Posts in Religion
Catholic Leaders React To Francis' Support For Same-Sex Unions

(ANALYSIS) The disoriented juxtaposition of Catholic Church teaching on marriage with the comments of Pope Francis on civil unions of same-sex couples was not lost on Catholic leaders worldwide, who expressed concern, confusion and anger in response.

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Will U.S. Catholics split their vote this year?

(OPINION) Trying to gauge voter enthusiasm is difficult. While Trump voters do seem generally more energized — especially among evangelicals and church-going Catholics — compared to Biden supporters, the events of the past few weeks in Washington may have shifted priorities.

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No anti-Catholic sequel: Democrats avoid the dogma at Barrett's hearings

At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, Democrats steered clear of Barrett’s religion, even as Republicans focused on it. This week’s Weekend Plug-in has that news, plus all the top headlines and best reads from the world of faith.

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Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Inside the religious fight for Nagorno-Karabakh

(ANALYSIS) What was a nominally a little-known conflict regarding the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region — also known as Artsakh — claimed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan has erupted into a full-scale war with an estimated thousands of soldiers on both sides killed in intense fighting.

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‘Chinese female Jesus’ stalks Indian youth on social media, alarming church leaders

A Chinese church now operating out of New York claims Jesus returned as a woman in China, upsetting Christian leaders in India wary of the group’s appeal among young Christians.

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The spiritual ramifications of the fly that landed on Mike Pence's head

This week’s Weekend Plug-in may bug you a little bit. We’re going to talk about the fly that landed on Mike Pence’s head during Wednesday’s night vice presidential debate. And as always, we’ll highlight the week’s top religion headlines and best reads.

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Evangelical Magazines Prioritize Truth During Ravi Zacharias Scandal

(OPINION) Richard Ostling commends journalists at Christianity Today and World for prioritizing truth over tribalism in the case of sexual assault claims against Ravi Zacharias. Both publications seek to prioritize the community over the reputation of the religion.

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Executive Order Fuels USAID To Advance International Religious Freedom

(OPINION) A 2020 Executive Order prioritizes international religious freedom and promotes USAID and the U.S. State Department to infuse religious freedom with foreign policy. What will these organizations continue to do to advance the United States’s notion of religious freedom in and out of its borders?

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Religious tour operators hope for a better 2021 following coronavirus travel restrictions

Popular pilgrimage destinations like Jerusalem and Rome have seen a massive drop in religious travelers, especially during Passover, Easter and this past summer.

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'Individualism does not make us more free': Dissecting Pope Francis's Encyclical

In his newly released encyclical, Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis addresses the whole world as his audience, attempting to answer how modern society can correct course towards a kinder and more loving world. The pope’s third encyclical has ruffled some Catholics for its condemnation of profit-driven economic models, the death penalty, immigration policy and more.

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Do Christians care what Trump says about them behind closed doors?

This week’s Weekend Plug-in explores whether religious supporters of President Donald Trump care what he says about them behind closed doors. Plus, our roundup of the top religion headlines and best reads of the last week.

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'Catholic questions' ahead of the Biden-Trump presidential debate

(OPINION) The election season goes into hyperdrive with the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden that will take place Tuesday in Cleveland.

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What you need to know about SCOTUS nominee Amy Coney Barrett's faith

Here’s everything you need to know about Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s faith, her past statements regarding abortion and whether religion should impact judicial philosophy.

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Double standard? Religion figures differently in news of Ginsburg and Barrett

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights religion-related news coverage of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week, vs. that of her potential successor, Amy Coney Barrett.

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Rittenhouse’s Legal Fund Features Donors Invoking Biblical Self-Defense

Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen gunman who shot and killed Black Lives Matter protesters in Wisconsin, awaits a hearing set for Friday, Sept. 25. Some donors to his legal fund, hosted by the Christian platform GiveSendGo, invoke biblical arguments for self-defense to defend Rittenhouse, though there is scant evidence Rittenhouse is himself religious.

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Most Catholic voters favor Biden, cite the economy as their biggest concern

The newest EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll on Catholic priorities this election season finds that while former Vice President Joe Biden enjoys a 12-point margin over Donald Trump, the president continues to do best among those who regularly attend Mass on Sundays.

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Catholics could be energized for Trump should he nominate Barrett to SCOTUS

(ANALYSIS) The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has prompted President Donald Trump to pledge a nominee this week. Frontrunner Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic, has a record of being anti-abortion and will certainly inflame those on the political left who fear an overturning of Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.

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