JUST SAYIN’

Find the latest commentary and information here.

Sometimes Too Much is Just Right
While Martha served dinner, Mary sat on the floor and poured fragrant perfume over Jesus’ feet. To some, her behavior seemed over-the-top. But sometimes too much is just right.
In This Economy?
There is enough wealth to care for the sick and the poor, the hospital and the small business, the grandparent and the grandchild. Not if we continue with business as usual.
The Last Duet
Grandma was the first person who taught me about the power of agape love, and I believe the legacy of her agape love and persistent joy is still saving my life every day.
Watered by Tears
God, you do not cause us to suffer. Instead, you take the suffering we are given and plant it in the soil of your transforming grace and mercy. May we rejoice in the harvest.
A Jar of Oil
Let’s not pretend with one another that loving God means you will never be broke. Because I’m not the only person of faith who ignores the 1-800 numbers of creditors calling.

For blood drive, food pantry, Maine church members don masks, gloves
Wearing masks and gloves to protect against COVID-19, members of Second Congregational United Church of Christ went ahead with their regularly scheduled blood drive on Thursday, March 26, in Newcastle, Maine.
UCC pastor: The necessity of communion at this time
A Maryland pastor asks the question, “To to eat or not to eat?” This is his reflection on the necessity of communion in diaspora.
Stay Home, Stay Engaged
I was last in my office on March 13th, not only because the United Church of Christ national office building is closed and all staff are working from home, but also (and more importantly) because I developed a dry cough.
A Pastoral Letter in a Time of Pandemic
The leadership of the United Church of Christ, in a pastoral letter to congregations and clergy, lovingly encourages churches to suspend traditional ways of gathering for worship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two Cleveland churches still open over night for what state calls 'essential services'
Two Cleveland UCC congregations are among those that have suspended in-person worship but are still providing overnight shelter, food and a human touch for their homeless neighbors – services now deemed "essential" by the state of Ohio for this moment in the COVID-19 pandemic.

American Jesus
What would it mean for Christians to find their identity in Christ with an understanding of Christ’s lowliness?
Sidewalk Angels
There have been instances when I have encountered “challenges” and no “sidewalk angel” has appeared. This time one did.
You Too
You touched without permission. You silenced with intention. You were the problem. You are the problem.
Ready, Willing and Able for Peace
When the President told the United Nations that the United States was “ready, willing and able” for such destruction, he meant my husband.
The Lie of White Supremacy
White supremacy is a lie. It prompts us to indulge the theologically, socially, and economically unjustifiable.

The other first responders: local journalists
It’s one of the paradoxes of the coronavirus crisis. Local papers are going under even as readership soars.
When tornadoes are only the first of your worries
The coronavirus has complicated Nashville’s tornado recovery, but residents are getting creative about how to help each other.
House passes $2.2T rescue package, rushes bill to Trump
The House on Friday passed a $2.2 trillion package tossing a life preserver to a U.S. economy, even as one maverick Republican threatened leaders' plans for swift passage.
Zoom Shabbat, drive-through confessional: Faith during coronavirus
During a pandemic, what does it mean to come together and pray? Many religions are wrestling with how to serve their faith while heeding guidelines.
Troops on streets? Not so fast. US military sends hospital ships.
The call-up of the National Guard to support states’ coronavirus response has fueled martial law speculation that the Pentagon is anxious to tamp down.

The Nation’s 5,000 Outpatient Surgery Centers Could Help With The COVID-19 Overflow
A coalition of anesthesiologists wants to repurpose the country's more than 5,000 surgery centers to serve as emergency overflow amid the coronavirus pandemic. The centers have trained medical staff largely sitting idle, anesthesia machines that could be turned into ventilators, and empty medical space. But obstacles such as federal payment rules, logistics and some skepticism […]
Coronavirus Has Upended Our World. It’s OK To Grieve.
To weather uncertain times, it's important to acknowledge and grieve losses — even if they seem small in the scheme of the global pandemic, psychologists and grief experts say.
In Coronavirus Relief Bill, Hospitals Poised To Get Massive Infusion Of Cash
The legislation scheduled to go before the House for a vote Friday provides nearly $200 billion in aid for hospitals. That includes payments for expenses or lost revenues from the coronavirus pandemic, interest-free loans and changes in Medicare reimbursements.
Help Wanted: Retired Doctors And Nurses Don Scrubs Again In Coronavirus Fight
As they prepare for an onslaught of coronavirus patients, health officials in New York and other states urge retired medical professionals to rejoin the ranks.
Physicians Fear For Their Families As They Battle Coronavirus With Too Little Armor
Doctors sent an impassioned, desperate letter to Congress describing the lack of protective equipment across the country — from masks to respirators to gowns to goggles. They're using equipment from construction sites and home-repair stores or wearing the same mask from patient to patient. And they worry about what exposure without sufficient protection means for […]

