Mae Cannon on Churches for Middle East Peace
In the 13th episode of Dangerous Dogma, Mae Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, talks about the work of CMEP and her book 'Beyond Hashtag Activism.'
What Christian Aid Workers Want You to Know About Afghanistan
US forces are withdrawing after 20 years, but the story of Christian aid work goes far beyond military conflict. Read full piece
The Fall of a Nation
In this issue of A Public Witness, we consider the failure of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan amid the unfolding humanitarian crisis. And we offer some lessons we hope Christians will consider from this war miscast as a crusade.
Haiti Quake Destroyed Many Churches, Shredding a Mainstay of Support
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake left 1,400 people dead and several buildings in ruins. For many Haitians, the destruction of churches was particularly devastating. Read full piece
Gina Stewart Becomes First Woman Elected to Lead U.S. Black Baptist Organization
In a pathbreaking decision, the Rev. Gina Stewart has been elected as the first woman president of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society, marking the first time a female has been chosen for the highest post of a Black Baptist organization.
A Conservative Cardinal Who Criticized the Vaccine Caught COVID. Days Later, He was Put on a Ventilator.
Most days during the coronavirus pandemic, Cardinal Raymond L. Burke could be found strolling down the streets of Rome maskless and carrying rosary beads. The 73-year-old conservative cardinal was an early critic of social distancing and, later, an unabashed skeptic of the vaccine. Read full piece
Refugee Aid Groups Criticize Biden for Stumbles in Evacuating ‘Desperate’ Afghans
As most Americans absorbed the shock of the Taliban’s full takeover of Afghanistan over the weekend, officials at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service followed the rapidly deteriorating situation with resignation, knowing it could have gone differently.
Many Bible Belt Preachers Silent on Shots as COVID-19 Surges
Across the nation’s deeply-religious Bible Belt, a region beset by soaring infection rates from the fast-spreading delta variant of the virus, churches and pastors are both helping and hurting in the campaign to get people vaccinated against COVID-19.
Death-Row Inmate Sues for Pastor’s Touch During Execution
A Texas death-row inmate has sued state prison officials to allow his pastor to lay hands on him as he dies from a lethal injection. John Henry Ramirez, 37, is scheduled to be put to death in the Texas death chamber on Sept. 8.
Archbishop Says Berlin Wall was a Good Friday in German History
Catholics and Protestants gathered Aug. 13 to remember the day in 1961 when their city was divided, becoming a symbol of the Cold War. Read full piece