Weekend Plug-in year in review: The best religion journalism of 2020

In a special year-end edition of Weekend Plug-in, the nation’s top religion writers share their top stories of 2020.

International Court Says It Can't Investigate Crimes Against Uyghurs In China

(ANALYSIS) Last week, the Office of the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court confirmed that it would not go further with the trials for the alleged crimes against the Uyghurs in China. The court does not have jurisdiction over crimes in China, allowing for senior Chinese leaders to continue religious persecution.

In the year of the pandemic, counting down the top 10 religion stories of 2020

This week’s Weekend Plug-in counts down the top 10 religion stories of 2020, as determined by the Religion News Association. Also: our usual Friday roundup of the top reads in the world of faith.

Trump calls COVID-19 vaccine 'a medical miracle,' but many religious people are skeptical

President Donald Trump calls the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by the federal government a “medical miracle.” So why are many religious people so skeptical? That’s a key question in this week’s Weekend Plug-in.

Justices flip the script on COVID-19 worship bans, but top health official urges closures

Ongoing court battles pit religious groups vs. governmental regulations designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest developments and runs down the week’s top reads in the world of faith.

Religious Freedom Lately: SCOTUS lifts COVID restrictions on religion, France's Muslim ID Mix-Up And More

The highest court in the U.S. overturned an attendance limit on New York houses of worship, Europeans deal with miscommunication over anti-radicalization policy, Greece joins the Serbian Orthodox Church in a battle over safety in worship as the pandemic tears through their highest-ranking clergy, and China eyes a new law to control religious appointments.

In a crazy year, a reason to give thanks — plus the week's top religion reads

This week’s Weekend Plug-in explores Thanksgiving in the age of COVID-19. As always, we also check out the week’s top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.

Weekend Plug-In, Analysis, Religion, Religion News, OpinionBobby Ross Jr.November 20, 2020Bobby Ross Jr.

Lies, damned lies, statistics: For Biden, religious vote was crucial — maybe

This week’s Weekend Plug-in explores whether religious voters were important to President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Plus, check out the week’s top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.

Faith and foster care: 5 key numbers as SCOTUS case pits religion vs. gay rights

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest Supreme Court case pitting religious freedom vs. gay rights, while running down the key religion news that emerged from Election Day.

Faith and politics: 5 revealing questions to ask on Election Night

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights seven questions that smart religion journalists will be asking on Election Night. Also, catch up on the week’s top reads and headlines in the world of religion news.

For many Americans, religion will play a major role on Election Day

Just days before Election Day, a new poll finds that four in 10 Americans factor in personal religious beliefs into their voting decisions.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

Will we soon live in a world without Mormons and Southern Baptists?

This week’s Weekend Plug-in summary highlights discussions over a possible new name for the Southern Baptist Convention as well as one group dropping the term “evangelicals” from its name. Plus, find our usual roundup of the top reads from the world of faith.

Performance of a Same-sex Marriage Has Catholics Questioning Biden's Motives and Manipulation of Catholicism

(OPINION) As Biden married two men in his own home, he was making a statement about his own Catholic beliefs. As we inch closer to election day, how are Catholics viewing Biden’s own take on Catholicism?

Religion News, Politics, OpinionTerry MattinglySeptember 14, 2020Terry Mattingly, opinion, catholicism, ChristianityComment

Dirty words spice up the week's religion news — not for the first time

This week’s Weekend Plug-in summary highlights religion news related to a new book by Michael Cohen. Warning: Profanity is involved, along with President Donald Trump and former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.

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