Pope Francis Prays In Empty St. Peter's Square In Hauntingly Moving Images
The images are in stark contrast to those documenting the pontiff's previous blessings.
Catholic Bishops OK Meat On Fridays During Lent Due To Coronavirus
The economic and social upheaval caused by COVID-19 is prompting bishops to relax a Lenten rule.
Amid COVID-19 Spread, Influential D.C. Pastor Says 'God's Wrath' Caused By LGBTQ People
Ralph Drollinger, who leads a Bible study for Trump's cabinet members, claims homosexuality, environmentalism and atheism are signs of God's wrath.
National Cathedral Donates 5,000 Forgotten Face Masks Found Stashed In Crypt
The church squirreled away thousands of respirator masks 14 years ago.
Trump Courts Evangelicals With Goal To Reopen Economy By Easter
Trump's loyal evangelical fans see the president's choice of the holiest date on the Christian calendar as a meaningful goal, even if it's purely aspirational.

Southern New England Conference Begins
The New SNEUCC.ORG Website The Southern New England Conference officially came into being with the New Year, and the change is becoming more and more visible. At the end of December, the Conference's Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office, establishing it as a nonprofit. On Jan. 1, employees of […]
Stories from 2019 from CT, MA, and RI
The year two thousand nineteen is over. The roman notation MMXIX has changed to simple MMXX for 2020. For the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Conferences of the United Church of Christ, now referred to as the "historic" conferences, the long- anticipated formation of the Southern New England Conference is here. And with it, it […]
Be Prepared ... to be Flocked
The following is a message from Bridge Conference Minister the Rev. Don Remick: It’s Advent and Christmas is just ahead. And we’ll be moving quickly into the New Year. The New Year marks an historic moment as we launch our new Conference and our new way of being Conference. To mark this moment we will […]
Executive Conference Minister Position Description Finalized
By Tiffany Vail Associate Conference Minister for Communications The search committee for the first Executive Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference has developed a position description - and it looks very different from those of traditional Conference Ministers. "This position is more like a University President," said Bridge Conference Minister Rev. Marilyn Kendrix, […]

Joseph Lowery, minister, civil rights leader, friend of King, dies at 98
(RNS) — ‘He was a champion for civil rights, a challenger of injustice, a dear friend to the King family,’ The King Center tweeted. The post Joseph Lowery, minister, civil rights leader, friend of King, dies at 98 appeared first on Religion News Service.
Black and Latino startup churches work to stay afloat during pandemic
(RNS) — Startup churches in working-class communities of color rally to help their communities in need during the pandemic but worry about their own future. The post Black and Latino startup churches work to stay afloat during pandemic appeared first on Religion News Service.
As coronavirus keeps parishioners homebound, Christian clergy debate online Communion
(RNS) — With churchgoers holed up in their homes for weeks and even months to come, Christian leaders are starting to ask: Is Communion appropriate for cyberspace? The post As coronavirus keeps parishioners homebound, Christian clergy debate online Communion appeared first on Religion News Service.
Weekend Plug-in: March 27, 2020
(RNS) — Analysis and insights on this week's top headlines from the world of faith. The post Weekend Plug-in: March 27, 2020 appeared first on Religion News Service.
Black church leaders push for census participation despite coronavirus
(RNS) — ‘The coronavirus has added to the already existing fear that people had about a number of questions,’ one minister said. The post Black church leaders push for census participation despite coronavirus appeared first on Religion News Service.

