(OPINION) For journalists, graduations have long served as easy news stories. Above all, the graduation speaker is what makes these ceremonies news. Is it still news if an invitation is declined? In the case of President Biden it certainly is, especially when that invite comes from Notre Dame.
Read More(OPINION) Should evangelical Christians #StandWithIsrael? Or must we #StandWithPalestine? Truth be told – if we, as citizens of Christ’s kingdom, think about political theology from a “binary choice” perspective, we are already losing.
Read More(OPINION) Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, the head of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, speaks on whether public leaders who support abortion rights in politics should receive the Eucharist.
Read More(OPINION) Many believed the Abraham Accords of 2020 and other peace agreements would permanently ease the conflict between Israel and Palestine. A scholar of the Middle East says otherwise.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in mourns the loss of two incredible people and journalists: Rachel Zoll and Amy Raymond. Plus, catch up on all the week’s best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) While culling files from decades of religion-beat work, I have come across a forgotten and seminal article from 2002 that contended the media were distorting public understanding of American politics. It said "religious right" Republicans were blanketed with coverage and turned the tables, contending that "the true origins" of cultural conflict were found in increased "secularist" influence in the Democratic Party.
Read More(OPINION) A “Liberty Girl” reflects on her years as an undergraduate, master’s student and then track coach at the influential evangelical university that’s been undergoing tumultuous changes for the past decade.
Read More(OPINION) The seventh anniversary of the atrocities committed against the Yazidis in Sinjar, Iraq by the members of the terror organization Daesh (commonly referred to as Islamic State or ISIL) is quickly approaching. There are certain questions regarding the responses to the atrocities that continue to cause concerns. Among them is the question of justice: what is the progress with bringing Daesh to justice?
Read More(OPINION) An Israeli reflects on the recent violence in Jerusalem that has killed at least 30 people, set off when thousands of flag-waving Jewish youth celebrating Israel’s victory over Arabs in the 1967 Six Day War marched down an alley where Muslim activists had arrived during Ramadan to pray at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews.
Read More(OPINION) As news releases about growing Christian prosecution cases in China by the Communist Party, Ochab questions its similarity to the Uyghur crisis. On January 13, 2021, Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, released their annual World Watch List which assesses 50 countries where Christians face the most severe types of persecution. China is in the top 20.
Read More(OPINION) Clergy need – somehow – to find "personal" time, along with face-to-face contact with loved ones. That challenge became more difficult in the age of smartphones, texting and emails. Then came the COVID-19 lockdowns and the pressures on clergy zoomed to a whole new level.
Read More(OPINION) As a nation, Ethiopia is facing twin challenges. First, the impact of misleading and negative information about the nation following the war in Tigray; and second, the long-standing imbalance in the international water politics of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The aim of this article is to call for veracity, justice and compassion.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in explores news coverage over whether President Biden, a Catholic, might be denied Communion because of his support for abortion rights. Plus, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) Many Americans imagine the stimulus money as manna from heaven. That isn’t quite true. Metzger explores how many Christians who don’t need the $1200 will receive it, while those that need it — namely unemployed Hispanics — will be left without it.
Read More(OPINION) Since the COVID-19 pandemic, searches have increased greatly for prayer. How does faith — and disbelief — play into the fears of people?
Read More(OPINION) It should be noted that secular newsrooms don’t dislike organized religion like many may believe. Instead, they just don’t like religious leaders who attempt to defend traditional dogmas that govern said faith. Therefore, news coverage is often framed this way: Biden can be both “very Catholic” and pro-choice.
Read More(OPINION) Despite having just 16% of the world’s population, Africa accounts for 52% of all global armed conflicts. Most of these crises have lingered for decades and many are religious conflicts with social and political undertones, making them even harder to curb. These crises have been fueled and sustained by uncontrolled arms movement across the continent.
Read More(OPINION) What happened in the 2020 election? Polls consistently knock down the social-issues theory. Contrary to what some suppose, Catholics as a whole are only slightly more conservative than the general public on abortion and LGBTQ issues, with weekly worshippers moreso.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the ongoing discussions related to COVID-19 vaccines and religion. Plus, catch up on all the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) John Stott, who served as the Queen's chaplain, shepherded Her Majesty in her faith, sold millions of books, was named one of Time Magazine’s most 100 influential people, and yet, remained a humble man. Here’s why his centenary is being celebrated by churches and organizations on every continent.
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