Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Religious Freedom For Foster Parents

(OPINION) Faith-based foster care services are one essential element to providing children with loving families in a system where too many children languish. As recent research indicates, there are high turnover and recidivism rates among foster parents, yet more than 80% of foster parents cite faith or church support as an element that contributes to successful and sustained fostering. As the unanimous Court stated in Fulton, “[t]he City apparently prefers to risk leaving children without foster parents than to allow CSS to follow its religiously dictated policy, which threatens no tangible harm.”

Big news involving Southern Baptists, Roman Catholics and even a modern-day Jonah

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the crucial developments at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Plus, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Get ready for a week that could change U.S. Catholicism forever

(OPINION) Barring an intervention from Pope Francis himself, the U.S. bishops will consider, and vote on Thursday, a plan for a document about Holy Communion that includes denying the sacrament to politicians who repeatedly support policies advocating abortion rights. That includes President Joe Biden, only the country’s second Catholic commander in chief ever.

The United Methodist Church Must Tackle Its Looming Real Estate Crisis

(OPINION) While The United Methodist Church debates societal issues — LGBTQ rights, Black Lives Matter, welcome of refugees and the like — its congregations’ real estate is eating away at the denomination and threatening its viability.

Ira Rifkin offers Jewish (and Buddhist) thoughts as he lives with the ashes of his son

(OPINION) Rifkin explores his Jewish heritage and religion as he grapples with the death of his son. He explores the cultural tie to traditional burial and how his son opted against it — choosing cremation over a Jewish cemetery.

OpinionIra RifkinJune 14, 2021Ira Rifkin, Opinion, Judaism, Buddhism Comments

Demographics make news: How will religion shape the oncoming Birth Dearth and vice versa?

(OPINION) It's often said religious couples generally tend to have more children than non-religious ones. Journalists should ask local observers and national experts if that remains true, and why so, and what impact growing secularism in places like North America will have upon the looming Birth Dearth.

Leaks turn up the heat in advance of Southern Baptists' Nashville meeting

This week’s Weekend Plug-in summary highlights the drama expected to unfold at next week’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Plus, find links to all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

What is 'Common-Good Capitalism' and How Does it Differ from our Common Idea of Capitalism in the US?

(OPINION) The “common-good capitalism” model is based on Catholic social teaching, a pre-Enlightenment work ethic that President Joe Biden subscribes to. Why don’t we use that?

OpinionMichael MetzgerJune 8, 2021Michael metzger, Opinion, Joe Biden, Politics, Capitalism Comment

Where Will American Religious Groups Fit into the Newly Electrified Abortion Debate?

(OPINION) With the Supreme Court’s agreement to review the new, strict abortion law developed in Mississippi, it is crucial for religion reporters to understand which religious groups are advocating for and against it. The media will and should press American religious bodies to restate what they believe.

OpinionRichard OstlingJune 7, 2021Opinion, Richard Ostling, Abortion, pro-life, pro-choice Comments

This obscure law shielded an Episcopal School from a lawsuit and raises concerns about accountability

(OPINION) A Texas court ruling is sparking debates about an obscure First Amendment doctrine that exempts religious institutions from certain civil lawsuits to protect them from government interference in their internal matters. The ruling’s interpretation raises concerns about how lay people can hold these institutions accountable when abuses happen.

Coming soon: Southern Baptist Convention's biggest annual meeting in a quarter-century

This week’s Weekend Plug-in summary explores why the Southern Baptist Convention is preparing for its biggest annual meeting in a quarter-century. Plus, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Budget cuts and potential layoffs could forever change official Vatican media

(OPINION) Pope Francis — paying a visit on May 24 to the Dicastery of Communications — used the occasion to call the Vatican’s in-house media to stay relevant during a challenging media landscape.

Analysis, Catholicism, OpinionClemente LisiJune 3, 2021Clemente Lisi, media, Vatican, Catholicism, Pope Francis, journalismComment

Why Ethiopia's Orthodox Synod Called Media, U.S. Sanctions On Tigray Conflict ‘Indirect Colonialism’

(OPINION) A viral video of His Holiness Abuna Mathias, a Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), describing barbaric killings of civilians in Tigray has prompted heightened concern in the international community about human rights abuses, while many Ethiopians remain cautious and skeptical about whether disinformation campaigns driven by anti-government activists, geopolitical forces, “Ethiopia analysts” and media outlets are influencing Western communities and governments.

What's Going on with Faith Trends in American Judaism, Nationally and in your Locale?

(OPINION) The media has neglected to portray the cultural and demographic challenges facing Judaism, the nation's second-largest religion behind Christianity. Jewish news coverage in the mainstream press tends to focus on Democratic Party politics, trends in anti-Semitism and attitudes toward Israel and the unending Mideast mess. A new Pew Research Study demonstrates much more.

Opinion, Jewish, JudaismRichard OstlingJune 2, 2021Richard Ostling, Opinion, Judaism, Jewish Comment

European Parliament Condemns Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws

(OPINION) n April 28, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a joint motion for a resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan calling for more comprehensive approaches to address the abuses of blasphemy laws in Pakistan in response to a Christian Pakistani couple convicted of blasphemy in 2013. Blasphemy laws have always been problematic since they rely on the notion of causing offense, which is subjective and vague and usually directed towards religious minorities.

Opinion, PoliticsEwelina U. OchabJune 2, 2021Opinion, Ewelina U. Ochab, Pakistan, ChristianComment

At Tulsa Massacre's centennial, the role of repentance, reconciliation and reparations

Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the role of religion at the centennial. Plus, catch up on all the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.

Bob Dylan at 80: Still telling tales about divine judgment in a broken, fallen world

(OPINION) Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday is worthy of introspection, and a look back on a career of music influenced greatly by spiritual and religious influences.

Why We’re Glad Our Publisher Isn’t Backing The ‘God Bless The USA’ Bible

(OPINION) Best-selling authors at Zondervan write why they’re glad the publisher and its parent company HarperCollins Christian Publishing decided not to back the “God Bless the USA” Bible and why Christians should be wary of nationalism.

In defense of Mother Teresa: Why she is a saint, not a 'cult leader'

(OPINION) Was Mother Teresa the head of a cult? It depends on who you ask, but the truth is she dedicated her life to helping the “poorest of the poor” and that should be celebrated.

What 'Never Trumper' Russell Moore's departure from ERLC means for SBC

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights Russell Moore’s departure as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Plus, catch up on all the week’s top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.

Address

Contact

Information