When Home Isn't Safe: Shelter-in-Place Is Putting Domestic Violence Survivors in a "Dire Situation"
As schools shut, public spaces close, and all but essential workers are ordered to stay indoors under shelter-in-place orders across the U.S. and globe, domestic violence services are scrambling to help vulnerable people navigate home lives that they say are increasingly unsafe during the pandemic. What happens when you're trapped at home with your abuser? […]
"Total System Failure": Congress Pushes $2 Trillion Pandemic Bill. Will Dems Allow "Corporate Coup"?
We continue our look at the massive $2 trillion coronavirus relief package — the largest stimulus bill in U.S. history — with author Matt Stoller, who argues the country will be unrecognizable after this pandemic if big corporations walk away with trillions of dollars and no strings attached. Stoller is research director at the American […]
U.S. Is #1 in Pandemic: Rep. Omar Blasts Trump for "Wrong Kind of American Exceptionalism"
As much of the United States is under lockdown, the House votes today on a $2 trillion emergency relief package to address the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. It will generate payments to most Americans and includes protections for workers, but it is also a massive bailout for a number of industries and corporations, […]
Headlines for March 27, 2020
U.S. Leads World in Reported COVID-19 Cases as Hospitalizations Surge, Trump Doubts New York City's Need for 30,000 Life-Saving Ventilators, Politico: President Trump Failed to Follow Pandemic Playbook, Squandering Precious Time, Detroit and Chicago Join New Orleans as U.S. Coronavirus Hot Spots, House to Vote on Record-Shattering $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package, Three Unaccompanied Migrant […]
"Chaotic Situation": India Begins Lockdown of 1.3 Billion Residents as Coronavirus Pandemic Spreads
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world, we look at India, which is now under the largest lockdown in human history, with 1.3 billion people ordered to shelter in place. As the country's economy and daily life come to an abrupt halt, hundreds of millions of Indians who live hand to mouth have been […]

'Fresh Air' Celebrates Broadway Legend Stephen Sondheim (Part 2)
Sondheim, who turned 90 on March 22, composed the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company and other shows. He spoke about his career in musical theater in this 2010 interview.
Trump Has Declared 'War' On The Presidency, Author Says
Benjamin Wittes says Trump has changed the presidency fundamentally — and we're seeing the impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the author, with Susan Hennessey, of Unmaking the Presidency
'Fresh Air' Remembers Broadway Playwright Terrence McNally
McNally, who died March 24 due to complications related to COVID-19, won Tony awards for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime and Master Class. Originally broadcast June 1993.
Jazz Guitarist Jeff Parker Crosses Musical Genres On 'Suite For Max Brown'
Parker's breezy new album, which mixes live music with vintage synthesizers, draws on R&B, early hip-hop, droning electronica, jazz-funk, Afropop and flailing '60s-rock solos.
Michael Pollan Explains Caffeine Cravings (And Why You Don't Have To Quit)
When Pollan decided to write about caffeine, he gave it up — cold turkey. "I just couldn't focus," he says. "I was irritable. I lost confidence." Originally published Feb. 10, 2020.

In Italy, I’ve Rediscovered the Power of Three Types of Prayer
Psalms of lament felt hyperbolic before COVID-19. But amid 8,100 deaths, my locked-down church in Rome resonates with David more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how Italian Christians pray and live their faith, amid a nation reeling from more than 8,100 deaths—the highest tally in the world—among 80,500 confirmed cases (third only to […]
Spreading Love from a Distance: What a Church in Brooklyn Is Doing
How one church in Brooklyn, the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, is responding to opportunities in their neighborhood. I can still hear the music spilling from storefront churches on Sunday mornings, smoke billowing from the Caribbean restaurants cooking their jerk chicken and the consistent chaos of jumping on and off subway trains. Woven into our […]
Cosa Lutero Ci Insegna Sul Coronavirus
È fedele chi vuole sfuggire a un’epidemia?  La riflessione del riformatore tedesco sulla peste può fungere da guida per i cristiani in Cina e dovunque il virus di Wuhan si è diffuso. Dal suo epicentro a Wuhan, in Cina, lo scoppio dell’attuale coronavirus sta alimentando la paura e ha bloccato viaggi ed affari in tutto […]
Online Communion Can Still Be Sacramental
The bread and the cup Zoomed for you. Can ministers bless the Lord’s Table over Zoom? The worldwide pandemic provides all-new context for this theologically untested—and for some unthinkable—question. It may be time to consider what we mean by “presence.” National guidelines now limit gatherings to 10 people. Churches have transitioned to online services and […]
Facebook Live Bloopers: Church Edition
Church leaders are navigating new digital waters, with some hilarious results. Megan Castellan has been livestreaming morning prayer from home every day through the coronavirus pandemic for her parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ithaca, New York. But Thursday’s prayer (March 26) was an “epic disaster,” Castellan told her followers on Twitter. Both the […]

