Protestants question whether Israelite King David’s love interest Bathsheba participated in the sexual affair while other scholars conclude she was a victim of rape.

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Comrades vs. Catholics: The difference in media coverage

(OPINION) The Democratic Socialists of America held their convention last week in Atlanta. By coincidence, the Knights of Columbus held their annual convention in Minneapolis. It’s no coincidence whatsoever that the Democratic socialists received plenty — and perhaps more favorable — coverage compared to the Catholic group.

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More than thoughts and prayers: The Catholic church and gun control

(OPINION) There is a new terror threat that faces our nation. The rise of domestic terrorists with easy access to guns have made even a routine weekend trip to the mall something to fear. Those memories of covering vigils and funerals — many involving children and teens shot and killed in senseless gang violence — came flooding back to my mind this past weekend.

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Five years after Yazidi massacre, Daesh persists in Iraq and Syria

(COMMENTARY) There are still hotspots of Daesh support, and a territorial defeat of Daesh does not mean the defeat of their perverted ideology, which is still threatening religious minorities like the Yazidis.

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Will the new British Foreign Secretary take religious persecution seriously?

(COMMENTARY) Jeremy Hunt’s resignation puts his plan for an international overhaul of asylum requests, from persecuted Christians especially, in limbo with the UK’s new foreign secretary Dominic Raab.

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This Indonesian village tradition has kept peace between Christians and Muslims

(COMMENTARY) In Maluku, two villages — one Christian and one Muslim — follow a unique tradition they say dates back to 1506 to live in harmony without diluting either of their faiths.

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Meet the Vatican’s revamped press office and the challenges it faces

(NEWS ANALYSIS) The Vatican press office may be second only to the White House communications department when it comes to ranking the world’s busiest public relations operation. The upcoming Synod for the Pan-Amazon Region will be their first real test.

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The term 'gay Catholic' remains too simplistic

(COMMENTARY) Amid headlines of the gay Catholic schoolteacher in Indiana who lost his job at a Catholic school, journalists and church leaders should pay attention to the different nuances and meanings of being gay and Catholic.

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Religious freedom has never drawn a bigger crowd (from all walks of faith)

(COMMENTARY) The U.S. State Department’s second annual Ministerial on religious freedom drew over 1,000 official invitees and many more for side events.

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From the U.S. religious freedom summit: good news and bad

(COMMENTARY) Last week’s State Department summit brought together representatives from nearly 100 countries and dozens of faith groups to discuss threats and successes of religious freedom globally.

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Former Times bureau chief investigates rash of French church vandalism cases

A recent piece posted to Real Clear Investigations takes a deep dive into the trend of church vandalism in France, quantifying it with anecdotes, lots of data and interviews with people in the know. The reporting sheds a spotlight on the attacks and may be one of the best reported pieces on what’s been going on there by any news organization to date.

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