How International Justice Mission Fights Modern Slavery

According to the International Labor Organization of the United Nations, 27.6 million people worldwide were victims of forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, sexual servitude and involuntary servitude in 2022. One of the largest and most well-known agencies fighting these forms of modern-day slavery in the world is the International Justice Mission, founded in 1997 by human rights lawyer Gary Haugen.

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‘Barbie’ movie: Concerning that sermon about what it means to be a woman

(OPINION) Hollywood worships big movie franchises, so fans can expect "Barbie" sequels. One plot proposal quickly emerged from an unlikely source — Sister Mary Joseph Calore of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pennsylvania.

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The Unheard Voices: Men’s Untold Struggles with Post-Abortion Grief

(OPINION) Men who have been affected by abortion are a neglected voice in the abortion debate. It is an oft-repeated mantra that men need therapy — and new research shows that this may be especially true for men experiencing grief after abortion and disenfranchisement of their pain.  

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How I Escaped From The Shiny Happy People, But Still Had Survivor’s Guilt

(PERSONAL ESSAY) How did I — a child raised into that organization — break free? How can anyone break free of misguided, fundamentalist religious movements or cult-like organizations and, yet, still retain any kind of religious belief?

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After-school clubs and the Satanic Temple’s push for separation of church and state

(ANALYSIS) As the start of the school year rapidly approaches, controversy can’t be far behind. But not all hot-button topics in education are about what goes on in class. Over the past few years, conflict has trailed attempts to establish After School Satan Clubs sponsored by the Satanic Temple, which the U.S. government recognizes as a religious group.

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End of an Era? The King’s College Halts Courses, Lays Off Faculty

The King’s College in New York City is no longer offering courses in the upcoming fall semester, laid off its entire faculty and is nearing closure according to an email from its board of trustees and updates from its accreditor.

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How will religion fare as liberal arts education shrinks in the United States?

(OPINION) Pity U.S. colleges coping with political feuds, “diversity,” declining applications and enrollments, student debt and tight budgets. Add religious and moral issues, and things get even more complex.

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Bicultural teens enjoy unity at Jóvenes (Youths) for Christ camp

Since 2016, with a year off during the pandemic, Jóvenes for Christ has provided five days of teaching, fellowship, games, worship and community service for English-speaking teens from bilingual and predominantly Hispanic Churches of Christ. Those are exactly the young people camp director JuanRaymon Rubio hopes to serve.

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The Zimbabwean Pastor Who Demystified The ‘Disease Of Shame’

“I have run the race to strengthen others … that even in death from HIV, there is still God in heaven,” Rev. Kapachawo. 49, told ReligionUnplugged.com in an interview as he reflected on his life. “Because He is so faithful, here I am today, still believing and spreading the gospel of life and hope.”

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Christians and Christian Ministries Targeted in India

According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, conditions for Christians and Christian ministries in India have worsened over the last several years. It recommends the United States designate India as a “country of particular concern” because of its “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

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Reaction to Leslie Van Houten’s Parole Shows How Unforgiving We’ve Become

(OPINION) This isn’t a column about Leslie Van Houten. This is a column about the often competing virtues of justice versus mercy. But the news event that started me thinking (again) about those dueling impulses was the recent announcement that Van Houten, a former member of Charles Manson’s “family,” will soon be paroled from prison.

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🎤 The Late Sinéad O’Connor Ripped Up The Pope's Photo: Was It Offensive Or Prophetic? 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in covers the death of Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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Why the Catholic press and columnist Ross Douthat remain essential reading

(ANALYSIS) I have found it healthy and important to watch Fox News and read The New York Times. Both are highly influential in their respective partisan bubbles. Both impact the world around us, for better or worse, and that’s of great importance in a world were journalistic objectivity is a relic of a pre-internet world.

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The Fight For Women’s Suffrage: An Iconic Moment Shaped By Quaker Beliefs On Gender

(ANALYSIS) The two-day Seneca Falls Convention marked the beginning of the movement for women’s suffrage, which would be granted 70 years later by the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution. And it likely wouldn’t have happened without Quakers.

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How ‘Barbie’ Shows Greta Gerwig is The Wrong Choice To Direct ‘Narnia’

(FILM ESSAY) Unfortunately, Gerwig directing Narnia is a colossal mistake. Gerwig’s filmography shows that she not only doesn’t share Lewis’ worldview but actively despises it. Having her make a Narnia movie would be like Ayn Rand directing a Spider-Man movie when she doesn’t believe in self-sacrificial heroism.

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The ‘Religiosity Gap’ Remains an Important Force in Elections

(ANALYSIS) This “religiosity gap” remains relevant. A new Pew Research Center analysis noted that, in the 2022 midterms, “The gap in voting preferences by religious attendance was as wide as it's been in any of the last several elections.”

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Florida Pastor And Son Found Guilty for Participating in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

A federal jury has found a Florida pastor, his son, and another church member guilty of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. The jury found Pastor James “Jim” Varnell Cusick Jr., 72, of Global Outreach Ministries Church in Melbourne; his son Casey Cusick, 35; and David John Lesperance, 69, a repairman who was a member of their church, guilty of multiple charges.

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Turkey’s Christian Sites: Following the Footsteps of St. Paul Off the Beaten Path

(TRAVEL) Many tourists coming to Turkey visit Ephesus, the sprawling archeological site where, according to the Book of Acts, Paul lived, worked and preached for nearly three years. Yet, there are numerous other fascinating sites associated with Paul that are more off the beaten path.

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Transforming Lives Post-Abortion: A Fresh Take on Healing and Support

(OPINION) The need for after-abortion healing resulted in many groups taking on this critical work in the 1990s. Organizations such as Project Rachel, Rachel’s Vineyard, Forgiven and Set Free, SaveOne and Surrendering the Secret have since helped countless women and men begin their healing journeys.

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‘Indiana Jones,’ ‘Sound of Freedom’ And Evangelistic Resources For A New Era

(OPINION) “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” cost $294 million to make. It is likely a financial loss, as only 9% of viewers recommend it to friends and family. Compare this lack of enthusiasm with “Sound of Freedom,” which used crowdfunding to raise its $14.5 million budget and grossed nearly $3 million more than “Dial of Destiny” its opening weekend.

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