The Religious Right’s Hostility to Science Is Crippling Our Coronavirus Response
Trump’s response to the pandemic has been haunted by the science denialism of his ultraconservative religious allies.
What Judaism Teaches Us About the Fear of Death
A conversation with the Princeton scholar Moulie Vidas on mortality and the embrace of life in Judaism.
What Men Can Learn From Mary, Mother of Jesus
On the Feast of the Annunciation, Christians celebrate the Almighty becoming an embryo. Men in particular should pay attention.
In a Pandemic, Religion Can Be a Balm and a Risk
As scientists and politicians struggle for a response to the coronavirus, many people are turning to faith. But some practices raise public health concerns.
Where Is God in a Pandemic?
The honest answer is: We don’t know. But even non-Christians may find understanding in the life of Jesus.

How Pew Research Center is approaching the 2020 election
As 2020 approaches, here’s a preview of how the Center is approaching the election, both in terms of how we plan to conduct surveys and other studies and what we plan to explore. The post How Pew Research Center is approaching the 2020 election appeared first on Pew Research Center.
5 facts about public opinion in Spain as its election nears
Spaniards head to the polls on Sunday for Spain’s fourth election in as many years. The election comes as the Spanish public is especially pessimistic, harbors strong doubts about democracy, and is concerned about inequality, their children’s financial future and the availability of well-paying jobs. That said, overall sentiment about the economy has rebounded in […]
Public’s Views of National Economy Remain Positive and Deeply Partisan
Americans continue to have positive views of the nation’s economy, though views are split by party. Most Republicans and half of Democrats rate their personal finances positively. The post Public’s Views of National Economy Remain Positive and Deeply Partisan appeared first on Pew Research Center.
A Week in the Life of Popular YouTube Channels
An analysis of every YouTube video posted by high-subscriber channels in the first week of 2019 finds that children’s content – as well as content featuring children – received more views than other videos. The post A Week in the Life of Popular YouTube Channels appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Digital News Fact Sheet
A vast majority of adults in the United States get at least some news online (either via a mobile device or desktop/laptop), and the online space has become a host for the digital homes of both legacy news outlets and new, “born on the web” news outlets. The post Digital News Fact Sheet appeared first […]

Barbara Baylor is UCC Disaster Ministries' new COVID-19 point person
Barbara Baylor began work Friday, March 20, as UCC Disaster Ministries' Health Liaison and, as such, "point person" for COVID-19 response.
UCC coronavirus resources for churches and members multiply
United Church of Christ's library of coronavirus resources for churches and their members just got a lot richer. You will want to have a look right now! Among new sections: how to talk with children, statements from church leaders, and avoiding scams.
UCC offers technical, pastoral guidance for "worship & coronavirus"
Congregations take note: Tips for in-person and virtual worship and music, technology and "social distancing" options, copyright issues for virtual worship and much more are covered in "Faithful Response, with Worship, to the Coronavirus." Newly created by the United Church of Christ's Justice and Local Church Ministries, it is a truly valuable resource in the […]
UCC churches establish protocols as coronavirus spreads
United Church of Christ leaders are sharing information with each other, listening to the latest data from world health organizations and taking directives from their local health departments to discern how best to take precautions as the coronavirus COVID-19 spreads across United States. They are practicing social distancing, increasing sanitation practices, and inviting worshippers to participate […]

COVID-19 Updates from the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone
Council's Statement on Corona Virus (COVID-19) The Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) on behalf of its Member Churches records its apprehension and concern over the ongoing Corona Virus pandemic not sparing any country in the World.
Invitation to join Palm Sunday Worship from Wiesbaden, Germany
Palm Sunday Worship in the (Virtual) English Community in Germany In 2015, the Evangelical Church in Wiesbaden, Germany recognized the opportunity to foster a new worshiping community to offer a diversity of worship practices familiar to Christian immigrants. The English Community Outreach Project was established to form a congregation uniting Protestant traditions in Germany with […]
Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Wallace “Wally” Merle Robeson
Wallace “Wally” Merle Robeson November 24, 1930 – March 21, 2020
Council of Swaziland Churches Pastoral Letter on the COVID-19 Pandemic
25th March 2020 Dear Leaders, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Small businesses are barely hanging on
Lawmakers have finally passed a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package. When it comes to saving small businesses, will the aid be enough? We talk with some business owners who are barely getting by. Plus: the new economies of Canadian border towns, retailers’ rush to staff up and a conversation with the president of the Dallas […]
Those medical supplies hospitals need? They’re overseas.
Ventilators, masks, gloves and other supplies American hospitals need are produced in China, Italy, Malaysia and elsewhere. That puts the U.S. at a disadvantage in its fight against COVID-19. We’ll look through the supply chain and potential solutions. Plus: the new lifestyles of working parents and the non-traditional workers being hit especially hard by this […]
Is this country ready for 2.5 million jobless claims in a week?
Tomorrow’s first-time unemployment claim numbers are expected to be exponentially higher than a typical week, and many states have cut back on unemployment insurance in recent years. What about the people losing employer-sponsored health care? Today we’ll do the numbers and check in on the status of the stimulus bill that could provide some relief. […]
What’s the difference between being laid off and being furloughed?
When you’re losing work because of COVID-19, it might not feel like there’s much difference between getting laid off and furloughed. But it’s an important distinction. We’ll talk about it, plus the unemployment claim numbers coming this week, how the repo market works and the nationwide mask shortage.
Ben Bernanke on saving the American economy
When you’re staring down a financial crisis, you want to talk to someone who’s been there before. So today we called up Ben Bernanke, who’s both a scholar of the Great Depression and ran the Federal Reserve during the Great Recession. He says fiscal policy is going to have to “get its act together.” Plus: […]

United but Not Uniform: Finding Faith at the Women’s Convention
Thousands of women gathered in Detroit over Halloween weekend for the Women’s Convention, a conference meant to build upon the energy of January’s Women’s March—the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Our Women and Girls Campaign Associate Jenna Barnett attended the gathering to learn what role faith played in this Convention. She was surprised by what […]
Black and DACAmented in the U.S.
With the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in limbo, our Associate Web Editor Dhanya Addanki talked to Patrice Lawrence and Mwewa Sumbwe of the UndocuBlack Network about what the end of DACA could mean. This network was founded by undocumented black immigrants who wanted to center the voices of black undocumented people that […]
Can Virtual Reality Rescue Humanity?
Video games have long been dismissed from mainstream audiences as shallow or immature, but can they be something more? Our multimedia editor JP Keenan traveled to the "Games For Change" festival to talk with game designers about the power of "empathy games" and learn about future of virtual reality to see if it's the game […]
How These Christian Activists Are Putting the Death Penalty on Trial
In January 2017, 18 anti-death penalty activists were arrested and taken to jail for protesting against the death penalty on the steps of the supreme court. On this episode, our Associate Web Editor, @dhanyaddanki, talks to three of the 18 arrested death penalty abolitionists about why they fight against capital punishment. @ShaneClaiborne, Derrick Wayne Jamison, and SueZann […]
You Can’t Mute All the Trolls: How to Be a Journalist in 2017
On today's episode, our deputy web editor @chwoodiwiss chats with with journalists @sullivanamy, @dawn_cherie, and @ayshabkhan about something journos usually don’t like talking about: when doing our job becomes too much. We discuss the public's rising suspicion of journalism, dealing with traumatic images, fending off Twitter hate, and—whew—why we still love the work. For more, read our companion piece in […]

Letters to the Editor (Resurrecting this Historical Section): Redefining Anthropology?
Editor’s Note The lifeblood of science and social science is competition among ideas in healthy debate testing scholarly standards and findings. In recent years, as standards have begun to disappear in social science and as journals begin to advocate for doctrine in place of social science and discipline, the opportunity to challenge colleagues (and editors) […]
Returning Discipline to the Discipline: A Model Procedure for Reviews in Anthropology, Social Sciences, and Other Related Disciplines
This piece uses participant observation of and research into disciplinary procedures to reveal that review policies in anthropology, other ‘social sciences’, and related disciplines have become arbitrary and politicised with little to protect professional standards of a discipline and to avoid conflicts of interest that prejudice scholarship. To address the problem, this piece takes the […]
The Nonsense and Non-Science of Political Science: A Politically Incorrect View of ‘Poly-T(r)ic(k)s’
The purpose of this short essay is to highlight the failures in contemporary Political Science by sketching a small model of what the discipline would look like if it were in fact a “discipline” driven by scientific questions and methods responsive to public benefit rather than to indoctrination and control. Rather than simply accept, on […]
An International Legal Scholar’s View on “Is Economics in Violation of International Law? Remaking Economics as a Social Science”
An Ecological Economist’s View on “Is Economics in Violation of International Law? Remaking Economics as a Social Science”
Introduction Is mainstream economics with its many theories and recommendations compatible with international law, such as the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP, 2007) or the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1992 (UN Rio Declaration, 1992)? Are globally renowned universities teaching economics in ways that violate international law? Can […]

Important COVID-19 Information
The Coalition’s Client Services Office will be closed until the State of Emergency is lifted. Clients can still access emergency financial services by calling 240-446-9649. Email questions or concerns at info@rcehn.org. The Alan P. Linton individual shelter will continue to operate as normal, on a first come, first serve basis. Those who are utilizing the […]
Newsletter: Winter 2020
Download Our Winter Newsletter Here The post Newsletter: Winter 2020 appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Click for details The post It’s A Wonderful Life appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
2019 Unity Campaign
2019 Unity Campaign: September 11-22 2019 Click Here to Make A On-Line Donation to this year’s campaign Why Is The Unity Campaign So Important? Our Goal is $30,000- Your gift will be boosted by matching funds The post 2019 Unity Campaign appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
Newsletter: Summer 2018
Download Our Summer Newsletter Here The post Newsletter: Summer 2018 appeared first on The Religious Coalition.

About half of Americans are OK with DNA testing companies sharing user data with law enforcement
The use of at-home DNA testing kits has raised concerns about whether consumers are comfortable with the use of their data by police. The post About half of Americans are OK with DNA testing companies sharing user data with law enforcement appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Four-in-ten U.S. drug arrests in 2018 were for marijuana offenses – mostly possession
Police officers in the United States still make more arrests for marijuana offenses than for any other drug, according to FBI data. The post Four-in-ten U.S. drug arrests in 2018 were for marijuana offenses – mostly possession appeared first on Pew Research Center.
5 facts about crime in the U.S.
Both violent and property crime in the U.S. have declined over the long term, but Americans regularly say crime is up. The post 5 facts about crime in the U.S. appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Far more immigration cases are being prosecuted criminally under Trump administration
The first full fiscal year of the Trump administration saw large increases in the number of people arrested and criminally prosecuted for immigration offenses. The post Far more immigration cases are being prosecuted criminally under Trump administration appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Only 2% of federal criminal defendants go to trial, and most who do are found guilty
Trials are rare in the federal criminal justice system: Just 2% of criminal defendants went to trial in 2018. Acquittals are even rarer. The post Only 2% of federal criminal defendants go to trial, and most who do are found guilty appeared first on Pew Research Center.

PBS NewsHour: Russia’s war in Ukraine leads to historic split in the Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church in Ukraine has been under the authority of Moscow since 1686. Until the 2014 war with Russia, that situation bothered few. Now a growing number of congregations, approximately 500 so far, have joined a new independent Ukrainian … More → The post PBS NewsHour: Russia’s war in Ukraine leads to historic split […]
PBS NewsHour: Following Father Theodore Hesburgh through Civil Rights era
The new documentary, “Hesburgh,” explores the life of Father Theodore Hesburgh, who served as a long-time president of the University of Notre Dame and is recognized now as one of the most important civic and educational leaders of the 20th … More → The post PBS NewsHour: Following Father Theodore Hesburgh through Civil Rights era […]
VIDEO: California’s first Muslim judge on faith and public service
Justice Halim Dhanidina was recently elevated to California’s Courts of Appeal, making him the state’s most senior judge of Muslim faith. NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent David Tereshchuk talks with Dhanidina about engaging with supporters and critics alike, and setting an … More → The post VIDEO: California’s first Muslim judge on faith and public service […]
America’s Foremost Muslim Judge
America’s Foremost Muslim Judge By David Tereshchuk It wasn’t exactly a surprise for Halim Dhanidina to get a call in 2012 from California Governor Jerry Brown’s office saying he’d been picked to serve as a judge on the state’s Superior … More → The post America’s Foremost Muslim Judge appeared first on Religion & Ethics […]
The relationship between science and religion
The friction between science and religion goes back centuries. While the conflict often lies in beliefs and research, the common ground between the two is sometimes left unexplored. Researchers dive deeper into this debate. The post The relationship between science and religion appeared first on Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

Pope Francis Prays In Empty St. Peter's Square In Hauntingly Moving Images
The images are in stark contrast to those documenting the pontiff's previous blessings.
Catholic Bishops OK Meat On Fridays During Lent Due To Coronavirus
The economic and social upheaval caused by COVID-19 is prompting bishops to relax a Lenten rule.
Amid COVID-19 Spread, Influential D.C. Pastor Says 'God's Wrath' Caused By LGBTQ People
Ralph Drollinger, who leads a Bible study for Trump's cabinet members, claims homosexuality, environmentalism and atheism are signs of God's wrath.
National Cathedral Donates 5,000 Forgotten Face Masks Found Stashed In Crypt
The church squirreled away thousands of respirator masks 14 years ago.
Trump Courts Evangelicals With Goal To Reopen Economy By Easter
Trump's loyal evangelical fans see the president's choice of the holiest date on the Christian calendar as a meaningful goal, even if it's purely aspirational.

Meet the Pastor Who Performs Exorcisms Over Skype
Evangelical Pastor Bob Larson performs physical exorcisms on people who believe they’re possessed by the devil. But because this is the 21st century, he also performs them over Skype. Larson has built a business by exorcising demons via video chat, using hand gestures–like crossing people’s foreheads by waving his pointer finger in front of the […]
We’re Gonna Let You Finish, Christianity, But Yeezianity Is The Best Religion OF ALL TIME
In a track off his 2013 album Yeezus, Kanye West requested that we a) hurry up with his damn croissants and then b) remember that he is a God. An anonymous group of people have taken that song pretty literally, it seems, because they’ve formed an official religion centered around Kanye called Yeezianity. According to its website, […]
Here’s an Interactive Birthday Card for the Pope’s 77th Birthday
People who visit the English version of the Vatican’s website today will see a 32-page interactive pop up that says “Best Wishes, Holy Father” in honor of Pope Francis’s 77th birthday, The Guardian reports. Viewers hear a “whoosh” sound as they click through this compilation of photos of the Pontiff and some of his most inspirational quotes […]
The Grand Canyon Will Make You Believe in God
Calling all churches, Planet Earth is your new marketing tool. Though the BBC’s nature-focused series is far from a religious promotional video, a new study shows that Americans who watch Planet Earth are more likely to believe in a god or a higher power, the Independent reports. In a new study published in the journal Psychological Science, scientists asked a […]
Atheists Embrace Megachurch-Style Services
While evangelical Christians are known for celebrating faith in God at mega-churches, now atheists are celebrating their lack of faith in God in a “mega-church” setting. The Associated Press profiled the Sunday Assembly, a movement started in London in January 2013 that’s spearheaded by two British comedians, Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who are bringing atheists together in […]